Faith Filled Family Magazine September 2016 | Page 67

Land.
David, the most famed king of
Israel and “a man after God’s
own heart,” lacked support from
his family. The Bible says he was
the youngest of all his father’s
sons, so belittled that when the
prophet Samuel came to their
house to choose and anoint the
next king, David’s father, Jesse,
made him stay outside to watch
the sheep. However, according to 1 Samuel 16, God chose
to take this youngest son from a
shepherd to a king.

desire that all of His children live
full, abundant lives. Jesus promises this in John 10:10b (NIV)
when He says, “...I have come
that they may have life, and have
it to the full.” But, these full and
abundant lives may not necessarily always include prosperity
in the financial sense.

God doesn’t want His children
to become overly concerned
with prospering financially. Of
course, it’s perfectly normal to
want stable finances to provide
for yourself and your family. But,
God doesn’t want us to become
God loves to take people who obsessed with having money
seem to lack all of the neces- because it shifts our attention off
sary requirements or qualifica- of Him and onto ourselves. We
tions and do unbelievable things begin to become less concerned
through them. By doing this, He with God’s kingdom and more
shows Himself more fully to other concerned with fulfilling our own
people. So, don’t be discouraged desires.
if you feel like you aren’t good
enough to serve God’s kingdom. Jesus even warns against this
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 in Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV). He
(NIV), “But he said to me, ‘My states, “Do not store up for yourgrace is sufficient for you, for my selves treasures on earth, where
power is made perfect in weak- moths and vermin destroy, and
ness.’ Therefore I will boast all where thieves break in and steal.
the more gladly about my weak- But store up for yourselves treanesses, so that Christ’s power sures in heaven, where moths
may rest on me.” God’s power and vermin do not destroy, and
can and will be made perfect in where thieves do not break in
your weakness, too.
and steal.” God knows that
sometimes financial prosperity
Let’s take a minute and sum up can lead to a dangerous change
everything we’ve talked about in our focus from what He wants
so far. God may want us to live for us to what we want for ourin lack so that He can show us selves, so sometimes, the abunHimself and our need for Him dant life He has for us may not
more. He may want us to live include stable finances.
in lack so that He can more fully And that’s okay.
reveal His power through us and
our circumstances. He never There are other ways that we can
uses living in lack as a way to prosper in life that have nothing
punish us.
to do with money. These ways
require us to invest in people
There’s one important thing to rather than things. By pourremember, though. It’s God’s ing ourselves into our families,

churches, and communities, we
are following Jesus’ command
in Matthew 16:19-20. An investment in God’s children is an
investment in His kingdom. By
seeking prosperity through more
fully loving the people around
us, we are storing up treasures
for ourselves in heaven, just as
Jesus instructs.
The point of prosperity is to honor
God with it. He gives us blessings in life, and we in turn, are
to use those blessings to glorify
Him, no matter if they come in
the form of money, possessions,
or people. Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 (NIV), “But seek first
His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well.” Whether
we are living in lack or in plenty, if
we take the blessings God gives
us and do our best to honor Him
with them, we will be fulfilled,
content, and prosperous.
Katie Hamilton is a high school
English teacher from Arkansas.
She loves spending time with her
husband, family, and dog. Her
favorite hobbies include reading,
writing, and doing anything creative.