Dear Giving One,

I say “Giving One” because you are doing just that -- giving of yourself to help others without remuneration for yourself. I think I Timothy 6:17-19 fits your situation well.

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

The Lord knows it takes money to live in this world. Our work is our mission field for us to shine for Jesus in all that we do. Yes, you get a pay check but God is your ultimate provider through that job.

I believe the Lord wants us to live nicely and enjoy our life. God knows our heart when it comes to money. Nothing we have really belongs to us anyway. It all belongs to the Lord and He has made us stewards over it. If we would always see our profession in that light, we would trust the Lord for the increase and do our very best because we are working as unto the Lord! The Bible is very clear about the Lord providing for His people, but it is also clear that during that providing, we can get concerned more about the money than the mission!

God does not care if we have money – what He cares about is if money has us! I do not know where your friends are with this issue except what you mentioned. Many people who work all the time never feel they have enough. There’s a parable in the Gospel of Luke that says, “So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods” (Luke12:18). This is not trusting God but trusting in our bank accounts.

I am glad to hear you are volunteering at Christian charities. They need your help. It sounds to me like you are balanced with work and volunteering. So just love your friends and let the comments go over your head, not lay in your heart. You are helping to advance the Kingdom of God.

Every child of God is to have the same vision of advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Money is to help us live life and enjoy life. God is to be served, not money. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24 NLT). Keep up the God work!
May 2015 - The Neglected Ones by Dr. Judy Baus