Recently, the Holy Spirit convicted me about a narrative that was going through my head. It replayed every time an expense came up and went something like this: “Oh it’s fine, we’ll just take it out of savings.” Now for starters, I don’t know that that’s the most effective way to manage one’s finances! There’s also the reality that savings isn’t a bottomless pit either! The much more important problem, however, wasn’t how much was in savings, but where I was choosing to place my trust, and where my focus needs to be.

Have you ever had a similar narrative run through your head? As Jesus-followers, it seems we can – at least sometimes – slip easily into this place of being anxious about our needs, to the point that they dominate our prayers and thinking. Or we get caught up in storing “treasurer” here, to help us not worry about the future.

Jesus said, “lay up for yourselves treasurers in heaven… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20a, 21)

This is a call to re-center your focus. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells the disciples to be about the Kingdom of God first and foremost. That’s not to say that they shouldn’t express their needs to God. Their main priority, however, is the kingdom of God. This is where their focus should be. Not on personal advancement, or even on trusting the wealth they could gain for their own security. They need trust their Father in Heaven to care for them and already know their needs as they place His principles, and His Kingdom, first. This concept reframes our thinking. We can quickly slip into this mentality of letting our needs dominate our thinking and praying. Similarly, we can slip easily into trusting our material provisions over God, or trying to advance our own position. Instead of trusting God, we trust in the savings account, the paycheck, the yield of a good crop, the pension check, and so on. Essentially, we trust in the wealth we think we can or have amassed. Truth is, these are all gifts from God. Even if those stopped coming right now, God would still see your needs, and provide. Therefore, we are not to be anxious about gaining material wealth to keep us warm at night (so to speak). Rather, we place our focus on advancing God’s Kingdom and trust God to provide for our needs. So, rain or shine, place the Lord and His purposes as top priority in your life. Exercise trust in His care for you. Bring to Him your needs, but do not worry over material things. To quote Paul:

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Nothing takes God by surprise. In fact, you will find that in those moments when you trust God your faith grows deeper, and you see God move in miraculous ways in your life. Ways that – had the savings account just dealt with it – never would have been realized. Take encouragement this month to place God’s kingdom, rule, and plan first, and trust in the provision of our God, and His trustworthiness no matter what.

Blessings,
Pastor Josh