Cashing In

I believe most long term poverty is a choice or maybe a better way to say it, a series of choices.

I've met hundreds online and some locally who talk all day long about wanting better for themselves and their families but when you attempt to help them set some goals and get a plan of action together, they begin to resist and actually fight to remain where they are. This is because there is great comfort in what we find familiar.

Poverty in the bible is a curse, yet those anointed to help people escape it are bitterly attacked by those who are in it the deepest. I've seen Christians resist God's attempts to bless them while they post repeatedly for prayer for their finances. Still others try to dismiss what the Bible plainly teaches about it.  

Some folks even try to use out of context verses from the bible to undermine the overall theme of the bible and opine that if you are wealthy, you are corrupt somehow. Don't tell God that as no one is more wealthy than God.

For God to change your financial life for the better He will need to change what (and more importantly WHO) you listen to and believe. For any area of your life to change, your choices will have to change in that area.

The biggest single change that most have difficulty with in finance is in the stopping of playing the victim card.

As an example, if the first thought you have in replying to me here is "you don't understand, we don't have enough".. that is victimizing and you will need to stop doing that. It may seem very logical to you but it is not. Poverty is is a result of being under a curse. Part of that curse is self hatred, self loathing, rejection and other stuff like that. It creates patterns of thinking that completely convince you that you will never have enough.

It is a shock for many to learn that people making millions a year also struggle with that same feeling of desperation and lack. This Is because it's never about the money, it's it's a spiritual root that must be identified and chosen against.  No, I'm not saying Jesus wants everyone filthy rich but I am saying Jesus wants everyone spiritually free and if that happens, God's blessings tend to flow freely as a result.

The vast majority I have met have decided that humbling themselves and changing is NOT worth it. For those, they will spend the rest of their lives in the same place missing the simple biblical truth that Jesus IS prosperity.

Many times a straw man question is raised that asks if you would rather have great riches or a deeper walk with Jesus.  That's another way for our fallen minds to justify our own ongoing impoverishment. Jesus IS the reward, you cannot separate Jesus and the reward He brings for he Himself IS the reward. It would be like me asking if you would rather see me in person with me muscular system in my body or my skeletal system in my body. The factis that is you are going to see me, you are going to get BOTH at the same time. There is no separating them.  Same with Jesus and our Reward.

The only person Jesus ever told to sell everything was a single kid who thought his wealth entitled him to God's Kingdom.  The devil has made it a knee jerk reaction for believers to hear of having extra money and instantly equate that with idolatry and money worship. Would we say that about peace or patience? Would someone with a lot of extra patience be a patience worshipper? No, we absolutely need revelation in this area. 

Jesus was super clear...behold I am coming soon AND my reward is with me... we like to ignore that reward part but it's in everyone's bible in red letters. He also calls Himself a rewarder of anyone who seeks Himself. In fact, if we will seek His Kingdom first then all of these other things (including money) will be added.

Trying to make the bible fit our current situation is nothing new. That's been going on since Paul asked the church who had bewitched them into thinking their actions earned their salvation. So it is today that people who struggle in poverty try to change the bible to say that extra money is a bad thing when in reality the scripture is clear that the power to get wealth comes from God, poverty is a curse, Jesus has redeemed us from the curse and now it's all on US if we are willing to let the Holy Spirit change our thinking or not.  As I said, in my journeys, finding people who victimize and justify is pretty common. You know them..they are the ones who say things like "I don't have the time" or "I can't afford this or that".

Finding those who will repent of the old mindsets and embrace what God is trying to do new in their lives is rare... and when i find them, I stay close and celebrate them.

Mark

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