July 27, 2023

Dear Ones,

  Hope you are keeping cool today. Al is off to men’s group, and I am cleaning as we are having a pastor friend and his dad from Tulsa coming this afternoon after our Bible study. We see them only once a year so it is a special time. It is also Donut Day here!

Devotions from Judy’s heart 

  Money, money, money! What is enough money? Some people have very little money and are extremely happy and some with more money than they can ever spend are very unhappy. Jesus had lots to say about money for we can’t serve both God and Money. Wise King Solomon wrote that “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” (Eccl. 5:10)

 Money is one of the hot topics in marriage, as each of us have our own perspective of money which influences how we make decisions daily. If a lavish spender is married to a stingy hoarder both will have to do lots of compromising if there is to be harmony. Also, both may be greedy as Michael Mangis says in his book, Signature Sins, one would be greedy for spending and the other greedy for having money. As a practicing psychologist, he rarely sees a couple that money isn’t an issue of lots of contention and difficult discussions.  Maybe each one of us can think of how we feel about money…are we generous to a fault, or are we stingy and worry if we give away money or goods, we will not have enough for ourselves?  We see a little bit of both sides of the coin in Scripture for Jesus said we shouldn’t be so concerned about money and what we eat and drink but be like the birds and flowers who don’t toil. But then on the other hand, he also speaks of sloth of the servant who doesn’t make a profit for his master. Or throw in the example of Mary who pours a whole bottle of expensive ointment on Jesus feet, that would have been enough to feed many poor and yet He commends her. Then there is the question of how much do we need, and what else is simply wants or luxuries?

   Sometimes we have a hard time letting go of our money as we don’t believe God will take care of our needs, as if it all depends on us; but we forget we have a very rich and generous Father. How about tithing and giving at least 10% of what we have been given? Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. I am always so astounded at the many times when we gave to others and how the Lord returned it to us in other ways with more than we gave. We can never ever out give God! Let us remember our security is in the Lord, not in our money or things!

Challenge for today: Give as the Holy Spirit prompts you and renew your trust in the Lord to provide all that you will need each day.