MANAGING
RESOURCES
God’ s Way
By: Rev. Donna Hayes
P H I L I P P I A N S 4: 1 9 S A Y S, " B U T M Y G O D W I L L S U P P L Y A L L Y O U R N E E D S A C C O R D I N G T O H I S R I C H E S I N G L O R Y B Y C H R I S T J E S U S. "
EVERYTHING belongs to God. God is the Source that provides all our resources. God is Jehovah Jireh, the God who Provides. Luke 12:48b KJV says, " For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required;" So what are we doing with what God has given us? How have we managed the resources, and would God be pleased?
On many occasions, when I was younger, I made quite a bit of money and was very careless. I would spend it as quickly as I could. The more I made, the less money I seemed to have, the less time I had to myself, and the harder I worked. There had to be a better way, and it was God ' s Way. On what job can we go and not be evaluated on our performance? None and it is the same with God. God ' s system of management is called Stewardship. We will have to make an account to God about the job we have done managing or mismanaging what we were given in this life. God requires us to be good stewards of all God allows us to have: our jobs, finances, homes, temples( bodies), children, the blessings of material things, and even our time. I had to ask the question of God: Are you pleased with my managing skills? God: " No." Stewardship is a commitment and a transformative journey that leads to a better life. Things improved once I changed my behavior, but it was not without learning to discipline myself and be deliberate and intentional. So, let me share with you what I learned about Managing Resources God ' s Way.
First and most importantly, it all starts with PRAYER. Managing our resources God ' s way requires prayer. Seeking God for every decision reassures us that we are on the right path and that our actions align with God ' s will. Pray about every purchase and decision, even down to where you should or should not go, what you should and should not wear, and who you should and should not hang out with, date, or marry. Who better to get the answer? God knows everything. When we do, our anxiety and stress levels go down; praying allows us to give God all our burdens, concerns, and cares to live our lives as His children, showing the world we don ' t have to worry because we Trust God. Pray about it first, and feel the reassurance and comfort that comes with it. front door in a matter of moments with the click of a button, especially when we feel like we can ' t live without it. NO, STOP! The only thing we cannot live without is God! Everything else can wait for God ' s approval. Do you know how many " I can ' t live without " items I have not used, worn, or even taken the tags off? Come on, somebody! Say OUCH!! But it isn ' t just about material things. It is also about relationships we have entered hastily without God ' s instruction. These leave us when they are not God-ordained, a lot of times despondent, distressed, and even depressed. This is when we need Patience the most to stop us from making emotional decisions. The Bible says, " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God " Phil. 4:6. What God has for you is for you; Wait on the Lord, and feel the presence of peace that passes all understanding.
Prayer and Patience = Prosperity. Prosperity is dollars and cents and when our mind, body, and soul are in good health. We must take care of ourselves. It is essential so God can use us, and we can be good for our neighbor, whom we are commanded to love like ourselves. Financial Prosperity is a part of this, but it ' s not the only aspect. Spiritual Prosperity, which comes from aligning our lives with God ' s will, is more important. When we manage our resources according to biblical principles, we experience financial stability, spiritual growth, and peace of mind. This holistic approach to Stewardship leads to true Prosperity when managing resources God’ s Way.
Cheers! Rev. Donna
The second is to have PATIENCE. Patience is very hard for some of us. We can pray, but waiting for the answer is challenging, especially today when everything is easy to access and can be delivered to our
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