Monday: Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:12-14
Far too many of us today are enslaved by our debt to others. We get so far into it that we orient our lives around making the payments. One of the consequences of this is that when a chance to serve God comes around we can’t do it because our finances are already spoken for. As we said this last weekend, the first step to defeating the power idols have over us is to identify what they are in our lives. What are the idols that tax your financial resources?
Tuesday: Scripture: Psalm 37:21 & Proverbs 22:7-9
John and Charles Wesley (the founders of the methodist movement) knew the importance of paying their debts. Twice they saw their father tossed into debtors’ prison. With this John told his followers to earn all you can, save all you can and give all you can. However the caveat was that we are not to earn all we can through cutting corners or dishonest means. Are you doing all you can to pay down your debts? What could you do more of to pay them down faster? How could this help the greater good and allow you to give more to things you believe in?
Wednesday: Scripture Matthew 8:21-22
Work is a kind of loaded term. It is something that we are called to do and that allow us to add value to the community. Think about a time where you couldn’t work, or about the voices you have heard as the government shutdown has touched so many lives. Countless times people said, “I just want to work.” Our work is an essential part of being the people god made us to be. It is a blessing. Take some time today to reflect on the blessing of work and be in prayer for those who cannot or do not want to work.
Thursday: Scripture 14:23; 12:11
Get rich quick schemes sound too good to be true because…well… they are. Many times they prey on the desperate. Scripture tells us that there is value in a full day of work. In virtually every area of life, real and lasting good doesn’t come quickly. We lose weight to be healthier over time, our personal relationships happen over time. Patience and hard work might not be fun, but the result is much more satisfying than a quick and easy path. What hard long paths are you going down right now? What do you need to stay encouraged on this journey?
Friday: Scripture: Matthew 21:28-31
Church can be filled with a lot of empty words. Paying lip service without the commitment to follow through is hypocrisy and turns people away from the church. At FaithPoint we strive to practice what we preach. Tomorrow we are hosting a food drop at the middle school so that we can ensure that we are caring for those in need in our community because we have said this is something we are called to do. As we look to 2014 and the ways we can financially support the mission and ministry of Faithpoint we will be in conversation about this with one another. I would encourage you to ask questions and see how and why others give to the church. When we put our words into action lives will change through the work of God.
Saturday: Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:1
The year of jubilee (that happened every 50th year) was like God’s reset button when debts were forgiven, land lay fallow and was given back to the original owners. There may not be anyone who owes you money, but you might have a relationship that remains strained because of a past sin or conflict. If that’s true, then it’s time to practice jubilee and let it go. It’s time to push the reset button on our lives, to open ourselves to new opportunities, to start with a clean slate and do better this time around.