For a while I’ve joked about Publishers Clearinghouse being my retirement plan. It was a joke, yet I daydreamed at times about what I would do if I actually won a bunch of money.
Then I realized the other day that coming into a bunch of money wouldn’t do me well spiritually. I need that uncertainty about tomorrow, that unsureness about just how everything will get taken care of. It builds my dependence on God, keeps me from thinking that I can do it all myself. I’m not saying that that’s true for everyone, but I’ve found it to be true for me. Throughout my adult life, I’ve gone through times where I didn’t know where the money would come from… and it came. I’ve also gone through some times when I thought, “OK, we’ve finally saved up some money.” And something has come along to wipe out that amount.
It takes me a while, but hopefully I’m learning the lesson. I’ve prayed the prayer from Proverbs that God would let me be neither rich nor poor. And he has faithfully answered that prayer. Now it’s up to me to continue to trust in him.
(Photo by Miroslav Sárička, www.sxc.hu)
I think about winning PCH, too, but my thoughts go to how much I could help my family and missionaries now known about and that I would learn about after winning. I really don’t want a lot of money to cause me to draw away from God. But sometimes I would like not to have to worry about money just a little bit. I know – “be anxious for nothing” – but when medical bills keep piling up, I do become anxious, then have to plead forgiveness for lack of faith. God is always close. I just need to remember that.
Yes, my daydreaming was mainly about being able to do all sorts of ministry without having to worry about where the funds come from. While I know I shouldn’t worry about where the funds come from, I think God wants me to be dependent on him for such things. He might decide to fund my ministry through some sort of windfall, but it’s much more likely that he wants me to continue to look to him for my daily bread, rather than blessing me with a bread factory.
Grace and peace,
Tim
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
Unless you work for AIG :)
So you’re saying PCH never gave Adam any money? :-)
Sure they did! He bought bread and ate it under the hot sunshine.