It’s hard to believe in provision when you're struggling to pay your bills, lose a job, or feel overwhelmed by the rising cost of everything. But that is actually when it’s most crucial to reflect on what the bible says about money in relation to God. 

Who Really Owns It?

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters." (Psalm 24:1-2)

We can’t truly give generously or wisely until we have the proper perspective on ownership. We work hard, earn paychecks, and buy things, leading us to naturally believe that what we have belongs to us. However, this passage reminds us of a fundamental truth: we are not owners, but stewards.

When we view our resources (i.e., our money, our time, our talents) as our own, we tend to grip them tightly, fearful of losing them. But when we seek the wisdom to recognize that God is the true owner of everything, our grip loosens. We can realize that we are temporary stewards of His creation and that this new perspective is the first step toward a life of freedom. We need to always remember that we are not holding onto our treasure but rather we are managing His kingdom resources.

The Principle of Sowing

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Once we understand that God owns it all, practicing generosity becomes an act of faith rather than a financial loss. Paul uses the metaphor of farming to teach us about the kingdom's economy. A farmer does not view the seed thrown into the dirt as "lost," rather  he views it as "invested."

Worldly wisdom says to hoard what you have to ensure security. Godly wisdom says to "sow" what you have to produce a harvest. Generosity is how we break the hold of greed on our hearts. When we give, we are declaring that we trust God’s system of multiplication more than the world’s system of accumulation.

The Promise of Provision

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Generosity is difficult when we fear scarcity. We may be thinking "if I give this away, I won't have enough for myself." This is where we must anchor ourselves in the promise found in Philippians.

Paul wrote these words to a church that had just given generously to support him. He was assuring them that because they looked after God’s work, God would look after their needs. It’s imperative that we understand that God may not fulfill every want of ours but He does guarantee that our needs will be met. The Creator who owns the cattle on a thousand hills is fully capable of refilling the vessels that pour themselves out for others.

Prayer

God, you are Jehovah Jireh, our provider.  Help us to remember that you are our provider and that we will never go with our needs unmet.  Open our hearts and hands, to recognize that You are the giver of all things and that anything I try to hold on to tight doesn't belong to me but instead it was given to us so we can steward it as it ultimately belongs to you.  Father, help us overcome our unbelief that tries to keep us from seeing your Hand at work in our life.  We thank you Lord, we know you are working in the midst of this. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.