Financial Challenges

“Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.”  – 2 Timothy 3:12, MSG

I am convinced that the more we align our lives with God’s values and principles, the more of his joy we will experience in every area of our lives! But even if we follow God’s principles on finances faithfully, we can know with certainty that we will still experience trials and hardships. And some of those trials will be financial in nature.

In fact, I predict that you will experience attacks from the evil one as you commit to following Jesus in your finances through disciplined living or increased giving to God’s causes.  Count on it!  Also, whenever you receive an unexpected financial windfall, an unexpected need usually follows close on its heels.  So be ready for it!  “Be on guard.  Stand true to what you believe.  Be courageous.  Be strong.”  (1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT)

James urges his readers, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) The concept of “testing” described by James is not the idea of taking an exam to see if you pass or fail. Instead, the idea behind “testing” is demonstrating or proving the effectiveness of our faith in the goodness and faithfulness of God.

God uses hardships and trials in our lives to reveal himself to us in ways we could not otherwise know him.  Consider Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?”  The Psalmist expressed these words from the depths of his life experience. Unless we have known what it is to endure “dry” and “parched” times, we will find it difficult to truly thirst for God and know the refreshment that only he can give in times like that.  Only through the intensity of our anguish do we recognize and experience the depths of his love.

He crafts and allows hardship in our lives in order to press us into him and to conform us to his likeness. How can we know his comfort and healing unless we suffer?  How can we experience his provision unless we have been in need?  His motivation is always love and seeking our best. When we recognize this and can humbly accept hardship from his hand, we can step into and move through hardships with an attitude of:

• Peace and joy knowing that he loves us and the outcome is in his hands
• Hopeful expectation, because he is growing us
• Adventure, because Jesus Christ leads us into new territory!

Written by Rob Fischer
©2005 by ChangePoint