ICS Daily Devotions
Sorrow-Free Blessings
1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The Bible says that the love of the money, and not money itself, is a root of all kinds of evil, and it causes even believers to stray from their faith in God. When we don’t acknowledge God as the source of our provision, we take it into our own hands to make money without clear moral guidance. Therefore, even believers can end up piercing themselves with many sorrows as they compromise their beliefs and principles in the pursuit of wealth. God is not against us making money; money itself is neutral, and all of us need it to survive, but more importantly, God doesn’t want money to be our god. When we give cheerfully and willingly to God through tithing and freewill offering, we are ensuring that we are good stewards of God’s resources.
David’s motivation in asking what the rewards were for killing Goliath stems from his desire to honour his father (1 Samuel 17:26), the reward and tax exemption would have removed a financial burden from his entire family. Additionally, the Jews believe that financial prosperity comes from God and is a sign that they are walking in obedience. According to the Pentateuch, curses and poverty will come upon those who do not obey God’s law and statutes.
Deuteronomy 30:9-10 (NKJV) The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
In both the Old and New Testaments, the key to being blessed holistically is to walk in obedience to God’s commands. The difference in the New Testament is that Jesus has helped us to fulfil the requirements of the law because we are unable to do so in the weakness of our flesh. However, we still have a choice to either submit to God’s plan and purpose for our lives or to walk in our own ways. As Christians, if we walk in the ways of the world and the flesh, we will reap the same outcome as the world, whereas the blessings that come from walking in obedience have no sorrow added to them. In the meantime, God will carry us through every obstacle when we are yoked with Him and call upon Him as our covenant partner to help us. Consecrating our plans to God and living a sanctified life is a life of obedience.
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
Sermon Series: Trailblazer (Part 2)
