Week 4 Day 19

One of the reasons that people often cite for avoiding wealth, or making peace with mediocrity is how Jesus said that we cannot serve God and Mammon. Without looking further into what Jesus was meaning, it can confuse your heart enough that you don't have full peace seeking and pursuing influence.

If we are going to ask Jesus for influence, and if we want to rise to the top of our field so that we can further the kingdom, then we need to make peace with this notion of promotion.

Let's look at two different scriptures ...

Proverbs 10:22 -"The blessing of the Lord brings wealth without painful toil for it." And in a different version ... "The blessing of the Lord will make you rich, without adding sorrow to it."

 When looking at wealth and riches, it is easy to see that much of it has added obstacles, burdens, and problems to people's lives. Success and wealth gotten by unrighteous ways has to be maintained with unrighteousness. This is why it is so vital to set a standard, a moral compass, for your business. Because when the Lord breathes increase, it does not come with sorrow. It does not come with painful toil. Although influence always adds responsibility, the wealth of the Lord comes with the favor, ease, and counsel of the Lord with it. 

In Deuteronomy 8:18, after reminding the Israelites that it was not by their strength that they had wealth, the Word says, "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."

The saying that states ... Money is a horrible master but a great servant ... is very true. To align with the way that Jesus talks about money and wealth, we have to have this in our minds. Structuring yourself in such a way that you always have an open hand is vital, or this master/servant issue can quickly get out of balance.

Vision of why you want to be successful. Vision of how you will use influence. And promises and words from God will be the anchor when opportunities come your way that will bring you wealth ... with sorrow. Lets think about these questions.

1) Do you ever struggle with pursuing success and influence? What thinking makes this difficult?

2) Have you ever earned money/received money that came with sorrow attached to it? Ask Jesus to increase your wealth and for it to come with peace and the provision necessary to steward it properly.

3) It is Jesus who gives you the power to produce wealth. Ask Him to give you creative ideas, solutions, and inventions. Ask Him to breathe an impartation upon you and your business to create/produce wealth.

Bless

___________, I bless you in the name of Jesus. I bless you to have an abundance of wealth. I bless you to have a wealth of joy, a wealth of encounter, a wealth of influence, and a wealth of money. I bless you to be filled to the brim and overflowing with the fruits of the Spirit. I bless you to hunger only for that wealth that the Lord gives.

Declare

I declare that I will week God for the ideas for my business. I will commit myself to His counsel in how I grow my wealth. I will serve God, and I will make money my servant, not my master. I will propose to use it as Jesus instructs, and I will joyful give and receive.