What’s Building in Your Spiritual Account?

Do you balance according to a heavenly accounting method or according to earthly facts and figures?

Many people are tied up in their earthly assets and obligations instead of contemplating upon eternal assets and the prevailing of an eternal reality for all; including themselves, friends, strangers and loved ones. All mankind is either busy about carrying their cross for the eternal honor and glory of God or they are living for self and following the god of this world not giving any thought to the existence of an eternal realm for all; both saved and lost upon their death or the return of Christ in the clouds for His own.

Mankind is often caught up in the web of earthly financial securities rather than the blanket of God’s eternal security paying dividends forever. Do you have your mind set upon earthly based insurance policies providing coverage for you or your family upon the sudden ending of life rather than God’s eternal assurance policy which provides security and comfort now and for all eternity?

There are no financially rich individuals according to the world’s terms in the heavenly realm but there are many rich dead men in earthen cemeteries that likely God will congregate in the eternal realm amid the fires of Hell forever. If you wish to leave lasting wealth to your family which keeps on giving leave them with spiritual wealth.

Financial and material wealth are the center of the economy of this world but in the heavenly realm God’s economy operates on faith in God’s great riches, unconditional love, grace, and the mercy of God. These spiritual rich attributes are freely flowing like a fountain for whosoever will place faith in God through a personal relationship dotted with obedience, through His Son Jesus Christ. God’s economy runs on loving people and being a good steward of spiritual tools He provides to further His kingdom bringing honor and glory to God rather than falling head over heels in love with earthly minded tools and using people and circumstances to accomplish success according to the world’s standards. God desires mankind to be conduits of His blessings, not misappropriating spiritual funds by channeling them into earthly projects which will be consumed by fire and melting away rather than lasting forever in the eternal realm. Put your blessings and offerings to work for God’s golden streets instead of the world’s wacky Wall Street economy.

We all possess many diverse tools for use in our spiritual account given by God. Money is a tool. Music is a tool. Hospitality, teaching, preaching, spiritual intuition are all tools for doing God’s work. These spiritual tools are given to God’s family freely for using as spiritual implements as a manager, steward, a faithful administrator, overseer or caretaker on this earth to maintain and properly apply on opportunities, property and interests for bringing about all the glory and honor to God. Praying unto Him throughout each day while employing these tools is like having a supernatural power cord tethered from Heaven and plugged directly into our heart. Our daily work while sojourning upon this earth can be an eternally effective for bringing God glory and honor and lost souls in touch with the eternal message of God.

Life on this earth always consists of both good and honorable stewards as well as those who are dishonorable and poor administrators of the tools God has generously given those residing in His spiritual family. Spiritual gifts can be used of God to further His kingdom through living obedient and willing lives; or they can be used as utensils drawing man’s attention towards the devil; spreading his gloom and doom in the midst of the dark spiritual economy flourishing in this world turning their back towards accumulating gems and treasures in the Kingdom of God.

God’s financial plan includes an eternal payout which lasts forever in the eternal realm; while man’s financial portfolio pays out on this side if heaven, often upon retirement or a death in the family for mankind to use as he pleases in this world for his own pleasures. Those who follow God’s financial plan while sojourning upon this earth add to their spiritual bank account in the heavenly realm according to God’s will furthering the heavenly economy of God and gathering eternal rewards that will not melt away.

Living successful both upon this earth and in the eternal realm includes properly balancing spiritual needs along with current physical needs. These are parameters God ultimately controls as we live in submission to His will for our life. He keeps our spiritual health critically balanced as we keep His Word staunchly residing in the forefront of our mind allowing it to fill our heart to overflowing; not simply keeping it running in the background of our life. Our first step is giving our heart to God dwelling closely in a personal relationship with Him through faith as He generously provides our needs and for the needs of others around us as we separate from the darkness and evil from God of this world moving closer to the things of God.

Poor stewardship of tools and spiritual devices God has freely given us is always a problem of sin thriving in our life instead of nurturing and maturing in godliness. God’s desire is that we keep His circle of blessing flowing towards others who are in need of something God has given us and keeping the flow moving forward as we steward it forward in His name. Some people profess a relationship with God but have never given their heart to Him. Stewarding for God is a spiritual endeavor as God works inwardly through man’s heart to compel him to be generous towards others who are in need.

God’s Word says:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:24-25 KJV)

Giving is all about God and nothing about us. We either choose to worship money and things of this world or contemplate upon how the money God has given us can be used generously as a tool in God’s kingdom not striving to keep it to benefit from in our own life but to pass it along as a blessing from God to others. In spiritual accounting principles giving to the poor and needy is in essence investing in God and Heaven itself

Tithing to God is a floor or bottom value; not as an end or a ceiling of our giving. Philanthropy is giving of man to mankind through financial means of the world. This giving is not all together wrong but should be done after and above giving first to God through tithes and offerings towards a greater accountability towards a heavenly purpose. Treasures in the heavenly realm keep on giving for all eternity.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:33-34 KJV)

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV)

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38 KJV)

Prosperity theology and teaching has exploded in this world with many well-known faces clamoring for your money and promising your spiritual well-being in return for your generous financial donation. The only way a spiritual blessing can come from a financial gift to a ministry is if it is according to the will of God in your life not done according to emotions centered upon the will and ways of man. The health and wealth teaching and preaching often neglects the part of following Jesus sacrificially giving money in good stewardship by testing the spirits and using great spiritual discernment following the will of God in giving to others in need.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 KJV)

We can never out give God. It is not really a question of giving and meeting a law of the tithe established early in the Old Testament, but rather giving generously; over and above the requirement of the law in all things. God’s holy attributes include giving; sacrificial giving. If it were not for Him sacrificing His life upon the cross for our sin and rising the third day we would not experience His great mercy, grace, and love in our own life. We would all be facing the fires of Hell forever in our spiritually destitute existence. But God, He gave His spiritual wealth towards all mankind that whosoever will believe will have an eternal account in the heavenly realm with God forever.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18 KJV)

God does not call us to give liberally to those who are fortunate in this life and able to repay us deed for deed. God desires that we give liberally to those who can never repay us. This is a picture of Jesus giving His life for the entire debt of sin: past, present, and future. This was a monumental debt that we could never come close to repaying. In fact, if it was left up to mankind we could never come close to paying the huge price. Jesus paid this debt for us knowing we could never pay it ourselves. It is with this same attitude that He desires we treat others who are in great need.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:12-14 KJV)

We often poor time and treasure into what will benefit the wealthiest of believer’s with little regard for those who are truly lost and spiritually poor and in great need of mercy.

An example from the early New Testament

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. (Acts 4:32-35 KJV)

Many try to gain all the world without any thought towards toward laying up treasures in heaven; but God asks us to consider paying a high cost to follow Him and this includes building up treasures in heaven rather than stockpiling worthless fortune upon this earth which will burn in the heat of destruction upon this earth one day.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:34-37 KJV)

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 KJV)

Needs are always an opportunity to trust in God and to bless others as a conduit of God. Have your eternal needs been satisfied in the things of God which last forever; or are you wallowing in the wealth of this world and eternally lost forever? One day God is going to open His book and begin the final accounting of all mankind; whether they be a resident of an eternal Heaven or Hell.

6
JAN
2015

The Crucified Life Ministries Blog