Dimes to Dollars to Donuts

 

Dimes to Dollars to Donuts

Today I would like to speak about money. Yes that substance we need for our daily living. We need money, for our needs both pressing and joyful, and we obtain it in various ways.

The bible talks about work, and resourcefulness.

I am aware that there are some who are receiving monthly disability income due to injuries, age, or illness, but I know of several who also work in their small garden growing vegetables and fruit for their personal bounty but to also to share with others. Others are able to be a care person and earn extra income. Some have taken children into their home while parents needed to work, thus providing additional funds.

Jesus told a story about a man who gave his three servants various amount of money and expected them to invest and gain a prophet. Two did so, and doubled the amount, but the third person was fearful and hid the treasure. When their master returned from his journey, he was pleased with the two and give them greater authority, but he was not happy with the third man, and told him that he should have at least did something with his talent.  God is expecting us to use what he has given us to bless others and this can happen when we have more than enough for ourselves and are willing to share with others.

I am reminded of a story in 2 Kings about a woman whose prophet husband had died, leaving her with huge debts. She appealed to the prophet Elisha because the creditors were about to take her two sons as slaves to pay the debts she owed. Elisha asked her what she had in her home, and she replied nothing but a small jar of oil. The Prophet told her to have her two sons go to all their neighbors and friends and borrow vessels and he added the words “NOT a FEW.” Elisha was telling her to think big and not small. Our God is the God of surprising us with miracles we cannot imagine at the time; until they are revealed. It is up to us to allow God to be BIG and GLORIOUS and to realize he has tremendous resources beyond our natural understanding.

So the woman did as Elisha instructed and when the house was full of empty vessels, he instructed her to begin to pour oil into the many jars.  Soon the house was full of oil in the vessels, and the woman became - - an oil merchant - - earning enough to pay her debt and to live off the rest.

Proverbs chapter 31 tells us about a woman who was extremely industrious. I read in part; Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil, All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

This woman is many things, first she is virtuous and trustworthy, then she prepares food for her family as she has recipe books so she can cook healthy meals.

She grocery shops wisely finding the best items at the better prices. She gets up early probably to visit God in the secret place. She purchases a product and resells it at a profit.

She is creative, making things to sell for extra income. She plants and harvests. She exercises within reason to keep her body healthy. She helps the poor and needy as much as possible. She makes sure her family is clothed and warm in the winter. She has strength and honor and her words are generous with wisdom. She abides by the law of kindness, as she watches first over her own household. Her husband adores her and praises her. Her fear of the Lord is her charm and beauty.

Not all of us can purchase a field like this woman does, but God is able to reveal to us methods to earn additional income. There are inventions and new business endeavors that have not been discovered as yet, but God is able to show you great and mighty things.

I have a friend who researched dishes and the various patterns. She would visit yard sales, thrift stores and discover china dishes sometimes just a few pieces. Then she would enter them on e-Bay, as many have china with missing items, and she was able to make a nice profit.

My mother did not work outside the home, but she sewed our dresses, aprons, sleep wear saving my dad lots of money with her shrewdness. Mother also had a large garden, that supplied our vegetables, she tended to the chickens for our eggs, and rabbits which she raised for meat during the meat shortage in World War 2. She was able to put aside a small savings for emergency needs, because she was wise in her purchases and care for us.

The book of Acts tells us of a woman named Lydia. The Apostle Paul first encountered Lydia at Philippi, in eastern Macedonia. She was a "worshiper of God," probably a proselyte, or convert to Judaism. Luke the author of Acts, called Lydia a seller of purple goods made from expensive purple dye. Since Lydia's husband is not mentioned but she was a householder, scholars have speculated she was a widow who took over her late husband's business of selling purple.

God "opened her heart" to pay close attention to Paul's preaching, causing her conversion. She immediately requested to be baptized in the river and her household along with her. Lydia must have been wealthy, because she insisted Paul and his companions to stay at her home. She was also able to give Paul financial assistance as he left to continue his journeys.

God is our provider, and he may not always send ravens with bread and meat to feed us like he did the prophet Elijah, but he can reveal to us ways to increase our income. God also desires to give us a wider vision on how to share the gospel with others.

I remember a story Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin told us at Bible School. A woman needed an income but she had an ADD handicap. Her church taught Positive assertions; and she began to make daily scripture confessions that she could focus and learn and that her mind was alert. She confessed that she would become successful in what ever she put her hand to do. The woman considered that she could become a vendor and sell peanuts at the fair or along the highway, or she could become a contractor and build houses. It was up to her to think big or think small. She decided it would be better to think big and by skillful planning and the help of an investor, she became a wealthy woman as she built and sold homes.

Today, I am asking God to help us all focus on the outcome he desires for us. At times we must enlarge our vision to enable us to further the tasks before us. This bigger vision also includes how we are to minister to our neighbors and our loved ones. How can we bless them with supernatural visitations from above. God desires for souls to be brought into the kingdom. They are the jewels he is wanting for us to discover.

Many of these precious gems are in the garbage heap, but God will show us creative ways to bring them into his sheep fold as we ask him to. Understand that God is all powerful and full of tender grace and mercy and his plans for us are always good.

As we pray today over our citizens in our city, our State and Nation, may we decree that hearts will be open to receive Jesus. He is the one who can lift them up to a higher plane than they now find themselves. Let us also be open to God's voice as he desires to enlarge our visions of what he desires for each of our personal lives.