Everywhere we look, the news is not good. More companies are reducing the number of employees they have, driving many out of work. The stock market is bouncing around like a rubber ball, each bounce based on another tidbit of financial news. Due to the drop in stock prices, many retirement plans are worth half or less of what they were just 6-7 months ago. The world is in chaos. All of us have been caught up in the financial crisis we are currently facing. Some more than others. What are we to do?
First, we are not to lose focus on who our Heavenly Father is. He is bigger than all the world leaders, financial giants, and business giants. He is our creator, protector and provider. Never lose focus on who He is. No world crisis is bigger than our Father. Too many times we put our trust in worldly things and not in God. As we are seeing now, worldly things can be taken away in an instant.
David knew the value of putting his trust in our Lord. In Psalm 118:8, David says, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Great words of wisdom.
As we all seek to follow God's commands and be good stewards of what He's given us it's important to make every dollar count. The world tells us that in uncertain times we should cut spending. The world looks at giving to your church and other ministries as wasteful. The Bible is full of Scriptures relating the benefits of giving to His work. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, Paul talks about the churches in Macedonia. The churches were being persecuted and they were poor, without much wealth.
In verses 3-4 Paul states; "For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering of the saints." Not only did they give out of their poverty, they gave more. Look at how they gave in verse 3, "freely, willingly..." Paul goes on in verse 5 to say, "And not only as we had hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." The first and most important part of any gift, is to first give yourself to the Lord.
During these times of uncertainty, focus your heart first on God. Give yourself to Him first. Then, consider what and how you can give financially to your church and to Hutchcraft Ministries for spiritual rescues. All of Hutchcraft Ministries' funding, used to carry the Gospel to a lost and dying world, comes from the generous gifts of you, our friends and prayer warriors. As you are able, please consider supporting us this year with both your prayers and finances. In this way, we can continue to share Jesus with a world that is lost without Him.
Philippians 4:17b - "I am looking for what may be credited to your account."