HANDLE WEALTH WITH CAUTION

Saturday 21 July Bible in one year: 1 Samuel 21-24.

Memorise: And Lord was angry with Solomon,because his heart turned from the Lord,God of Israel ,which hap appeared unto him twice, 1 Kings 11:9

Our God is a generous God who delights in the prosperity of His servants.He grants to them the power to get wealth. However this wealth has eroded the faith of some while some others have turned their trust to the wealth they have.God so loved Solomon that He blessed him to a point where silver was like ordinary stones during his reign.Since he had so much material things, he began to acquire women contrary to the law of kings. He married 700 wives; as if that was not enough, he added 300 concubines. One man to 1,000 woman!There are some he will sleep with once in three years! Most of his wives were non-isrealites ;they were princess from various kingdoms. Not many kings or presidents in our time can beat solomon’s evil record. 1 Kings 11:4 says

for it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of Davis his father.

Wealth brings power and wealth is a very dangerous thing. Solomon married these strange wives because he could afford to. This is one area where poverty acts as a safeguard for the poor. There are some evil things that some poor people could have acquired if they were rich. But because they are poor, their minds are completely away from such things. The poor hardly argue with God’s Word but the rich do that often because what they have beclouds their mind. Solomon got so intoxicated by his wealth that he multiplied wives to himself, who then influenced him to build shrines to their gods and goddess near Jerusalem. They further influenced him to join them in worshipping their idols until his heart was totally turned away from God. God became angry with the one He loved so much . If Solomon was poor, would he have been able to amass those wives? I doubt it. The wealth that takes you away from God’s will and Word is a curse not a blessing. Handle your wealth with lots of care,prayer and fear of God.

PRAYER POINT:

The wealth that is not brought under God’s control will end up controlling its owner. Pray that the wealth that will lead you astray will never come to you.

Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye

THE GENEROUS GOD

Thursday 19 July                              Bible in one year : 1 Samuel 14-16

Memorise: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?Romans 8:32

Read : Romans 8 :31-32

Our God can do anything. He has all the resources He needs. Unlike men, He is not limited in anyway. Genesis 17:1 says He is the All Sufficient God.The earth with all its fullness belongs to Him(Psalm 24:1). All the silver and gold are also His (Haggai 2:8). In 1 Kings 17:2-6 , God asked birds to serve breakfast and dinner to one of His prophets on daily basis. Somebody once asked where the birds got the bread and meat from ? Where did God get the bread and fish to feed the 4,000 and the 5,000? Where did God get the oil that the widow kept pouring into empty vessels until they filled from one bottle of oil? Asking any of these questions simply means that you have not known the All Sufficient God. He has been baking bread before any bakery existed and has been raining meat before any abattoir existed.Matthew 17:24-27 talks of a gold coin in the mouth of a fish. Are you asking where the fish got the money from ? God knows how to get whatever He wants because He created everything and He knows exactly where He kept them. Human beings only know about what they have discovered but the greater parts of God’s resources are yet to be discovered by man, but God knows where he kept them.

God is unlimited in love. The love of men is very limited. Usually , men may love you when they can get something in return from you. An African proverbs says: “if fire burns you and your child, you will attend to yourself first”. This implies your love for your child is limited. However with our God, it is not so. Even when a mother forgets her sucking child, God cannot forget his own, even if they look neglected ,wretched or haggard. God will not forget you. He loves you without reservation. His love made him to die for us while we were yet in our sins (Romans 5:8). Our God who has unlimited love and unlimited resources also has unlimited generosity. Blessed be His holy name! Romans 8:32 says if God could give His only begotten son, what else can He not give us ? God can give you beyond what you can ever ask or think because He is unlimited in generosity. This season, you shall be a recipient of His generosity in Jesus name.

KEY POINT:If God can give you His best, expect all other blessings that do not measure up to this Gift.