What if . . .?

They despise those whom God rejects,
but honour those who obey the LORD,
They always do what they promise,
no matter how much it may cost.
They make loans without charging interest
and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.
Whoever does these things will always be secure.
(verses 4,5)

Read Psalm 15  

I often catch myself thinking, ‘What if I lost my job?’ or, ‘What if the house burnt down?’ There is security in having a job, and a roof over my head, that I don’t want to lose. I love the peace of mind that comes from having money for a rainy day.

Our society spends a lot of time and effort trying to provide safety nets and relieve the ‘what if’ fears. Insurance covers any type of loss, from property to health and employment. Nobody is criticised for holding on to their hard-earned money, even if they bend the rules a bit in order to keep this security.

The people described in Psalm 15 are either well off or out of touch with society. In fact, they’re both, because money is no concern to them. They’re free to enjoy what they have because their security isn’t in money or belongings but in God.

You can be chained to the wheel, trying to earn financial freedom for fear of what might happen. Or you can trust God to provide for all your needs and live free. This doesn’t mean being wasteful with your resources but enjoying them and using them to bless others as God intended.

Lord, you have blessed me with so much. May I use what you have given to bless others today. Amen.

by Kathy Hoopman, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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