The natural next question is, “What does God want me to do with His money?”  “Knowing my children and my community are watching, how can I be the best example I can be?”  In dealing with these questions, it helps me to understand I am living in enemy territory.  Each family and community of faith is a beachhead in the battle between good and evil and you can expect the enemy to fight with all he has.  That means that he will do everything within his power to make you want more than you have because he knows the love of money and possessions excludes the love of God.  We are inundated with media of all sorts, flooding us with images and sensations to entice us to want more and more.  Our preoccupation with celebrities, the wealthy and the powerful serves to make us more and more discontent with our mundane lifestyles.  Our response to this onslaught reveals the true love of our life.  Do we love God or money?

It seems God’s view is money is not the issue.  It is our love for the things money can buy.  We want more money in order to …  “But godliness with contentment is great gain,” (1 Tim 6:6 NIV).  God seems to be saying the issue is contentment.  Godliness means being content with what we have, whether that is little or much.  When we are content and more money comes our way, we are in a much better position to pray and ask God what He wants us to do with it.  When we are discontent, the drive to acquire more drives us away from God.

How can I apply this in my life?  First, I have to remember that everything I have has been given to me by God.  “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer,” (1 Tim 4:4-5).  If you have much, praise God for it.  If you have little, trust God that He has given you what you need to be content. 

Second, I have to understand the gifts I have been given are not mine, but God’s.  My money is not 90% mine and 10% God’s – it is 100% God’s.  And, He is very interested in what I choose to do with the gifts He has given me.  My use of those gifts is the best indicator of my heart.  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matt 6:21). 

Third, God has given us instruction in how to give.  “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come”, (1 Cor 16:2).  Ryrie uses this verse to demonstrate four principles of giving: (a) Giving is incumbent on everyone (“each one of you”); (b) giving is to be proportionate (“as he may prosper”); (c) giving is in private (“put aside and save”); and (d) giving should be periodic (“every week”).