By Jeremy Lopez
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Economists are calling it the “Whiplash Effect.” After a post-pandemic surge, wages are under pressure and hiring is declining. Inflation is eroding purchasing power; people’s money just doesn’t go as far.
Does it seem you just can’t win? Is it all bad news or is there any hope? Do we just hold on? Or can we advance? Coming out stronger? That our lives and blessings would overflow to others?
Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is to this day.”
More than a nice idea, there is both a promise and a response for those who will lay ahold of it. One that is particularly relevant in the days in which we live.
The promise: the word wealth means strength; a better way to think of it is everything you need to succeed in your life mission… which includes wealth. God desires
The response: to receive the blessing requires us to approach God, and what He gives is a seed, a strategy, an idea, a new business, and so on. The wealth to fulfill our life mission is dormant inside that seed. The power to get that wealth is our faithfulness applied to God’s direction.
The promise that, “the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous” creates the idea of God showering us with that wealth & blessing. Almost as if it falls from the sky. But think of God’s people when they plundered Egypt. They left with the wealth of Egypt, and none were lame. They were blessed in every way.
How did they receive that wealth? God instructed them to ask the Egyptians for gifts. God had already moved upon the hearts of the Egyptians… the blessing was already waiting for their response.
Or Isaac? In the middle of a famine God specifically required him to stay put. Not to go where it seemed easier. Isaac sowed in the land. He received a 100-fold increase. And he continued prospering and became very prosperous because God blessed him. In the middle of the challenge his blessing was obvious to all around him.
While the challenges we face are real, so is His blessing. But God’s blessing is awaiting our response. God desires for us to live in power and overflow into other’s lives. He provides a seed for our success.
The decision: we can choose to focus on the very real issues facing us. To look with the natural eyes. Like the spies who saw the blessing but were overwhelmed by the thought of the giants.
Or we can approach the living God. Approach Him with confidence that He has a plan. A strategy. An opportunity not to survive, but flourish in any situation. So that our lives would overflow to those around us.
Randy Gladden
