The Daily Thought Shaker
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May 22
But the righteous will live by his faith. – Habakkuk 2:4
ARE YOU LIVING BY FAITH – OR BY CREDIT?
A lot of folks in our society today spend a considerable amount more than they make, so much so that, at one point, nation-wide, we spent about 11% more than our income. With the downturn in the economy, that gap has lessened somewhat, but it still exists. Although I haven’t seen any statistics for Christians in particular, I would be willing to speculate that the problem exists there, too.
Some people have lived all their lives on credit and really don’t see the problem. Even if we are seemingly able to manage the imbalance (although it will eventually get every person in trouble who tries it), such a lifestyle goes against the way God would have us to live.
One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:14), meaning that He is our provider. He has stated that we are to trust Him, to have faith in Him and Him alone to live our lives, one day at a time (Matt. 6:25-34). In fact, the Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6). That means that we are to live on what He has provided because He knows what we need and therefore gives us that; nothing more, and nothing less.
“But Dave,” you may say, “I can’t always afford the things I want to buy at the moment and credit gives me the opportunity to enjoy now and pay later. Is that so bad?” I would submit that, in general, yes, it is bad. Why? Because, when we buy something on credit that we cannot otherwise afford, we are, in effect, saying that we know better than God does what is best for us. Now, I realize that I have “quit preachin’ and gone to meddlin’!” as one old parishioner once told his pastor, but that is what the Bible really says, isn’t it? If we were to not live on credit, would that mean that we would have to change our lifestyles? Quite probably. Would that also mean that we would, as a result, begin to learn to trust in God more each day for our very existence? Again, quite probably. So, the real question is: Which is more important to you, your current lifestyle or walking closer with God?
If you are not living within the means God has provided and are instead routinely using credit to get by each day, you can change that, if you want to. If you don’t know where to start, or if you are so far in debt that you can’t imagine ever being out of it, I have good news for you! There is help available! God has promised to honor our baby steps of faith and eventually turn them into giant leaps of trust in Him, but we have to make those baby steps first. One of those baby steps might be to ask a pastor to help you work out a budget that would not only allow you to live within the means God has provided for you but also to work at paying down your debt so that one day you will be free to use all the resources God has placed at your disposal for His work and glory, and not to pay interest to the credit card company!
It takes courage to live by faith and not by credit, but God will never desert you or forsake you. When you are obedient to Him, He will bless you in ways that money cannot buy, as well as providing the material necessities of life. Why not resolve today to start living by faith, for a change?
"Talk what we will of faith, if we do not trust and rely upon Him, we do not believe in Him." – Antony Farindon
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About the Book
Ever wish for something to challenge your thinking? How about a fresh application of looking at something? Well, The Daily Thought Shaker ® could be just what the doctor ordered. It is a collection of devotions that adhere to the truth of God’s Word with new twists at just about every turn. Whether you like to start out your day with a new thought about how God wants you to live, or if you prefer to end your day thinking about God, The Daily Thought Shaker® can help. Just flip through the pages and take a random sample of the titles: “Batteries Not Included” (April 29–30), “Hypothetical Grace” (June 26), “Are You Done Yet?” (March 17–18), “Are You Living by Faith or by Credit?” (May 22), “Who in Hell Knows Your Name?” (October 29), and “Customized Christianity” (July 15), just to name a few. The Daily Thought Shaker® will challenge your thinking in the application of Biblical truth in your daily life.
About the Author
David George is a retired USAF colonel who flew C-141s, C-130s, and a few smaller aircraft, starting in Vietnam and finishing his thirty-year career with the conflict in the Balkans in the mid- and late 1990s. During that time he served as deacon chairman and music director in a number of military churches. Being a native Texan, he retired from the Air Force and came back to Texas with his wife of forty-four years, Chérie, the Lord leading them to San Antonio and Castle Hills First Baptist Church in 1999. He began directing the senior adult choir known as the Glory Land Singers in 2002, and in 2004 was asked to come on staff as the Senior Adult Pastor, a position he holds today. He and Chérie have two married children and five grandchildren.