Resources for the Lord’s Work

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me … Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:12,13,18,19).

“And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an adundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 10:13)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

If even the Apostle Paul had times when he suffered need and was hungry, then it should be no surprise if today there are some servants of God who suffer need and go hungry. Paul was driven by the love of God and would keep on pioneering churches in places where no one believed yet. He faced persecutions from all kinds of people in the places he went. Once he got the church established, he tended to move on. Most of the time the churches he established forgot him, they did not help him with his mission. But the Philippian church was an exception. Paul commends them for their generosity and spirit of giving towards missions. It is to people who give to missions that God’s promise is given, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory.” Since the context is material giving, it is not stretching the text to say that this Scripture certainly includes financial needs.

Therefore we cannot say that if a person is poor or suffers financial lack that they are somehow less spiritual, or don’t have the highest revelation of God and so on. Such a person exalts themselves over the greatest apostle of all times apart from Christ Himself, who was not known for a life of extravagance and luxury on earth, though He is the Creator of it all!

There are promises for prosperity but as the saying goes “timing is everything”. This is true in God’s Kingdom as well as in the markets. Nowhere does God promises instant relief from financial problems. But the Bible does reveal that God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant (Psalm 35:27). The fact remains though that there will be times of waiting, times that require endurance, trust, patience and continued faith in the midst of adversity.

The best thing is when pioneering preachers are adequately supported to spread the gospel to new areas. If the church had taken this seriously, historically, I am sure we would have finished the Great Commission centuries ago. Unfortunately, the tendency has been for the best leaders to stay at head office and gather unto themselves resources for the home base all the time. While there is a place for this at times I believe it is not in the Spirit of Christ who “though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich”. In order words, Christ, who had it all, gave it up so that OTHERS could be blessed.

There has been a tendency to despise truly apostolic people and to exalt those who know how to minister to the desires of fat Christians. It was so even in Paul’s day and so it is today. Nevertheless, there are still those who may be found who have a commitment to God’s great commission, while having a measure of the wisdom of Solomon to build wealth. Praise God for such people.

I would like to examine some of the different ways God can provide, including some practical business and investment ideas, many of which I have put into practice myself. This is done with the hope that those who are called to the ministry of giving will be empowered in a greater way to get the money which can be put into Kingdom Purposes.

Please check out some of the related pages under this one.