Endurance

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Jesus’ instruction to His disciples in John 16:33 is a strong reminder that we live in a fallen world. As followers of Christ, we too will experience hard times, but the Bible tells us how to overcome them. We’ll discuss it today on MoneyWise. Living in a land of religious freedom, we don’t experience the type of tribulation that followers of Christ experienced through the centuries at least not yet. We also are the wealthiest country in history, and often, Satan doesn’t attack our weaknesses, but our strengths. When we rely on ourselves, then our strengths become our weaknesses. If money is your stronghold, you become vulnerable. We don’t know what the economy will do in the months and years ahead. That uncertainty is especially strong right now, and it’s causing a lot of fear. Folks are worried about their investments, inflation, gas prices, and even their jobs. But to say we don’t know the future is only partially true. We may not know about tomorrow, but we certainly know that as disciples of Christ, our ultimate future is secure. With the gift of grace through faith, we’ll one day be with Him for eternity, joyous and safe from all tribulation. THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER It’s important to remember three things about the God we serve: First, no matter what happens in this world, God is always in control. Not a single molecule moves outside of His divine will. Isaiah 40:28 reads, Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. Second, as the Creator of the universe, God rightly owns everything, including us. We are only His stewards of what He gives us. We own nothing. Psalm 50:10 and 11 reminds us, For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. Taking this to heart should help us to not cling to our money and possessions but rather to cling to God. And third, God knows your needs. In fact, He determines them, again, according to His will. Knowing your needs, God has promised to fulfill them, and He always keeps His promises. Psalm 37:25 reads, I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Of course, as we often tell you, it’s critical not to confuse needs with wants. God will sometimes provide your wants, but He will always provide your needs. Mathew 6:25 and 26 reminds us, Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? All this should be of great comfort when we’re fearful about losing the things of this world, especially our money. God is all powerful. He owns everything, and He will never forsake us, regardless of what’s happening on Wall Street. FAITH IN TRIBULATION It also means that any tribulation we experience is the will of God. If that sounds harsh, it’s not. God always has a purpose and his purpose is always for our benefit. Romans 5:3 and 4 tells us, We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And James 1:2-4, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. God has given us everything we need to know about stewarding His resources. The Bible contains more than 2300 verses on money and possessions. When we follow His financial principles, we don’t have to worry about what tomorrow will bring. God is in control. Any hardships we face are only His way of building our character and conforming our will to His that we will become more like Christ. 2 Peter 3:18 reads, Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. What may seem harsh now will have eternal benefit. God is always acting in our best interest, as we read in Jeremiah 29:1l, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Well, I hope this leaves you with hope for the future, not fear. On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions: ● With the market down, is it wise to reduce contributions to your retirement accounts? ● How do you determine whether it makes sense to keep a rental property or sell it? ● What are the rules on earning while receiving Social Security? ● How do you determine when it's best to pay for an expensive repair or buy a different vehicle? ● When do you need to create a living trust? RESOURCES MENTIONED: ● Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to [email protected]. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29