Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

Today I want to share some key insights from Jeremiah 32 that relate to our current economic crisis and particularly giving during an economic crisis. We can learn some deep financial lessons in Jeremiah 32.

I had a friend who was raised in a Christian home and knew the Bible so well it was like a set of nursery rhymes. It had become so familiar it seemed stale. He prayed and asked for fresh insight and God gave it to Him.

I have asked for God to teach me new things as I reads His Word and
He’s done that with Jeremiah 32. I hope it will encourage to you ask God to let you see familiar Scriptures in new ways.

We can learn things we can apply today from Jeremiah’s life. During hard times like this recession, we can become discouraged and depressed. But when you read God’s Word, you see that God always has a plan and can do the impossible.

His Word proves He has done great things throughout history. God can redeem anything no matter the circumstances

People are worried about the future of the economy, but following God’s plan eliminates fear of the future. God has some great lessons in Jeremiah 32 about going through an economic crisis.

God told Jeremiah to buy land in an area that seemed worthless. It would be like God asking you to buy land in an African nation experiencing civil war. Often God’s ways are contrary to the world’s ways. Jeremiah probably thought he would never benefit from it.

In obedience to God he went through all the steps of a business transaction and did it properly. Most of those practices are still followed in business deals today. Jeremiah acted in faith when he conducted this business transaction and demonstrated his trust in God through the action.

After the transaction, Jeremiah prayed over it. I pray before a business transaction but have rarely done it afterward.

In Jeremiah's time, Jerusalem was going through war, famine, and disease. but God told him to buy land there. Jeremiah obeyed and after the transaction he prayed to the Lord. He acknowledged that nothing is too hard for God. God made everything. He brought His people out of bondage to the promised land. God took it away from them because of their sin.

God wants us to focus on faithfulness instead of worldly wealth. Our focus should be on God not the outcome of a business deal. God can make beauty out of ashes and redeem the worst situation.

God wanted Jeremiah to mark the transaction so it would be recognized when He redeemed it. If you believe nothing is too hard for God, nothing is impossible, you have nothing to fear in an economic crisis.

God made many promises in Jeremiah 32 with the words “I will.” No one would have believed any of those things were possible, but God restores all things.

I believe what Jeremiah did eventually was looked upon as one of the best real estate deals of all-time. The lesson is not to be a courageous in the midst of this current economic crisis and put money into the market so you can be rich later. The lesson is that the world will be destroyed one day and everything in it will go away.

However, as believers we have the opportunity to possess part of the new heaven and earth. People in the world think giving to advance God’s kingdom is foolish, but those who believe God’s Word and by faith invest in God’s kingdom will be blessed.

Nothing is impossible for God, so even though the economy is scary right now and it appears your earthly money and possessions will disappear, give gladly to the Lord. He will redeem this world and make beauty out of ashes.

God will reward investments in His kingdom for all-time. The stewards who are rewarded are those who apply the resources they’re given to advance God’s kingdom. God calls them good and faithful. Keep your faith in God, not money and possessions. Faith in Christ is what will be rewarded. You can demonstrate real faith in God by investing in God’s kingdom.

Effectual Giving

It is not the amount of money given that concerns God, because He owns it all; it’s how the money is being used that’s important.

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Responding to God's Mandate

Sometimes generous givers are tempted to think that all they have to give is money.

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Bottom Line Discipleship

You can’t serve the Savior and all that stuff on an equal footing. One has to take precedence.

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Setting Dreams in Motion

When it becomes clear that God is redirecting our efforts, what can we do so our natural determination does not become a liability?

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Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes