Money and God

Just like so many in our culture today, I was lured to take the bait of measuring my worth according to the size of my paycheck. I bought the popular notion that I could create my own wonderful life, a true paradise so to speak, if I just made enough money. Jumping full force into the success formula du jour and various new age notions became my method of operation to acquiring and holding onto money. To a large degree, I succeeded. The kids attended the best private schools, the wife wore baubles from Tiffany & Co., we built our dream house, and traveled first class to exotic destinations. I drove my dream cars and wore my multi-thousand dollar suits. Earnings topped $18,000.......... a week for quite some time. Life was good...but I wasn't. I was not truly happy. I was not fulfilled. I'd left my first love....subtly and over time.

You see, some 33 years ago I had a personal encounter with the Living God. That experience lead me to seek Him and make the choice to follow His plans for how to live my life. Along the way, I veered off the path. True enough, I was not a devout church attendee. I didn't much care for hanging out with the posers that I experienced in church (still don't). My life didn't resemble what was preached. I was sure that I did not want to be the kind of person I saw held up as the ideal Christian man.

Today, I am convinced that my True Father orchestrated things in my life to get me to return to Him. The Midas touch disappeared. My health failed. I came to a place where I could honestly take stock of what really matters. For me, I'd gotten the order all wrong. Money outranked God on my priority scale. That's not the relationship God nor I agreed on over 3 decades ago. I'm fortunate that He cares enough to come for me!

Don't get me wrong on this account. I strongly believe that God blesses His children financially. Abraham, Moses, Solomon, David, and Zaccheus were all very wealthy men and used as examples of the faithful! They also got the order right!

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

Delight yourself in the Lord (not $$$ & luxuries); and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

True Father tells us in Proverbs 3:5-12 that our "barns will burst" and "wine vats will brim over" as we trust Him from the bottom of our hearts. We are commanded to "Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go." So, in this blog about WINNING, I would be remiss if I did not share what I've learned to be the ULTIMATE WINNING WAY and that is to follow God. Trust in the Lord. Run to Him.

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and I will restore your fortunes..."
Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Put God first and be restored.