Matthew Henry comments, “Lack and poverty are a great temptation to discontent and unbelief, and the use of unlawful means for our relief, under the pretence that necessity has no law.”
I was recently was at a meeting where the speaker made the comment that if she had to, she would steal to feed her kids. Then this person asked someone else in the room (who she knew to be a Christian) if she agreed with her..... She didn't ask me, though.
I do not agree. What comes to mind is Jesus teaching his disciples in Matthew 6:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 ...your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Part of my "new journey" has consisted of learning not to worry about my finances. When I let go and trust Him, there is always enough to cover my bills at the end of the month. It is however, a growing process with the temptation to worry creeping up every so often. If I let myself worry, though, my path gets blurry and I lose my direction. I just need to keep trusting in Him.
Matthew 14
28 "Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?
Peter desired to do what Jesus was doing. He desired something miraculous.
He didn't ask the universe to tell him to come out on the water. He asked Jesus.
Jesus told Peter to come and Peter DID do something miraculous. He DID walk on the water as Jesus was doing.
Then he started noticing the things that were going on around him and started to worry about them, instead of keeping focused on Jesus, and Peter started to sink.
He called out to Jesus and Jesus Immediately caught him. Then Jesus asked Peter why he doubted.
The universe didn't catch him and stop him from sinking. Jesus did. The universe didn't help him do something miraculous. Jesus did. What happened when he stopped focusing on Jesus and stopped believing? Peter started to sink. Peter started to focus on what was going on around him, the tempest and the troubles. He let Doubt creep in and he started to sink, but Jesus was right there to save him as soon as he called out.
Don't shift your focus to the troubles all around you. Don't let doubt creep in. It robs you of the miraculous that can happen in your life. Keep calling out to Jesus. Keep your focus on Him and let Him touch your life.
