TGIF Today God Is First - Money & StewardshipSample

Being a Vessel to Bless Others One of the reasons God entrusts money to us is to bless other  Christians by meeting their needs. God uses the transfer of money within  the Body of Christ to build unity among Christians. Sometimes we  withhold money that God has designated for someone else. He wants to  bless through us, but His will cannot be accomplished through us if we  are disobedient. This was the case for a business owner who tells of the time when God  told him to forego a company bonus one year. God directed him to share  his year-end bonus with an employee to show his appreciation for him. He  wrestled with God for three full days before obeying the Lord on the  matter. When he finally met with the employee to give him his check, the  man said he had been praying about a financial need he had three days  earlier. He had decided to borrow the money to meet his need. The amount  of money he borrowed was the exact amount the business owner gave him. God had already planned to provide for the employee through the  business owner, but because he was hesitant, he almost missed the  opportunity to be an instrument of God in this man’s life. Even so, he  could have prevented the man from having to borrow money. It was an  important lesson for the business owner. How many people do we let down because we feel the “harvest” God  provides is all ours? In America the pressure is always on to move up  the ladder of material accumulation. Jesus warned us about this. If our  focus is on accumulation, we will not look for opportunities to be God’s  vessels of financial blessing to others. Ask the Lord if you have an  open hand when it comes to finances.