27 Nov 401K or 104K? (How to Flourish in Famine) Ps. 37:19
The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results! At some point, we must interject something into our existence in order to create a life. Jesus did not come to give us existence…He came to give us life and it more abundantly (John 10:10)!
As of this writing, unemployment is very close to 10% and the economy continues to struggle. However, the Bible tells us what God describes for His people in times of economic challenge! “They shall not be ashamed in the evil time and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied” (Psalm 37:19). The NIV version tells us, “In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.” God wants you to be satisfied and have plenty in the midst of famine (or economic downturn). The Bible gives us some powerful principles to flourish in famine! Last week we gave you two of them:
- Sing in famine (I Sam. 30:1-8).
- Sow in famine (Gen. 26:1-12)
This week let’s continue our “6 Facets to Flourish in Famine”:
- Stewardship in famine (Acts 11:27-30).
Here the Bible tells us, “And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
As you can see from these verses, not only it is important to sow in famine, but it is important to be a good steward in famine! Remember this… if your outgo is more than your income, then your upkeep could be your downfall!
Jesus in two of His miracles clearly revealed that God is a God of abundance (Eph. 3:20)! In His first miracle at the wedding feast in Cana, this was not a miracle of need or necessity, but one of extravagance and abundance (see John 2). In John 6:1-14 He feeds the multitude to the point of them being “filled”. This word comes from the Greek word “pleroo” which means “stuffed or crammed”…much like you feel after a very heavy Thanksgiving meal! However, Jesus went on to say, “Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost (v.12)”. In other words, He was extravagant but not wasteful…abundant but a good steward!
Recently I heard a story of a wise pastor of a very large church who called his staff together and asked them to be very good stewards with the little things, in areas like not wasting electricity and paper, etc. There was a bit of griping from his employees initially, but at the end of a year they tallied all their savings and discovered it to be over $50,000! The pastor was then able to pay the salary of a missionary they supported for one year with that $50,000!
Remember this, the fragments of yesterday’s miracle can be someone else’s miracle today!
- Insight in Famine (II Sam. 21:1).
Here the Bible tells us, “Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.”
Over the past couple of years in the midst of economic downturn, Anne and I individually and in our church corporately, have not lost one dime. To the contrary, we are increasing at a wonderful rate (Ps. 115:14)! I truly believe that the reason this has occurred is that many years ago I inquired of the Lord concerning how to conduct our finances. It has paid tremendous dividends!
The Bible tells us, “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who upbraideth not but gives to all men liberally” (James 1:5). The Greek word translated “wisdom” is the word “sophos” and it means divine insight. In other words, you see life, a situation, etc. as God sees it! This is invaluable!
I remember approximately 19 years ago when I could barely walk and barely talk, and had all kinds of cardiovascular difficulty. There was not an economic famine but it certainly was a famine of health. At that time I sought God for His wisdom concerning the healing of my body. One by one God gave me revelation after revelation of things I could do to improve my condition. In situations like this, you want as many things as possible working for you.
In June 2009, when we went on our mission trip to Jamaica, our group went swimming one afternoon in the ocean. In Jamaica, the ocean has a very high salt content which makes you very buoyant and therefore you can swim much longer and faster. Not only did that help but when I put on flippers I felt like Michael Phelps, the greatest swimmer of all time! I had many things going for me even though I was swimming against the current. Whether it’s your body or your finances, you want as many things working for you as possible!
God began to show me insight into my eating habits. He revealed things to me about gaining and maintaining peace (see Prov. 14:30). He revealed things to me about adhering to a Sabbath principle of rest…not legalistically, but balancing my work with rest. I could write pages on the various truths God revealed to me to not only gain, but maintain my healing. I liken it to taking my car to a mechanic and when I did, my engine performed better and better. What began with a “clunk” ended with a “purrr”. As I sought, received and applied God’s insight, my body began to flourish! I can honestly say at age 50 that I have more energy and feel better than I did when I was 28! I actually did 47 wide grip pull-ups in a row just the other day!
Next week, we’ll continue our series on “104K or 401K…How to Flourish in a Famine.”