Testimony from a rich poor man
Apparently the Lord is on a new teaching this week for me. I have received 3 confirmations to my request: “reveal any hidden wickedness in me.” A month or so ago, He revealed that money and worry of money is a focus in my life. Since then, I’ve been getting bits and pieces of recognition of it in my life. It’s been on my mind and conviction is starting to settle in.
The Lord provides for the poor, the homeless, for the birds, for the lilies of the field, the bees, His churches/ministries, the grass in the field, etc. and here I am.. worrying about money, finances, etc. Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief. Here is a very good lesson and a testimony that I received from a homeless man. First, the 3 confirmations –
Yesterday’s sermon that I posted: The Lord will Provide and 2 daily devotions today (different devotions, different writers). Here’s a snip on each:
Don’t Worry – Jesus tells a parable to show that it’s foolish to think our security is in our wealth, or in anything besides God… …But do riches guarantee security and a happy life? By not being rich toward God, the rich man was in the worst kind of poverty. He was a fool. – Jang Ho Park
Greed – You’re greedy when your money is more compelling than your relationship with God. Examine just how much of your life is preoccupied with money: worrying about it, acquiring more of it, managing it, spending it. Greed signals a crisis of Faith. When we are stingy with our money (His money), it is because we fear what will happen if we allow Jesus to be Lord of our finances. Will we have enough to pay our bills? Will we have enough to do what we want? This is what Jesus meant when He said, “You cannot serve God and money.” If money is the source of your security, then you have made it your god. – Jane Olson
Testimony from a rich poor man – While thinking about these things today, a testimony from a near homeless man came to mind and I wanted to tell his story. This man pulled me aside at the homeless shelter during Christmas to tell this story. Amazing testimony, I pray I explain it correctly. This man was glowing! Here’s his story..
He told me that after his monthly check was all but spent, he had $5 remaining of it. He was reading the scripture in Malachi –
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The man said he needed laundry detergent to wash his clothes and needed this last $5 for the laundry detergent. But he read this verse and was convicted to tithe his last $5. He said “The Lord said ‘Try me’, so I decided to take Him up on it.” (other interpretations of the bible say):
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it. (NKJV)
The man went on to say that he said to God.. “Ok, you said try you and you will pour out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. So I will obey.” This near homeless man put his last $5 in the offering plate at church. This boggles my mind. If I absolutely had to go buy laundry detergent right now, I could go buy 10 bottles of it. And here I am worrying about money and this man at the food handout line puts his LAST $5 in the plate. What faith!!!
He goes on… “Outside of the apartment of where I live, a delivery truck shows up, delivering food to some of the tenants. I recognized the driver and decided to help cart boxes of food up to the recipients. The delivery driver tossed a box on the cart and said “Take that up to your apartment”.. As he was about to take it, the guy tosses on 2 more boxes.
You should have seen this man’s face as he was telling the story. He goes on “Now, I go up to my apartment and take out all of the stuff from the boxes. My counters were full every where. I received a couple of containers of laundry detergent, hand soap that I needed, food, canned goods. My apartment was lined up with food every where I looked.
I covet this man’s faith. Sacrificial giving. Giving cheerfully, sacrificially, and trusting in God to do as He says He will do.
Check out this story I found tonight. Amazing confession. I think more of us think/act like this than we want to admit.. I do. I thank this sister for being honest and sharing, check this out: The Kindness of a Stranger
Teach us Lord.. Mold us. In Jesus name, amen.
Wow! awesome testimony and spoke volumes to me!! Learning to lean on God for my every need was a hard lesson for me that came by losing all material possessions and living a full year on what God provided because “I” had no means of income. You know what, He kept every promise, every single one. We had a roof over our head, plenty to eat and each and every time we needed money to pay a bill, God provided by either laying it on someone’s heart to pay us back something they owed from a long time ago, just giving us money, paying the bill for us or a phone call for a small job that was always more than enough! Even now, like the gentleman above there isn’t much money left after bills etc. but God continues to provide our needs, most of our wants and money left over when someone else comes to us with a need. God is so awesome. Thank you for sharing this and the link to the other blog. God bless.
I’m going through that fire right now sista. Thanks for your obedience in responding, I needed the edification. Bless you, thank you.