Where's The Line?

I would guess that most people have struggled at some time with the following questions:

"Where is the line between being responsible and working in a job that I don't love but pays the bills AND working in a job that I love but doesn't pay the bills?"

"Should I do what I love and worry about the money later?"

"Should I take a job that I don't love so that I can pay the bills?"


Especially right now, these are big questions on everyone's mind. I believe that we need to be responsible for ourselves and our families. If that means taking a job that we don't love but will pay the bills then so be it. I realize that may be a hard pill to swallow but no one said life was going to be easy. One of the many reasons our economy is in such a mess is because people were irresponsible from various angles.

Some were irresponsible in making unethical business decisions for their companies.

Some were irresponsible in giving loans to people who were one paycheck away from disaster.

Some were irresponsible for lying on their loan applications thinking that they were "entitled" to a house even though they couldn't afford it.

Some were irresponsible in spending more than they make.

Here is the painful truth. The American dream cannot be achieved by lying, cheating, stealing or being unethical or immoral. It is also not handed out. It is earned through honesty and hard work.

Now, here's the good news. If you know Jesus, you have a way out from this mess. Jesus told us that if we live by the principles in the Bible, we can enjoy a life of abundance and overflow. We can have all of our needs met so that we have plenty left over to help others. We can work in a job that we love because we don't look to our job to provide for us. We look to God as our Provider and our Source.

However, Jesus also told us that it wouldn't be easy and that it would require consistency and dedication. We have to learn about God's principles and live by God's principles before we will see those wonderful and amazing blessings manifest in our lives. I suppose the question then becomes . . .

"Are you trusting your jobs and your own efforts to supply your needs or are you living by God's principles, implementing His ways of doing things and therefore seeing Him supply your needs?"

Are You A Warehouse or Distribution Center?

A warehouse is a place where stuff is stored, set aside and accumulated. A distribution center is a place where stuff flows freely in and out. When it comes to your money, are you a warehouse or a distribution center?

For those who are not sure, here are a few questions to ask yourself.

1. Do you frequently buy things for yourself?
2. Do you find it hard to part with your belongings?
3. Do you only donate things that you don’t like anymore or don’t fit?
4. Do you believe that you should get all you can, can what you get, and sit on the can?
5. Do you believe that the money in your account really belongs to God and you are just a steward called to distribute it to those God chooses?
6. Do you enjoy giving things away, even your most prized possessions?
7. Have you noticed that as you give, God always fills your distribution center back up?


A warehouse makes me think of a stagnant pond. Without circulation things begin to die. But a distribution center has a constant flow that brings life. God is always searching for people who will be distribution centers because He wants to use them to bring life to people.

One thing that’s important to note is that before God will start giving you this money, He needs to know that you will be a faithful steward and use it how He desires. To start, He may ask you to buy a simple cup of coffee for someone. Sounds easy, right? However, He then tells you to give it to the lady you don’t like at work. Will you do it out of obedience to God or will you walk away? As we prove ourselves in these little tests He will begin to entrust bigger things to us.

My husband and I often give big tips at restaurants. I love to think about how excited the waitress will be when she picks up the tip after we’ve left and finds it is crazy big. It seems simple but if we learn to hear God in these situations, we will be better able to hear him in bigger situations. I know some people who have given away cars, houses and airplanes because God asked them to. We aren’t there yet but I would love to get there some day.

Here are some verses to look up if you would like to learn more about trusting God to supply your needs so that you can learn to be a distribution center for Him.

Deuteronomy 28, Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 28:27, Isaiah 48:17, Malachi 3:8-11, II Corinthians 9:6-11

Making Your Way Prosperous

Everyone is asking how do I make wise decisions and become prosperous during these tough economic times. Joshua 1:8 gives us the answer.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”

Can it really be that simple? Absolutely!

When you begin to immerse yourself in God’s ways, you begin to think and act like God. He will tell you where to invest (or not invest). He will give you favor, promotion and increase. When we live by God’s Kingdom principles, we will see God’s results in our life. Isn’t that exciting?