Financial Margins II
Financial Margins II
Wednesday March 7, 2018
Not many people live their lives inside the margins, especially when it comes to their finances. We live in a very busy and fast-paced world where there are places to go, things to do, and people to see. Living within the margins is always opposite of living on or over the edge. In typography, margin is that space between the main content of the page and its edge and it is meant to keep the text from going over the paper’s edge. In commuting from one place to another, margin is giving ourselves an extra 5 or 10 minutes to travel from where we are to where we are going, allowing us to reach our destination on time, even if we encounter delays. In our finances, it is setting aside a portion of our paycheck every pay period instead of consuming all 100% of it, thus giving us the capacity to deal with emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. It is sad, but in the United States, statistics show that more than 60% of Americans earning up to $100,000 a year could not come up with $500.00 in case of an emergency. This means that most Americans in spite of the fact that they earn good money have no financial margin.
The lack of financial margins leaves us with no room for errors or the ability to deal with the unforeseen causing our stress levels to increase and our tempers to shorten. It can distract us from the most important things in our lives…and our relationships suffer. It can even affect our relationship with God because there is a connection between our willingness to create financial margins and our faith. When we lack financial margins it is only a matter of time before we start stealing from God. But when we create financial margins, we benefit in the most important areas of our lives…and our relationship with God and others benefit too.
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. – Malachi 3: 8-9 NIV
Lack of financial margins often times leads to lack of trust in God. Lack of trust in God causes us to rob from God. And robbing from God places the person under a curse. But God does not want any of us to live under a curse, so He has given us a way out.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, says the Lord Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.” – Malachi 3:10 NIV
God challenges us saying, “Test me in this.” No matter what you believe about these verses that is amazing; God challenging us in order to bless us. Let me ask you, can God lie? Can He be trusted? Why not take him at his word? Why not accept the challenge?
Questions
- In what areas of your life do you lack margins?
- What is the impact or danger of living without financial margins?
- Do you presently have financial margins?
- Why does the lack of personal financial margins often times reflect a lack of trust in God?
- What would happen, even if you believe that these verses are Old Testament, if you accepted God’s challenge?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, today I accept your challenge, to test you and my faith. I bring to you today what belongs to you, out of obedience and with a joy filled heart. I do not want to steal from you anymore and I do not want to live without margins. I ask that you bless my finances so that I could benefit your kingdom and live a blessed and fearless life knowing that you can be trusted and are in control. I thank you for your goodness and your faithfulness and in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
