Where to Find Financial Security

In Philippians 4:19 I read, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

(ESV)

Where do I find and put my security?

Putting my trust in my bank account, job, or investments is a recipe for heartache. Why? Because I can lose all of those things.

What’s wise to find security in something that cannot be taken from me: God! If I want God’s blessing for my life, I need to learn to trust in God’s wealth and not my own.

Here’s what the Bible says about God’s wealth: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 ESV).

While my job is where I earn my income, I’m learning that it shouldn’t be my security. My job is a channel, but God is my source. When I can fully understand this, I’ll have so much less stress in life. 

To further illustrate this, what If I turned on the faucet in the kitchen and no water came out, what would I do? Would I think, “Oh, the world has run out of water! There’s no water coming out of the faucet, so there must not be any left”?

Of course not. I’d know the problem is not with the source. There’s plenty of water in the world. The problem is the channel; it’s gotten blocked one way or another.

So it can be the same way in my life. If one channel gets blocked and the “faucet” stops working, it doesn’t mean the whole supply has dried up. God can easily turn on another faucet. 

It’s important for me to remember that God is not limited by my ability and capacity. I may be limited by my own capacity in the work I do. But my job is not what ultimately supplies my needs. My job is just a channel for God to supply my needs. 

If I start to think that my job is what keeps me financially secure, then I’m going to feel. I need to understand and embrace that God is the source of my supply. I can depend on him to know exactly what I need.

Jobs may come and go. Bank accounts rise and fall. Economies can go up and down. Stock markets can go bull or bear. It doesn’t matter!

No matter what happens, I can trust in God’s wealth for my security.

This is a great reminder for me today as I work through a full review of my income and investments. I can trust that God will always meet my needs. Whatever I need on earth he will always supply. I must remember the difference between my wants and my needs. While I will always want to feel good and to avoid discomfort and pain, I may not always get what I want. By trusting in Christ, my attitude and appetite can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for him. 

Learnnig to Master My Moods

In review of Philippians 2:5 it says, “Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ.”

Bottom Line:

Your attitude must be the same way the Christ Jesus demonstrated.

What this means to me:

I need to adopt the attitude and thinking that Christ Jesus demonstrated.

Success will come from learning how to master my moods. When I experience emotion that isn’t getting me where I want to go, I've have two options for it: Either change it, or channel it.

Often I need to change what I’m feeling.

Some emotions are very destructive, damaging, harmful, and non-effective. The only thing I can do with these is to change what I’m feeling.

Philippians 2:5 reminds me, “Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ” (TLB).

My attitude includes my emotions, so what I’m feeling should be the same as that of Jesus. I need to ask myself, “How would Jesus feel in this situation? Would Jesus get irritated with this waitress? Would Jesus yell at that person? Would Jesus be up all night, worrying that it isn't going to work out? Would Jesus be fearful?” No he wouldn't.

Then, in my response, I need to instantly dismiss any feeling that doesn't make me more like Jesus. If Jesus wouldn't respond with that emotion, then I shouldn't, either. I simply drop that attitude, and I figure out what Jesus would do instead.

At other times, I need to channel what you’re feeling.

I need to decide to channel the feeling; grief for good, and pain to helping others. I should never waste a hurt or problem I've gone through. I need to use it for good.

Also, what I’m learning is that my greatest ministry will not come out of my strengths and successes. I can come out of my deepest pains and struggles.

So, I need to consider how I’m using pains in my life, for good. One such example is the long struggle my wife and I had with finances in the past. By making the right decisions we were able to pull ourselves out of that situation. We now spend time with others counseling and encouraging them that they to can get through it.

Often emotions for me are a default reaction. I feel cheated, slighted or that I’m not getting my fair share. I’m likely holding onto this because, changing my reaction and attitude to think like Jesus would remove some of that entitlement I want to feel, and want to hold on to that. In the longer run, re-thinking my default emotions will take some work. I’ll need to eliminate my feelings of entitlement and ask the Holy Spirit to remind me to stop and think about either changing the feeling or re-channeling it for good.