PAY UP!

“But if any man provide not for his own,
and especially for those of his own house,
he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”
(1 Timothy 5:8).

We are living in an entitlement society where many people want everything for nothing, especially young people who are currently educated in our colleges. They are consistently brainwashed in socialism where they think they should get everything free without working for it. They want free education, free housing, free health care etc. They don’t even use their brains to think where the money would come from.

I believe we should live with an attitude of expectation that God is going to do good things. That’s the meaning of hope and hope is a godly attitude. But when things cost money, we should always be prepared to pay our share of it. This is a biblical principle .

When the children of Israel passed through the land of Seir, God told them to make sure they paid for anything they ate or drank.

Deuteronomy 2:6: “Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.”

The same happened when they passed through the land of the Moabites. When they came to the land of Sihon, Moses told King Heshbon: “Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money that I may drink” (Deuteronomy 2:28). They were ready to take responsibility for what they used.

God gives us a biblical principle for everything in life. We should always seek to pay for what we need, for what we eat and drank, and for what we use. If we break something that belongs to someone else, we should replace it. If we lose something that belongs to someone else, we should replace it.

If we are invited to eat with a family for dinner, we should bring something toward the meal. If the hostess says not to bring anything, we can purchase a little gift such as flowers, or make a little home gift, or write a card etc.

Let’s not be those who take everything for granted. Away with entitlement mentality.

Paul, the great apostle, worked hard at what was considered at that time a low-grade job to provide for his own needs and the needs of others!

Acts 20:34, 35 (NLT):“You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and EVEN THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WERE WITH ME. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’”

Read 1 Thessalonians 19 and 2 Thessalonians 3:8 (NLT): “We never accepted food from anyone WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you . . . Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: ‘Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.’”

I am always challenged by the example of David when he wanted to purchase the threshing floor of Aruunah in order to build an altar to the Lord, Araunah offered it freely to David. He told David: “Take the threshing floor. And look, here are oxen for you to use. And here are the threshing instruments. Use them all freely.”

What did David answer? “I will surely buy it of thee AT A PRICE: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that WHICH DOES COST ME NOTHING. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Samuel 24:21-

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Please help me to be responsible before You and to do what is right toward my fellowman. Save me from being selfish and thinking of only my needs. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will take responsibility for my own needs and also the needs of others.