We live in a time when the economy is on everyone’s mind. We are concerned about our world’s economy, our nation’s economy and our personal economy. It is obvious that we have little control over our world’s economy or our nation’s economy. All we can do is be responsible citizens, pay our taxes, purchase our goods wisely and be a productive member of our society. As for our personal economy, we do have more influence and impact upon it than perhaps our world’s or nation’s economy. We can be proactive in understanding our income and our spending. We can make wise decisions working to live within our means and more importantly within our needs. But, the economy we have full control over seems to be the economy that we are the least likely to assess and manage. It is our Spiritual economy. Many of us, due to circumstances beyond our control, are accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck with our personal finances. But, many of us are living paycheck to paycheck with our Spiritual economy as well. And, this should never be.
Let’s take a look at what we mean by living paycheck to paycheck spiritually. As we examine the concept of paycheck to paycheck living, we find that this way of living means we are using all the resources deposited into our accounts between deposits. We have nothing left to carry over and in some instances are thinly stretching our existing resources in order to make it to the next deposit. As I said before, for many of us this can not be helped and we are eternally grateful that God blesses us with enough to make it from paycheck to paycheck. But, I believe if we are all honest, we would choose to live in a manner where there was an abundance of resources, carrying money over into the next deposit and never faced with running short on resources and stretching things until the next deposit. Well, perhaps your personal economy will not allow you to do this at this time. But, I assure you that your Spiritual economy will not only allow you to live this way now, but forever (… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly, John 10:10).
Unfortunately, many of us never read our Bible; spend little time in prayer; and seldom think of God between our Sunday morning visits to church. Though going to church is a vital part of a close personal relationship with Christ, those two hours on Sunday morning are not enough of a deposit to keep up with all the withdrawals the demands of the world make on your Spiritual bank account. A full account requires an active prayer life, a disciplined practice of Bible study and continual fellowship with Christ. So, how do we make spiritual deposits in our spiritual account?
First, you must have a personal relationship with Christ. Thankfully, this opportunity exists for all. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). By accepting Christ as our personal Saviour we are adopted into the family of God and given access to a spiritual bank account.
Secondly, you must choose to serve Him (Joshua 24:15) and allow Him to have full reign of your life. Your full surrender to Him will allow you to be a light unto a very dark world. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). By choosing to serve Him, you not only have access to the spiritual bank account, but authority to receive the deposits given those who follow Christ and do His commandments.
Thirdly, you must fellowship with Him. Christ invites us through His Word, to have fellowship with Him. In fact, He initiates our fellowship with Him by knocking on our heart’s door. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Fellowshipping with Christ means talking to Him in prayer and spending time in His Word. Like any relationship, our relationship with Christ requires that we spend time with Him and get to know Him. Talking with Him in prayer produces a peace that passeth all understanding and a joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:8). “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Studying His Word allows us to know who He is, His thoughts and His plans. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14). “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…” (Jeremiah 29:11-14). Each time we pray and each time we study God’s Word we make a deposit in our Spiritual bank account.
Finally, we must fully rely on God and realize just like little David, the battle is not ours, it belongs to the Lord. “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands” (I Samuel 17:47). “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). In trusting in God, we make big deposits in our Spiritual bank account. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11).
Yes, the world will continue to withdraw from your spiritual bank account through trials and temptations, but you have full control over the abundance and balance in your account. Take control of your Spiritual bank account today.