My Cup Overflows

As I learn this new job that God so generously provided for me, heavy weight still lies on my shoulders. Christmas is upon us, and we barely have the funds to meet our finances. When Tammie took her final test week before last, the government funds expired. My unemployment check plus her government check was more together than what I am making right now. We were struggling then, so with the extra funds for me to actually either live there close to my job or drive back and forth, trying to make ends meet just got tougher. For the first Christmas in the 23 years of our marriage, we aren't able to buy each other gifts for Christmas. But that's not the heaviest weight that falls in my lap. No, my heaviest burden for me is "obedience to God". Time after time again God trys to teach to me the importance of "Giving all to Him". And, time after time again, I fail. Lately, when I seem to get a little money, I try to tuck it way back in my pocket, where I feel God won't see it, and spend it on resources for life. The thing that I always forget is, "He is the Breath of Life". But even still, when I fail Him in my obedience, it seems that my cup of life is either completely full or overflowing with all of resources that I need to survive in this life. I woke up this morning with God whispering to me about my tithe. The whole time I am arguing with Him thinking, "God, if I give a certain amount to you, then I won't have enough money to make it until my next paycheck", All the while, He is reminding me that He will take care of me. He asks me if He has ever let me down, and of course my answer is, "NO". And yet, still I am reluntant to give Him my tithe, knowing that if I were to just let everything go with the realization that it all belongs to Him, only He knows what kind of blessings, and overflow of my cup, He will provide for me. More than I can imagine. The ironic fact of it all, to sum up this whole struggle, and to finally realize that God is actually dealing with me personally, God hits me over the head because I am an idiot, and gives me something incredible this morning. Though an email, I get several devotions from various sites. One is called, "Crosswalk, Today God is first". I open this up this morning only to find this, and you will see why I state that God has hit me over the head.


December 24


Resolving the Ownership Issue
Psalms 24:1-2
The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

As Christian businesspeople, God calls us to view Him as the owner of everything. We are to be stewards of all that He entrusts to us. This is one of the hardest of all commandments to follow for the Christian businessperson because, if we work hard at business, we receive all the benefits of that work. It appears as though all that we have achieved was through our hand. Yet God says that it is by His hand that we are able to make wealth (see Deut. 8). He is the source of that ability. As soon as we become owners and not managers, we fall into trouble with God.

Joseph understood that he was a steward of all the resources of Egypt. God promoted him to affect an entire region of the world. Joseph had more power, prestige, and wealth than any 30-year-old who ever lived before him. The temptation for him in this newfound role in life must have been great. Many a man has not been able to handle material success. Many of God's choicest servants began well in their calling and service to God only to fail at the end. Consider Hezekiah, the great king who achieved many great things but failed to acknowledge God's blessing at the end of his reign. His reign was cut short due to pride. Gideon's fate was similar. Success can lead to pride if we are not careful.

"Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity" [Oswald Chambers].

Ask the Lord today if you are living as a steward or an owner. Put whatever skills and resources you possess on His altar. Then you can expect God to do great things through you.


Thank you Lord, for all you have done for me. You always keep my cup full, even when I don't deserve it. I ask everyone to pray for me and my obedience to the Lord. AMEN