#1531. Receive wealth as from God (8/6/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our Stewardship series.

This week we are reflecting on how God wants us to steward our finances. 

Stewarding our money and possessions begins by choosing to see these things as gifts from God.

To watch this devotional, please select the link below:

I’m sure we’ve all heard the familiar sayings: “The early bird catches the worm.” “God helps those who help themselves.” “No pain, no gain.” “Hard work pays off.” “Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Our culture is built on a deeply rooted principle: we get what we earn. Hard work is rewarded; laziness eventually shows itself. For many people, success, money, and possessions are seen as the visible evidence of personal effort, discipline, and determination.

Today, I want us to align our minds and hearts with the truth that wealth and possessions are ultimately gifts from God. Of course, hard work and the wise use of money are key factors in whether or not we accumulate wealth—after all, money doesn’t grow on trees or magically drop from the sky!

However, Christians are called to acknowledge that their money and resources ultimately come from God. He is the one who gives us employment, the strength to earn, our intellect, our opportunities, and a heart of wisdom.

ave, the opportunities to earn, the heart of wisdom that we may have… 

In Deuteronomy, we read:

A godly person may work long hours, store wealth carefully, invest wisely, and refuse to waste resources on needless things. Yet, they will still give thanks to God for what they have, acknowledging that everything is a gift from Him. As our text from 1 Timothy reminds us, God is the one who ‘richly provides us with everything.’ Paul similarly writes, in response to a financial gift from the Philippian church:‘And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:19) 

Response

Stewarding our money and possessions begins by choosing to see these things as gifts from God.

We all find ourselves in different financial positions. Some of us have more than enough and are focused on honoring God with our abundance. Some are struggling to find enough work just to pay the bills. Others may have wasted resources in the past and now find themselves facing scarcity, debt, or regret.

A Christian can find themselves in any of these situations. However, today, I want us to simply recognise that God is our provider. Money and possessions come from Him. This acknowledgment is the foundational step for any of us to move into better stewardship.

Perhaps a good way to close today’s devotional is to focus our prayers on these three areas:

1. Acknowledge and Thank: Spend time thanking God for being your provider and acknowledging His hand in what you have.

2. Release and Confess: Pray about any financial regret, debt, or immediate need you may currently be facing.

3. Request Wisdom: Pray for godly wisdom and a heart of worship regarding how you use your money moving forward.

This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:

Community Group Study

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we continued with our Stewardship series, reflecting on the important and challenging subject of stewarding the money that God has entrusted to us. 

Please read Matthew 6:33 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and discuss:

1. Personal Reflection – What did God speak to you about through Sunday’s message?

2. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." What does this practically look like when applied to how we steward our money?

3. According to 1 Timothy 6:17-19, what is the core difference between false hope and true hope? Why is it so easy to accidentally anchor our security in wealth rather than in God?

4. Looking closely at 1 Timothy, what are the different reasons and purposes for which God provides us with material resources?

5. What does God promise to those who listen to His wisdom and faithfully steward their money? What kind of "life" or "treasure" is being stored up? (See also Matthew 6:19-21). 

6. Reflecting on today's discussion, is there a practical change, habit, or specific response you need to make this week regarding your stewardship?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.

• Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation?

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study - Provision, wisdom, direction… in regard to money. 

• Bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

• Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.