“Regarding Your Finances…”

“Regarding Your Finances…”

by Eric C. Wheeler

[Below is a recent email exchange that I had with an inmate named Franky who is incarcerated in prison in a northeastern part of the United States. Franky read my book In His Service and contacted me a number of months ago which began a warm and sincere continual online dialogue and friendship between us. Joyfully, it appears that Franky is going to be released soon, and he has enthusiastically granted me permission to publish a recent email conversation we had regarding finances. We both felt that it would be spiritually beneficial to others for us to share what the Lord had me write in response to Franky’s question. Here is an excerpt from our email correspondence:]

Good morning, Eric!!! Happy Tuesday. I hope you’re feeling great, energized and simply blessed. God’s relentless pursuit in showing us the true definition of love, compassion and patience is more than enough for us to live our life to serve Him rather than ourselves. I ask myself every morning, ‘What kind of seeds are you planting this morning, Franky?’ The seeds that we plant will determine the trajectory of our day in every way possible. It’s helped me tremendously on staying consistent, along with self-accountability. I was hoping you could help me… I was trying to study God’s word on finances. I looked in the index for key words and I had no luck, the only word that stood out to me was money. I really want to study finances as it’s important for me to understand what God wants us to do with our finances. Making sure I’m utilizing every dollar the way God intended is important to me. God Bless you, Eric. Hope all is well.

Franky

Hi Franky!

In answer to your question regarding finances: God told me a long time ago, “Eric, money is a utility. It’s like electricity. You don’t want more than you need, and you don’t want less than you need. You want exactly what you need as you need it.”  Too many people think of money as an end in itself – a goal to be reached. It’s not. It’s only a utility – simply a means by which things get done and/or accomplished.

Jesus told us to not worry about money – “Don’t worry about your life, what you are going to wear or how you’re going to eat” (really this means, “how you’re going to pay your bills”). He told us that our heavenly Father already knows that we have need of all these things (Matt. 6:32). Instead, Jesus told us to focus on “seeking the Kingdom of God first, and His righteousness [His right way of doing things],” and that if we do this, God will freely give us everything else that we need, when and as we need it (Matt. 6:33).

I have found continually by personal experience that you literally can (and should) take God at His word! I try not to think about or worry about how I’m going to pay my bills (finances), and when it’s time to sit down and pay them or to do things, suddenly, the money is always there! Every single time!! It’s truly amazing!! He has taught me – and is still teaching me – to just continue focusing on doing His assignments He’s giving me to do each day (“Stay in the day, each and every day!” – Matt. 6:34), and everything will be provided for me when and as I need it. It’s incredible! It really works. He told me once, “Eric, whatever you find yourself doing each day, do it with all your might, as unto the Lord.” (see Ecc. 9:10; Col. 3:17; Col. 3:23-24). These words have served me well through the years. Realize that He’s in control of your life.

As you surrender to the Lord and realize that you are owned by Him – then nothing belongs to you anymore. Everything belongs to Him. He owns the whole Plantation that you are a slave working on. He owns you, and all the tools, all the resources, and all the machinery – everything! You are only using the tools and resources that belong to Him in order to do the jobs in the fields that He owns as well. Therefore, there is no accounting that you have to do or financing. Just take the tools (resources) that He hands you each day and do the job(s) that He gives you each and every day to do! And then in the evenings go back to the “service quarters” or the “slave quarters” each night that He owns on the Plantation, and that He provides for you, and get some rest and go to sleep, expecting to wake up the next morning to get your new daily orders and/or assignments and/or your marching orders. That’s it! No planning is necessary on your part. No accounting required. It’s easy and it’s freeing! And by the way, He’s fun to work for – He’s not a harsh or overbearing Master or Taskmaster. He’s very kind, loving, friendly, and generous – as long as you are an obedient servant who seeks to please Him and do what’s right, every day.

God promises that His servants will eat, drink, and always have what they need as they need it (Isa. 65:13-14; Luke 12:29-31). As He forcefully said to me once: “Eric, I said, ‘Don’t have an anxious mind!” (Luke 12:29). This was (and is) a direct command from Him, not a suggestion.

One more thing, we are headed into very difficult economic times and upheaval. Therefore, it’s time to start learning to live each and every day by faith. Just as the apostle Paul said: “For this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the things of this world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. And I want you to be without concern.” (I Cor. 7:29-32). In other words, do not allow your heart to be tied up in anything – not in people and relationships, or in your possessions, or in your feelings and emotions, in your finances, in material goods, your job, etc. Stay focused on God, His Kingdom, and His righteousness (His right way of doing things.). Remember, Scripture warns, “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” (James 5:1-3). Don’t put any focus on money. We’re in the last days – and money will soon mean nothing! Lay up treasures in heaven – by making God your wealth (Matt. 6:19-21).

God be with you, brother!

Eric

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