Financial Trial – A Test of Your Heart

I am studying the book of James and will be blogging down my reflections and insights to share with the rest of you. I pray you will be blessed and encouraged in the Lord. - Andrew


JAS 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

JAS 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James continues on the theme on persevering under trials by citing an example of financial trials. James is not against the rich or getting wealth. The context was that in that period many Jewish believers were persecuted financially by the Jewish community because the unbelieving Jews refused to do business with them. As a result of standing for their faith, many of them become financially poor. The rich oppressed them because they were poor. James was exhorting the persecuted Jews to take pride in their high position because they were suffering for Christ and God would be their Rewarder. On the other hand, the rich oppressors would fade away like wild flowers.

In verse 12, James wrote that those who persevere under trial will be blessed (Matt 5:10 - Beatitudes). In other words, if you want to be blessed, hang in there. If you persevere on, you will receive the crown of life which is better than money.

Job 23: 10 – “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Are you going through some challenges in life? God knows the way that you take even though you may not see the light at the end of the tunnel at this moment. When God has finished His moulding work in your life, it will be over. These challenges will come to an end but the man who passed the test will last forever. (Read on...)

While not many of us are oppressed by the rich in this nation, I came to know many who struggled financially because they have responded God’s call to serve in certain ministries. Friends of mine who served as church ministers shared with me that they could feel the financial strain as the years passed by when the income gap started to widen between them and their peers holding secular jobs. In fact, many are tempted to quit and there would be those feel that they need to move on to find a secular job after a certain season of their live is over.

Serving God requires us to pay a price. It can be in terms of finance, time, pastime, health, relationship, etc. The question is, when you hear God’s call, are you willing to pay the price? It all boils down to one’s relationship with the Lord. Those who know the Lord would be assured that Christ is the Rewarder (Matt 16:27, Rev 22:12) and would choose to live a surrendered life. Sometimes, I wonder if there are people who serve because they want to get reward in heaven. The bible tells us that God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7). He knows who the true worshippers are.

1 Samuel 12:24 – “But be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.”

I had a conversation with a reservist friend recently. He is a believer who used to serve in the children's ministry. In the recent years, the Lord has blessed him financially (high income earner). Being a regional manager, he gets to travel a lot to different parts of the world. Being caught up with busyness, he has stopped serving the Lord. When I challenged him about the possibilities of ‘tent-making’ (using the secular job as a platform to share the gospel in the foreign lands) as the Lord has opened doors for him to access to major cities in the world, his reply to me was that he had no time to serve God as he needed to earn enough money to support his family.

He made a disheartening comment, “Brother, you would know the difficulties of letting go when you are in my position.” I ended the conversation by praying for him. In my reflection, I could see the reality of financial temptation. That is why Jesus said, “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 19:23). If we are not careful, we may give the excuse that we need to support our families, noble as it may sound, and forsake the call of God in our lives.

So if God blesses you financially, what would your response be?

Extracts from John Wesley’s teaching on the use of money:

"I say unto you, Make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into the everlasting habitations." (Luke 16:9)

I. We ought to gain all we can gain but this it is certain we ought not to do; we ought not to gain money at the expense of life, nor at the expense of our health.

II. Do not throw the precious talent into the sea.

III. Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then "give all you can."


One principle that Pastor Seng Lee has taught us is ‘Live simply so that others can simply live.’

Matt 6:24 – "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”


Application:
Choose today to serve God only!


Andrew Koh