Most of us at some time in our lives have either said or heard someone say, “I’ve got to make a living.” The context of this statement is one of worry and fret, a wondering how we’re going to survive these unpredictable economic times. It is a statement that puts trust in one’s own ability and the resources of the society in which they live. With everything going on in the political arena with talk of taxes, wages, universal this and that, and 19 trillion in debt, making a living seems to be at the forefront of society’s thoughts.
But, I’d like to ask this one simple question: Where is make a living found in the Bible?
I’ll let you in on a little secret, it’s not. In fact I checked 6 different versions of the Bible just to be sure: NAS, KJV, NLT, AMP, NIV, and MSG.
The closest I got in my search for make a living was found in Genesis:
“And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, ‘This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and everyliving creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.’” Gen 9: 11-13
I also replaced the word make with earn and got even less results.
So, I advanced my search with words such as wage, job, work and money. The listings and context in which they were spoken were too numerous to try to sort through. Anywhere from “the wages of sin is death,” to “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” The word job simply took me to the book of Job!
Ultimately, my search ended in the word trust. The majority of the results came down to three conclusions: trust in ourselves/ themselves; trust in riches; trust in the Lord/ God.
I don’t think I need to expand on the downside of trusting in ourselves or in riches. I’m almost certain most us know that’s not the wisest of ideas. But to be sure I’ll throw two verses out there for good measure:
“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…” 2 Corinthians 1: 8-10 NKJ
“He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28 NAS
Let me be clear before I continue: God is not anti-money. He is anti-greed. And He is not anti-work. In fact He even states in His word: “Nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3: 8-13 NKJ
We are to be good examples to others in our work. But we are also to work in order to provide for others. And in doing so, not grow weary in doing good.
In these unsettling times, it can be easy to get caught up in putting our trust in ear-tickling politicians promising the best plan. It can be easy to get caught up in the blame game for being in the situation we are in. It’s the democrats! It’s the republicans! It’s the old! It’s the young! Everyone seems to be pointing the finger at everyone else. And the result is utter confusion and strife. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16 KJV
It is two Old Testament downfalls rolled into one. The first one being when Adam and Eve disobeyed God they pointed the finger of blame. Adam even blamed God, “It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12 NLT
The second downfall I feel I am seeing prevalent in today’s world is the Tower of Babel. There is no denying we are virtually living in a Babylonian system. And it will collapse. The two opposing sides are basically saying the same thing: “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” Genesis 11:4 NKJ
But is God in the midst of them wanting to make America the greatest nation on earth? Are they seeking His wisdom? We know what happens in Babylon. The people were proud. They were boastful. And they weren’t doing things God’s way. What this nation needs more than anything is healing and unity and that starts down here with us, not up there with them. But that’s another newsletter…
Brothers and sisters, let’s not get caught up in the world’s way of doing things, the world’s way of “making a living,” and making a name for ourselves. Let’s get back to doing things God’s way and putting our trust in Him. If, and by if I really mean when, this system collapses do you really want to be in the midst of it? Do you want to be scattered abroad, confused and desolate? “So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11: 8-9 NKJ
The world says make a living; trust in your own ways; do things your way; do what feels good. The world would have you put your trust in the government, in your employer, in your studies at university. The world would have you blame others for your oppression, low wages, poor healthcare, high interest rates. The world would have you believe these are the reasons you cannot be a giver and one who takes pity on the poor.
But God’s way would have the old widow give two mites. God’s way would have the Samaritan pay for the beaten man to be taken care of. God’s way would have you sell and give to the poor. God’s way of doing things sometimes doesn’t make sense to us. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
I know it doesn’t make sense but let’s start making a giving, not making a living!
“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 15:10 NLT
“He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 NAS
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42 NIV
“But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’” Matthew 14:16 NKJ
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 NKJ
Do you see the pattern? Give to the poor and God will take care of the rest, He will take care of you. You don’t want to be caught up in the world’s Babylonian system when it collapses! You want to be in God’s system! And His system would have you say, “I’ve got to make a giving!”
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!