I remember a friend who asked me to make a sculpture for him out of a weathered, lead wood stump. I did it with a lot of loving care, but he told me that since that sculpture arrived in his house, a lot of bad things had happened to him. I felt really bad about it and prayed about it until I received assurance from the Holy Spirit that what God had blessed cannot be cursed. Everything eventually worked out for my friend, and I must say that he gained a lot of spiritual wisdom and maturity after that season of his life.
I believe that we must realise that even finances have seasons when we are working for ourselves. It is especially during these times that we do a lot of introspection and grow in our understanding of who God is. Through the ages, the Jews have proven that they are very good with finances, so much so that it was one of the main reasons that German Riegh hated the Jews because they were so wealthy. I have been trying to understand the Jewish perspective on money. They do have great confidence in the word of God and rely heavily on God’s blessing. Rabbi David uses scripture to prove that we should never beg God for money. The Afrikaans version of the Bible specifically teaches “gebed en smeking” (Prayer and begging). This is a translation error.
Phil 4:6: “Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
The English versions never beg God. The word “Supplications” is translated as begging in the English dictionary. However, the Greek Translations (G1162) says it is Prayer, Petition, or Request. NEVER BEG GOD because we are sons of God. We are joint heirs with Christ. I would never allow my children to beg me; all I have also belongs to them. It is also a great mistake to be jealous of others who are doing better than we are. The Kabbalah teaches that we should be glad with others who prosper and be expectant for our prosperity, next time it is my turn. We know these things from the teachings of the Bible, but it was interesting to see it from a Jewish perspective. They have set prayers that are said to align oneself with the overflowing blessings. To open yourself to God’s abundant supply. It is interesting that they also teach you not to wait for God to give you money to start a business, but to make a start and do the things you can, while waiting for the business to take off. The Kabbalah uses the instance of Moses, who asked God what he should do when they came to the Red Sea. God answered, “Why are you asking me? Tell the people to go forward.” While we are waiting for God to do things in our lives, God is waiting for us to move forward by Faith.
The other thing I found interesting is that we should never be competitive, as it causes a fearful mind. I stopped doing sports when I was young because I thought What am I doing? Am I trying to prove that I am better than other people?
Gratitude is the key that keeps you connected to the God supply. Always pay a tenth of your income to whatever cause you deem worthy. You must form a definite, clear picture of what you want to achieve. Think of what you want, how you can help others, and create things that have never been made before.
The most important thing that I would like to add is to base all of your thought life on the promises of God. God is not a man that He should lie. Find the promises in the Bible and write them on the walls of your house in any place you might have a moment to meditate, so that faith can come for healing, finances, and prosperity, and all your needs. And then God will get the glory. Fill your mind with what it will look like when you receive what you are believing for. Begin to act as if it has already come to pass.
Heb 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. I have a better understanding of this scripture since I have heard it from the Jewish perspective. The substance that gives faith something to do is the vision you have for your future. You must form a clear picture of what you want. God is the energy that is forever bringing into being the things you envision with a thankful heart. They encourage people to ask God for visions and dreams in the same way all the faith heroes of the Old Testament had. Abraham envisioned that he was the father of many nations by counting the stars. It was God who said that he should. Jacob had a dream that heaven was a real place and God’s angels were moving down to earth to help people and go back again. Joseph, the dreamer, saved the world of his time by interpreting the king’s dream. Although we lead an earthly life, our minds should be filled with things that are above.
Ask God to give you visions and dreams, then fill your mind with them and begin to obey the first Jewish financial law. Be thankful! Begin to write down things you are thankful for, even the things you are expectantly waiting for. The second financial law is to have wisdom. I thought that the wisdom Solomon had was a gift. I thought he woke up one morning and was wise. Apparently not. If you want wisdom, go study, read the Bible, and learn from wise people. The third law is to give. The idea is that we should be a conduit for others in the same way I am writing to you about what I have learnt so that others may partake of the prosperity God has in mind for all people.
We have all been created in the image of God. We have an imagination. Our task is to fill our imagination in the same way an artist paints a canvas. This is the substance that faith will bring forth. The imaginations and thoughts of the heart should be pure, sanctified, and washed with the blood of Christ. This place where we imagine is spiritually high. The book of Ephesians teaches about this high place that is in Christ.
Eph 2:6: “We are seated with Christ in heavenly places.”
Eph 4:8: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
The idea is that we must focus our thoughts on the things we want and not the things we fear will happen. Once you are sure that your vision and dream are from God, you become so filled with thanks that joy makes you live the thing you want before it has happened in the physical. You become consumed with your future substance, and there is no room for doubt. As far as you are concerned, it has already come to pass. The heart soil is now properly planted, and the seed is growing as you give constant thanks and praise. The Image in your imagination is the substance!
2 Cor 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
The last thought I would like to leave you with is that you must read the Bible from the standpoint that you are living a heavenly life while on the earth. For instance, the fullness of God is pleased to live in Christ; we are in Christ, Christ is in us. Paul says, “it is not I who lives but Christ lives in me.” Jesus said, “Let thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”. Don’t think about the physical earth; God created it, and it is perfect. The Bible teaches that God is recreating us to be like Jesus. Think about your mind being the Kingdom of Heaven, and the way you think will give you a heavenly life, right here on earth.
