“He was very sorrowful; for he was              earthly “mammon” to invest in heavenly
             very rich” (Luke 18:23). What a    wealth. God does not want what belongs
             seeming paradox! Riches, and       to another. So if you have debts, He ex-
  yet, with them, or because of them, he        pects you to pay them. This is part of your
  was very sad! Someone says, “Just give        testimony as a believer (a word later about
  me a chance and see how I can use money       the wisdom of contracting debts). He does
  to make myself happy.” Maybe so; but          not want what belongs to another. But He
  maybe not!                                    does want what belongs to Him.

    Young Christians may not think that         The Prompting for Giving
  money is a subject that relates to them.
  This is a time of school loans, debts,          God does not need anything we give
  part-time jobs at minimum wages, and          Him. In the end, we have to confess as
  struggling to pay car insurance, tuition,     did David, “Of Thine own have we given
  and other obligations. Yet, money is a        Thee” (1Chro 29:14). Giving is actually a
  stewardship at every stage of life. If you    privilege. But it is far more than that; giv-
  are a preteen or “tween” mowing lawns         ing is an expression of our appreciation for
  or shoveling snow, a teenage worker at        the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything belongs
  one of the slave labor camps known as a       to God, comes from God, and, in reality,
  fast-food restaurant, or a college grad just  belongs to Him.
  starting out, whatever the Lord has given
  you, He has given as stewardship for you        Have you ever read Numbers 7? If you
  to use wisely and thoughtfully.               have, perhaps you have asked yourself
                                                why the Spirit of God repeats, word for
    Whether you are among that elite            word, the exact same things every six
  group that has what is called “spend-         verses as He details the offering of the
  able income,” or among the majority that      twelve princes of Israel. Aside from a
  have to budget carefully until the next       name change, there is absolutely no varia-
  payday, you have been entrusted with          tion in the words for 72 verses. And then