Stop Living Like You're Broke

How long are you going to keep living like you’re broke?

Not just money. Broke in courage. Broke in hope. Broke in the idea that God could ever make you useful to anybody else. Here in Van Buren that lie gets plenty of airtime.

If you’ve got a strong back, how would you not help a friend move a couch tomorrow? If you’ve got a little money in your pocket, how would you not bless somebody who’s hurting?

That’s not a speech about being impressive. That’s what love does. You don’t try to offend people you love. You try to be a blessing to them. Folks around here know the difference between a neighbor who shows up and a neighbor who only talks.

The trap is staying in the ditch and calling it humility. God doesn’t want you living forever as the only one who needs the help. That story keeps you small. And the other ditch is just as ugly. This isn’t a sermon about American success and worldly pleasure. Don’t baptize greed and call it elevation.

Lenders, Not Just Borrowers

God wants to elevate your life so you become the one who can help provide, not only the one still needing the hand. He said it this way: “You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none” (Deuteronomy 28:12). Paul wrote, “And God will generously provide all that you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Their good deeds, shared freely with the poor, will be remembered forever (2 Corinthians 9:9).

Yes, we meet a need today. Sometimes a handout is mercy for the night. But what God is after is a hand up. He wants to lift people out of poverty. Out of sickness. Out of the grave. He wants to lift your head so you can see the future He’s called you to. His name is on it.

Healed to Bless

Here’s the reality: we get the order backwards. He came and rescued us. He qualifies me. Because He’s qualified me, I steward what I have. The better I steward, He isn’t going to love me more or less. He already loved me when I was a big blown idiot. He already saved me.

Now my heart turns. I want to be disciplined because I love Him, not because I’m trying to earn a seat. Stewardship is what you do after the Rescue, not the ladder you climb to get it.

Listen to me. He wants to heal your heart, your mind, your whole being, so your whole being can be a blessing to other people. He’s going to put tools in your pocket and heal the greed out of your chest at the same time. You become a vessel of provision. You can meet a need tomorrow morning if you’re available. You can fill a gap. You can be a hand up.

If money is part of that healing, walk through our financial discipleship path. But don’t wait for a perfect spreadsheet to start serving. Submit to His way. Let Him do what He does in your heart. Then go be useful.

Mission This Week: Identify one person you can offer a hand up to this week, a ride, a meal, a skill, a calm hour of help, and do it cheerfully, then take one honest stewardship step with what God has already put in your hands.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Jeremy