You are backed, supported, you are affirmed because they help to take care of your needs.  So here we are out here trusting these companies and corporations for our cash, but where is Christ in the currency of our lives?  He affirms us and tells us don’t worry about a thing, just tell Him what you need and He’s gonna take care of the rest.  We already talked about giving being a condition of the heart, which transforms our living.  Here in Philippians, Paul tells us, God will guard your heart; tell Him what you need, thank Him for what He’s done and experience His peace!

Surely He is the ACCESS to the ultimate EBT, the Everlasting Blessing Transfer.  The EVERLASTING!  That means that it never runs out, there’s always more, the balance doesn’t deplete.  There’s no delay, and you don’t have to scam, trick, and scheme your way into the blessings.  In this text, the chapter goes on to say He will keep you from stumbling and watch over your coming and going.  By the sound of it, as believers there is nothing to fear, no need to fret, we just need to deposit our hearts in the banks of faith.  God will make every investment and increase because Has interest in you.

We sometimes are just reluctant to turn it all over to Him.  We will give Him the baggage, burdens and bills but we become experts at handling the budget.  But you see, what I have discovered is that when you pour into His kingdom, He pours into you.  When He knows that He can trust you because you have fully trusted in Him, you discover Him in a whole new way.  You find that your prayers are answered even before you pray them.  You find that provision finds you.  You find that you have a peace and a praise in the midst of your problems.

So in this sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus is challenging the believer, to not hoard possessions, but hope for provision.  He basically inquires, you gonna trust me or not?  He continues, but you can’t do both, serve two masters, depend on the world and lean on me too.  You can depend on Mastercard, with a credit limit, or depend on the Master’s card, which has no minimum, no maximum, no restrictions, no boundaries.  With the Master’s card, God goes above and beyond anything you can think, ask or imagine.  Who wouldn’t want to sign up for that!?

Let’s face it, God has everything, God IS everything.  He doesn’t need our money or anything else from us, for that matter.  Tithing is not a command for God to get rich, but for our faith to grow stronger and richer in Him.  Giving is a gift to us!  Could you imagine a farmer having seeds for a crop but never planting them?  What good is the seed in the farmer’s pocket?  But when the farmer sows the seed, there is a harvest produced.  The farmer doesn’t lose the seed, rather they gain fields of harvest.

So just where are you using your talent?  Is it only for work, for the boosts and perks of a paycheck?  Is it just for the benefits?  What gifts, skills and knowledge are you employing build the Kingdom?  I Peter tells us we are to use our various gifts to serve one another.

Giving is an opportunity of gratitude.  It is a sacrifice of service that we are called to strive for.  This is how we should lead our lives; we cheerfully commune, cooperate and collaborate in life.  We share with one another, in fun, faith and fellowship, so that we flourish.

As believers, we have stock in John 3:16, that protects us in every transaction we make in life.  It’s what connects us, not to just some account, but to the official Big Guy himself.  John 3:16 is the foundation for our living and giving.

The door is CLOSED on old things, we’re CLOCKing God, we only have time for HIM.  The CLOGS & CLUTTER are cleared out, our CLOSET is where we have been crowned with beauty for ashes.  We have been washed and covered…made CLEAN!

The closet is where we get our crown of beauty for ashes; like throwing on a hat for a bad hair day.  It’s where we get the oil of joy for our mourning; spraying ourselves in the sweet aroma of His grace.  The closet is where we put on a garment of praise instead of despair; covered in His glory.