6 Ways to Better Steward God’s Blessings

　　By: Rebecca Barlow Jordan

　　And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. -2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT

　　Financial worries plague marriages as much as any challenge can. Some couples struggle with juggling skinny bank accounts. For others, the issue is managing fat ones. One couple deals with accumulated debts—from college loans or ballooning credit card balances. The other may face the test of overspending due to unwise purchases. Still, another wrestles with unemployment or a lack of career skills. Too little or too much?

　　Whatever the situation, stewardship, money management, wisdom, and trust emerge as hot-button subjects that can cause anxiety and rising blood pressure. Couples have split over financial issues. And how can we possibly bless others when we don’t even have enough ourselves? How should couples deal with this test? Too often, they may turn on each other instead of focusing on help from God. What does He say about all this?

　　God is a great provider who knows our every need. Not only that, He promises to meet all our needs “from his riches in glory, because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.” (Philippians 4:19 TLB). Wants? No, unless our “wants” equal God’s desires for us. But while Pinterest can’t deliver, God can—exactly what we need. Our relationship with Jesus through His death on the cross threw open the floodgates of blessing for those who will trust Him no matter what.

　　I remember numerous years in our marriage when we staggered bills just to keep afloat. We were frugal and tried to keep debt to a minimum, using it only for appreciating items when possible. We experienced multiple times when our faith was tested: unexpected “interruptions” when unemployment hit or mortgage payments increased. Yet time after time God provided for the needs we couldn’t handle on our own. He even allowed us repeatedly to give to others when it seemed we had nothing to give. God’s track record of faithfulness has never wavered.

　　Should you and your spouse feel the need for better money management, and you want to be good stewards with enough left over to help others, here are a few things that might help you:

　　1. Commit your finances (or lack of them) to God, and together ask Him to give you wisdom on how to manage them.

　　2. Express your trust in God to provide for all your needs.

　　3. Ask forgiveness (of God and of each other) if either of you has mishandled or misspent what God has provided in the past.

　　4. Set goals together and if necessary, draw up a new budget for managing your income and reducing debt.

　　5. Enlist help such as Dave Ramsey’s books on money makeovers and finding financial peace.

　　6. Ask God to give you creative solutions so you can exercise both stewardship with your finances and generosity in sharing with others.

　　God is passionate about our marriage and our relationship with Him. His promises never fail. I love the translation of 2 Corinthians 9:8 in the TLB: God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share.

　　That promise includes much more than finances. How exciting that we as couples can participate in blessing others—even as God, our Jehovah-Jireh Provider, has blessed us!

　　Rebecca Barlow Jordanis a bestselling inspirational author and day-voted follower of Jesus who loves to paint encouragement on the hearts of others. After five decades of marriage, she and her husband are more passionate about marriage and family than ever. Rebecca has authored and contributed to over 20 books and has written over 2000 other articles, devotions, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. She is a regular Crosswalk contributor whose daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is also available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can sign up for Rebecca’s free ebook and find out more about her and her encouraging blog at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.

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