Living by faith offers greater rewards than just financial prosperity!

For he stretches out his hand against God, And acts defiantly against the Almighty, Running stubbornly against Him with his strong, embossed shield. Job 15:25-26 NKJV
 
Eliphaz calls Job a fool. He argues that wicked men have troubled spirits, why?
 
Job’s friend believes godly people always prosper. He believes evil people always suffer. There is some truth in what Eliphaz says. He is mistaken in applying it to Job.
 
God does not judge by our standards. Stretching out our hand against God does not just mean fighting against Him. It could also mean living as though He does not exist.
 
Acting defiantly against God, running stubbornly against Him with a shield describes a person relying on his own strength instead of trusting God. People who are greatly admired are living as though God does not exist today. They are evil in His sight!
 
Job was not a sinner. He was a saint. God was not punishing Him. The Lord was using Job to display His power. He was using Job to show His authority over heaven and earth. God used Job to show Satan He knows His sheep. They hear His voice and obey Him.
 
There are people, churches and denominations who believe financial prosperity is the measure of God’s blessing. They think calamity reveals a lack of faith or hidden sin.
 
Financial blessing can be a measure of God’s blessing. God can use calamity to build up our faith or reveal hidden sin. If we were all blessed with wealth, we might think we do not need God. We will all suffer some type of calamity as we journey through life!
 
Living by faith offers greater rewards than financial prosperity. God blesses us with prosperity of spirit. Our minds and bodies are at peace. We get restorative rest. We live above our circumstances. The joy of the Lord overflows from our lives into others.
 
People who overwork, scheme and plot to get ahead create dysfunctional lifestyles. A man of modest means sleeps better than one who worries about protecting his wealth.
 
Americans work harder and longer than people in most other nations. We take less time off and have less job security. People in some of those countries live longer than us. It’s no wonder so many of us are troubled in our spirits.
 
God wants us to strive for excellence. He does not want us to trust in our own strength and resources. He does not want us to judge ourselves or other people by what we accomplish or own. God wants us to recognize Him as the giver of good gifts.
 
God wants us to trust Him with what we have and with what we do not have!
 
Do not deceive yourself by trusting in futile things. They may shine and sparkle today but they will evaporate into thin air. Trust the Ancient of Ages. He is the Father of all that is good and righteous. True and eternal blessings come from Jesus!
 
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