As I deepened my faith in Jesus, I’m awed as I realized how powerful God really is. When I try to marvel how great his power is, I sometimes imagine Him as “Superman times 1000.” For that, I know for a fact that when He was scourged and nailed on the cross, its his choice not to defend himself and not to fight back. If I’m going to think about it, compared to how powerful He really is. If He likes to, he can just zap all those soldiers, fly in the air and magically heal all his wounds. But He didn’t, because there is a greater reason why He let it be.
The same thing with letting us experience all those financial difficulties and problems, He let it be. As He is the source of all riches in heaven and earth, He can just give each one of us 100 Million, right? Yes, He can do that, but why He won’t?
As I struggle too, God revealed to me the reasons why He is allowing financial problems in our lives, so let me share it with you:
11 Reasons Why God allow Financial Problems in our Lives
1. God does not want to spoil us since He is treating us as His children
Hebrews 12:7
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
Imagine you have a very rich father here on earth, and just give you all that you ask for without requiring any effort on your part.
When you say, “Dad, I want a mansion and a yacht and a million dollar sports car.”
Then, he just gives you that, what do you think would be your problem now? Would you take care of your wealth? Would you develop any lasting virtues while gaining those things?
I don’t think so. I think you will be plain spoiled brat with bloated ego.
2. God doesn’t want us to be lazy
John 5:8
Jesus said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”
In that story, the paralytic wanted to be healed. Jesus commanded him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.” This command contains verbs, which are action words. It’s just like telling us, you want to get rich? Then, get up, pick up your mat, and walk. Do something to make your wants come true.
Proverbs 10:4
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
3. God wants us to be better as we struggle
Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
As we struggle from financial difficulties, we become better. It may be part of God’s discipline.
What is common to all successful rags to riches stories you have heard? They have a common trait, they have developed an undeniably strong character and deep rooted values that come from the experience as they struggle along the way. That’s what God wanted for us too.
4. God wants us to develop empathy and love for others
Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
God wanted us to experience how being poor and having nothing feels, so that when we already have enough, we can look back and love our fellow human beings.
5. God wants us to know that money is not everything and He wants to emphasize that wealth or money will never be enough
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
Have you heard of rich and famous people getting high on drugs and some are even killing themselves? Those are not unheard of, in fact it’s becoming more common.
This only shows that money won’t give you everything you need, fame will not satisfy your craving to be loved. Stop thinking that when you get all the money you need, you will be happy. If you are not happy with what you have right now, what makes you think you will be, if you have more?
6. God wants us to be responsible
1 Timothy 5:8
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Providing for our loved ones is part of our duty and responsibility.
7. God wants us to be content with what we have
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
God wanted us to live within our means. Contentment is always connected to joy. Greed and envy will take us nowhere.
8. God wants us to discover our talents and use our gifts that He has given us
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
As we struggle financially, and as we try to earn more, we often discover our talents that we can use to earn, these are the gifts that are given to us by our Creator. Using our gifts glorify the one who gives it.
9. God wants us to call on Him more
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?
Admit it or not, we call God more if we have problems and when we are struggling. We increased our faith in him by telling him you depend on Him for provision. Whenever I struggle financially, I read that verse, that He takes care of the birds in the sky who does not even plan or harvest. I know He will provide for me.
God wants us to show how He is dependable especially if you don’t have any other to go to.
10. God wants us to appreciate his blessings and be grateful for little things
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with song, And shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.
If we have little, we are easier to please. Imagine being super rich, how difficult it is to please you? Even friends would have a hard time choosing a gift for you if you have already everything anyone can ask for.
11. God may be leading us to our life’s mission
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
Financial struggles sometimes lead us to places we didn’t planned to go.
I have a friend/client who became an OFW, she said to me, “I realized that I became OFW not only because I needed to earn money, I became an OFW because God wanted me to be in that place. He wanted me to minister to Filipinos in that place. He wanted me to fulfil the mission He gave me in that place.”
As you and I struggle financially today, we have to always keep in mind that maybe God is leading us to something. A better opportunity, better understand of ourselves, better person we are supposed to be, a better faith and better reason to love more.
As I pray and have a more intimate relationship with Him, these are the truths He revealed in my heart that I want to share to you, and if you ask me, yes, I too have financial troubles. In fact, I’m in it right at this very moment, but I hang on with Him, because of these truths. Maybe He wants me to experience the difficulties so I can share my learnings with you. This season of prayer, I invite you to pray to Him and to listen to what God is revealing to you right now. Let your struggles bear fruits of wisdom as you go through life.
God bless you my dear reader. Reflect and Pray.
For your Financial Health,
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THANK YOU SO MUCH DR. PINKY INTAL!
You are truly super Mom/ wife/ …and daughter!
*GOD BLESS YOU* for being a very big help to MANY!
…including me!
Thank you Ms Agnes. I’m just a deliverer of His message. 🙂
I am as well experiencing financial problems as of the moment. I am an ofw for 6 years already. I started from low salary and after few years I started earning more.Earning more should have atleast given me enough savings but unfortunately instead of having bigger savings, my expenses became more than what I am earning and leads me to be buried in credit card debts and personal loan.
Financial problem is very stressful. I often times cry and ask why I have to go through this.
Told myself I do not want to stay in this situation and that I need to find ways in how to be able to get out of this. I Invested in my knowledege, joined a community group that inspires and help me focus not on the problem but on the solutions, I changed my lifestyle and mindset.
The process is not easy. I am not yet out of the woods. And I always pray that He gives me the patience and courage that I may surpass this trial.
Thank you Joy for your sharing. It’s part of your honing process I believe. You learn from your circumstances.