I Can't Afford It!

There are lots of times when we use the phrase "I can't afford it!". Especially now in the tougher economic times - we tighten our belts - so to speak, we cut out some vacations, try to not use credit cards, don't eat out as much, etc. We do this because "we can't afford it".
Watching all of the bad news on the ecomomy, seeing the stock market dive, seeing our "portfolio" shrink - makes us all seem poorer. Our houses have declined in value - on paper so we feel like we have lost $1000's. Read the paper, watch the news, talk to friends at work and you could hang your head and really worry about what might be in the future.
Well, if you are in this shape - worry and sleepless because of the economy, think about the words of Jesus in Matthew 6: 25 - Therefore, I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.......26: Look at the birds of the air....your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
We as believers are able to sleep at night because our Father has promised that he will take care of us.
Not only is now the time to stop worrying about our "stuff" we may want to consider selling off some of it - simplifying our lives and using more of what we have to help others. Consider the first century church described in Acts 2 - they sold their things and helped any brother that had needs. If we want to be the same type of believers as the first century christians, maybe we should plan a sale of the things that we are too attached to. Maybe we should look to what our God promises to those that don't hold back. In Malachi, the prophet recorded the words of God when he said (3:10) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this. says the Lord and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.
Our blessing promise may not be more stuff but, our God has promised that He will take care of us and our God is true & faithful. He does what He says He will do. He even tells us to test Him!
Be a blessing to somebody today!
Marc