My wife read me a Facebook post last night from one of her friends from growing up.  It was an update about a bad looking spot that had been found on her lung.  She had gone to the doctor to have the spot biopsied and the doctor told her that he did not see anything and so there was nothing to biopsy.  The spot had been there and now it was gone.  The doctor’s response was that someone must have been praying for you since there is no other reason or explanation for the spot being gone.

I was reading this morning in Philippians 1 and came across the following verses:

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”

Paul was in prison and he saw how his situation was advancing the name of God.  The guards were being saved and other people were being bolder in proclaiming the gospel.

What in the world do these two things have in common?  They both bring glory to God.  One person received an unexplained (miraculous) healing and the other person was stuck in prison.  Personally, I don’t want to have to go through either one of those situations, but if I had to pick I would clearly pick being healed.  Regardless of whether these two people wanted to go through their situation or not, God’s name was praised and became better known because of the situations.

“I want God’s name to be praised, but I really don’t want it to have to come through a difficult time.”

What a comforting and terrifying thought.  I want God’s name to be praised, but I really don’t want it to have to come through a difficult time.  I can at least find some comfort in knowing that my hardship will bring glory and praise to God’s name.

Now the question comes on this blog about money – what does this have to do with my money?

• Are you struggling to pay your bills?

• Do you have more debt than you think you can handle?

• Have you lost everything you owned?

• Have you received a windfall blessing or inheritance?

• Did you get a big raise at work?

“No matter your money situation, if you have the proper perspective, it can bring glory to God’s name.”

No matter your money situation, if you have the proper perspective, it can bring glory to God’s name.  When we trust in Him through our struggles and when we honor Him and become radically more generous when He blesses us, we bring glory to His name.  No matter where you are with your finances, change your perspective from “this is too hard” to “how can this bring glory to God’s name.”  Maybe it will be in your faithfulness to pay off your debt or maybe it will be in helping the widow who lives next door to you.  No matter what it is think about how it can be turned to God’s glory.