THE KINGDOM’S RESOURCES
“He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant He confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NLT)
It’s easy to forget. We work hard. We study, hustle, save and build. And then, without realizing it, we start to think it was all us. We quietly take the credit for the house, the paycheck, the success. But God cuts through that mindset with a gentle but firm reminder: Remember who gave you the ability in the first place. He gave you the power to be successful.
In Deuteronomy, God prepares His people for blessing. They’re about to enter the Promised Land, a place of fruitfulness and abundance. But God knows their hearts. They’ll forget the One who made it possible when things get easy. So He warns them ahead of time: Don’t forget Me.
Everything we have in this life, our skills, energy, money and opportunities, comes from God. And because it comes from Him, it’s meant to be used for Him. That doesn’t mean we give everything away or feel guilty for enjoying blessings, but it does mean that the Kingdom of God has a purpose for our success. We should hold what we have with open hands. It means we should ask, How can I use this to reflect God’s goodness? How does God want to use the resources He has entrusted to me?
Kingdom impact starts with a Kingdom perspective. We become more generous when we see ourselves as stewards, not owners. We look for ways to bless others. We invest in things that outlast us. Something amazing happens when we live like this. When we use our resources for God’s purposes, our hearts follow. Our joy deepens—our impact multiplies.
APPLICATION: Take inventory. What’s one resource: time, skill, influence or income, that you can offer to God this week? Ask Him to show you where it could make the most impact. Trust Him as you obey.
PRAYER: God, You are the best! You’ve given me resources to share with the world. Help me remember that all wealth comes from You. Show me how to use what I have to serve Your kingdom. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?