Life Plan Devotion #126 [Where is the wealth?]

Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" (KJV).

I don't know about you, but the first part of Proverbs 13:22, that a good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, gave me pause. My husband and I are far from being able to do that. We can leave the kind of inheritance noted in the Amplified version, that of "moral stability and goodness," but we long to see the fulfillment of Proverbs 13:22a, and, with wise and righteous living, we will!
When I first read this verse, I wondered why the writer linked the leaving of an inheritance to the wealth of the sinner. Today, I believe the Holy Spirit gave me some illumination.
Typically, an inheritance is noted in a will. However, just because your name is included in a will does not mean much. First, you have to have that information, to know you're mentioned in the will. Second, you have to "make a demand" or go through some other legal process, to gain access to the inheritance that is yours.
The "just" (or the righteous) have a spiritual inheritance, as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Because of that fact, we righteous have all the rights and promises that go along with being a child of God. However, it does little good, unless we know about them and unless we "make a demand" on them.
According to Proverbs 13:22b, there is wealth (chayil): “goods, might, power, riches, strength, and substance” that is laid up (tsâphan): “hidden (by being covered over), reserved, (kept) secret” for the just (tsaddîyq): "lawful, righteous, just." That wealth is hidden, kept secret by sinners (the unjust, unlawful, unrighteous).
Satan helps his followers to prosper, but it is "ill-gotten gain." From the beginning of creation, everything was made for the subsistence, consumption, enjoyment, fulfillment, and use of God's people. The Garden was perfect; there was no lack. If you look at the Old Testament patriarchs, they were "the richest men in town." They were righteous (flawed, but righteous), and God richly blessed them.
God's Word has not changed; God has not changed. If He richly blessed "the just" over 2,000 years ago, why would His intention have changed? It hasn't changed, because God is still the same God, with the same Kingdom principles. It is we who have allowed "tradition" to dictate that a Christian should be poor or live modestly, or others will think that "the love of money," the "root of all evil," is at work.
Why do we allow the enemy to make us feel guilty, when it comes to money? Sure, we will have problems if we're greedy, but if we are "about the Father's business," we have every right to "make a demand" on the promise of Proverbs 13:22.
How long are we going to let Satan continue to steal from the righteous and give to the unrighteous? How long are you going to sit idly by, living paycheck to paycheck, wishing you could give to the work of the Kingdom much more than just the tithe? If "the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" (remember, God said it) then all you have to do is believe Him and receive it. Don't doubt God or His Word. He will be delighted to have you pray in faith, believing, *"ASK"ing for the wealth that rightly belongs to you, quoting Proverbs 13:22, and rejoicing that the wealth that belongs to you is on its way!
*See Life Plan Devotions #106-118

What this has to do with weight loss: The weight-loss journey, particularly that which involves weight-loss surgery, is not cheap. Even if one has insurance coverage, there are many expenses that are not included, especially after surgery. Too often, we fail to "count the cost" of maintaining a healthy post-op lifestyle. There are vitamins and supplements, protein supplementation, quality food to prepare (rather than fast food), and yearly (at minimum) blood tests, and those costs add up and are ongoing. It is a commitment to and investment in one's good health. How will you pay for it? If you have concerns about that, my advice to you is twofold: 1) Be a tither and giver, so you can claim Malachi 3:10 and Philippians 4:19, and 2) Ask God for help (Matthew 7:7). He will help you and give you ideas as to how you can plan and pay for that which you need, to have a fit body/temple for Him.

Confession:
I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ, so I confidently ask that "the wealth of the sinner" that is "laid up" for me, a "just" person, be uncovered and brought to me, so I can leave an inheritance for my grandchildren and do God's Work, in fulfillment of Proverbs 13:22.

Life Plan Devotion #40 [F.I.R.S.T. Place]

Quick! What's the first commandment? Did you remember that the first of the 10 Commandments is "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3, NKJV)? A "god" is an idol, defined in The Strong's Dictionary of Bible Words as "a fashioned idol, likeness, the worship of such," and, interestingly, "pain."
God commands and demands that He be first in your life. Does God have first place in your life? How can you know? Here's an acronym, F.I.R.S.T., and some questions, to assist you in knowing the place God has in 5 major areas of your life. We'll look at one area per day, for 5 days.
Finances (the F in F.I.R.S.T.)--Take a look at your checkbook register, and you'll get a good idea where your heart is. It is true that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21, KJV). Do you tithe? Do you tithe 10 percent? Do you tithe from your gross or the net pay? Is your tithe check the first check you write, after getting paid, or the last? Do you give to other godly causes, as an offering, above your tithe? Do you sow into good ground/good ministries? Do you prayerfully ask God what He would have you give and then are you obedient to His leading? Do you "give until it hurts" and then trust God to provide? Is God first in your finances?
In these uncertain economic times, the best way to recession-proof your finances is to put God first in them. There is only one place in the Bible where you are invited to test God, and that is in the area of tithing. Read Malachi 3:10, and if you're a regular tither, claim the promise. If you're not, consider taking God up on His challenge. Just know that the blessing may not happen right away, but it will happen, and part of that blessing is God taking care of your needs, no matter what's going on in your life (or in the economy) [Philippians 4:19].

Matthew 6:33 [NIV]
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

What this has to do with weight loss: It's expensive to have weight-loss surgery, and it's not cheap to live with it. There are vitamins and supplements to take, protein shakes and other protein-enriched foods to purchase, yearly blood work and follow-up visits, and that's only the beginning. The best way to be able to afford all of that is to put God first in your finances, for when you do that, He promises to give you "all these things." Prove Him on it.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, when I look at the state of the economy, it can sure get scary, but I thank You that there is no recession where You live. Since Your Word says that we believers are "seated in heavenly places" (Ephesians 2:6), there shouldn't be recession issues with us. Thank You for Your Word that teaches me that if I put You first, everything else will work out. Lord, I know that Your children are not immune to trials, but I praise You that You have promised "never to leave [us] nor forsake [us]" (Hebrews 13:5). I don't have to worry about finances, as long as I put my trust in You and seek You first. I know You are worthy of my trust. Help me to do what I should do, so You can do all You have promised. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."

Go forth today, putting God first in your finances.