I have noticed the financial strain coming upon people and the effect it is having on their marriage, their families, and the choices they are making to make ends meet, writes Paul Kauri, the General Superintendent of Cook Islands Assemblies of God Church.

Inflation undoubtedly is playing a part in this, however here in the Cook Islands I hear a common dream held by most young couples, the desire to build their own home. This is a good dream, but nonetheless it comes with huge challenges.

I’m noticing the struggle people are going through to make ends meet while making decisions that have a huge impact on their families. I see them doing more to acquire more while sacrificing some of the fundamentals of family and faith.

By the way, this is not an anti-capitalist article, and neither is it pro-socialist. Instead, my hope is that as you read, it will serve as a reminder to us of priorities, and to live within our means, to carry a generous spirit, and most of all – to trust the Lord, period.

Living on small, beautiful island with a small population, it is more noticeable for us when someone in our community passes away. You soon realise that at any time people can pass and the sense of loss stays for a while no matter how close you are to the person or not.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to Love God with everything and our neighbour as ourselves, everything finds its bearing from this commandment. (abbreviated version)

Surely, then, Loving God and people ought to be our highest priority, you never know when they will leave, it will be too late to tell them how much you love and value them when they are gone, so tell and show them now.

Let’s look at the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-34 to continue this thought.

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It would be a mistake to think that Jesus is implying that we should not accumulate wealth or property here on earth. That would imply no savings and no thought for the future, unable to help the poor or leaving an inheritance for our children, perpetuating the poverty cycle. No, this is not what Jesus is implying. Rather, His message is don’t allow those things to become the treasure in your heart, for anything you treasure, will also have your heart. So, Love Him with all your heart, make Him the desire of your heart and you won’t be held prisoner by what’s decaying on earth.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

The Jewish understanding of this text has to do with being generous or stingy. Healthy Eyes was someone who was generous and that generosity lit up their whole being. On the other hand, a bad eye was a stingy person, and that also affected their demeanor. You do not have to be generous beyond your means, that may not be wise. Generosity is in the way you see things – positively or negatively, generous or stingy. A friend, who has since passed, use to make a pot of noodles, the best meal you’ve ever had! You see it wasn’t the noodles, it was him and his generous spirit!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Trusting your ability to make ends meet or pursue your dreams is putting your trust in money, the result of this means you will despise God at some point. You cannot be bound to God and money.

But in this text, what does Trusting God look like? God declared that when we do not tithe we are stealing from Him (Malachi 3) 10 per cent of your income belongs to the Lord, therefore tithe, by giving it to the church. You say, “I cant afford it!”, I encourage you to Trust in the Lord, He can do so much more than you can ask for, or even imagine.

Do not worry

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. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What’s the main point in this text? It is NOT “Do Not Worry” as the subtitle suggest. Rather it should read, “Trust Dad!”, Jesus is reminding us that God is our Father, our Dad. We’re more important to Him than birds or flowers! He knows that we need and even want these things. Don’t you think He will provide for you? As a parent don’t you want the best for your children? Why then can you not trust God to want the best for you? You have two choices.

1. Trust in your ability and skills or
2. Trust Dad

He loves us so much that He sent Jesus. When He sent Jesus, He gave everything.

Do you really think He would stop short when it comes to food, clothing or a house, or anything else for that matter? Selah.

The second point of this text is found in verse 33 – both His Kingdom and His Righteousness should be our pursuit.

Ask God for what you need, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and Trust Him with all you heart. Amen