Be Upright, In Your All Your Dealings

Good Morning!! When Sarah died in the land of Canaan, Abraham went to the people who lived in the land, and requested a burial place. Abraham acknowledged that he was a foreigner in their land, and humbled himself before them, and made his petition. These men, in turn, honored Abraham by calling him "a prince", and instructed him to take thier choicest piece of land for free, to bury his dead wife. But Abraham insisted on paying the fair price for the land. Over time, Abraham had become a man of integrity. He was respected and honored among the people living in Canaan, even though he was considered a foreigner. He was still living in the faith, of the promise from God, that one day his descendants would live freely in this land of Canaan,...the promise land. But instead of flaunting his heritage, he honored the current residents by insisting on paying a fair price for a burial place. In return, his integrity and character, were all the more greater in the eyes of those Canaanites.

Ephron answered Abraham, "Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead."—Genesis 23:11-15 (NIV)

Our integrity is often tested, through our finances. How we handle our money can be a true sign of our character, and it seems that Christians are under the spotlight more than others,...especially when we are in ministries. By paying for the land, Abraham was not under obligation to the land owners. When in debt, we are obligated to the lenders. When in debt, it is hard to make wise choices,...because the need for money can sometimes overshadow the right decision. It can be very hard to remember that; right is right,...at any cost.

Pray about your finances, and ask the Lord to guide you in all decisions.

Sweet Spirit of God, remind us that someone is always watching, and we may very well be the first Bible that people read. Let all our actions bring honor and glory to our Father in Heaven.. Amen.

"Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
...let’s praise the Lord for His blessings."