Abraham's School of Finance: Covenant

This week, VCF started a new series entitled Abraham's School of Finance.  It's a universally relateable topic because we all handle money and deal with concerns related to it, whether in abundance or lack.  It's beneficial to know the spiritual principles that will help us understand how to handle this resource better.

The goal for the series is to recognize that God owns everything and that we are called to be faithful stewards of His resources for His purpose and glory.

We are studying Abraham for the next four weeks and the topics are:

Week 1: Covenant
Week 2: Stewardship
Week 3: Tithing
Week 4: Generosity

God wants to bless us and God's blessings do not bring trouble.

 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)

The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. (Psalm 10:22) 

God made a covenant with Abraham, a promise to bless him.  

Author

 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

God authored the covenant with Abraham.  Abraham did not initiate it nor he did not participate in deciding what it should cover or entail.

In these modern times, we do not hear or use the word 'covenant' except probably in church.  It seems to refer to something from the ancient times.  We are more familiar with the contract (who hasn't entered into one?).  Here are the differences between a contract and covenant:
  • Contracts are legalistic and self-serving.  Covenants are relational and value the interest of the other party.
  • In a contract, both parties need goods and services from each other.  In a covenant, God does not need anything but provides for man's needs anyway.
  • Contracts are based on mistrust and suspicion of the other party.  Covenants are based on trust, belief and commitment.
  • Contracts take the side of the party that prepared the contract.  If breached, there will be stricter provisions. In a covenant, God remains faithful even if man is not.  Even if breached, man can still start with a clean slate.
  • Contracts are time-bound.  Covenants can affect generations.
Access

It takes faith to access the covenant.

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

Assurance
“To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:18-21)

 “I will make you into a great nation, 
and I will bless you; 
I will make your name great, 
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, 
and whoever curses you I will curse; 
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

God said "I will" so it will happen.  He promised these to Abraham and his descendants: identity (make you into a great nation), prosperity (bless you), prominence (make your name great), influence (you will be a blessing), favor (bless those who bless you), protection (curse those who curse you) and generosity (peoples of the earth will be blessed through you).  Man can make promises but not necessarily deliver because of unwillingness or not having the capability to fulfill the promise.  

Abraham was the recipient of the covenant and it is still at work in modern-day Israel.  But we are not excluded from the covenant, all because of Jesus Christ.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole."  He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:13-14)

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)


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