Genesis 17:12-13 clearly illustrates how God feels about us, His people. The great news is that He wants us all for forever. But He is also asking us to take on some responsibility within the family unit with respect to our finances. Everyone is included In God's instruction to Abraham, we see that God is an all-inclusive God. He said, "EVERY male." God goes a bit further to point out that little things don't matter. He doesn't care where they were born. He doesn't care where they are from. He doesn't care if they are not biologically related. The instructions apply to everyone. God expects the same of us with respect to financial stewardship. We are to be financially responsible. We are also, though, reminded to lead those who are watching us for guidance. Those born in our household are our children or our grandchildren. But, we are also leading people who are not our offspring. They may be employees or individuals we mentor. There are people who are seeking answers to their questions by watching us. Training starts early God doesn't want to wait. As seen in these verses, He wants them at eight days old. While this may seem early, it makes sense. Circumcision is a painful experience. By doing it early, the baby will experience the pain, but the chances of remembering it are very slim. Since the baby is young, the parents are there to ensure that the procedure is done right. They are there to be a comfort and a support for that baby. With our finances, God also wants us to have our children start early. Instant gratification and impulse purchases can be painful experiences. If we train up our children from early on, they will have a different mindset about the use of their money. If we start with them when they are young, we can monitor their development for years and years before they leave home. We can make sure that they learn true financial stewardship. We can comfort and support them through the learning process. Covenant in your flesh God described our covenant with Him as being in our flesh. That means that He wants there to be a visible sign of His covenant with us. When a couple gets married, their rings are one sign of their union. But, their actions and interactions with each other show the world that they are together. We can show the world that we belong to God and that we are not controlled by money. People are always watching us. We have to allow them to see that we don't buy what we can't afford. We have to show them that we trust God when the money runs out. They have to see that we seek God's assistance with our financial matters. It's an everlasting covenant The word everlasting sticks out to me in this verse. Usually, when we see the word, we think of now and moving forward to future generations. However, God allowed me to see that everlasting also goes the other way. His covenant with us started a long time ago, and it is still in force. There are no deadlines or timeframes with God's instructions. They applied thousands of years ago just the same as they apply today. They will still apply after God calls us home. The financial issues we face are not new. They are just new to us. But we come in contact with so many people, whether at home, work, or anywhere else. They are looking to us for answers. We may be the only sign of God that someone experiences in their life. What kind of impression do we want to leave with them?
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