Faithful In Times of Adversity. Part [5] 09/12/2025 (Morning thought)

2nd Timothy 3:This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

And according to current and foreseeable trends we haven’t seen anything yet, for when the truth of the matter starts to put a firm grip on your expendable income, some hard, and some very difficult choices may have to be made. In fact, the new word for what is currently taking place is “Sneak-flation” where businesses, and your local grocery and hardware stores are finding some ingenious and innovative ways to hike their prices, since they could only absorb so much of the sticker shock increases for so long.

Again, persons are now finding it necessary to dip into their savings and their 401k, in order to make ends meet, and the credit card ghost is stalking a lot of well-intentioned people, in so much that in some instances, folks are being sucked into the vacuum of spiraling debt. Thus, if you are a person on a fixed income, certain things may have to be on the chopping block, and things you once took for granted might have to be put on hold, to deal with the emerging situation.

But again, as was stated earlier, God expects us to be faithful in the good times as well as in the times of adversity, because the instructions on tithes and offerings were not designed or meant to be subject to changes in the economy, which tend to fluctuate ever so often.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Faithful In Times of Adversity. Part [4] 09/12/2025 (Evening thought)

Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

It’s one thing to return a faithful tithe and offering when things are going good, when there is plenty of income, and when inflation is low. But if and when there’s a change of fortune, and adversity sets in for a prolonged season, being faithful at such a time as this can be a completely different animal. When inflation is heading North and when the price for goods and services is skyrocketing, there is the natural tendency to squeeze, mash brakes and to be tightfisted.

That’s all well and good, if doing so does not affect your faithfulness, for God expects us to be faithful, when inflation is low, and when it is high. Nowadays, many persons are finding it necessary to cut back severely on their spending in order to make ends meet, and in doing so, a strong temptation will often come to the Christian, to put your tithes and offerings on the chopping block.

Miami Dade county is facing a budget deficit of 400 million dollars, and many other counties across the country are currently facing budget shortfalls. Thus, to make up the difference, property taxes in Dade will be hiked in some places, to as much as 21 % according to the recent information sent out. In addition to this, the cost of electricity, housing, rent, groceries and gas are taking a definite toll on millions of people, in so much that individuals and families are being forced to migrate, in what we call financial gentrification.

Isaiah 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!