Buy Victory Bonds

Last night I was a birthday party. People we playing some cards, and then started looking at the pictures on the cards instead. They were war propaganda posters from the First World War. Many of them were encouraging citizens to support the war and invest in it through buying war bonds (Canada's version was victory bonds). Images of children encouraging you to buy bonds because their dad is at war, or an image of a Japanese solider telling people, "Go ahead please - take day off," from work. The images of children, women and of the enemy were common to get citizens on side to ration their money and spend it on the war. Am I spending money on the war?

A common theme through Paul's epistles is warfare and the soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 says, "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." In Philippians 2:25 and Philemon 1:2, Paul refers to his fellow laborers as soldiers. Our passions are at war with us (James 4:1), we walk in the flesh but don't fight our war on the side of the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:2), and the flesh wars against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). No doubt about it, we are in a war.

Those who are at the home front still contribute to the war, as the propaganda posters make clear. There are some who are out full time on the front lines serving our Commander and Chief. Are we buying "victory bonds"?

A common excuse not to give is that I don't make enough money, "If only the Lord would give me more money, then I would give him more." I don't remember where I heard it, but the poorest state per capita in the US is Mississippi. Can you guess what state gave the most to charitable organization's per capita? When we show the Lord that we can be trusted with more, than He will give us more. When He gives us more, we should give more.

A great biblical example was those in Macedonia, Thessalonica and Philippi. 2 Corinthians 8:1, 9:1 and Philippians 4:15-19 shows us that the people from these areas, who were known for being poor, were the greatest givers. They were extremely poor and yet were the greatest givers to the poor!

How much do we give? How much is the Lord worth to us? Remember how much the Lord Jesus gave us! "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Giving is true worship when it costs us something. This is why the greatest gift of all is salvation because God had to give His only begotten Son and the Son had to give up His life, even through some wouldn't and won't take His propitiatory sacrifice for themselves (1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 2:1).

Truly everything that God gives us is His, how much are we paying Him back? The focus of this blog was more towards money, but also we need to be aware of how much time we are giving the Lord. We are living in a time of war and battle over souls against Satan and the power of darkness: Start living like it.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:11-20