When Someone Hurts You Financially – Offense, Part 11

There was a time in my life where things were very tight financially. Basically, Ceci and I were living paycheck to paycheck. I had a friend who asked me to come and speak. Then, he additionally asked me to stay over and speak on Sunday, because the initial class he’d invited me to speak to was about 10% of what he had projected it would be. So, I went and taught the class, then he told me I would not be speaking at his church on Sunday. He had gotten me a couple of other churches to speak at. That seemed strange. Then, when I got to those other churches, they were just tiny, little places. I had to drive an hour and a half one way to get to one of them! They each gave me about $40 for the service. That barely covered my gas. I later found out that this happened because the original church was having financial constraints and they wouldn’t have been able to give me an honorarium. I thought, “This is all really strange.” Anyway, the original guy owed me for three days of teaching, my material sales, and a flight reimbursement. He hadn’t paid me yet when he took me to the airport, and I wondered how he was going to handle that. Sure enough, when we got to the airport, he said, “Ah! I forgot to get you a check! I’ll have the staff get it in the mail today.” I remember it didn’t feel right at the time. Well, nothing ever came. He didn’t even give me the money for the material sales or the flight reimbursement. Forget the honorarium. I went in the hole for about $600-700. It was really tough. I thought, “Man, I want to teach him a few things about ethics. I’m going to call him! I’m going to tell all my friends what he did!” However, the Lord started teaching me a few things. 

“If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well.” (Matthew 5:40; ISV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Declare, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all it contains, You have founded them.” (Psalm 89:11; NASB)
  • Say, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:24-25; ESV)
  • Speak forth, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38; AMP)
  • State, “Love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.” (Luke 6:35; CEV)
  • Forgive anyone who has hurt you financially. Release them from any offense you hold against them. That offense could be tying up the Lord’s blessing to you. This could be a promotion you expected that went to another. It could be identity theft. It could be property stolen from you or damaged, where you had to foot the repair bill. Maybe you are upset with a ministry leader for the way they used a donation you gave. Don’t let offense steal your blessing!

A prayer you can pray:

(Say the above scriptures out loud. Say them more than once, if you don’t mean it yet. Deal with any financial offense as you do so. Then, forgive as the last prayer point invites you to.)

Today’s decree:

God’s people radically giving and expecting nothing in return will be a sign and a wonder to our communities and nation.