Whom God Blesses, No Man Can Curse: Reading the Fine Print

A story tucked into the book of Numbers speaks louder to the Church than most believers realize, so
loudly that many Christians have turned it into a badge of honor, a line to reach for when trouble shows up.

I watched this play out firsthand. Some time ago I witnessed two women in the middle of a heated argument, each one hurling accusations at the other. In the middle of it, one of them stopped, pointed her finger, and declared, "Whom God blesses, no man can curse." She said it like the conversation was over — like the words alone settled the matter.

Here's what neither woman in that argument knew, and what most people quoting this verse don't know either: this isn't a blanket guarantee that comes standard with being a believer. It's a conditional promise, and Scripture is specific about the condition. Before you plant your flag on "whom God blesses no man can curse," you need to know two things — what actually blessed the people in this story, and whether that same thing is true of you.

The Story Behind the Verse

This phrase comes from Numbers 23, one of the strangest and most instructive stories in the Old Testament. Balak, king of Moab, was afraid. The children of Israel had grown too numerous and too strong for his army to face head-on, so he did what desperate people running out of options often do — he turned to the occult. He sent for Balaam, a sorcerer with a reputation for making curses stick, and paid him to speak destruction over Israel.

Three Attempts, One Confession

What follows is Balak dragging Balaam to three different locations, hoping a change of scenery might change the outcome. Three times he tried. Three times he failed. It's on the second attempt that we get the moment this entire article hinges on — the moment Balaam is forced to explain, out loud, why the curse he was paid to deliver won't leave his mouth.

In Numbers 23:1-2, Balaam arrives in Moab and immediately orders seven altars built, with a sacrifice offered on each one. The ritual fails. So in Numbers 23:8, Balaam says:

"How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?" (Numbers 23:8)

Read quickly: that sounds like nothing more than divine favoritism God likes them, so hands off. That's exactly how most people who quote this verse understand it: no strings attached. But Balak wasn't satisfied with a surface answer, and neither should we be. He relocated Balaam and tried again. This time, Balaam didn't just report that the curse failed — he explained why it was legally impossible in the first place.

What Actually Qualified Israel

According to Numbers 23:13, Balak moved Balaam to a new vantage point, convinced the location was the problem. It wasn't. Balaam failed a second time, and this time he told Balak exactly why:

"Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" (Numbers 23:20-21, 23)

Read that again, slowly, because this is the verse everyone skips past on the way to the one they wanted to quote. God didn't bless Israel simply because they were His. He blessed them because when He looked, He found no iniquity in Jacob and no perverseness in Israel. That's not a statement about identity. That's a conditional statement.

So the phrase "whom God blesses no man can curse" was never meant to function as spiritual armor you put on by default the moment you say "I'm a Christian." It's the result of a life that has removed what gives a curse legal ground to land. That's very different from a slogan; it's a standard.

Scripture Doesn't Leave This Open to Guesswork

If this were an isolated statement, you could argue it was unique to Israel's situation and move on. It isn't. This principle shows up again and again.

Psalm 125:3 puts it plainly:

"For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity." (Psalm 125:3)

In plain terms, the schemes, plots, and curses of the wicked can only take root in the righteous if the righteous themselves become entangled in iniquity. The door has to be opened from the inside.

Proverbs 26:2 adds the mechanism:

"As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." (Proverbs 26:2)

A curse without cause has nowhere to land, the same way a bird can't perch where there's no branch. If a curse does take hold, it isn't proof that God abandoned you. It's evidence there was a cause.

King Solomon understood the same principle from a different angle:

"...and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him." (Ecclesiastes 10:8)

That word "hedge" isn't decorative. It's the exact word Satan himself uses in Job 1:10, when he tells God:

"Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?" (Job 1:10)

Even the enemy testified, under oath in the courtroom of heaven, that there is a spiritual hedge around the people of God. Solomon's warning is what happens when that hedge gets broken from the inside: the very protection that kept the serpent out becomes the opening that lets it in.

Isaiah 54:17 ties the same protection directly to the same qualification:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper... This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)

Notice the verse doesn't stop at the promise. It immediately names who the promise belongs to, the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness. You don't get to keep the first half and skip the second.

But Didn't Job Still Suffer?

If you know the rest of Job's story, you're probably already asking the obvious question: didn't Job lose almost everything anyway? Doesn't that disprove the whole principle?

It doesn't; it sharpens it. Look closely at how Job's hedge came down. Satan couldn't simply decide to attack; he had to ask God's permission first, and God set the terms of what he was and wasn't allowed to touch. Nothing about Job's trial was causeless or unauthorized. The point of this principle was never that nothing bad can ever happen to a righteous person. The point is that nothing touches a child of God apart from legal permission, whether that permission is opened through our own disobedience, or granted by God Himself for a purpose we may not see until later. Either way, it is never random, and it is never outside of God's authority.

Doesn't This Put Us Back Under the Law?

If you grew up under grace-heavy teaching, you might feel a warning bell going off right about now. Are we saying blessing has to be earned? That obedience saves us? Not at all.

Scripture is clear that God has already blessed us spiritually; the key word is spiritually, before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:3-4 says exactly that. Obedience was never the price of that spiritual position; Jesus already paid it in full. But there's a difference between a blessing that is spiritually secured and a blessing that is physically manifested, and Deuteronomy 28 spells that difference out in plain language.

Notice who Moses is speaking to in Deuteronomy 28: not outsiders, not unbelievers, but the covenant people of God, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And even to them, Moses says the physical manifestation of what God had already promised required something on their part:

"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out." (Deuteronomy 28:1-6)

And Moses doesn't stop there. The very next section of that same chapter lists the curses that come with disobedience. Moses wasn't being inconsistent; he was being exact. The blessing was never unconditional, and neither was its opposite. Both were tied to the same thing: obedience.

This is the same principle Paul later confirms under the New Covenant:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Grace changed how we're saved. It didn't repeal the law of sowing and reaping.

So What Do We Do With This?

Go back to those two women for a moment. One of them stood in the middle of an argument, full of accusations toward someone else, and quoted a verse that only applies to the person with no iniquity, no perverseness, and no unresolved sin between herself and God. The verse wasn't wrong. Her use of it was.

"Whom God blesses, no man can curse" is true. It's just not automatic, and it's not a weapon you get to swing at someone else while your own hedge has holes in it. It's the outcome of a hedge that's intact, a life free of the iniquity that gives a curse somewhere to land, and an obedience that turns what's already yours spiritually into what's visible in your life.

So the next time you're tempted to declare that verse over your life, or worse, over an argument, ask the question first: have I actually qualified for it?

Written By Pastor Kevin L A. Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

  

God's Investment Strategy: Why the Poor Are Your Greatest Opportunity

One of the greatest discoveries I have ever made from reading the Bible for myself is that God has
established spiritual laws that govern every area of life. Just as the physical world operates according to natural laws, the Kingdom of God also operates according to spiritual principles. When those principles are understood and obeyed, they produce predictable results, because God remains faithful to His own Word.

Among all the principles I have discovered, none has impacted my life more profoundly than the biblical principle of caring for the poor.

For many years, I believed what I had been taught by much of modern Christianity: that the primary way to increase financially was simply to give money to God, or to religious ministries, with the expectation that God would multiply it back to me. At the same time, the world taught a completely different philosophy: accumulate as much wealth as possible, protect it, and keep increasing it for yourself. Although these two systems appear different, they often produce the same result: our focus remains primarily on ourselves and our own prosperity.

However, when I began reading the Scriptures independently, I discovered that God repeatedly emphasizes how we treat the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, and those who cannot repay us. That discovery completely changed my understanding of what true biblical investment really is.

God's Investment Strategy

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." (Psalm 41:1-3)

Notice something remarkable. God does not merely promise financial increase. This one passage promises:

• Protection
• Preservation
• Deliverance
• Favor
• Victory over enemies
• Strength during sickness

These promises touch virtually every important area of life. This passage completely changed how I viewed generosity. I realized that every act of kindness toward someone who can never repay me is actually an investment in my own future.

The Greatest Investment You Can Ever Make

The world's investment strategy is simple:

• Invest in stocks.
• Invest in businesses.
• Invest in property.
• Invest in retirement accounts.

While there is certainly wisdom in proper financial stewardship, Scripture reveals another investment that reaches far beyond financial markets. God teaches us to invest in people.

Not wealthy people.
Not influential people.
Not people who can promote us.
But people who have absolutely nothing to offer us in return.

This is where biblical investment begins.

When I feed someone who is hungry...
When I clothe someone who cannot afford clothing...
When I help someone burdened by life's hardships...
When I extend kindness to someone society has forgotten...

I am making deposits into an account that Heaven itself acknowledges. Jesus revealed this profound truth in Matthew 25:35-40, when He declared that whatever we do for "the least of these," we are actually doing for Him. What an incredible perspective. The poor become an opportunity to serve Christ Himself.

Understanding Proverbs 11:24

One verse that transformed my thinking is Proverbs 11:24:

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." (Proverbs 11:24)

At first glance, this verse appears to contradict human reasoning. How can giving away resources cause someone to increase? How can holding on to possessions eventually produce poverty? From a purely human perspective, that makes little sense. But God's Kingdom often works contrary to natural human thinking.

The person described as "scattering" is not wasting resources recklessly. Rather, they are distributing them wisely and generously where God desires them to go. As they release what God has entrusted to them, God continues supplying them, because they have become faithful stewards rather than owners.

The second individual continually withholds more than is appropriate. Fear, greed, or self-preservation causes them to cling tightly to everything they possess. Ironically, the very thing they are trying to avoid, lack, becomes the direction in which they are moving.

The principle is simple.
Generosity invites God's continued provision.
Selfishness eventually restricts it.
The issue is not merely money.
It is the condition of the heart.

God looks for people through whom He can continually channel His blessings.

My Personal Journey

As I continued studying Scripture, I gradually had to unhinge myself from beliefs that no longer aligned with what I found throughout God's Word. I also had to reject the world's philosophy that fulfillment comes from endlessly accumulating wealth while giving as little away as possible.

Instead, I embraced God's economy. I began viewing every opportunity to help someone in genuine need as an opportunity to invest in my own future. What amazed me was that the more I aligned myself with these biblical principles, the more I witnessed God's faithfulness in ways I could never have imagined.

I discovered that generosity is not merely an emotional response to human suffering. It is participation in one of God's spiritual laws. The Bible repeatedly teaches this principle.

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." (Proverbs 19:17)

Imagine that. God considers our generosity toward the poor as a loan made directly to Him. And God never defaults on His promises.

"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

Paul echoes the same principle in 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, teaching that God supplies seed to the sower and increases the harvest of those who generously share with others, so that they may continue to abound in every good work.

These passages reveal a consistent biblical pattern: generosity is not designed merely to reduce someone's need today, but to position the giver to become an even greater blessing tomorrow.

Investing Into My Own Future

Today, when I read Psalm 41:1-3, I no longer see it merely as a beautiful promise. I see it as one of God's greatest investment principles. Every time I intentionally bless someone who cannot repay me, I am investing in:

• My own future
• My family's future
• God's promises over my life
• Divine protection
• Divine preservation
• God's intervention during times of trouble
• His healing power
• His favor

These are blessings that no financial institution, government, employer, or investment portfolio could ever guarantee.

Conclusion

After years of studying the Scriptures, I have become convinced that the greatest investment anyone can ever make is not first into financial markets, property, or earthly possessions. It is investing in the lives of those who can do absolutely nothing in return.

The poor are not interruptions to our prosperity. They are often God's appointed opportunities to activate His promises. Psalm 41:1-3 reveals that God Himself becomes personally involved in the life of the one who thoughtfully considers the poor. He delivers, preserves, strengthens, protects, and blesses that person in ways that extend far beyond material wealth.

When we embrace this principle, we do far more than help another human being. We are participating in God's economy. In God's Kingdom, generosity toward the poor is never merely an expense. It is an eternal investment. And when one faithfully engages the principle of Psalm 41:1-3, they are, in reality, investing in every area of their own life and in the future that God has prepared for them.

Pastor Kevin L A Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.com
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

  

The Spirit of Offense: The Quiet Destroyer of Relationships and Ministries

There aren't many evil spirits that I can think of that have crippled more relationships, divided more
churches, destroyed more ministries, and robbed more believers of their peace than the spirit of offense. It is subtle, deceptive, and often goes unrecognized because it rarely announces itself. Instead, it disguises itself as wounded feelings, justified anger, personal hurt, or righteous indignation. What begins as a seemingly minor disagreement can, if left unresolved, develop into bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, and ultimately spiritual bondage.

Offense is not merely an emotional reaction to being hurt. While every human being will experience moments of disappointment, rejection, betrayal, or misunderstanding, Scripture warns that allowing those experiences to take root in the heart creates an environment in which destructive spiritual influences can flourish. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of guarding the heart, because it is the birthplace of our attitudes, decisions, and actions.

Guarding the Heart

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

The heart is more than the seat of human emotion. Biblically, it represents the center of a person's thoughts, desires, motives, and will. Whatever is permitted to settle there eventually shapes a person's words, actions, relationships, and spiritual condition. For this reason, Satan continually seeks opportunities to plant seeds of offense within the believer's heart. If those seeds are nurtured through bitterness, pride, anger, or unforgiveness, they can grow into strongholds that influence every area of life.

The Fortified City of an Offended Heart

The book of Proverbs reveals just how powerful offense can become:

"A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle." (Proverbs 18:19)

This remarkable statement paints the picture of a fortified city surrounded by massive walls and secured behind iron gates. Solomon compares the heart of an offended individual to such a fortress. Once offense takes hold, the offended person often erects invisible emotional and spiritual barriers that become increasingly difficult to penetrate. Communication breaks down. Trust disappears. Reconciliation becomes nearly impossible, not because God is unwilling to restore the relationship, but because offense convinces the individual that maintaining distance is safer than extending forgiveness.

How Offense Distorts Perception

One of the greatest dangers of offense is that it distorts perception. An offended person frequently begins to interpret innocent actions as deliberate attacks, sincere correction as personal rejection, and genuine concern as criticism. Conversations become misunderstood. Motives become misjudged. Small disagreements become major conflicts. As offense grows, it continually rehearses past wounds until they appear larger than the blessings God has provided.

Giving Place to the Devil

The New Testament repeatedly warns believers against allowing unresolved anger and bitterness to remain in their hearts, because these attitudes create opportunities for the enemy to exploit.

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Paul's warning is significant. Anger itself is not necessarily sinful; even Jesus expressed righteous anger. However, anger that is allowed to linger and mature into resentment becomes dangerous, because it gives the devil "place," an opportunity to influence the believer's thinking, relationships, and spiritual effectiveness.

The Root of Bitterness

Likewise, the writer of Hebrews exhorts believers:

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." (Hebrews 12:15)

Notice that bitterness is described as a root. Roots grow beneath the surface long before they become visible above the ground. In the same way, offense often develops quietly within the heart before its destructive fruit appears outwardly. Eventually, it produces resentment, division, harsh speech, broken fellowship, and spiritual stagnation, affecting not only the offended individual but also families, friendships, churches, and entire communities.

Satan's Strategy: Division from Within

Throughout Scripture, Satan consistently seeks to divide God's people rather than confront them openly. If he cannot destroy a believer through persecution from without, he often attempts to weaken them through offense from within. A divided Church loses its effectiveness. A divided family loses its unity. A divided marriage loses its intimacy. An offended believer gradually loses spiritual sensitivity, joy, and peace.

This is why the Apostle Paul reminds believers that the true battle is not ultimately against people:

"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." (Ephesians 6:12)

The Purpose of This Teaching

The objective of this article is not to encourage believers to become suspicious of everyone around them, nor to excuse sinful behavior committed by others. Rather, it aims to help Christians recognize the destructive power of unresolved offense and respond biblically whenever they are hurt, misunderstood, rejected, or betrayed. Scripture calls believers to discern spiritual realities without losing sight of personal responsibility. We are accountable for how we guard our hearts, respond to injury, pursue forgiveness, and seek reconciliation.

As we examine the Scriptures together, we will discover how offense develops, why it becomes so difficult to overcome, how it damages spiritual growth and relationships, and, most importantly, how God's Word provides the pathway to freedom. Jesus Christ did not call His followers merely to avoid conflict. He called them to overcome evil with good, to forgive as they have been forgiven, and to walk in the freedom that comes from a heart fully surrendered to God.

Only when we refuse to let offense rule our hearts can we truly experience the peace, unity, and spiritual maturity God desires for every believer.

Pastor Kevin L A. Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.com
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

Why Hasn't God Answered My Prayer?

Countless believers are patiently waiting for their breakthrough. They have prayed, fasted, and wept before
God, sought the prayers of others, and faithfully trusted Him for a major turnaround in their lives. Yet many continue to ask the same question:

"Why hasn't God answered my prayer?"

What if the answer is not that God has ignored your request? What if He has already answered it, but you rejected His provision because it did not come packaged the way you expected? This possibility deserves serious consideration.

God's Word Is His Law

The Bible reveals that God governs His Kingdom by spiritual laws and principles. His promises are certain, but they are often realized as we cooperate with the instructions He has given.

Whenever we ask God for something, He frequently responds by leading us to participate in one of His divine principles. When we reject His instruction, we may unknowingly reject the very pathway God has established to answer our prayer. That is why Solomon wrote:

"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." (Proverbs 4:13)

Notice the strength of this command. We are not merely told to hear instruction; we are commanded to hold tightly to it, guard it, and treasure it. Why? Because instruction is life. Every instruction that God gives is designed to preserve us, guide us, and lead us into His blessings. His instructions are never random; they are the protocols that govern His promises.

The Consequences of Rejecting Instruction

If treasuring God's instruction brings life, what happens when we reject it? The answer is equally clear:

"Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured." (Proverbs 13:18)

This verse should cause every believer to pause. Notice that Solomon does not attribute poverty and shame solely to a lack of prayer. Instead, he identifies refusing instruction as a cause. Conversely, those who receive correction, embrace God's wisdom, and obey His instructions position themselves for honor. This is an important biblical principle. Many people pray for God's promises while simultaneously resisting God's instructions. Yet throughout Scripture, God's blessings are consistently connected to obedience.

God's Instructions Are Often the Answer to Our Prayers

Consider two familiar passages:

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth." (Proverbs 11:24)

"Give, and it shall be given unto you..." (Luke 6:38)

These verses are much more than inspirational sayings. They reveal spiritual laws God established.

Now consider this scenario. You have been crying out to God for financial breakthrough. Bills are piling up. Your mortgage is behind. You desperately ask God to rescue you and provide more than enough to meet your needs.

Only hours later, a homeless person asks you for assistance. You ignore him.

The following day, while scrolling through social media, you discover that a friend has created a GoFundMe campaign because they are about to lose their home and have exhausted every available resource. You scroll past it without giving it another thought.

Later that evening, you pray once again: "Lord, why haven't You answered me?"

But what if He already had? What if those opportunities to help someone in genuine need were not interruptions, but invitations? What if they were God's way of inviting you to participate in the very spiritual law connected to the breakthrough you have been praying for?

Prayer Does Not Replace Obedience

Please understand. Prayer is essential. Fasting has its place. Corporate prayer is valuable. Agreement with other believers is biblical. However, none of these practices were ever intended to replace obedience.

Too often we want God to fulfill His promises while ignoring the principles He established to release them. God frequently answers prayer by allowing us to obey. Sometimes His answer does not arrive as money in our bank account. Sometimes it arrives disguised as a person in need.

Faith Requires Action

Scripture reminds us:

"So faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26)

Faith is not merely believing God can do something. Faith responds when God provides an opportunity to obey. Perhaps your breakthrough has not been delayed because God is unwilling. Perhaps it has been delayed because the instruction connected to your breakthrough has repeatedly been overlooked.

A Question Worth Asking

Before asking God why your breakthrough has not yet come, perhaps ask yourself another question: have I treasured God's instructions enough to obey them? Have I embraced His principles? Have I acted upon the opportunities He has placed before me? Or have I prayed for provision while refusing the protocol that governs it?

The Pathway to Breakthrough

God's promises never fail. But we often experience His promises through obedience to His instructions.

Treasure His Word.
Receive His correction.
Practice His principles.
Walk in obedience.

Then trust God to fulfill His promises in His perfect way and in His perfect timing. Your breakthrough may not be waiting on another prayer. It may be waiting on your next act of obedience.

"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." (Proverbs 4:13)

"Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured." (Proverbs 13:18)

The choice is ours. Spiritual protocol will always require us to treasure God's instructions, obey His principles, and trust Him to bring the breakthrough only He can provide.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.com
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

God's Wealth Transfer Principle: How Riches Change Hands in His Economy

Throughout Scripture, God reveals that wealth is not merely accumulated by human effort, nor ultimately
controlled by earthly systems. Rather, He is the sovereign Owner of all things and has established spiritual laws that govern the flow of resources. One of the most overlooked principles in the Bible is that God often transfers wealth to those who demonstrate compassion toward the poor and faithfulness in stewardship.

This truth is not isolated to one passage of Scripture. It appears repeatedly throughout both the Old and New Testaments, revealing a consistent pattern of God's dealings with humanity.

A Generous Eye Attracts God's Blessing

Solomon writes:

"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

The phrase "a bountiful eye" literally describes a person who is generous and compassionate in helping others, especially the poor. Rather than viewing wealth as something to be hoarded, this individual sees it as a tool through which God can bless the less fortunate.

Notice that the blessing is not attached merely to possessing wealth, but to sharing it. This principle establishes an important truth: God blesses those who become a blessing. Throughout Scripture, generosity toward the poor is repeatedly presented as an act of worship unto God Himself.

God Redirects Wealth

Solomon continues this theme:

"He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor." (Proverbs 28:8)

This verse teaches that a person may increase wealth through exploitation, greed, or oppressive financial practices, yet God has already determined its eventual destination. The wealth will ultimately end up in the hands of those who show mercy to the poor.

This is not merely poetic language. It declares God's sovereignty over earthly wealth. People may gather riches through dishonest means, but they do not determine where those riches will finally rest. God does.

God Causes the Sinner to Gather

Ecclesiastes 2:26 reinforces the same principle:

"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God." (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

The sinner gathers.
The sinner accumulates.
The sinner heaps up.
Yet God ultimately transfers those resources into the hands of those who please Him.

Read alongside Proverbs 28:8, the picture becomes remarkably clear. Who are those who are "good before God"? Proverbs answers: those who show compassion toward the poor. God's economy often operates differently from the world's economy. He remains sovereign over wealth, and He directs resources according to His righteous purposes.

The New Testament Continues the Same Principle

The Apostle Paul confirms this same divine pattern in 2 Corinthians 9. Quoting Psalm 112, Paul writes:

"He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever." (2 Corinthians 9:9)

Then Paul continues:

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:10)

"Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness." (2 Corinthians 9:11)

Notice God's order:

1. The believer gives.
2. God supplies more seed.
3. The believer gives again.
4. God multiplies the seed.

Why? Not merely so the believer can accumulate greater possessions. Rather, as the ESV renders it, "being enriched in everything for all generosity." The increase serves a purpose. God increases faithful stewards so they may become greater channels through which His blessings flow to others.

God Rewards Faithful Stewardship

One of the greatest principles governing God's Kingdom is not merely generosity but faithfulness. Jesus repeatedly emphasized that God entrusts greater responsibilities and greater resources to those who prove faithful with what they already possess.

In Luke 16:10, Jesus declared:

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." (Luke 16:10)

Faithfulness in small matters qualifies a believer for greater trust. In the Parable of the Talents, the master commended his faithful servant:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant... I will make thee ruler over many things." (Matthew 25:21)

Similarly, in the Parable of the Minas, Jesus said:

"Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." (Luke 19:17)

God's promotions are never arbitrary. They are connected to proven faithfulness. Jesus further explained this principle:

"If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?" (Luke 16:11-12)

Money becomes a test of the heart, a challenge that, regrettably, most individuals fail. Not because God needs our finances, but because finances reveal our hearts. Those who faithfully steward earthly resources demonstrate that they can be trusted with greater responsibilities in God's Kingdom.

God's Financial System

When these passages are placed together, a remarkable pattern emerges:

1. The wicked gather wealth.
2. God oversees its destination.
3. The compassionate receive it.
4. The generous distribute it.
5. God multiplies their resources.
6. They become increasingly equipped to bless others.

This is God's cycle of stewardship, not a cycle of greed, but a cycle of generosity.

My Personal Appeal

It is not my intent to encourage the religious community to defund religious institutions or discourage financial support for places of worship. Instead, it is quite the opposite, with the added benefit of self-empowerment. My sole desire is to empower the followers of these institutions to discover the biblical principles God Himself established for financial increase.

When believers consistently invest in the lives of the poor, widows, orphans, strangers, and those genuinely unable to help themselves, they position themselves to tangibly experience the spiritual promises revealed throughout Scripture, promises that were already in place for us spiritually before the foundation of the world, according to Ephesians 1:3-4. Consistent obedience causes spiritual blessings to manifest physically in a person's life.

As God blesses faithful and generous believers, they become increasingly able to support their churches, ministries, missionaries, and every good work from a place of abundance rather than financial pressure and limitation. A financially strengthened congregation can accomplish far more for the Kingdom of God than a congregation burdened by lack.

Giving According to Biblical Principle Rather Than Religious Tradition

I must address this point to free many of you from a financial system that has nothing to do with us as New Testament believers. Much confusion surrounds the subject of tithing.

Under the Mosaic Covenant, the tithe was specifically assigned to the support of the Levitical priesthood. Leviticus 27:30-33 identifies the tithe as part of Israel's covenantal law. Numbers 18:21-24 records that the tithe was given by God to the descendants of Levi, because they received no tribal inheritance in the land. Hebrews 7:5 likewise states:

"They that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham." (Hebrews 7:5)

Here, "their brethren" refers to the eleven other tribes of Israel. These passages identify the recipients of the tithe under the Mosaic covenant as the Levitical priesthood serving in Israel's temple system, and their sibling tribes as the ones who paid the tithe to them.

In contrast, the New Testament does not command believers to tithe as a covenant obligation. Instead, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to give according to principles that flow from a willing and transformed heart. He writes:

"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Then he adds:

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

And once again Paul points believers toward God's concern for the needy:

"He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor." (2 Corinthians 9:9)

The New Testament emphasis is not on giving under compulsion, but on cheerful, purposeful, generous stewardship that reflects God's heart while also revealing the giver's heart.

The Ultimate Wealth Transfer

Solomon concludes this divine pattern with one final statement:

"The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." (Proverbs 13:22)

This verse does not encourage believers to covet another person's possessions. Instead, it reminds us that God remains sovereign over every resource on earth. He can move wealth according to His purposes.

When viewed together with Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs 28:8, Ecclesiastes 2:26, and 2 Corinthians 9:9-11, Proverbs 13:22 completes the picture. The true recipients of God's wealth transfers are not necessarily the most gifted, the most educated, or even the hardest working. They are those who prove themselves faithful stewards of what God has already entrusted to them.

They are those who open their hands to the poor. They understand the principle of giving to the poor, and the supernatural resources and favor it produces effortlessly. They are those who understand that prosperity is not an end in itself but a divine trust. As they faithfully steward earthly resources, God entrusts them with more, not merely to increase their standard of living, but to increase their standard of giving.

May we therefore devote ourselves to living by the enduring principles of God's Word rather than the fruitless traditions of men. God's Kingdom operates according to His unchanging laws, and those who consistently walk in His ways can trust Him to provide, to increase, and to direct resources for His glory. Let us become faithful stewards, cheerful givers, and compassionate servants, so that through our lives many needs are met, many hearts give thanks to God, and His name is exalted above all.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.com
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

God's Financial System Operates by Biblical Principles

One of the greatest discoveries I have ever made was that the Bible is not merely a book of inspirational
stories; it is God's rulebook. Throughout Scripture, God established spiritual laws and principles that govern every area of life, including finances. Just as the law of sowing and reaping governs agriculture, God's financial principles govern increase, provision, preservation, and abundance.

For years, I misunderstood these principles. Like many sincere believers, I participated in the traditional religious practice of sowing "financial seeds," believing that if I gave enough money into religious settings, I would eventually receive an extraordinary financial breakthrough to eliminate my debts. Yet despite my sincerity, the results I hoped for never materialized.

Everything changed when I stopped viewing the Bible merely as a devotional book and began reading it as God's Rule Book. Then I discovered a principle repeated throughout Scripture that I had largely overlooked: God's extraordinary promises of financial provision are consistently connected to how we treat the poor.

"Through knowledge shall the just be delivered." (Proverbs 11:9)

Knowledge of God's principles changed my life.

Blessed Is the One Who Considers the Poor

Perhaps no passage summarizes God's heart toward the poor more beautifully than Psalm 41.

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth... The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing..." (Psalm 41:1-3)

Notice the promises attached to one biblical principle:

• Deliverance in trouble
• Divine preservation
• Long life
• Blessing upon the earth
• Strength in times of weakness

These are supernatural returns that God Himself promises to those who thoughtfully care for those in need.

Proverbs Repeatedly Connects Giving to Prosperity

The book of Proverbs reinforces this principle over and over again.

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." (Proverbs 19:17)

Imagine that. Scripture says giving to the poor is literally making a loan to God, and God promises to repay it.

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth... The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (Proverbs 11:24-25)

Generosity, according to God's economy, does not diminish wealth. It becomes a pathway for increase.

"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack..." (Proverbs 28:27)

Notice the clarity of this promise. Scripture does not say he might not lack. It simply states, "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack."

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." (Proverbs 14:31)

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13)

These verses reveal that our treatment of the poor directly affects our relationship with God.

When You Give to the Poor, You Give to Christ

Jesus removed every doubt concerning how He views acts of compassion. In Matthew 25:31-40, Jesus describes the final judgment and repeatedly says:

"I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink... I was a stranger, and ye took me in." (Matthew 25:35)

The righteous ask, "Lord, when saw we thee...?" Jesus answers:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

This is one of Scripture's most remarkable teachings. Jesus identifies Himself with those in need. Every act of kindness toward the hungry, the poor, the sick, or the forgotten is viewed by Christ as an act done personally to Him. Giving to the poor is therefore not merely charity; it is an expression of love and obedience toward Christ Himself.

My Personal Testimony

When I finally understood these biblical principles, my entire approach to finances changed. I stopped chasing financial miracles through traditions that I believed would produce wealth simply because I had given what was called a "financial seed." Instead, I began asking a different question: "What are God's financial rules?"

As I consistently applied those rules, especially the repeated biblical instruction to care for the poor, I watched God transform my financial life. Today, I am completely debt-free. The life that I once prayed for gradually became my reality, not because I discovered a secret formula, but because I learned to live according to God's written principles.

Now my greatest desire is not merely to accumulate resources but to multiply them so they can be invested into the lives of people who can do absolutely nothing for me in return. That is the kind of giving Scripture repeatedly honors.

The Protocol That Governs Biblical Giving

The Apostle Paul summarizes God's principles of giving in 2 Corinthians 9:6-10. First, he establishes the law of sowing and reaping:

"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Next, he explains the attitude that must accompany giving:

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Giving should never be manipulated, forced, or driven by guilt. It should flow willingly from a heart that trusts God. Paul then reveals God's promise:

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye... may abound to every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Finally, Paul connects God's blessing directly with generosity toward the poor, quoting Psalm 112:

"He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever." (2 Corinthians 9:9)

He concludes:

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Notice God's order. He provides seed. The believer sows according to His principles. God then multiplies what has been sown. The increase is not merely for personal consumption but to continue producing righteousness through generosity.

Conclusion

Scripture consistently teaches that God's financial system is governed by principles rather than wishful thinking. From Psalm 41 to Proverbs, from the teachings of Jesus to the writings of Paul, one truth is repeated again and again: God has a special concern for the poor, and He attaches extraordinary promises to those who compassionately care for them.

This does not mean every gift made in every context is without value, nor does it eliminate other biblical expressions of generosity. Rather, it highlights a principle Scripture repeatedly emphasizes: caring for those in genuine need occupies a unique place in God's heart and carries promises stated plainly in His Word.

If we desire God's blessing, provision, and increase, we must build our lives upon the biblical rules He has already revealed. When we align ourselves with His principles, we position ourselves to experience His faithfulness, not because we have manipulated God, but because we have chosen to walk in obedience to His Word.

The Bible is not merely a book to be admired.
It is God's rulebook.
And when His rules are practiced, His promises are experienced.

Pastor Kevin L A. Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.com
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

 

Matthew 7:22-23 is one of the most sobering passages in Scripture, because it reveals that religious
activity, spiritual gifts, and even miraculous works are not the same as knowing Jesus Christ. Jesus warns that some people will outwardly appear to be successful ministers or believers, yet have never entered into a genuine saving relationship with Him.

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" (Matthew 7:22-23, ESV)

The Context of Matthew 7

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by contrasting:

• Two gates (Matthew 7:13-14)
• Two trees (Matthew 7:15-20)
• Two builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

The central question is not merely whether someone is religious, but whether they truly belong to Christ. Just before verses 22-23, Jesus says:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father..." (Matthew 7:21, ESV)

These individuals even call Him "Lord," acknowledging His authority, yet their profession is not matched by a genuine relationship or obedient faith.

Verse 22: Impressive Spiritual Accomplishments

Notice what these people claim: "We prophesied in Your name." "We cast out demons in Your name." "We did many mighty works in Your name." These are extraordinary ministries.

Jesus does not immediately deny that these things happened. Instead, He addresses something far deeper: the absence of a relationship with Him. This teaches an important biblical truth: God may use a person as an instrument without that person belonging to Him. Examples include:

• Balaam (Numbers 22-24), who spoke true prophecy yet loved unrighteous gain.
• Judas Iscariot, who was sent out with the other disciples and participated in ministry (Matthew 10:1-8), yet ultimately betrayed Christ.
• King Saul, upon whom the Spirit came for a time (1 Samuel 10:10), but whose heart became hardened.

The Greek of Matthew 7:23

Let's examine the key expressions.

"Οὐδέποτε" (Oudepote)

This means:

• Never
• At no time
• Absolutely never

Jesus is not saying, "I knew you once." Nor is He saying, "I used to have a relationship with you." He says, "At no point did I know you." This is one of the strongest negations in Greek.

"ἔγνων" (egnōn)

This is the aorist form of γινώσκω (ginōskō). While ginōskō can simply mean "to know," throughout Scripture it often refers to a personal, intimate, covenant relationship, not merely intellectual awareness. Examples include:

• "Adam knew (ginōskō) Eve his wife..." (Genesis 4:1, Septuagint)
• "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me." (John 10:14, ESV)

Jesus obviously knows every human being in the sense of omniscience. Therefore, when He says, "I never knew you," He cannot mean, "I never knew you existed." Rather, He means, "You never belonged to Me. We never shared a covenant relationship. You were never one of My sheep."

"ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ"

This means "depart from Me." The verb apochōreō carries the sense of:

• Go away
• Withdraw
• Leave My presence

This is the language of final judgment.

"οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν"

Literally, "those working lawlessness." The present participle describes an ongoing pattern of life. Their lives were characterized by lawlessness, despite their religious accomplishments.

"I Never Knew You" Versus "I Once Knew You"

This phrase is important because it differs from saying, "I knew you once, but not anymore." Jesus deliberately says, "I never knew you." This indicates that these individuals were never in a saving relationship with Christ, despite their outward ministry.

Now, here is where it all comes together. The Apostle Paul wrote:

"Gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Romans 11:29)

In other words, they are irrevocable and do not require one to accept the free gift of salvation to be active in their gifts and callings. In its immediate context, Paul is speaking about God's covenant purposes for Israel. God does not revoke His promises to His covenant people.

However, the principle also helps explain an important truth: receiving gifts or a calling from God is not the same as living in fellowship with Christ. Throughout Scripture, people may receive divine enablement or be entrusted with roles, yet fail to remain faithful. Here are a few examples of that:

• Saul was anointed king but later rebelled.
• Balaam prophesied accurately but opposed God's ways.
• Judas ministered alongside the apostles but did not truly belong to Christ.

Therefore, spiritual gifts are not the evidence of salvation. The New Testament consistently teaches that the evidence of genuine faith includes:

• Love for Christ (John 14:15)
• Obedience to His commands (1 John 2:3-6)
• The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
• Perseverance in faith (Colossians 1:21-23)

A person may possess remarkable abilities, preach powerfully, or even be used by God in ministry, yet those things alone do not prove a saving relationship with Christ.

The Difference Between Gifts and Relationship

Matthew 7 highlights a crucial distinction. Spiritual gifts refer to the abilities that God bestows upon a person. A relationship with Christ, conversely, revolves around how that person is connected to Him.

One can possess gifts without spiritual maturity. The Church at Corinth illustrates this well. They were richly gifted (1 Corinthians 1:7), yet struggled with division, immorality, and pride.

Again, Jesus never says, "I never saw your miracles." Instead, He said, "I never knew you." The issue is not ministry success but covenant relationship.

So here is the true test. The Bible points to several marks of genuine discipleship:

• Jesus' sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27-28).
• Those who abide in Christ bear lasting fruit (John 15:4-8).
• Those who love Him keep His commandments (John 14:21).
• Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6).

Miracles may attract attention, but they are not the foundation of assurance. The foundation is being united to Christ by faith, transformed by the Holy Spirit, and walking in obedience to Him.

Matthew 7:22-23 is therefore not a warning against spiritual gifts themselves. Rather, it warns against substituting ministry for intimacy, gifts for godliness, or outward works for a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus makes clear, on the day of judgment the decisive question will not be merely what we did in His name, but whether we truly belonged to Him and lived as those who knew Him and were known by Him.

Pastor Kevin L.A Ewing
www.kevinlaewing.com
www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com

ewinglakevin@icloud.com