Mat 7:12 (NIV) So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. When you have pain, difficulties, struggles, or issues with something like money, it draws your attention inward toward yourself. Prior to the problem, you could have been a real outgoing person who spent a lot of time helping others. But, when things got bad enough in your life, your attention became focused on that thing that is hurting you.

As much as is possible, Jesus’ objective is to bring your attention away from yourself and onto the needs of others. Right now, that doesn’t seem like a possibility; you are hurting so much with your problem that you can’t even consider reaching out to someone else. That would seem like you would be doubling your suffering. But, if you will just trust Jesus and let Him work with you, He will show you a way that brings peace to you. He will give you so much rest and faith that you will start to consider caring for someone else.

There are some foundational Scriptures that most of the other Scriptures in the Bible are built on. These foundational Scriptures give you major principles for Jesus to guide your life by. When you are facing some intense issue, these high level Scriptures are the ones you can look to for bringing healing, miracles, and solutions to your life. One of the most important foundational Scriptures is: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. When you are looking at a single verse of Scripture that sums up the Law and the Prophets, you are looking at a big one.

Mark 12:31 (NIV) The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Just as soon as some big difficulty comes your way, the big question that immediately comes to mind is something like, “how am I going to get this taken care of?” If it is bad, painful, stressing, difficult, or damaging to you, then your number one question is typically, “how can I get rid of this?” You want it out of your life as fast as possible. So, since you are suffering because of money issues in your life, what does: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” have to do with it?

Mat 11:28 (NIV) Come to Me (Jesus), all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. As long as you are CONCENTRATING on your problem, you are very much aware of how bad it is. But, it is typically assumed that if you don’t think about it, nothing is going to get done to solve it. That would be true if Jesus wasn’t inviting you to come and get help from Him. If YOU are your only hope, if you are the only one who cares, and if you are the only one who is willing to help, then your approach to solving your issues with money is the one and only solution. But, if none of those statements are true, then you need to get your eyes off of you and on Jesus.

Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” When you are hurting, struggling, suffering, and filled with anxiety, the last thing you want to do is go help somebody. And, if you don’t need Jesus’ help, then you DO need to focus in on your problems and issues. But, if you want Jesus to help, then giving is what He wants you to start doing. You will have to pray and ask Him to empower you to start getting your eyes off of your big problem and on the needs of others.

Mat 11:28 (NIV) Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. As long as YOU are concentrating on how you are going to solve your problem with money, you aren’t coming to Jesus. If you do come to Jesus, He promises to give you rest. Rest from what? Rest from this thing that is bothering you the most. But, maybe you don’t want rest. Maybe you want an effective, all inclusive, and final solution to your problem. But, if you are going to get Jesus’ help, you will have to get it Jesus’ way. He will give you rest by taking over the responsibility of care for your issue with money.

Mat 11:29 (NIV) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. A yoke is a wooden load or work harness that is hooked to animals that you could use to do labor. Great! Does Jesus want you to give Him your problem so He can give you a work harness and put a different burden on your back? Yes! Have you ever been around someone who had the same problem as yours? Did the fact that theirs was the same as yours cause you just as much pain as yours did? Of course not! Their problem was their problem. They have to suffer and deal with it. You have your own problem that you are suffering with.

Mat 11:30 (NIV) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. If you want Jesus to help you with your problem, then FIRST He wants you to enter into His rest concerning your problem. He wants you to relax and know that He has your problem taken care of. And, since He is taking care of your problem, that frees you up to help someone else. And, if you truly believe Jesus is taking care of your problem with money, you will relax and have rest in your heart. Then as you start helping someone else with their problem, you will find their problem doesn’t worry you as much, cause you so much pain, and doesn’t stress you out like you were when you were carrying your own load. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.