“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your... exceedingly great reward.” (Gen 15,1)

Abram certainly did not suffer from poverty, even the Scriptures had previously called him "very wealthy" (Gen 13,2). Money was certainly not a problem for him, he had no material worries - and yet God is talking to him about money! Why? Because our attitudes are reflected very specifically in the way we think about money and how we handle it.

Watchman Nee once wrote that we could find out the spiritual level of a work more quickly if we look at how it is financed than by analyzing their theological basis. Someone can deceive with noble intentions and words, but he cannot do so when it comes to money, because the way one treats them always exposes him. For W. Nee and his associates, this lead to accepting the principle of living by faith, i.e. complete financial dependence on God. They wanted so to be sure their whole lives would be completely dependent on Him. They refused to live religion they could somewhat create on their own and ask others to sponsor them in that. From today's point of view, it was certainly shocking when one of their principles was also to reject financial campaigns - they were to talk about their needs primarily with God, not with people.

For Abram, however, it was not a matter of his material need now. It was another question he had to learn over time: was it worthwhile to be generous, noble with his God, to go a higher path, even if it obviously seemed to lose at the first moment?

By what God told him, he clearly answered him: yes, choose a higher path whenever my closeness is more to you than earthly goods. "I am your rich reward." God was now talking about practical things, not in riddles, so his message is simple: I am much greater richness to you than what you have given up. You made the right choice. But don't worry, even in those earthly things I'll never leave you with the feeling it was a mistake.