Why should He?

 

Some time ago I was chatting with a good friend about life in general but then the conversation started to focus mainly on money, in particular the lack of it. There was a long pause as he suddenly seemed to get lost in his thoughts, the silence was broken when he blurted out, “Why doesn’t God just let me win a lottery?”

I turned to look directly at him and asked, “Why should He?”

From his incredulous expression, I could tell that he was taken aback by my response. But it was a legitimate question.

You see, this friend was terrible with money; he never budgeted so that by mid-month he was “broken” and he did not want anyone’s advice. “Keep it” was his attitude, and “Don’t tell me what to do with my money” was his standard line.

I eventually stopped offering my advice but now, he had opened the door and invited me into a money discussion.

He repeated my question, “Why should He? Why shouldn’t He? I’m a good Christian, a child of God, His child, His son, I volunteer, I visit the sick, I go” I stopped him before he could continue, “You’re sounding like the rich young ruler from Matthew chapter nineteen, listing out all your good qualities and what you believe to be admirable godly achievements”

He smiled as he thought about it, then said, “Yeah, you’re right”

Turning to the Gospel account, this rich young ruler asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (v 16 NIV)

My friend was doing the same thing, thinking that his good performance deserved a heaven-sent reward which would come in the form of God allowing him to win the lottery.

Now this can take us in many directions but today let’s divert to stewardship. I’ve heard several people say similar things about God giving them the LOTTO numbers or letting them win the lottery or some other windfall when they can’t even manage the money that they do get, for instance their salary.

If you cannot manage the little that you are receiving every month, then you’re not going to be able to handle larger sums of money.

You see, faithfulness with money qualifies you for true riches so, God is looking at your stewardship of the money you currently earn. If you are an irresponsible earthly riches steward, then how can God trust you with heavenly riches.

Malachi records God’s promise of,

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.  (Malachi 3:10 NIV)

Have you been bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in God’s house?

So, why should God throw open the floodgates of heaven? You haven’t done your part; why should He?

The truth is, If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (Luke 16:10 NLT)

The opening of the floodgates of heaven is conditional; it’s tied to your obedience to God. Good stewardship of money and resources begins with your response to giving.

You are charged with stewarding anything that God gives you – houses, cars, children, jobs, and money too.

Wisdom in proper stewardship is given by God through the teaching of His Holy Spirit.

Proper stewardship of money results in great moves of God.

Proof of proper stewardship of money is seen when money does not control you, but you control money for the glory of God.

Why should He increase your financial wealth when you are not even concerned with the prosperity of your soul? For you to prosper in all things and be in good health, your soul must be prospering (see 3 John 2). If you are not caring for your spiritual well-being, your physical well-being will suffer.

Listen, regardless of your circumstances, as a child of the Most High, you must be an illustration of what thriving in life looks like.

Beloved, you may be praying for an increase in your income or longing for financial security or, like my friend, fixated on winning the lottery but true riches are not found in these things.

Understand that real wealth lies in the reality of the spiritual. I can almost hear you saying, “I can’t take that to the grocery though” God knows this very well, but He wants you to increase in the true riches of heaven first before any amount of physical wealth is manifested in your life.

Stewardship of money isn’t only about the money, it also reveals how you are managing other areas of your life.

God promises to bring financial increase if you are a faithful steward. It is your stewardship over the natural that prepares you for the supernatural.

So, the question remains, “Why should He open the floodgates of heaven when you aren’t yet prepared for the flood?”

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Why should He?” ©2026 May 8, 2026