Blessing or Test...What say you??

[CoilyFields]

I read a report today about a woman who found a bag of money laying in the road and since the bag had Chase Banks name on it, she returned it to the nearby bank. It had $20,000. The woman was unemployed.

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-teacher-finds-returns-bank-143120464.html

It got me to thinking about integrity and blessings. If something happens that benefits you, do you receive it as a blessing or go to all lengths to "return/fix" it. At what point is it a question of integrity vs a blessing in disguise?

The below scenarios are real life situations (a similar one happened to me) what would you do?

1. If you pay for something, get home and realize the cashier gave you too much change do you go back to the store? Does the amount matter (ie. yes for $20 but not for $00.20)

2. You receive a money order in the mail from an unknown person that's filled out to you. Do you cash it or try to figure out where it came from?
If you Cash it, then later realize that it was fraudulent and you've already spent the money. Do you report it to the authorities and return the money from your own earnings?

3. You find a bag of money on the side of the road...no name or identifying info...do you turn it in to the police or keep it? Does the amount matter?

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

The below scenarios are real life situations (a similar one happened to me) what would you do?

1. If you pay for something, get home and realize the cashier gave you too much change do you go back to the store? Does the amount matter (ie. yes for $20 but not for $00.20)

If I got all the way home then nope I'm not going all the way back. That's cray-cray. If I took a few steps from the cashier & noticed, yea I'll give her $20 back.

2. You receive a money order in the mail from an unknown person that's filled out to you. Do you cash it or try to figure out where it came from?

Return to sender.

If you Cash it, then later realize that it was fraudulent and you've already spent the money. Do you report it to the authorities and return the money from your own earnings?

Why would I do that & jeopardize my own bank money? I'm good.

3. You find a bag of money on the side of the road...no name or identifying info...do you turn it in to the police or keep it? Does the amount matter?

A bag of money to me is that you're referring to a lot so yea I'll give it to the police. I'm not with karma or any drug dealers looking for me. :-/

 

[CoilyFields]

The below scenarios are real life situations (a similar one happened to me) what would you do?

1. If you pay for something, get home and realize the cashier gave you too much change do you go back to the store? Does the amount matter (ie. yes for $20 but not for $00.20)

If I got all the way home then nope I'm not going all the way back. That's cray-cray. If I took a few steps from the cashier & noticed, yea I'll give her $20 back.

2. You receive a money order in the mail from an unknown person that's filled out to you. Do you cash it or try to figure out where it came from?

Return to sender.

If you Cash it, then later realize that it was fraudulent and you've already spent the money. Do you report it to the authorities and return the money from your own earnings?

Why would I do that & jeopardize my own bank money? I'm good.

3. You find a bag of money on the side of the road...no name or identifying info...do you turn it in to the police or keep it? Does the amount matter?

A bag of money to me is that you're referring to a lot so yea I'll give it to the police. I'm not with karma or any drug dealers looking for me. :-/

pre_medicalrulz , So for the above scenarios, do you see them as having more to do with convenience or is there a Christian principle involved in your replies?

 

[Successfulmiss]

Ok so I know this may sound crazy but it is actually a biblical story that I dreamt about recently. Remember when Jesus was tempted by the enemy and Jesus says "I rebuke you! Get behind me Satan!"...well I had a dream very similar to that where the enemy was tempting me and tried to have me speak with one of my dead uncles about getting some HUGE blessings (may he R.I.P.) and had I not known any better, I would have thought it was a blessing to think my "uncle" was coming to help me because my husband and I had been having some struggles in the natural. Whenever we have struggles in the natural the enemy will put out all the stops to get you to notice him and make you think he has the answer to your problems. This is why I know I have a serious call of God on my life and I am sure you ladies understand. Also when I was totally and completely broke and homeless in ATL, I was always approached by sugar daddies wanting to "support" me and women that end up in the strip clubs making 2k plus in one week after getting off the streets because they didnt want to be homeless either. I am so glad I was able to pass those tests and even if I was unsure about a particular blessing or having no way to know where it came from, I would just give it back to God or find some way to help someone with it because I don't want blood money or stolen money on my hands. Also after passing these tests, God will bless you with even much more godly gain for your trouble! Sorry this was so long but it just jarred my spirit and made me think about all I have been tempted with in the natural and spiritual. Temptation is nothin to play with!

 

[CoilyFields]

Ok so I know this may sound crazy but it is actually a biblical story that I dreamt about recently. Remember when Jesus was tempted by the enemy and Jesus says "I rebuke you! Get behind me Satan!"...well I had a dream very similar to that where the enemy was tempting me and tried to have me speak with one of my dead uncles about getting some HUGE blessings (may he R.I.P.) and had I not known any better, I would have thought it was a blessing to think my "uncle" was coming to help me because my husband and I had been having some struggles in the natural. Whenever we have struggles in the natural the enemy will put out all the stops to get you to notice him and make you think he has the answer to your problems. This is why I know I have a serious call of God on my life and I am sure you ladies understand. Also when I was totally and completely broke and homeless in ATL, I was always approached by sugar daddies wanting to "support" me and women that end up in the strip clubs making 2k plus in one week after getting off the streets because they didnt want to be homeless either. I am so glad I was able to pass those tests and even if I was unsure about a particular blessing or having no way to know where it came from, I would just give it back to God or find some way to help someone with it because I don't want blood money or stolen money on my hands. Also after passing these tests, God will bless you with even much more godly gain for your trouble! Sorry this was so long but it just jarred my spirit and made me think about all I have been tempted with in the natural and spiritual. Temptation is nothin to play with!

I imagine that it was extremely tempting to turn down the "help" that was being offered! Thank God you didn't fall for it!!!

 

[Successfulmiss]

@CoilyFields Thanks for understanding! That dream shook me to the core and really shows me how strong my relationship with God is and the enemy knows your future is GREAT if he had to come in the form! (I'm so glad I didn't believe that hocus pocus!) I am just so blessed I listened to the Holy Spirit and I know God is going to bless me and He is blessing me right now! Why serve the enemy's small short term worldy wealth when we can have God's supernatural abundance/provision and eternal life? God is so good! Don't be fooled saints!

 

[delitefulmane]

coliyfields,
this is definitely something to ponder on. I don't have a clue on what I would do because I feel like sometimes God does bless us in situations like these but then again he also uses events like this for us to show our faithfulness to Him; having faith that HE will provide for us no matter what. So erplexed I don't know.

 

[LiftedUp]

1. If you pay for something, get home and realize the cashier gave you too much change do you go back to the store? Does the amount matter (ie. yes for $20 but not for $00.20) If it's a substantial amount like if she replaced dollar bills with $100 bills yes (as if that ever happened)

2. You receive a money order in the mail from an unknown person that's filled out to you. Do you cash it or try to figure out where it came from?
If you Cash it, then later realize that it was fraudulent and you've already spent the money. Do you report it to the authorities and return the money from your own earnings? I would report it but I wouldn't return it from my own earnings. I spent the money unknowingly.

3. You find a bag of money on the side of the road...no name or identifying info...do you turn it in to the police or keep it? Does the amount matter? Return it ASAP. I probably wouldn't even touch it, I probably would just call the police and wait for them to come and get it themselves.

 

[CoilyFields]

@coliyfields,
this is definitely something to ponder on. I don't have a clue on what I would do because I feel like sometimes God does bless us in situations like these but then again he also uses events like this for us to show our faithfulness to Him; having faith that HE will provide for us no matter what. So erplexed I don't know.

delitefulmane

I appreciate your honesty.

I deliberately picked situations that were not cut and dry. I've had cashiers give me more money back than I originally gave them and its easy to hand it back to them to correct the mistake...but if I got all the way home? erplexed Honesty vs. convenience? Hard question. How obligated am I to correct another persons mistake? Would I be more likely to return to the store if I was the one short-changed?

The second scenario was even more true to life.

I actually received two money orders FedExed in the mail for $1200. It was so on time I looked around and said, "God? If this is you, you tight!". But in my curiosity I wanted to know who this random person was. Her number was actually public in the white pages (from California) and I called her and she said she had not sent them. This led me to call the post office (they were from the US post office-looked completely real) and they had me check the serial numbers and they turned up fake. My friend asked me why I had to go looking a gift horse in the mouth? lol. If I had just cashed them I wouldn't have been responsible for the fact that they were fake. Oh well.
Two months later I found an old junk email from a "Mystery Shopper" job I had applied for but never followed through on. Apparently it was a scam where I was supposed to cash the money orders at my bank and mail the money western union to an unknown person to test the quality of service at that location. Glad I didn't end up doing it. But I also don't think I would have been in the wrong if I had simply cashed them and used the money...erplexed

 

[Successfulmiss]

@CoilyFields

If they try and cash a fake check or money order, I think you get arrested anyway...http://forum.freeadvice.com/other-crimes-federal-state-4/i-cashed-money-order-found-fake-474537.html
http://scamvictimsunited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=929

Great post by the way OP, we needed to see this in this current economy! Always pray and watch ladies!

Matt 26:41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

I was browsing this thread yesterday and got to thinking about the bolded Prov. 13



22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just

in what situation would this scripture be appropriate, many years ago my aunt was unemployed with five small children and broke she went into the food store with stamps with food stamp and found an unmarked bag of money she didn't return it, but used it to buy her children groceries.

 

[CoilyFields]

@CoilyFields

If they try and cash a fake check or money order, I think you get arrested anyway...http://forum.freeadvice.com/other-crimes-federal-state-4/i-cashed-money-order-found-fake-474537.html
http://scamvictimsunited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=929

Great post by the way OP, we needed to see this in this current economy! Always pray and watch ladies!

Matt 26:41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Wow! I assumed you would perhaps have to pay it back where you cashed it at a bank...but I don't think Ive ever cashed a money order so I didn't know they required all of your info (to be able to contact you again) if it was at like a check-cashing place.

Thanks for the info!

 

[CoilyFields]

I was browsing this thread yesterday and got to thinking about the bolded Prov. 13



22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just

in what situation would this scripture be appropriate, many years ago my aunt was unemployed with five small children and broke she went into the food store with stamps with food stamp and found an unmarked bag of money she didn't return it, but used it to buy her children groceries.

I wonder as well about that scripture. Your example does drive the question of test vs. blessing into full gear.

I think I would simply claim the bag of money for myself...then again, depending on how much it is I would prolly turn it in. I think at certain police precincts if you turn in money and no one claims it then they let you keep it. I guess I would prefer it being declared mine legally if its a large amount (hundreds of thousands) so as not to draw attention from the IRS when I purchase my new house and car with cash .

 

[Successfulmiss]

@Iwanthealthyhair67

I think that situation was different because of the children involved. I am by no means an expert on these things but I do study the financial scriptures quite a bit and I even host the Financial breakthrough thread in the Sticky columns. What I can say is most Christians millionaires and billionaires I have studied refer to the Proverb 13 scripture as "wealth transfer" so it goes far beyond a small bag of money. We are talking about after porn, sex trafficking, drug trafficking & Ponzi type scheme empires are taken down you will see a generation of new millionaires in the Body of Christ through their giving and business ministries that help employ people and build their communities ethically. And that scripture is not for those looking for "lottery mentality" money. Not saying anyone that has answered here but the lurkers.

http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/7574/your-supernatural-wealth-transfer-is-coming
http://makemoneygodsway.com/biblical-wealth-transfer-how-to-get-some-money/
http://www.whattimeitis.org/comingevents/wealthofsinner.htm

I think a lot of this comes back to discernment. The Bible says we will know the voice of the Lord(and a stranger we will not follow), so we should always pray about this things and He will guide us. He sent me to all that info from Google. And yes I look them over before posting. Loving this thread!

 

[CoilyFields]

@Iwanthealthyhair67

I think that situation was different because of the children involved. I am by no means an expert on these things but I do study the financial scriptures quite a bit and I even host the Financial breakthrough thread in the Sticky columns. What I can say is most Christians millionaires and billionaires I have studied refer to the Proverb 13 scripture as "wealth transfer" so it goes far beyond a small bag of money. We are talking about after porn, sex trafficking, drug trafficking & Ponzi type scheme empires are taken down you will see a generation of new millionaires in the Body of Christ through their giving and business ministries that help employ people and build their communities ethically. And that scripture is not for those looking for "lottery mentality" money. Not saying anyone that has answered here but the lurkers.

http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/7574/your-supernatural-wealth-transfer-is-coming
http://makemoneygodsway.com/biblical-wealth-transfer-how-to-get-some-money/
http://www.whattimeitis.org/comingevents/wealthofsinner.htm

I think a lot of this comes back to discernment. The Bible says we will know the voice of the Lord(and a stranger we will not follow), so we should always pray about this things and He will guide us. He sent me to all that info from Google. And yes I look them over before posting. Loving this thread!

To the bolded: I never thought about my "insatiable curiosity" about the moneys legitimacy actually being the voice of the Lord urging me to dig deeper but that does make sense. When those money orders came I was excited but compelled to investigate. God will lead when we heed his voice!
Well Praise Jesus and let the church say AMEN!

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

@Iwanthealthyhair67



I think that situation was different because of the children involved. I am by no means an expert on these things but I do study the financial scriptures quite a bit and I even host the Financial breakthrough thread in the Sticky columns. What I can say is most Christians millionaires and billionaires I have studied refer to the Proverb 13 scripture as "wealth transfer" so it goes far beyond a small bag of money. We are talking about after porn, sex trafficking, drug trafficking & Ponzi type scheme empires are taken down you will see a generation of new millionaires in the Body of Christ through their giving and business ministries that help employ people and build their communities ethically. And that scripture is not for those looking for "lottery mentality" money. Not saying anyone that has answered here but the lurkers.



http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/7574/your-supernatural-wealth-transfer-is-coming

http://makemoneygodsway.com/biblical-wealth-transfer-how-to-get-some-money/

http://www.whattimeitis.org/comingevents/wealthofsinner.htm



I think a lot of this comes back to discernment. The Bible says we will know the voice of the Lord(and a stranger we will not follow), so we should always pray about this things and He will guide us. He sent me to all that info from Google. And yes I look them over before posting. Loving this thread!

^^That's a whole other matter all together, I guess we can look at it from another angle:



Years ago Myles Munroe preached sermon from

Mark 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.



he focused on what 'added' means, added does not mean striving in any way (working) it means simply that, added or given to you.



God blesses us, without us having to work for it. In seemingly unorthodox methods, meaning his ways are higher than ours. As you all know, God is a miracle worker, sure the discernment is necessary but I wont analyze every way he decides to bless me, especially when I know I'm in need and I prayed.





(please y'all, this does not mean taking the extra cash from the ATM machine or being overpaid at the grocery store).

 

[momi]

I read a report today about a woman who found a bag of money laying in the road and since the bag had Chase Banks name on it, she returned it to the nearby bank. It had $20,000. The woman was unemployed.

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-teacher-finds-returns-bank-143120464.html

It got me to thinking about integrity and blessings. If something happens that benefits you, do you receive it as a blessing or go to all lengths to "return/fix" it. At what point is it a question of integrity vs a blessing in disguise?

The below scenarios are real life situations (a similar one happened to me) what would you do?

1. If you pay for something, get home and realize the cashier gave you too much change do you go back to the store? Does the amount matter (ie. yes for $20 but not for $00.20)

2. You receive a money order in the mail from an unknown person that's filled out to you. Do you cash it or try to figure out where it came from?
If you Cash it, then later realize that it was fraudulent and you've already spent the money. Do you report it to the authorities and return the money from your own earnings?

3. You find a bag of money on the side of the road...no name or identifying info...do you turn it in to the police or keep it? Does the amount matter?

Disclaimer: I am answering the questions as truthful as I possible and will not be held responsible if my responses make me appear like the saint that I am.

1. I would call first if it was a small amount.. like under $5.00. As a former cashier I understand the significance of a balanced drawer. During college I worked part time as a teller... I mistakingly gave this customer an extra $100 - she'd driven all the way back to return it. You have no idea how grateful I was....

2. I would try to locate the proper recipient or sender... if I was unable to find them I would shred it.

3. Unmarked... that's a tough one. More than likely I would turn it in... not because it's wrong to keep it, but because I wouldn't want to cash money that had been obtained by some nefarious means. I found a $100 bill downtown one day - picked it up - said Thank You Lord - and kept it moving.

ETA: If there was a way to trace the money to the owner or if it was in an environment (work... school... church) where we could find the owner then of course I would turn it in.

Great discussion!

 

[momi]

I was browsing this thread yesterday and got to thinking about the bolded Prov. 13



22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just

in what situation would this scripture be appropriate, many years ago my aunt was unemployed with five small children and broke she went into the food store with stamps with food stamp and found an unmarked bag of money she didn't return it, but used it to buy her children groceries.

I think the following is a good example of the wealth of the sinner being laid up for the just:

"Every Hebrew woman should ask her Egyptian neighbor and any woman living in her home for silver and gold jewelry and for clothes. Put them on your sons and daughters. This way you will strip Egypt of its wealth." Exodus 3:22

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

I think the following is a good example of the wealth of the sinner being laid up for the just:

"Every Hebrew woman should ask her Egyptian neighbor and any woman living in her home for silver and gold jewelry and for clothes. Put them on your sons and daughters. This way you will strip Egypt of its wealth." Exodus 3:22

yes, exactly!

Thank you, now look at verse 21
21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people,

did you see that, he made the Eqyptians 'favorably' disposed towards his people.

I'm excited, about the awesomeness of God, the way He always does things for our good.



Successfulmiss This can also be considered 'transferred' wealth that was 'added' to his people, they didn't work for the jewelry or clothing.