CHAPTER ONE: SPIRITUAL INTIMACY WITH GOD
Have you ever wished that you knew God’s thoughts on a specific subject? I certainly have. Many
times in my life I have asked, “What is God trying to accomplish through these opportunities?” or
“What is God trying to teach me through these circumstances?” The Bible teaches that God wants to
give us that type of insight into the practical affairs of life. He wants us to know what He values and
understand His ways. We see this truth in Psalms 103:7. David states that God “made known His
ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.” God and Moses were spiritually intimate! Their
friendship was so personal that God chose to reveal His ways to Moses. In contrast, Moses' fellow
Israelites did not experience that same level of spiritual intimacy with God. They merely saw the result
of His actions. The Israelites benefited from the results of God’s actions, whereas Moses was
entrusted with God’s plan. The Israelites saw God’s actions, but Moses understood why God acted
the way He did.
David is another example of a person who had an intimate understanding of God’s ways. He spoke
of knowing God in Psalm 25:4-5a, “Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me
in Your truth and teach me . . .” David longed for the same kind of spiritual intimacy with God that
Moses had experienced. He boldly asked God for it.
Jesus demonstrated the same spiritual intimacy with His heavenly Father in His prayer in John 17:25-
26, "O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have
known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that
the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
It is clear that Jesus understood God's purpose for His life. When facing death, He asked His Father if
there were any other way that the redemption of mankind could be accomplished. Since the Father’s
response was “No,” Jesus resigned Himself to death and obediently vowed "not my will, but Thine be
done" (Luke 22:42).
Jesus longs for us to have this same kind of spiritual intimacy with God that He had. We can see this
in His words that are recorded in John 14:21, “He who has my commandments and keeps them is
the one who loves Me; and he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will
disclose Myself to him.”
Now, as in ages past, God will reveal Himself to people who genuinely seek Him. That simple truth is
life changing. God wants to have a personal relationship with each of us and to reveal His heart’s
desires to us. However, to find God’s will and wisdom on any subject we must be willing to make
Christ our Lord and do His will. The Almighty God will only reveal Himself to those who come to Him
on His terms. In John 7:17, Jesus said, “If any one is willing to do His will, he will know of the
teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”
Before we begin exploring the subject of accumulating true riches in life, we must stop and ask: Am I
willing to do God's will no matter what the cost? If not, then we will never know the truth about true
riches. Before we proceed, will you pause and tell God that you are willing to do His will no matter
what it costs? Will you ask Him to make known His ways to you and will you seek to obey His
wisdom?
When people do not submit to God's will, they will be alone as they make vital decisions which will
affect themselves and their families. Without God’s help, many mistakes will be made. Proverbs 14:
12 states “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” If we want to
have divine wisdom for the decisions we will face in life, we must be willing to commit to the all-
knowing God who loves us more than we can imagine. Only He can make our paths straight and give
us true success.
Bob surrendered his will to God as a teenager. He dedicated his life to the Lord’s service. As he was
faithful to God’s calling, he experienced the reality of God’s presence. Even though he did not know
where God was leading him, he was willing to follow. God honored this man’s commitment, directed
his steps and gave him success. During the last 50 years, God has blessed him, his business, his
finances, his ministry, and his family. Today he is the leader of a national ministry and is a sought-
after public speaker.
Now you face a similar decision. The Originator of the principles in this book, Almighty God, is waiting
to interact with you. He wants to guide you as you apply His Word to the area of your finances. I
believe that you, like Bob, will step bravely into the future and that Jesus will bless you beyond your
wildest dreams.