“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
Photo credit: ©iStockphoto/tntemerson
Money is one of the most powerful tools in this world. It can be a tool for blessing, but most often it is a tool to enslave people into serving it, pursuing it, dreaming of it, and so turning away from God.
We all need money, that’s a fact. But the key issue is how we relate to it.
That brings to my mind a quote from Leigh Anne Tuohy from the book “The blind side”, by Michael Lewis (she was played by Sandra Bullock in the movie that was based on this book):
“God gives people money to see how you’re going to handle it”.
That quote showed up in the book after Mr. Lewis described a lot of things that the Tuohys have done to help their community, mainly poor african american students. They had already helped a lot of people before they had contact with Michael Oher, which is the starting point of the plot of the movie. If you only watched the movie, you don’t know about that.
That quote is used as if their generosity needed to be explained, as if it isn’t the “normal” attitude expected from someone with a good financial situation.
But Leigh Anne makes a good point. You are responsible for handling the money God gives you and showing through it where your heart really is.
God’s followers don’t necessarily have to be poor or rich, but either way they need to have a different approach to money. And according to the apostle John, the way we deal with money shows our love for God:
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17,18)
As we talked before, love is action, and what we do with our money shows who we really love: God or money. It’s that simple.
We are responsible for our brothers and sisters well being. God bless them through us, He provides to the needy by using the resources He gives to us, to you and to me.
We have to use money as a blessing, as a way to change other people’s lives, not only for our own benefit. We need God’s guidance on requesting it and using it.
Because when God gives someone money or any other resource, He expects him/her to do the right thing with it, and He will hold them accountable for it.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
Question for you: if you had money only to barely survive, what would you miss most that you would no longer afford?
In answer to your question, I think perhaps the money it’d take to visit my immediate family, and see my nephews and nieces. That would really hurt not seeing them!!
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A # 104 State:
Q.What do we pray for in the fourth petition? (Matt 6:11)
A.In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray, That of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.
Thank goodness God has indeed provided me with a “competent portion of the good things of this life”, so I can not only eat, but visit my family and much more! Praise him!
Praise him indeed! It’s amazing that He provides not only for our basic needs, but like you said, for much more.
By the way, visiting your family is a great way to spend your money, wise decision there, Brian.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting here.
Many blessings to you!
For years and years I barely had money for food for my kids, couldn’t pay the rent on time — sometimes not at all — and couldn’t afford anything. Since being married to Dave, we’ve usually had enough to make it, although sometimes the expenses kicked our tails… cost in Uganda as missionaries when we paid our own way [using credit cards and home savings] and some other issues here while caring for others. Our main disappointment? Not being able to go on some vacations or trips together. We haven’t had a two-week vacation since Sept., ’08 b/c of his job loss and, even with different jobs significantly less income and no vacation-day pay. I take trips as the Lord opens the door, but we rarely are out together. Dinner out is our usual favorite now. But we’re even doing that cheaper.
Money is GOD’S… not ours. HE is first… and HE is the only One we can trust. Period.
That’s it, Jo, money is God’s. And we can trust Him indeed!
That’s it, Jo, money is God’s. And we can trust Him indeed!