Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13.5 NLT.
The use of money is a fact of life. We use it everyday. It does have great functional value in our lives. As a follower of Jesus, we are asked to manage life well. We are asked to be generous, to save, and to share. Living within our means is an important responsibility in our lives.
Money is not designed to capture our hearts or become the primary focus of our lives. It has no capacity, in and of itself, to care for our needs. It does not intercede for us. It has no capacity to forgive wrongs or to reconcile brokenness. Money is meant to be managed and used. The mismanagement and misuse of money creates bondage and burdens that choke the lifeblood out of people.
God, on the other hand, actually loves us. Between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are loved, adopted and never abandoned. He forgives us from all that is wrong. He works to restore all that has been broken. He does lead. He is faithful. He guides us into all that is true (including matters related to money).
In the first four books of the New Testament, Jesus talks about the challenges of money and materialism more than anything else but the nature of God’s Kingdom and His love. He recognized the challenges of people exchanging their designed love for God with a cheap substitute. Jesus laid out the two greatest focus points of life:
• Love God with everything you are and have
• Love others with the love God has given you
When God is really first, and money is a matter of stewardship, there is contentment in life. The quest for improvement or expansion flows from a perspective of making a difference in this world as part of the Kingdom of God.
Dear Jesus,
Today I receive the reminder to love God with all of me and to manage money for His glory and the help of people. Thank You for being faithful in my life. In Your name, Jesus, Amen.