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)
For a long time, I read this part of the Bible and never really understood what it meant. This was what I understood: the person referred to in this passage who 'served' money and love it more than God was someone who would do anything to get it - kill, steal, destroy. So, obviously, this had nothing to do with me because I would most likely never go that far to get money. It's safe to say now that, with my new understanding of Matthew 6:24, 'serving' money may be a lot closer to home than I might have thought.
Recently, it's been tough for me in regards to money, and I've had to adjust my lifestyle significantly to make ends meet. It's not an uncommon story; there are so many of us who have to go through that, but, all of a sudden, I found that money went from being a slightly difficult issue to being the bane of my existence. I spent a lot more time than is healthy thinking about why things were so difficult, how I would make money and what I would do if I had it. I craved it more than anything because, at the end of the day, money gives you choices and options and comfort - all the things I wanted so badly.
While I feel it's important to address that desiring money as a Christian is not a bad thing, it's unreal how quickly and how easy it is to focus on your lack, when there's little or nothing coming in. It's unreal how it can take over your thoughts almost completely and you can truly become obsessed with not having. It's unreal how you can think you're still loving God and serving Him, when the truth is that your attention is somewhere else. Money has power.
It's that power that was being referred to in Matthew 6. There are few things as God-alienating, as harmful, as possessive as concentrating on money and what it can do for you, as a Christian. You might be reading this thinking, but it's something we all need - all the time! Too true. But we were never meant to be slaves to it. Money was never meant to dictate how close we feel to God God, or how we feel in general, or how much joy is within us, or how much self-worth/self-esteem we have. Money was never meant to be your master.
This morning, the Holy Spirit said to me: those who serve money will never have it. And what that meant to me is that those who consistently focus on what they feel is the solution to their problems - money, not God - will constantly be searching. Even when they have it, they'll never be satisfied. They will always want more and they will be ruled by it. They will chase it all their lives, and it will be their master.
Therefore, I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
(Matthew 6:25)
Trust that God will give you whatever you need, today and every day. He's not blind to your challenges, He's not distant from either you or them, and He cares for you more than anything in the world. And trust that your relationship with God comes first and everything else follows in time - it's far more important than the state of your bank account, what you have and don't have. Rely on that today and allow your faith to work in your life for good.
(Matthew 6:24)
For a long time, I read this part of the Bible and never really understood what it meant. This was what I understood: the person referred to in this passage who 'served' money and love it more than God was someone who would do anything to get it - kill, steal, destroy. So, obviously, this had nothing to do with me because I would most likely never go that far to get money. It's safe to say now that, with my new understanding of Matthew 6:24, 'serving' money may be a lot closer to home than I might have thought.
Recently, it's been tough for me in regards to money, and I've had to adjust my lifestyle significantly to make ends meet. It's not an uncommon story; there are so many of us who have to go through that, but, all of a sudden, I found that money went from being a slightly difficult issue to being the bane of my existence. I spent a lot more time than is healthy thinking about why things were so difficult, how I would make money and what I would do if I had it. I craved it more than anything because, at the end of the day, money gives you choices and options and comfort - all the things I wanted so badly.
While I feel it's important to address that desiring money as a Christian is not a bad thing, it's unreal how quickly and how easy it is to focus on your lack, when there's little or nothing coming in. It's unreal how it can take over your thoughts almost completely and you can truly become obsessed with not having. It's unreal how you can think you're still loving God and serving Him, when the truth is that your attention is somewhere else. Money has power.
It's that power that was being referred to in Matthew 6. There are few things as God-alienating, as harmful, as possessive as concentrating on money and what it can do for you, as a Christian. You might be reading this thinking, but it's something we all need - all the time! Too true. But we were never meant to be slaves to it. Money was never meant to dictate how close we feel to God God, or how we feel in general, or how much joy is within us, or how much self-worth/self-esteem we have. Money was never meant to be your master.
This morning, the Holy Spirit said to me: those who serve money will never have it. And what that meant to me is that those who consistently focus on what they feel is the solution to their problems - money, not God - will constantly be searching. Even when they have it, they'll never be satisfied. They will always want more and they will be ruled by it. They will chase it all their lives, and it will be their master.
Therefore, I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
(Matthew 6:25)
Trust that God will give you whatever you need, today and every day. He's not blind to your challenges, He's not distant from either you or them, and He cares for you more than anything in the world. And trust that your relationship with God comes first and everything else follows in time - it's far more important than the state of your bank account, what you have and don't have. Rely on that today and allow your faith to work in your life for good.
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