July 14, 2023

 

Wealth is Uncertain

 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. – 1 Timothy 6:17

 

We live in a country where financial abundance is the norm. We don’t always feel that way, especially in these days of rising prices. But it’s true. The United States is a wealthy country filled with financial blessings that many in the world don’t enjoy.

 

In our own world, there’s a hierarchy that believes those with more wealth are “better” than those who have less. It’s a class system that has long existed and likely isn’t going away. The wealthy believe they have the right to run things. The middle class want part of that power. And the poor long to be middle class or wealthy.

 

James warns us not to treat people differently if they are affluent. (James 2:2-4) Yet we do it anyway. It’s expected. Certainly, the wealthy expect it.

 

The wealthy count on their money to always take care of them – except when it can’t. This is Paul’s warning as he writes to Timothy. Tell the wealthy not to be arrogant. Money can’t be counted on to save them. Did I hear a few of you scoff at that?

 

It all sounds good until bad investments or a downturn in the economy, wipes everything out. It is a wonderful concept until a family squabble liquidates an inheritance. And it seems like the best thing until money can’t buy a medical treatment that will cure cancer or other medical issues. Then all the money in the world won’t help.

 

Solomon had wealth and wisdom but he still sinned greatly. Why? He let others – mainly his many wives – lure him away from following God. Anything that entices us away from God is wrong and will only lead to disaster.

 

Money is not wrong. It’s not evil. But loving and trusting money more than God will lead to ruin. It leads to arrogance and self-serving desires. Use the gifts God has given you to do good. Know that God alone is responsible for your blessings. Trust God because only He can save you.

July 13, 2023

Trust God More Than Money

 

For the love of money is a root of evil of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:10

 

As I write this, the Powerball jackpot has gone to $875 million dollars. How many of you have purchased or plan to purchase a ticket? How many of you dream about all you could do with money like that?

 

Most of us, if we’re honest, answered yes to both questions. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s when winning, when achieving financial success, becomes our obsession that our lives get out of whack. We’re so focused on the wrong things that we miss the right things.

 

Many people misread and misquote the Scripture above. Money is not evil. Having an abundance of money is not evil. It’s the love of money that’s evil. It’s a lure that draws us away from God and away from doing the right things.

 

We have a tendancy to depend on money, rather than God, to get us through. Certainly, we need money to survive. Money buys food, shelter, gas to drive to work, clothes to wear, school supplies for our children. The list goes on and on. I am not criticizing the desire to be able to provide for ourselves and our families.

 

It’s when we put money on a pedestal and count on it rather than God that our lives turn away from God and toward evil. We trust money more than God and nothing should usurp God.

 

We tend to “trust” God when all of our other options have gone away. We turn to God when we have no other choice, when we have used up all of our resources. What would happen if we turned to God first? Perhaps we would relinquish the sin of worry and be filled with the peace God gives us when we trust Him.

 

It’s okay to want financial security but learn to trust that God will provide all we truly need.

 

 

June 26, 2018

What Will You Sacrifice?

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

– Mark 10:21-22

We want to follow Jesus until it costs us something. We want eternal life but we don’t want to make sacrifices on this earth to make that happen. We want a life of faith but we don’t want to make any changes in how we live.

This man wanted to inherit eternal life. He followed the commandments. He assured Jesus he’d done that since he was a child. But he wasn’t willing to give up his possessions, his great wealth, to follow Jesus.

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with material blessings. The challenge comes when we value those things more than Jesus. It’s there that things become idols, whether we realize or acknowledge it or not.

This man wanted to do right, to live a good life, to follow Jesus. He thought he had. It’s as though he was coming to Jesus for reassurance that he was good enough for heaven. He wasn’t.

The sad truth is that none of us are good enough for heaven. We are all sinners. We are all too dirty to kneel before Almighty God. The only way to enter His Presence is to be washed by the blood of Christ. And that, my friends, will always cost us something.

What are you willing to give up for Jesus? Are you willing to tithe 10 percent, whether you think you can afford it or not? Are you willing to trust God with what you need even when you can’t see beyond today?

Are you willing to sacrifice your time and money to go on a mission trip or volunteer at a shelter? Are you willing to give up your well-deserved day off to help an elderly neighbor with yard work he can no longer do and can not afford to hire out? Just how much are you willing to give of yourself to be the hands and feet of Jesus?

We talk good. We point fingers. We write a check. We volunteer when something interests us or when we will benefit from it. But to sacrificially serve Jesus? Well, we’re not so sure about that. But His Word says that we must deny ourselves. We must take up His cross. We must be willing to get dirty, to step out in faith, to help those who aren’t pretty and clean and “worthy.”

Ah, yes. There’s that word. “Worthy.” We want to pick and choose who deserves our help, our money, our time. We forget that Jesus loved everyone equally. We ignore the reality that Jesus frequently welcomed those whom others cast aside.

Jesus calls us all to service. He calls us all to sacrifice. He calls us all to a different life than what is comfortable and of our choosing. The question is: Will you walk away or will you step out in faith? The choice belongs to you.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Your Wealth Comes From God

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. -- 1 Timothy 6:17

How much are you worth? How much value do you have? All those who immediately started calculating their financial assets, please raise your hand. Yeah. That’s pretty much what I expected. Most of you raised your hand -- and you’re all wrong.

Your true wealth isn’t calculated by how much money you have in the bank, how much your house is worth or even your income. True wealth comes from Jesus. It is your salvation.

Your Father is the God of all creation. He is the King of kings. You are royalty. You are a prince or princess. You are an heir to eternal life with your Father. That is your worth. That is your value.

How often we lose sight of that. We get so caught up in the roller coaster that is our life that we neglect things that have eternal ramifications. We choose to spend time and effort on things that won’t matter and neglect things that have such great value.

Don’t get me wrong. We need to work and earn a living. We need to support ourselves and our families. We need to eat and sleep. But we also need to spend time each day with our Father. He so wants us to know Him. He wants us to desire time with Him -- not because we need something but because we love Him.

We expend so much time and energy trying to get things. More and more things. We can never seem to have enough things. And just when we get that thing we thought we had to have, we want another thing that’s a little more advanced. Something just released or something that a friend or co-worker just got.

None of it matters. Oh, we might smile about it for a little while. But that fades away and we’re unsatisfied again. We keep trying to fill that empty spot inside of us with things. We want to value ourselves, and those around us, based on their things. Things that really don’t matter. When will we ever learn that the only thing that will fill that emptiness inside is Jesus.

How valuable are you? Look in the mirror. Consider who you are. Think of your family lineage. Remember Jesus. He claimed you as His own. Do you claim Him? Do you value Him as much as He values you?

Your worth comes from who you are in Christ. Your value comes from living your life to bring Him honor and glory. Everything else is just a mirage.