For the Love of Money

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10 NASB)

Some people will skim over this without much regard because one, its over used and out of context in their view, two, it pierces something and they don't want to deal with it, or three, they assume "well, that's not me..." But in reality it's speaking to more of us than we think.

The love of money or pursuit of it in a way that we rely solely on it and not God is the issue. In our culture especially, we feel it most as we see the economy tanking, causing us to rise up and shake our fists at the current governmental administration - and to a degree there's a place for that - yet the point to which we're the most grieved over it is measurable to the degree that we don't trust God.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU , NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU ," (Hebrews 13:5 NASB)

The love of money is not about evil and selfish pursuits, it's the idolization and reliance on a man-made system that is destined to fail, solely on that reason.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NASB)

If we live wholly on this principle to its fullest, our economic value will be determined by Him and therefore more valuable TO Him

Stewarding God’s Money

What does it mean to be a good steward over God's money?

Some would say it means to not spend wastefully but to plan for the future. Budget everything to be sure and save for retirement, buying a house, leaving an inheritance...
Yet Jesus said something quite the opposite.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Our conditioning in the western culture says, "store up for tomorrow" because we believe that nothing we receive is without cost. And so if we're smart, we budget for tough times. We invest in retirement funds, buy homes... And we budget things like entertainment and vacations and then our giving after that. Some will budget a certain amount every month to give to their favorite charity or a special need, yet hold tightly onto the rest for fear their plans will fall through. But that's what it is... Fear.

Because if we don't do those things, how will we eat, what will we wear...?
But that's serving a different master...

Matthew 6:24-33 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing?
Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?
You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
**But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.**

To be a good steward over our "treasure" is not to invest in material things but into eternal things.

Galatians 6:8-9 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

When we understand this fully, our bank account begins to look a lot different... and so does the culture around us.

He Rules Like a Father

The parable of the Prodigal Son has always been a favorite because it shows the love and the heart of a God who's arms are wide open, but it also speaks to His generosity & the misconceptions about His kingship.
We all know how the story ends when the other son is jealous...

Luke 15:28-31 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Most times we see this struggle between those who "serve" The Lord and "adore" Him. (The Mary vs. Martha syndrome) There is a constant misconception of The Lord's ruling hand. There is no doubt that there should be a certain amount of fear & respect for an all-powerful King. The Creator of all can also destroy! But the constant theme, not only with Jesus, but throughout the whole Bible is His character as Father. And again, we all know this, but it seems so hard for so many Christians to fully swallow.
But this parable is the perfect representation of His heart.
1. When the son decided he wanted to leave, there was no arguing... He was released.
2. When the son returned, his father rejoiced. There was no "I told you so" or "you can come back under these conditions..." He was restored into sonship.
3. When the other son became indignant, the father pleaded with him...
4. The father explained that ALL HE HAS BELONGS TO HIM, he only needed to ask! Saying basically "you're not a servant, you're My son!"

(This misconception also points to the parable of the talents in that the one servant thought him to be a hard man, etc)

Firstly, who are we? SONS! No matter what...
Secondly, we're sons of a very rich King who's provision is unending.
Thirdly, He loves His children the same but His favor is only recognized when it's accepted.

When we fully recognize our sonship with The Father, there is no lack of provision, no reason for jealously, and a desire to "serve" from a new perspective of training and partnership rather than obligation.