Money Makes a Lousy god

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Jesus has already set us free, many of us still find ourselves toiling endlessly like slaves, motivated only by the persistent chase of money. It's true that money plays a big role in our lives and that we depend on it to survive. We must keep in mind, though, that money is meant to be a servant, not a deity. As Christians, money should never ever sit upon our hearts.

The Bible unequivocally states, "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). This scripture reminds us that our allegiance cannot be divided between God and material wealth.

Many of us believe that having more money equates to having more control over our lives. We are enticed by the idea that wealth grants power and allows us to go wherever we please and do as we wish. However, this notion is flawed. In reality, we often find that the possessions we accumulate end up possessing us. The things we thought would bring us happiness and the money we believed would offer us freedom can, ironically, enslave us as we strive to maintain the facade of needing more and more.

The life of faith calls us to trust in God, but when we become fixated on earning money, we inadvertently place our trust in our own abilities rather than relying on God's provision. The pursuit of money can distort our priorities and hinder our spiritual growth.

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Let us examine why money makes a lousy god:

- "He that serves God for money will serve the Devil for better wages." - Sir Roger L'Estrange

- "Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected. Hoarding is idolatry." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

- "Too often we assume that God has increased our income to increase our standard of living when His stated purpose is to increase our standard of giving." - Randy Alcorn

- "The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money." - Anonymous

- "I have watched hundreds of Christians in my time become financially blessed then develop an acquisitive streak that in turn makes their souls as metallic as the coins they seek." - Selwyn Hughes

- "He who is not liberal with what he has, does but deceive himself when he thinks he would be liberal if he had more." - William S. Plumer

- "With Christ, it is not how much we give, but what we do not give that is the real test." - Oswald Chambers

- "Don't tell me you're trusting God until you trust Him with your pocketbook." - J. Vernon McGee

- "The root word for miserable is miser." - Unknown

- "God promises to meet all your needs, not all your greeds." - Unknown

God acknowledges that money is a part of our lives, and we are responsible for handling it wisely. However, we must never allow money to become an idol or serve as a higher priority than God. As His children, we should remain focused on our true salvation and remember that money has the potential to distract, control, and deceive us. Our faith should be rooted in the Creator who sustains us.

Let us be generous in our giving, but also discerning, directing our resources towards God's Kingdom purposes and trusting Him to provide for all our needs. In doing so, we find freedom from the chains of materialism and embrace the abundant life that Christ has promised us.