Christ Study Blog

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” – Matthew 6:24-25a (NRSV)

Even though we in the United States live in one of the wealthiest nations on earth, many studies show that the number one worry we have is money. We have more food, clothing, housing, cars, jewelry, and electronics than we could ever need – and yet, we worry about money. Why?

Money is like an appetite — the more you feed it the larger it grows. American commercial culture today tells us that we must have the newest, shiniest, most cutting edge things. And we must have more pay, insurance, and investments to feel secure. We are constantly told that unless we purchase various products we will never measure up to the standards demanded by society. All that takes money. Therefore, simply put, we desire and worship money.

The result is that we will never have enough money or the things money can buy. We will always worry that we don’t have enough. And in and through all of this worry we have no room for desiring,
worshipping, and serving God, our very Creator and Redeemer! Timothy tells us how to begin changing that wrong thinking and longing:

1. Put your trust and hope in God, not money
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. – 1
Timothy 6:17 (NLT)

2. Know that GENEROSITY will bridle discontentment
Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)

Bringing It Home:

1. Give something significant (according to the world’s standards) away.

2. Pray for mercy, that the Holy Spirit can give you the strength to do what would be counter-intuitive to the ways of the World: being a person who stops desiring the things of this world and one who longs for the living God.

Prayer:

Lord God, you have created an ever abundant world. I thank you for the abundance of material blessings you have entrusted me with. Help me to fully receive all you give me, but also help me to never trust in your gifts more than I trust in you. Help me be a generous steward of my money and my possessions so that my life always gives you glory. Amen.

John A. Holm
Transforming Church Institute
www.transformingchurch.net