Christian Living
GOD OR WEALTH WHO IS MY MASTER
I am quite busy. I have no time. I cannot even spend a few more minutes for my eating. Money is wealth. I have to be on the move. I should earn. Earn. My earning is never enough. Yes, I am just running after money.
In a day and age like today, that has become more and more combined. We try, with as much effort as we can, to serve both. We are trying very hard to be able to serve wealth because we need wealth and enjoy wealth, but serve God at the same time.
But Who Stops me?
There is a man who warns me strictly that I cannot run after two. I cannot serve two masters. I cannot go after wealth and God. His words are clear.
He said, no one can serve two masters; …You cannot serve God and wealth - Matthew 6:24
Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when on has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions - Luke 12:15
Is wealth against God?
Does God mean that we should not have wealth at all? Then why does Jesus say , “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven”? (Luke 6:20). And again, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” ( Mark 10:25).
Does it mean that God wants us to have virtually no money at all, nor the things we can buy with it. We may think we should avoid money like the plague or that it is inherently bad for us.
Or does God give wealth as a blessing?
“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it”(Proverbs 10:22)
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”(3John 2)
Some consider health is wealth. In this view God promises physical and financial abundance to any who please Him. Yet we can come to a balanced understanding only by considering the entirety of God’s instructions in the Bible.
Sin and Wealth in view of Jesus
Jesus valued everyone even worst sinners like prostitutes and tax collectors from Jews.
But Jesus said a person is fool if he spends his life to accumulate wealth for himself and does not have rich relation with God in this life - Luke 12:21 (paraphrased).
Two Promises
God and Money are two masters calling everyone to give or invest their life in them and serve them.
God is promising to give righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit - Romans 14:17.
Wealth is promising to give security, comfort, power, luxury, beauty (taken from various sources).
How did Jesus value wealth?
Jesus and Apostles and many other followers who believed in God walked in His way but did not store up wealth.
But God did not allow them to starve in their everyday life. They had enough what was needed. When they ended their life there was nothing much left.
Though their life was threatened everyday they lived in the joy of God and fulfilled the purpose of God in this life.
Though they did not possess much wealth themselves, they could do anything by submitting themselves to the mighty hands of God.
By this way Jesus could heal thousands of people, feed thousands, stop wind and sea and many other wonderful miracles by submitting to the Father.
At the same time, we also see wealthy people have never experienced any of these peace and joy which God gives, but they fear for the threat of money and commit suicide.
Where do they differ?
God gives us wealth. But who gives the greed for wealth? It is quite clear. It comes from somebody else. There lies the difference. There comes the opposition.
It’s important to keep this in mind. As the apostle James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift (including material possessions and the money that makes possible their acquisition) is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
God and wealth are completely two opposite sides. We can never mix them. Wealth is required to the point of need but God is required in every part of our life.
God’s Word clearly states that Faith in God is the wealth. In serving God we must make use of the God-given money. It is in that way people were blessed by God.
Abraham, the father of the faithful, was a prosperous man. So were Job, David and Joseph.
God or wealth?
Now it is our turn. Whom to serve? God or wealth? Who is my master?
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A great study of wealth here - much truth here. Thanks for sharing!
This is a "right-on" message. The Bible doesn't say, "MONEY is the root of all evil," it says: "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil." Many wealthy people share their riches in helping those who don't have; yet there are many poor people who covet money so much that they would even steal to get it...It is what people DO with MONEY that counts, or what people THINK about money. Like you said, happiness and contentment count much more than wealth...God bless you...Helen
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