I would be the last person chosen to counsel anyone when it comes to “money!” Additionally, I would never be elected to lecture on personal finance or budget development for an organization or business. But, after fifty years of living, I’ve learned money/possessions should be used as tools and not as something to be commended for accumulating. As we continue to see in our society the push and pressure to be “successful” in relation to status, we also see how “alluring” financial success is versus financial stability. Being the parent of two young adults, we have seen how the message of “do good in school, obtain an education, work hard, and have more than the next person” has been pushed on them. We, as parents, have tried to balance the conversation to ensure our kids are making good financial decisions, but also not fall prey to having their attention captured by dollars which will cause them to stray in the wilderness away from The Shepherd (Luke 15:4). When it comes to money and achievement, let us remember…
1. God owns everything:
· Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s.
· I Peter 4:10 We are stewards.
· I Corinthians 4:2 We must be a faithful steward.
2. The love of money is the root of all evil:
· Matthew 6:19-21 We should lay up treasures in Heaven.
· I Timothy 6:7 We brought nothing into the world, we must focus on eternity.
3. The Bible clearly states the purpose of money:
· Acts 20:33-34 We are to support ourselves and our family.
· Ephesians 4:28 We are to help the poor.
· Matthew 28:18-20 Money is to be used spread the Gospel and teach the truth.
· Philippians 1:5-6 Money resources are to be used to help in teaching others the truth.
So much more could be said about “money.” We should never “brow beat” anyone for being successful if they have been pleasing to God as they accumulated their wealth or resources. But, may we model a Scriptural perspective when engaging others in business or seeking to expand our footprint in the world. If not grounded in our relationship with Christ, we can be pulled away. May be drawn to Christ, and not the dollar.
