Summary
Money Is Neutral
Cannot serve both God and Money
First thing first is to serve God.
1. Money Is Neutral
Proverbs 30: 7-9
"Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."
Money is neutral in the Bible, and the critical issue is how you use money. Whether or not you're using it for your indulgence or using it to serve the community.
Here's the thing.
There are always two ways this can go. In many cases, when someone has been blessed with material wealth, they might start to believe in themselves more than it was God that has blessed him with it and get strayed and lose his relationship with Him. Or, recognized that whatever has, has been blessed by God.
On the flip side, if you're deprived in material wealth, that might put you in a situation where you'd be highly dependent on God. Or you might always be cursing him. Thus, money is neutral, and it is our mindset and perspective that matters when it comes to our relationship with God.
2. Cannot serve both God and Money
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
What you would realize is that Jesus says that you cannot serve both God and Money. It is God or Money that you got to choose as much as we want to have our cake and eat it. Jesus says it is either God or money that we have to priorities.
The best way you see it is that you're in a relationship in God. You can't say to your wife that for the next ten years I'm going to focus on work then care about you and the children after. When you're in a marriage, your relationship with your wife comes first. Cannot put careers first over God. You've got to seek God first in his kingdom.
Next passage of Matthew 6:33, Jesus says "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
What it means is that Jesus will provide for you as he provides for the birds in the air.
3. First thing first is to serve God.
You might ask: "What are some practical ways the gospel impact how we manage our money?"
Ask yourself, what would Jesus do with all this money? It wouldn't indulgence. Instead, he would always think of how we can use our money to serve the people around me?
Our first paycheck would always be our lowest one. Hence thereof, it would slowly grow bigger and bigger. However, you've got to ask yourself, do you need to expand your lifestyle as well? Instead, with this extra money, you can save it. And give it. To churches, missionaries as well as ministries you see fit.
Here's the thing.
Money isn't the danger,
but the love for money is.
When it comes to money, and you ask someone, "How much is enough?". The answer will always be: "Just a little bit more".
There is great gain in being content. Be content with what you have.
DISCLAIMER:
All information are for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial advice.
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