"For many people, money is their security." I heard a sermon on the radio the other day in which the pastor uttered this phrase. It got me to thinking. His point was that God should be our security, not money. After all, what is money? It’s just another version of “stuff”. If I just have enough stuff, then I’ll be fine. That sounds ludicrous even as I type it. I say I don’t believe it, but then again…Stuff is tangible. I can see and touch the things I own. God is spiritual; my knowledge of him is not empirical. Maybe that’s why idols were so prevalent in the Old and New Testaments. You could have this tangible thing, this piece of “stuff”, sitting on the shelf. Where’s God? Oh, he’s right over there, chillin’ in the corner.
I think that’s one reason why God commands us to give away the first portion of our income, why He wants us to give sacrificially. It forces us to decide where we will find our security—God or money. I looked at the amount we’ve given away for the year a few weeks back. Let me tell you, that figure would look awfully good in my savings account, with a baby on the way. Or it could have paid off a significant portion of debt. Or I could have invested it, started a college fund or any number of other things. But instead, we gave it away. The world would tell me that I am foolish, and I would probably agree with them. But then again…We still make ends meet every month. All the bills get paid in spite of the basic mathematical rules that tell me we won’t make it this time. Most importantly, I am happy. With every tithe check, I sign away my control over my money. I sign away the pressures of worrying about having enough. I become a steward of God’s money. If He wants me to pay all of my bills, then He makes sure that happens. If He wants me to be able to provide for my family, then He can do that, too. All I have to do is "manage the estate".
“For many people, money is their security.” That’s a battle I have to fight continually. Every payday, I face the decision: Will I write the check out this time? Will I let God be my security? Or will I hold on to my money--cling to my “stuff”?
"No one can serve two masters. 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 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. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:24-25,32-33
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Commentary about the philosophical, theological, musical and cultural landscapes of our day. And, of course, the occasional book review.
2 comments:
Thanks for this post. It's a great reminder. Craig and I all too often talk about how life would be great (and less stressful) if we could have more money. But like you pointed out, our bills get paid every month. More "stuff" creates a different kind of stress. If I had to choose, I would rather be stressed out about trusting God than how to take care of all my stuff. 100% of the time, God has proven trustworthy while I have proven to be untrustworthy.
What timing as the market takes another dive and people worry about their retirement funds.
Perhaps it is God's "gentle" reminder of exactly what you are saying.
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