Money is a topic that often brings up feelings of guilt, shame, and embarrassment. Yet, it is an essential part of our daily lives. This week, we delve into what the Bible says about money and its place in our lives. By understanding and applying biblical principles, we can experience financial freedom and God's blessings.
Many of us have learned about money from culture rather than God. This often leads to frustration and financial bondage. Culture teaches us to accumulate more, believing that more stuff will bring happiness. However, this pursuit often leads to debt and financial stress.
Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Money can be a dark topic for many, bringing feelings of guilt and shame. This darkness stems from using money based on cultural standards rather than God's.
Proverbs 22:7 states, "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." Debt puts us in bondage, stripping us of options and stealing our peace. You are working so hard to pay for the things you already own and will run on that hamster wheel your entire life because your stuff owns you. Debt limits our ability to be generous and live freely. It forces us to prioritize paying off debt over other important aspects of life.
Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:19-24 challenges us to examine whether money is ruling our lives or if we are ruling it. If money is on the throne of our hearts, we are tempted to serve it. This can manifest in various ways, such as buying things we don't need or hoarding money for security.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 teaches that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money itself is not bad; it is a tool given by God. However, the love of money can lead us away from faith and into harmful desires.
So how do we shift money's place in our lives so that we are not serving it, or loving it, but using it to advance God's Kingdom?
Gratitude - Gratitude begins with recognizing that all we have is a gift from God. Everything we own belongs to God, and we are merely stewards. A heart of gratitude helps us shift our understanding of what we have. With money and almost every other area in our lives, a bad attitude is always solved with gratitude.
Humility - Humility requires us to think of ourselves less and others more. It helps us fight the cultural lie that we don't need anyone else. Humility is looking up to God and looking out to others.
Contentment - Contentment is the peace we have when we realize that we are created on purpose for a purpose. God has a plan because He is in control. When we stop seeking instant gratification, we can use money to serve God rather than serving money.
Something To Think About
This week, challenge yourself to examine the place of money in your life. Ask yourself:
1. Is money ruling my life, or am I ruling it?
2. Am I serving God or money?
3. How can I practice gratitude, humility, and contentment in my financial decisions?
Questions For Self-Reflection
1. What steps can I take to reduce my debt and financial bondage?
2. How can I be more generous with the resources God has given me?
3. In what ways can I involve my spouse and my family in financial decisions to build empathy and understanding?
By putting Jesus back on the throne of our hearts and using money as a tool to serve God, we can experience true financial freedom and blessings. Let's choose life and blessing over death and curse, and set an example for our children and community.
Money is a powerful tool that can either serve us as we serve God or rule over us, leading to financial bondage. By understanding and applying biblical principles, we can shift money's place in our lives and experience true financial freedom. Let's choose to serve God, practice gratitude, humility, and contentment. Let's leave a inheritance and legacy for those who come after us. Watch the full message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT6G7G2T3wk&t=3s
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