I realize every time I preach about money, it is going to create tension. Because we live in a culture of materialism, to talk about money addresses the weight of trust we place upon money. Idolatry is putting anything in the place of God. Idolatry is also using God to get something from Him.We is not a sin to have things or to be rich. The sin creeps in when we desire to be rich. The Bible shares to be careful in putting our hope in wealth (trusting money).
“But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10
What if we shifted our concern from our Standard of Living to Standard of Giving. Giving is the antidote! When we focus on leveraging our wealth to bless others we will loosen the grip of needing more. It will lesson our desire for money.
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19
