MONEY – A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE
Well, here we are mid January staring down the date on the credit card statement where we need to pay for the things we bought for Christmas.
For some of us it’s not even what we spent during the holiday season but just purchasing what we need during this time of high inflation with sky high prices at the grocery store, increases in energy bills, gas prices at the pumps and on and on it goes.
This is particularly challenging for those living on a fixed income where the monthly income stays the same but the needs increase dramatically.
In the middle of all that we are advised to save some of what we earn for an emergency and for retirement. Hmm. How are we supposed to do that?
How are we meant to understand the role of money in our lives and when does our focus on money become a problem? The Bible has some things to say that help us out.
Anyone who loves money never has enough. Anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with what they get.
Ecclesiastes 5:10a
Money gained in the wrong way disappears. But money gathered little by little grows.
Proverbs 13:11
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33
Money is a problem when we refuse to work to supply our need.
Money is a problem when we spend more than we earn and run up debts we are unable to pay.
Money is a problem when we are willing to engage in dishonest behaviour in order to get it.
Money is a problem when we gamble and are unable to buy necessities.
Money is a problem when we refuse to give an offering of thanks to God or help someone in need.
Money is a problem when we think money is a solution to all our problems.
Some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
It is better to live right and be poor than to be sinful and rich.
Psalm 37:16
Loving God, We know that You encourage us to work to earn a living and not simply live off the generosity of others.
You promise that You will ensure we have all we need when we seek You first and live according to His will. In these challenging economic times that’s a challenging word to us but we want to receive it from You because You always tell the truth.
Give us wisdom to know how to earn and use the money You’ve entrusted to us. Forgive us for ways we’ve wasted money on “get rich quick” schemes or even just given into the thinking that it’s more money that would solve our problems.
Help us to live simply and honestly, trusting that as we focus on You and Your plan for our lives today, You will provide for all our needs. Amen
Friends, I cannot tell you how faithful God has been to me during decades of seeking to live in His plan for my life – sometimes with not seeing where the money to pay the bills was going to come from but God providing as just the right time.
I’ve had my own times of not managing my finances well and running up debt but God has helped me pay down debt and live within my means, and at this point in my life, to even have money saved in the bank for the next season of my life.
We can trust God with our financial future.
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