“Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath…” ~Zephaniah 1:18
It doesn't matter if you have millions, lots of fancy cars, expensive designer clothes and a huge palatial home, if there's no love of God in that home, you have nothing. Only by leaning on God completely can we achieve His greatest gift, peace. God doesn’t have the same value system as we do, He sees the things of the spiritual world as the things of real value. He wants to give us everlasting gifts, things that will last for all eternity.
“So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” ~Luke 12:21
If our focus is on the things of this word like all the fancy things and stuff that we can acquire, it is not on God. If we put all of our efforts into achieving human wealth, we are, by this act worshiping the things of this world. But, if we focus our attention on God and His ways, He will reward our act of worshipping Him by providing for all of our needs.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” ~1 John 2:15-17
We might better understand this once we realize that we own nothing, that everything that surrounds us is only temporary. The things of this world will all perish, but the love; protection and guidance of the Lord, will last forever!
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” ~Romans 8:5 NIV
I had a real awakening regarding this very topic one morning as I was leaving the house. I went to close the door and noticed the door jam had moved a little and that was why the door had begun to stick. Upon closer examination, I realized that it was rotting and would need to be replaced. Then, as I went to put the key in the lock, I noticed the lock and hinges were starting to rust and would also need replacing. As I walked off the porch, I saw mold on some of the boards, that too would need some attention. I suddenly realized how easily the things of this word perish and how temporary everything really is.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” ~Matthew 6:19-20
God promises to take care of our needs if we just seek Him and His ways. Rather than worrying about our needs and doing dishonest things to acquire what we need, He will give it all to us if we just stay connected to Him and seek His righteous ways. God will bless us when we stop trying to gain for ourselves. All we have to do is seek Him first in everything, and He will prosper us in all that we do.
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.” ~Genesis 39:2-3
But don’t we need money to live…?
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.” ~Proverbs 3:13-16
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” ~Matthew 6:25 4 KJV
The word mammon is a very interesting word and it’s essential that we fully understand its meaning. The following explanation might help you to understand exactly what God is referring to.
Mammon:
Definition: (Aramaic), riches, money, possessions, property. ... a Semitic term for "the treasure a person trusts in.”
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” ~1 Timothy 6:10 KJV
The above verse is usually misquoted as well as misunderstood. It doesn’t say that money is to root of all evil… it says the love of money is. It also explains why this is true. It appears that when we chase after riches, focussing all of our energy on monetary gain, that then becomes the object of our love. When this happens we begin to fall away from our faith in God’s provisions and start to depend solely on ourselves.
If we look at this from God’s perspective, being in need can have a great spiritual benefit. We all too often look to economies and markets as the source of our financial security. However, if the bottom drops out we instantly learn that everything comes from God, and He alone is the source of all we have. God can use ordinary means or remarkable methods to supply our needs.
Sometimes losing everything is the only way God can get us to really walk by faith. Prosperity can lead to a sense of independence that blinds us to how inadequate we actually are to provide for ourselves. Accepting that God will always provide is our true source of wealth, faith—faith in the God of providence! We are totally dependent upon God, whether we admit it or not.
Are you focusing on the provision or the source of your provision? Has your job or your work become your God? The means with which God uses to provide for us may change, but His faithfulness never changes. He’s far more reliable than any employer will ever be.
If all you have is money/monetary wealth, but don’t know the Lord, you are spiritually poor. You have already received your portion in the here-and-now because you won’t have the for-ever-after.
God isn’t against wealth. Abraham was an extremely wealthy guy, so was David and Solomon. He is against our valuing the material things of this world rather than worshiping Him! Very few people can handle being wealthy, sharing it as God directs, and still leaning on God as our source of everything.
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” ~Philippians 3:7-8 NLT
Q: Is your focus on monetary gain or is it on God?
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