Money, money, money!


I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better. There are however certain lessons that can only be learned in poverty. Likewise there are also lessons that can best be learned when we have more than enough. Money is amoral. Meaning it is neither good nor evil in and of itself. It is our attitude towards money that make all the difference in the world. Money is simply a tool and like all tools we need good instructions on how to properly operate it. Money makes a great servant but a very poor master. 

In today’s verse the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy to encourage and instruct him. No instruction is complete without talking about money. He writes that Timothy should avoid the love of money. He encourages him to learn to be content with what he already has. Honestly we all like a little extra cash now and again mostly now. When we are in service to others we must constantly check our hearts to make sure our motives stay pure. It’s easy to lose focus. It’s far too easy to tell ourselves that we deserve this or that. 

There’s this insane side of money that most don’t realize. Money can give the illusion of security. It can also promise feelings of happiness. Truth is that money can do neither. It is just a tool. While money is a very powerful tool we tend to attribute money with power it simply does not possess. 

Here’s the clincher. The reason we are not to idolize money is simply because God himself promises to be with us. He says he will never leave us nor forsake us. He is our provider. Regardless of who signs your paycheck it is God who gives us the creativity, the intelligence, the strength to produce that income. He is the only one who can make us content. He is the only one who can give us joy regardless if we are rich or poor.

He is not against us having money. In fact many of the great Bible characters were very wealthy and often it was God who gave them that wealth. The real issue is who we look to as our provider. Money simply does not have the power to truly provide the things we really need. Only God can do that. This is great advice for young Timothy but also for me and you.

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