‘And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”’- Luke 12:15 NKJV
Have you ever felt low and a bank alert was all it took to change how you were feeling? Similarly, a random check on any cluster of people’s wants would reveal money as the most common request.
This is because money in today’s world can solve almost any problem. This in itself is not bad, however, we must understand that good things can be desired or used badly and as believers we must watch out for this.
The Bible shows us that the inordinate love of money has caused many to fall away from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10). Thus, you must consistently put money in its place and remind yourself that anything you own or earn is not just for you but for a purpose.
One of the ways to put money in its place is to understand the primary purpose of money for the believer, which is to sponsor the spread of the Gospel. In various instances across the Epistles, we see the church give sacrificially towards the spread of the Gospel regardless of their financial status (2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 2 Corinthians 9).
This is instructive as it helps us see that the perspective we should have towards money is one of stewardship. In your drive to do well in life, let your ambition be for a selfless cause.
Another way to put money in its place is to remind yourself that there is more to you than your material worth (Luke 12:15). God has a priceless estimation of you. He made you a new man in Him by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and called you with a Holy calling to be an ambassador of Christ, reconciling the world to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, 1 Peter 2:9).
What a glorious calling this is and regardless of whatever phase you are in life, what you have or do not have, what you will gain or lose as a result of taking up this call, you should see this as the greatest honour of your life and let your desire for money take the backseat (Philippians 4:12).
This also means that more than your desire to live in abundance, God’s desire to see men saved should consume your heart and actions. This is the sole purpose of the believer, to know God and to make Him known so, actively take this on by preaching the Gospel and looking for ways to support those doing it in its different expressions.
Remember, at the end of your life, all that will count before God are things of eternal value not material possessions. Let this fuel you to focus on the propagation of the Gospel, today and everyday of your life.
Bible Reading Plan: Proverbs 30-31