Thursday, April 20, 2017
My wife and I were listening to the radio while on the road yesterday and we heard a commercial ad that started something like this: “Who said we have to be content with what we have?” In an instant I blurted out loud, “the bible!” Now, we realized that the ad was from an investment group, but whether it is they or somebody else, the world’s ideas are often the opposite to the teachings of God’s Word. Many in the world actually believe that money is the most important thing in life. It is not. In fact, the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10that the love of it is the root of all evil. However, the scripture that first came to my mind when the man in the radio ad asked his foolish question was Hebrews 13:5 which reads: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Nevertheless, There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that it is wrong to want to make a better life for ourselves and our loved ones. If that includes looking for ways to make more money, it is perfectly okay as long as it does not become an obsession with us. Even if we leave the Bible out of this conversation, life itself should have taught us already that people can have all the money in the world and still not be happy, healthy, loved, or satisfied. Money can’t buy these four and many other things. Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, surprised many in a luncheon in New York two years ago when he told them he was happier when he was making 12 dollars a month. Thank God for honest people.
Whoever came up with the phrase, “the best things in life are free” knew what he or she was talking about, especially if that includes God’s free gift of salvation by way of His Son. Christ himself said in Matthew 16:26: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Let me repeat that it is not a sin to be rich nor is it wrong to make money, as long as it does not become more important to us than God. In fact, that includes any person or thing. Nothing can be more important in our lives than God, and apart from Him there can be no true contentment.
God’s word for today: (Matthew 6:24) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
