This week, we continued our series, "How to Be Rich", by talking about the deceitfulness of riches. Money promises us happiness, security and peace. But it can't deliver those things. Only God can give those things. And yet, it's so easy for our trust to shift away from God onto the riches He provides.
It starts slowly. We tell ourselves that we need the new toy… the new clothes… the new car… the new house. Don't have the case? No problem, use the credit card. Card maxed out? Use a new card to pay the minimum balance on the other. Or get a second job. And before long, money becomes the central focus of your life.
Here's the simple truth...Matthew 6:24. It’s one or the other. The central focus of your life is either going to be God or money. Neither will share. For many of us, money will be the #1 competitor for our heart. So, how do you know if you love money? Here are a few thoughts to consider.
People who love and trust money never have enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10). We tell ourselves that if our stack was just a little bigger, that we'd be secure. And as soon as we do that, we're hooked. Our trust has just shifted away from God to our stack. And the stack is never big enough. Wealth is deceitful. you'll never have enough.
People who love and trust money have money in the bank but no peace in their hearts (Proverbs 15:16). Many of us are making more than our parents did. We have more than we ever imagined. We have way more than we need. But the financial pressure that we’ve created for ourselves is making us miserable. We keep telling ourselves that if we have that one more thing, then we’ll be happy. But instead of being happy… instead of finding peace… we find ourselves more stressed out than ever before. Wealth is deceitful It cannot provide the happiness and peace we crave.
People who love and trust money find it difficult to give big. We think that if we had more money, that would solve our problems. But more money isn’t going to keep your kids off drugs… heal your friend from cancer… make your marriage better… it’s not going to solve your problems. In fact, it will create some problems. When we could give generously, we don’t b/c we’re worried that our stack won’t be big enough. But look what happens when our trust is in God instead of our stack...2 Corinthians. 8:2-3.
We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by riches…thinking more money means happiness, security and peace. It can’t deliver those this. Happiness, security and peace will never be found in the things of this world. They are only found in the One who gives life… abundant, eternal, and free. That’s how to be rich.
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