The Worlds Answer to Money

Scripture: Matthew 6:19

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Insights: First, let me apologize for getting this Monday Scott’s Thoughts out to you on Tuesday.  Second, we are continuing our look at perseverance and sacrifice in regards to our faith.  This week we are looking at our finances.  In today’s verse we see the worlds answer to money—get all you can NOW!  We live in a consumer driven culture with advertisements like: “Get it your way,” “Obey your thirst,” and “Just do it.”  There is little regard for questions like, “Ought I to really being doing this,” or “Are my desires really going to honor God?”  Sunday, I read a lengthy article from a 2007 publication from Crown Financial Ministries.  Here is a portion of that article, “Some estimates tell us that the average American household with at least one credit card has more than $9,000 in credit card debt.  Sadly, most people are oblivious to the tremendous cost of excessive debt.  For example, if you wanted to stop using your credit card and pay off a $1,000 credit card debt making only the minimum monthly payment, it could take seven to eight years!  That’s because, even though the principle is slightly reduced every month, the interest clock keeps ticking.”  Because the worlds answer to money is get all you can now most American families are in tremendous debt.  As a result many of those in debt are “Christians.”  Many of these individuals that profess to be followers of Christ are not tithing to God in an act of worship.  Many more are giving nothing or mere tokens to God.  So, what are these individuals doing, exactly what verse nineteen states—storing up for themselves treasures on earth.  They can’t take these treasures with them and typically their children do not appreciate what sacrifices their parents had to make in order to pass these treasures on to them.  There is one last paragraph from the Crown article I wish to share.  It reads, “In an 1865 address before the British House of Commons, Benjamin Disraeli said, ‘What we do and allow in moderation, our children will allow and do in excess.’  That’s an accurate description of the primary cause of the downward financial spiral of many American families today.”  Beloved, our answer to the money question really tells us where our heart resides and unfortunately for many, it is with this world.

Questions:

1. In comparison to the national credit card debt of America, how are you doing?
2. If I were to look at your bank transactions, would it be a condemnation against you as one who is choosing the worlds answer to money?

Prayer: Lord, You have called me to be a steward of Your resources.  Forgive me for the times I have been a bad steward.  Help me to have a biblical perspective and approach when it comes to finances.  Amen.