But in all honesty, I'm a little stingy when it comes to trusting God financially. I know He is capable of providing for my every need. I've never gone hungry. It's just so hard to give up the fact that I like money.
I know I'm not the only one out there either. America is obsessed with the stuff. It's all about making money, spending money, and getting others to spend their money. Our culture is a slave to money.
It is so hard to be a Christian and not focus on money. It is around every corner, trying to trap us. "You need me! I can do so much for you!" We worry and obess about our finances. Should I do this or that? I don't know if that is a wise decision to make with my money! Worry, worry worry!
But Jesus told us not to.
"Therefore i tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, the clothes you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" Matthew 6:25
Before we continue, let's go back. The verses starts with "therefore" so we need to find out why.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where niether moths nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
We often don't put these two passages together when we read. In fact, in most Bibles, the translators or whoever broke them up. But if you read them together, it actually makes sense because Jesus uses a couple of little illustrations.
"Your eye is the lamp to your body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your body will be full of darkness. If then, the light in you is darkness, how great the darkness!"
Matthew 6:22-23
Huh? What does this have to do with treasures in heaven and not worrying about money? Well, Jesus then goes on to say that you can't serve two masters. Still not tracking?
"You cannot serve God and money."
You use your eyes to show you where to walk. You focus on stuff with your eyes. If you focus on the right things, you will see clearly and not stumble. If you can't see, it is so much harder to get around! You have to hear and feel your way along. What Jesus is saying is that if you are focused on the treasures of this world, you will miss the point: Eternity.
Therefore, don't worry about the little things like food, clothes, and housing. Look at even the most helpless thing of nature like birds and flowers. They don't have bank accounts and pantries. Still, they have everything they need! And we, who are created in God's image, aren't we more valuable to God than birds and flowers? So why are we obsessing about our needs. God will supply all of me. Instead "seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness. Then all these things [food, water, clothing] will be added to you"
That goes against everything our culture says. It tells us to worry about our future. Think ahead to what you want to do and how much money you want to make. Go to college, get up to your ears in student loans-loans by the way, that won't be paid off for a long time. Pursue a career that will give you the life you want. It's all about the status on the social ladder. Do you look like you make a lot of money? Do you have a nice house and a nice car? Can you afford to go on vacation to expensive places? Money, money money.
How many big decisions do you make based on money? Think about it. Are you letting money get in the way of e life that God has for you? If He has a plan for you, follow it. Don't worry about the money. Choose to trust God and not money. Focus on the Kingdom-not money. Let your life be ruled by what God wants you to do instead of what money will allow you to do. I'm not saying to be stupid with money, just don't let in run your life. Let Christ truly be the center of your life.
Shake us up, Lord!
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