I live for you, would die for you.
I live for you, would die for you.
Wednesday February 28, 2018
Falling in love at times can be dangerous, especially if you have fallen in love with the wrong person or the wrong thing. When a person falls in love they can do some very dumb things. And when a person falls in love with the wrong person or the wrong thing, they can do some extremely dumb things. Nowhere in life is this truth more evident than when a person falls in love with money. Michael Jackson recorded a song that I think best describes how a person acts when they fall in love with money. It went something like this: “Money, anything for money. I live for you, would lie for you, would kill for you, die for you.” Sadly, for so many people this is the relationship they have with money. And the facts prove it; most family quarrels are about money, the top reason for divorce is money, most crimes are because of money, and so are most wars. When a person falls in love with money there are no limits to the extremes they are willing to go for it.
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:9-10 NIV
Money in and of itself is not the problem; on the contrary, money can be a blessing and an essential tool that allows us to live and to do great things like feeding the poor, building hospitals, preaching the good news, and even honoring God. The problem is when we fall in love with money. All kinds of evil can be traced back to the love of money; loving and pursuing money is full of temptations and eventually traps us and plunges us into ruin and destruction. It is sad but many religious institutions have fallen in love with money. Inadvertently they are leading people to the pursuit of money when they should be leading them to pursue God and godliness.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. – 1 Timothy 6:11-12 NIV
God does not want or need your money, what God wants is your heart. But you will never fully surrender your heart to God if you cannot surrender your wealth to God. You could never fully love God as long as you have an improper relationship with your money. And you will never fully serve God as long as you are pursuing money.
Questions:
- Have you ever done some not so smart things because you were in love? Give some examples.
- Has money ever had a negative impact on your relationship? How?
- Has money ever been a source of anxiety and stress in your life? Explain and remember that the Bible says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
- Why do you think that the Apostle Paul indicates that the pursuit of money leads you to temptations, into a trap, and finally into ruin and destruction?
- Why do you think that the Apostle Paul said that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil?
- How can you manage your money and need for it in a way that allows more of your heart to belong to God?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, as I learn more about the way you wish for me to handle money, as I learn more about becoming a godly person, I become more and more aware of my need to draw closer to you and to give you more and more of my heart. I do not want to fall into temptations; I don’t want to fall into ruin. I want to grow more each day, I want to look more like Jesus, and I want you to have all of my heart. Today I surrender to you all that I am and have. Help me I pray to pursue you and to pursue godliness and to use my money and resources in a way that would benefit your kingdom and not my earthly desires. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
