Be careful not to trust money to do what only God can do!
We all think a lot about money. We worry about it. We wish we had more of it. We are constantly searching for ways to make more of it, and we never stop finding things to do with it. But have you ever considered what money can’t do?
Now I do not mean to imply that money is not important. The famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said, “ Money is not the most important thing in the world, but it ranks right up there with oxygen.” Many people have come to believe that money itself is evil. And most don’t realize that the Bible has a lot to say about money and possessions.
The Bible contains 500 verses which address prayer and about 500 verses which reference faith, but did you know that the Bible contains over 2000 verses that address money and possessions? I know, crazy, right?
Here are a few things money cannot do.
WHAT MONEY CANNOT DO
Money cannot buy security
Security is one of the main reasons people desire money, but money cannot provide security.
Proverbs 23:5 (NLT) “In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.”
Money has a way of flying into the void. That’s why you hear people say things like, “easy come easy go”. In the past, money has been devalued, stocks have dissolved, and gold prices have collapsed. The truth is that money is not a very reliable asset.
Money cannot buy love
Money can buy friends, good times, even lust, but true love isn’t for sale. Money can buy parties, and trips, but money cannot buy the relationships that make those things so significant. Money can even buy kids off for a time, but it can’t replace a close connection with a parent. Money doesn’t make the world go round – people do.
Mark 8:36 (NLT) “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
Why does money matter to us so much? Granted it is important, but money is not enough to give us what we truly desire most.
Money cannot buy true happiness
Sure it may buy fun and we all love fun, but often our “fun” is just a distraction from our own pain, dissatisfaction, and loneliness. Not to mention money has a way of coming up short.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”
WHAT MONEY CAN DO
Money can ruin your relationship with God
Most people want to have some kind of faith. The quickest way to ruin your faith is to put it in something that is unworthy and unreliable.
God gave us money as a tool to provide for our needs, and even as a means to enjoy life. However, money was never meant to be something we love. Jesus was very clear when he said that we are either going to love God or money, but we cannot love them both.
Matthew 6:24 (MSG) “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.”
So everyone gets to choose: love God or love money. We cannot love both. Sadly we often choose money because we believe cash, and numbers in our accounts are tangible and God is intangible. We seldom understand how unreliable money really is until we experience some personal tragedy, or some kind of financial catastrophe. Often in those we experience what it really is to be alone. But Money doesn’t have to destroy faith.
Money can help you honor God
Gift giving is an important part of any relationship. It let’s people know that we love, care, appreciate, and value them. It is the same with God. We honor Him and worship Him by demonstrating generosity towards Him. When we do that we recognise that the best gifts in life come from Him. So we give Him our best.
Proverbs 3:9 (NLT) “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.”
God wants us to offer him our best and not our left over hand-me-downs.
Money can help you provide for your family and others
There is nothing wrong with money. It is God’s gift to us and one of the best uses of money is to provide for the needs of your family and others. The greatest monetary experiences we often enjoy are the blessings of sharing with others. That is one reason why our community is so good at giving to local needs. That is also the reason we enjoy the holidays so much, and why we give to those less fortunate.
Hebrews 13:16 (NLT) “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
So you can see, there are some things money can’t do and some things that money can do. Take a look at these lists and ask God to help you evaluate areas where you might need to grow. In the end, we all want to use money in a way that pleases God, Because when we do, we enjoy our lives so much more.