For the Love of Money
Growing up in such a materialistic generation where we use the power within our wealth to accumulate not only possessions but promotions, proves to be such a distraction to the promises of God. Scripture is so clear about the abundance of blessing that resides in knowing Christ as our complete and overflowing provider. But what is it about the world that presents to us the exact opposite?
Media and advertising effortlessly promote the "in-it-for-yourself" principle, whereby you watch out for you and you alone, with very little respect for those around you. You must grab for whatever is within reach, with complete disregard for whomsoever you need to push out of your way in the process.
Isn't it funny though that despite the media's promises of completeness and fulfillment from the purchase of these "life-changing-products", that these things we yearn for that seem within our reach are never good enough? They never satisfy, never exist eternally and always cost us more than we ever expected they would. Yet it doesn't stop us going back. We get disappointed, unsatisfied and rather than leaving and turning the opposite direction to find fulfillment, we walk straight back to the very place we failed to find it in the first place, with this passionate hope that maybe the next thing we get will complete us. We save diligently, work hard, dream, think and talk about that very thing we want, thinking very well in our minds that this'll be it. This will be the one.
Our love for money becomes such an overwhelming burden to us. A burden we can never ever fulfill - because there will continue to be advances in technology, upgrades and flashy promotions all boasting the claims of being the 'new and improved' version or the 'latest model.'
It challenges my heart every time I think of money and materialism, or anytime I allow worries about finance to creep into my mind, to remember that with Christ - there are no hidden catches. His love doesn't cost a cent, is with us always, and there is absolutely nothing money can buy that will ever supersede his affection for his children... for us... for me. In our quarrels for the best technology and our quest for the highest position, we completely let it slip out minds that the Son of God took the lowest position that life had to offer. We so willingly give unto ourselves and crumble beneath the potential of gaining everything in the world, to the exact detriment of becoming Christ-like.
I'm reminded of that song... 'Take it All.' The part where it says:
"ALL my devotion belongs to this man... Take it all, Take it all.... just give me Jesus."
Just imagine what would happen if we let the world take it all... in exchange for exactly that... a pure, unrestricted, relationship with our savior. Giving to him not just our material possessions, but our devotion. Our devotion being our commitment, our willingness, our passion and zeal. Our deepest love.
Are we willing to give everything we have to the one that gave his very life to set us free? For while we are bound by the ties of money - as this scripture says, we will be loyal only to it and despise our master. I know for sure which master I would rather give my devotion to serve...
Jesus Christ. Servant of All.
Media and advertising effortlessly promote the "in-it-for-yourself" principle, whereby you watch out for you and you alone, with very little respect for those around you. You must grab for whatever is within reach, with complete disregard for whomsoever you need to push out of your way in the process.
Isn't it funny though that despite the media's promises of completeness and fulfillment from the purchase of these "life-changing-products", that these things we yearn for that seem within our reach are never good enough? They never satisfy, never exist eternally and always cost us more than we ever expected they would. Yet it doesn't stop us going back. We get disappointed, unsatisfied and rather than leaving and turning the opposite direction to find fulfillment, we walk straight back to the very place we failed to find it in the first place, with this passionate hope that maybe the next thing we get will complete us. We save diligently, work hard, dream, think and talk about that very thing we want, thinking very well in our minds that this'll be it. This will be the one.
Our love for money becomes such an overwhelming burden to us. A burden we can never ever fulfill - because there will continue to be advances in technology, upgrades and flashy promotions all boasting the claims of being the 'new and improved' version or the 'latest model.'
It challenges my heart every time I think of money and materialism, or anytime I allow worries about finance to creep into my mind, to remember that with Christ - there are no hidden catches. His love doesn't cost a cent, is with us always, and there is absolutely nothing money can buy that will ever supersede his affection for his children... for us... for me. In our quarrels for the best technology and our quest for the highest position, we completely let it slip out minds that the Son of God took the lowest position that life had to offer. We so willingly give unto ourselves and crumble beneath the potential of gaining everything in the world, to the exact detriment of becoming Christ-like.
I'm reminded of that song... 'Take it All.' The part where it says:
"ALL my devotion belongs to this man... Take it all, Take it all.... just give me Jesus."
Just imagine what would happen if we let the world take it all... in exchange for exactly that... a pure, unrestricted, relationship with our savior. Giving to him not just our material possessions, but our devotion. Our devotion being our commitment, our willingness, our passion and zeal. Our deepest love.
Are we willing to give everything we have to the one that gave his very life to set us free? For while we are bound by the ties of money - as this scripture says, we will be loyal only to it and despise our master. I know for sure which master I would rather give my devotion to serve...
Jesus Christ. Servant of All.
