What Money Can Do

Be on your guard against every form of greed.
–Luke 12:15

What should our attitude be toward money and material things? This week, I want to share three admonitions from God’s Word about money.

First of all, we should appreciate money without worshiping it. It’s understandable that people would choose to worship money. Money promises many of the same things God promises, such as security, peace, and fulfillment. The problem is that money never truly satisfies us. It’s like salt water: The more you consume, the more you thirst for it, even though it leads you to harm. As 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “The love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Money led the rich young ruler to turn away from Jesus. Money convinced Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Money caused Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit and be struck dead.

On the other hand, money built Solomon’s temple, where the people of Israel worshiped God. Money paid for the Passover meal that Jesus shared with His followers on the night before His crucifixion. Money funded Paul’s three missionary journeys. And money allows us to reach people around the world with the gospel today.

William Barclay summed it up this way: “Money in itself is neither good nor bad; but the love of it may lead to evil. With it, people may selfishly serve their own desires; with it, they may answer the cry of their neighbour’s need.” Money is not evil, but we need to keep money in perspective. That’s why Jesus said, “Be on your guard against every form of greed” (Luke 12:15).

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once wrote, “Money never stays with me: it would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find a way into my heart.” During Wesley’s life, a lot of money passed through his hands, but he didn’t let money possess him because he was aware of the dangers. As Christians, we should appreciate what money can do without letting it take God’s place in our lives.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Moving from Materialism to Contentment,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, The New Daily Study Bible (Westminster John Knox, 2003), 148; John Wesley, as quoted in Rev. L. Tyerman, The Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., Founder of the Methodists, vol. 2, 2nd ed. (London, 1872), 590.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.