40 Days of Preparation Day 38

Today, Monday April 2, 2012, is the thirty-eighth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” the love of money and “put on” love of God. The American and world economy are increasingly causes for concern and prayer among Christians. Many people today are concerned about their 401k, decreasing home values, increasing gas prices and a whole host of other financial concerns. The Bible has much practical wisdom from which each of us will profit if we simply read, learn and obey.

The first principle we need learn regarding finances is that we do gain as much security as we think from having money in the bank.  True security, security now and security throughout eternity comes not from having money in the bank but from knowing and trusting God on His throne.  Some have perverted the golden rule which Jesus taught, from “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31) to “he who has the gold makes the rules.” Were this perverted golden rule correct, God would still be in charge, because in heaven gold is so plentiful He uses it for pavement.

²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. Revelation 21:21 (NIV)

The desire to be rich is a sin which ensnares many people preventing them from loving and serving God. Remember that in Jesus’ parable of “The Sower” the seed which is sown among the thorns is choked and becomes unfruitful because “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” (Matthew 13:22). Paul gave his understanding of how the desire for riches negatively impact many in Timothy.

⁹ But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For 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. 1 Timothy 6:9–10 (NASB)

Have you ever known anyone who felt that they were worth more dead than alive? Such feelings reveal that someone has fallen into this snare. Whenever we measure a persons worth by their bank balance we have wandered away from the faith. When an individual measures their own worth by their bank balance or net worth they are setting themselves up to pierced by many griefs.

This miscalculation of the value of one’s life has led many to commit suicide. I have lost family members and friends due to this faulty and foolish belief that began simply by someone trying to get ahead in this life resulting in their failing to comprehend the true purpose of life. I hope you understand that you are of much more worth to God, your family, and your friends than the balance in your bank account on any given day. You and I need today to “put off” the love of money and “put on” love of God.

The remedy for this malady of desiring riches is to instead desire God. Jesus taught us to;

³³ “. . . seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

Desiring God’s kingdom and His righteousness is the desire which God’s Spirit gives to the seed which is sown on good soil.  This is how the psalmist could say that God would give us the desires of our hearts.

⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

When we are converted God changes our worldly desires into the desire to delight in Him. One of the best barometers for this change is our desire for riches and how we spend the money we do have.  When I spend everything on myself and my family I am acting from selfishness. When I spend my resources on others, especially on the things necessary to advance God’s kingdom I am doing so from my selfless desire to see His will done upon the earth as it is done in heaven. This lifestyle, know as being a good steward, results in their being treasure stored up for me in heaven.

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; ²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:19–21;24 (NASB)

The problem with most of American Christianity today is that we are trying to do what Jesus said was impossible, serve two masters. It is time that we recognize the impossibility of our situation and take the steps to rid the garden of our heart from the thorns which are choking out the power of God’s word in our lives. The first step in this process of reclamation is  to “put off” the love of money and “put on” love of God.