No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:24-33)
These words of Jesus best sum up the biblical teaching on finances. As the Creator of the universe, Jesus knew what made people tick. He knew where their passions and motivations were held. And he knew that people could not both pursue financial security and pursue God’s purpose for their life. There is only room in life for one devotion; one master. And if you are pursuing financial security and wealth, your life is backwards. Wealth and finances are given to us as a blessing while pursuing God’s purpose for our life, as stated in verse 33 in the passage above. Unfortunately, too many people have it backwards, and feel like they need to pursue wealth and finances in order to fulfill God’s will for their lives.
When reading the opening two statements of this passage by Jesus: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – it would seem that he is addressing the rich and wealthy. And while this principle certainly applies to the wealthy, in this context he was not addressing the wealthy, but instead the poor. Probably the most common motivation in pursuing finances among the poor is the desire to have “security.” If you don’t have a lot of money like a lot of the people in Jesus’ time, you are probably worried about where you next meal is going to come from, or how you are going to cloth your growing children, etc. You want the peace of mind and security to know you have enough money for the basic necessities of life, so you pursue at least some measure of financial security. For others, they may want the security of knowing that they will have funds to live off in their time of retirement, when they are not sure if there is going to be someone around to take care of them. Or some may seek funds for their children’s future education. So they seek financial security for their future by building up wealth for the future.
But Jesus doesn’t want us seeking our security in wealth or finances! He wants us to depend on our loving heavenly Father and his care for us day by day. He created us for a purpose, and he loves us very much. As we pursue knowing God and his purpose for our lives, he supplies the financial means we need to fulfill that purpose.
Co-heirs with Christ
When we are born again into the Kingdom of light where Jesus rules, we become co-heirs with Christ in his Kingdom. This inheritance is the same inheritance promised to Abraham and his descendants.
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:29)
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6)
As heirs, our inheritance makes us instantly wealthy, as we inherit all the blessings promised to Abraham. Jesus was the ultimate seed of Abraham, and he was from the line of David in order to fulfill all of the promises, but his physical rule over the earth is still in the future. His way to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic blessings was the way of the cross – a way of pain and suffering. As we are now co-heirs with Christ, we not only inherit the all blessings, but also the sufferings of Christ in this life.
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16-17)
Because we are members of the Kingdom of Light which is currently a spiritual kingdom with its source in Heaven, and the predominate kingdom here on earth that we clash with is the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan, we may often be delayed in receiving all the material blessings that will eventually come our way. But our purpose in this life is to seek first God’s Kingdom and rule. We are not to pursue wealth. We are already wealthy in the spiritual realm – the inheritance is already ours. Material wealth in this world is not that important, since it is all decaying anyway. It only has value if it aids us in promoting the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, we are to live a life worthy of our calling as co-heirs with Christ, serving him honorably as we manage the resources God may send our way to accomplish his purpose in our life and in the Kingdom. Our road in this life may be paved with wealth that needs to be managed to accomplish God’s purposes in advancing his Kingdom. At other times the road may be paved with pain and suffering where we seek God’s purpose in our lives as we sow spiritual seeds that will reap a harvest in due time. No matter what financial condition we are in currently, the ruler of the opposing kingdom will always attack us and try to destroy us, and the one area he works hard in is trying to get the heirs of the Kingdom to get side-tracked and start pursuing wealth. Don’t be tempted! Don’t start running backwards pursuing wealth! Jesus’ words are clear: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Look ahead to the future that awaits you in God’s eternal kingdom and press on ahead to fulfill the calling of God on your life and the purpose for which you were created.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me... And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:12-13; 19)
This devotional is adapted from the article: The Creation of Wealth
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