The Things of God are Better than the Things of Money

 

Wattog here blogging about how the things of God are better than the things of money.  This is quite a monumental find for me.  You see I’ve had the notion all my life that money is what one should aim for, but the more I dig in the Holy Bible, the more I discover this is not true and is actually quite unhealthy for one to go about living life, but before I tell you about what I dug up to make such a claim as this, I’d like to tell you that it is not money that is good or bad, but the heart of the one holding money that is good or bad.  What do I mean?  It seems that our hearts receive information from God or this world mainly by way of our eyes and our ears. . .what we see. . .what we hear, you get what I mean, don’t you?  I am seeing that the information from God is solid like the rocks we geologists dig up, but sometimes the information from the world is quite shaky I dare say. 

Jesus told his disciples that hearts store up good or evil and the words spoken reveal what’s in one’s heart.  He also told them anyone that hears His sayings and does them is like someone building a house, and digs deep and lays the foundation on a rock.  Strong winds and water will not shake such a well built house.  A house on a rock, now that’s how you build a house!  You can read about that in Luke 6:45-49 

If we build our lives solely on what we hear in this world, I fear we have a pretty good chance of having a shaky life, because the world looks to money a lot of the times and looking to money can make for failure a lot of the times.  Emotions like envy, greed, and selfishness can come by the way we look at money and are not conducive to a healthy, happy life, In this blog, we will be mainly looking at how these things are brought about in one’s life and how God can help us in our dealings with money.

Not only do words prove what’s in one’s heart, money in the hand proves what’s in one’s heart. 

Paul, the apostle wrote to a chap named Timothy and he warned him to stay away from people that teach contrary to Christ’s teachings, that those kinds of people are proud, and they have corrupt minds, and are quite impoverished where truth is concerned.  They tend to say things like this. . .

gain is godliness. 

Paul told Timothy to look at gain in a different way, that actually godliness with contentment was great gain.  He also told him this:

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. . . 1 Timothy 1-12

Money in the hand can lead to a lot of good when one’s heart is filled with God’s love.  Most people are generous with the ones they love, but we don't tend to love everyone.  Jesus taught that we should be generous to all men. . .that we should love all men.

Paul wrote about a time when he and some others didn’t think twice about their possessions, but shared them with everyone.  As a result, no one in their crowd lacked anything.  You can read about that in Acts 4:32-35

This sharing was not so people could be lazy, because Paul wrote that people should work so they would have to give to those in need.  You can read about that in Ephesians 4:28

God told people how to give to the poor back in the Old Testament too. He told them not to reap the corners of their fields so the poor could get food.  You can read about that in Leviticus 23:22  

I am discovering that the things of God are eternally good. . .things like peace, goodwill, charity, wellness, etc. . .  When we love and serve God, we benefit from these eternally good things and help others benefit from them as well.    When our eyes are fixed on God, money can be a good tool to help others, but if our eyes are fixed on money, money can be a bad tool to hurt others.   Money is a mode of exchange to get the material things we need, and for many of us, things we want, but when we begin excessively wanting things it will always lead to bad. 

The things of money are just that. . .things, whether it be clothes,  or a car, or a house, or entertainment, etc. .

Like I said, these are not bad or good things, but how we look at these things can lead to bad or good. 

·         The things of money can be worshipped

Jesus reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees for putting more importance on material gold than spiritual gold.  This is what He told them.

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Matthew 23:17-19

We should always be more mindful of the One who gives us might and wisdom. . .it is might and wisdom that gives us the ability to work and make a living and help others, not the money!  God is the giver of all that we have if you think about it.  If it were not for Him, we couldn’t do anything.

I also read a ghastly account about a fiery furnace and an image of gold in the book of Daniel, chapter 3.  Read it for yourselves but here is what I found.

A king named Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and every time the music would play, everyone was to fall down and worship the golden image.  If they didn’t, they would be thrown in the fiery furnace.  I think the golden image could be money to us, but that’s just me.  Anyway, 3 Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; would not bow down and they told the king so.  This is what they told him,

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 17-18

So when the music played, the 3 men didn’t bow down and guess what?  They were thrown in the fiery furnace!  When we don’t bow down to this world’s system of money, we can be thrown into the fire so to speak as well.  

To continue with the story, when the king looked into the fiery furnace, he discovered that the 3 men were not harmed at all by the fire and they also had company.  This is what the king said:

I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 25 

·         The things of money can give temporary security and can cause us to forget God or even take for granted what He’s given to us and done for us.
 

I read about the time when Moses went up on a mountain top to talk to God about the people.  It took him quite a while to come back down so the people got restless and asked Aaron to make them a golden calf.  I couldn’t believe they would do such a thing after God did so much for them, but that’s just what they did.  This is what the people told Aaron:

 

Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

After Aaron made a molten calf, they said this:

 

These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

 

When Moses came down with the tablets of stone which God had just written on, and saw the golden calf, he threw the tablets down and broke them and then he took the calf and burned it up.  

 

Moses told the people they had sinned a great sin, so he went back up on the mountain to confess to Him what they had done.  This is what he told God:

 

Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold..  . forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

 

God told him:
Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made. Exodus 32

 

There’s another story in the Bible in the back of the book where the tables are turned and we see fire again, but here we see men cast into the fire that did worship an image.  You should read the entire chapter to see why.  Here is the verse,

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20  

 ·         The things of money can cause bias in us.

James wrote to not have respect of persons, and that if a man were to come into a meeting wearing a gold ring and fancy clothes and another man came in the same meeting wearing cheap, dirty clothes, we shouldn’t show favoritism to the one with ‘more’.  We should not look at  ‘money’ but at  ‘the man.  You can read about that in  James 2:1-4

 

·         The things of money can reveal loyalty or disloyalty

     There are two accounts about money in the 26^th chapter of Matthew.  I will tell you about them, but read them for yourselves. 

 

     The first account is about a woman who brought an alabaster box of very expensive ointment and poured it on Christ’s head.  This act came from a heart that heard God and loved God.   The disciples thought it was wasteful, but Christ told them it was a good thing because she did it for His burial.

The second account is about one of his disciples named Judas Iscariot who went to the chief priests and asked what they would give him if he delivered Christ to them, and he agreed to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Judas brought a gang of men where Jesus was and they took Him to the high priest, the scribes and elders who ended up charging Him with blasphemy, a serious crime, guilty of death.  

·         The things of money can make us work too hard

God knows we have to work, but we must rest too, that is why He gave us the Sabbath.  The world we live in is based on the almighty dollar and I think we could actually call it the kingdom of money. We want more and more and more, so we work and work and work.   We can get so tired and worn out we can’t serve God as we should.  It reminds me of when the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt and had to make brick after brick after brick to build treasure cities for Pharaoh. The enemy of God wants to keep us busy so we won’t pray, so we won’t serve, so we won’t give.  

       

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. Exodus 1:11  

The  Bible says the children of Israel served with rigour.  This means the Egyptians were cruel to them.

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: Exodus 1:13

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.   Exodus 6:9  

           

Just because we have to make a living in this life, we do not have to base our lives on money.  We don’t want to base our lives on having things but on having love.  We can have both, yes, but having our eyes on money or things can keep us from having our eyes on God and others. People work hard.  There is pressure to get ahead, to have the things we need.  We think ahead, we plan, we save, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as we are not trusting solely in money.  We must trust in God who gives us all things.  If it wasn’t for God we couldn’t design a blueprint, hammer a nail, or wait on a table.  God is the One that gives us the wisdom and might to make money.  Money is how we operate in this world, but God is our source.  No, we should never think that money is the sole reason for our successes in life.  God provides for all of creation. . .He provides for us.  We have to work and gather, but He is our Provider.

Paul wrote to Timothy.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1 Timothy 6:17  

 
·         The things of money can make us overlook true blessings.

 Once, Peter and John went into the temple at the hour of prayer and a lame man was there and he asked them for money.  Peter looked on the lame man and told him to look on him and John.  When he did, Peter said this to him:

 
Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk and the man rose up and walked.  You can read about that in Acts 3:2-6

 ·         Things of money can lead to dishonesty or honesty. . .division or unity

Remember how Paul and some others sold their belongings and shared them with everyone? That was money in the hand of good hearted folk and led to unity.  Well there was a husband and wife named Ananias and Sapphira in that group who sold a possession, but they kept back part of the price before giving it to the group.  This is what Peter said to Ananias first:

Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

After Ananias heard this, he died.  About 3 hours later his wife came in and Peter asked her.

Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?

And she said,

Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her,

How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

She died too.  Acts 4:34-37; 5:1-10
Now we know we don't necessarily die on the spot when we're dishonest as these 2 did, but I kind of think it was an illustration of how the first couple, Adam and Eve were dishonest together in the beginning, and Christ came to make a new beginning and dishonesty was not the way.  God is good and He forgives us when we stray, but because these 2 had agreed together to lie to God where money was concerned, it proved their hearts were not really for God or His people.  Also if they thought they could lie to God, they couldn't have thought very highly of God, don't you think?  

·         Things of money can make us selfish

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a poor man.  When the rich man was alive he had everything he wanted, fine clothes and good food, but the poor man was malnourished and waited at the rich man’s gate each day to try and catch some crumbs that might fall from the rich man’s table, but all he got was dogs that came to lick his sores.  The dogs were more merciful  to him than the rich man!  Eventually both men died.  The rich man found himself in hell.  The poor man found himself in the arms of Abraham.  The rich man cried out to Abraham to have mercy on him and let Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in some water, and come over and cool his tongue; for he was tormented in the flame. Abraham told the rich man this.  Remember that you in your lifetime received good things and Lazarus bad things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented. You can read about that in  Luke 16:19-25. 

·         the things of money can steal God’s word from us

Jesus taught by way of parables.  Once He taught His disciples about how the word of God is like seed that is sown to grow good in men’s hearts, but sometimes it is stolen from men’s hearts before it has a chance to grow.  Ways it is stolen from men’s hearts is by the deceitfulness of riches, the cares of this world, the lusts of other things, afflictions and persecution. You can read about all four kinds of hearts by reading  Mark chapter 4. 

We talked about how the love of money is the root of evil, so wouldn’t the love of God be the root of all good?  God’s love in our hearts protects us from the things that try to steal God’s goodness from us.  Remember the analogy of a well-built house?  When we build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s love, we will have a good life. 

The Bible also refers to the evil eye.  What is the evil eye?  It seems to be a greedy eye.

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, . . .Proverbs 28:22  

Jesus taught about the evil eye.  This is what He said:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:19-24

When we have Christ in our hearts and obey His teachings, our lives are built upon a rock.  Christ is the rock of our salvation.   He is the anchor of our souls.  When we have love in our hearts it will ward off things like envy, greed and selfishness.  A heart that is fixed on God, Who is love, will keep us in the love of God.

FASCINATING FACT about money and a fish: The men that received tribute money asked Peter if Jesus paid tribute & he told them yes.  Later, Jesus told Peter to go to the sea and cast a hook and take up the fish that first comes up, open its mouth and find a piece of money to give to pay tribute for Him and Peter.  You can read about it in Matthew 17:24-27

Here’ s an excerpt from one of the Heir series book, An Heir Wears

Christians are soldiers in God’s army and they fight the good fight of faith.  Paul wrote to Timothy about fighting the good fight of faith.  We fight the good fight by following God, not money.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:9-12

We cannot fight the good fight of faith if we are solely going after money.  I know we have to work and working is good, but if you think about it, think about all the time we spend in our effort to make money, then look at all the time we spend in our effort to advance God’s kingdom. 

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All Scripture from KJV of the Holy Bible unless otherwise noted