Money Money Money ... (MONEY!) - 3/25/06

Ecclesiastes 5:10&11, “Whoever loves money will never have enough money; whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with it. This also useless. The more wealth people have, the more friends they have to help spend it. So what do people really gain? They gain nothing except to look at their riches.”

I don’t really feel like I’m struggling with materialism at this point in my life, but I know I have in the past and there may be a point in the future when I’ll do so again. So, I’m going along with what I feel to be God’s direction here in His word today.

I came across this scripture almost immediately after opening my Bible. It used to be a favorite of mine — probably back when I first discovered my materialism, “He who loves money will never have money enough.” This from the wisest King ever to rule — and probably the wealthiest. I believe Solomon was speaking from wisdom AND experience here.

The line directly following this quote in the scripture explains a bit about why the lover of money never has enough, “whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with it.” That’s because happiness isn’t found in wealth. Wealth is “useless,” as it says here. Happiness cannot come from things. Sure, you may have more friends with increased wealth, but they’re not the kind that bring happiness either, they’re the kind that help you spend money. Chances are when the money runs out, so will they.

A favorite quote of mine I heard a couple years ago goes, “If you can’t be happy without it, you won’t be happy with it.” If there is one thing you’re pining for — putting your hope for happiness into — you’ll see when you get it that it wasn’t what you really wanted or expected because such things cannot bring lasting satisfaction or happiness. Hope in Christ is the only lasting source of satisfaction and pure joy.

Yesterday I was listening to the “Spirit” SIRIUS radio station at work. Between songs, the DJ played a great quote that caught my attention, “Envy is counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.” If we focus our energy on serving God rather than ourselves, our needs will be met AND we’ll be rewarded. If we are good stewards of what we have been given, even more will be added to our lives, according to the parable in Matthew 25:14-30. I believe that applies to being good stewards of everything God has given us, not just money: our homes, the people in our lives, our bodies … we must demonstrate responsibility to our God before we’re blessed with increase.

To do so, we must constantly seek His will to truly serve Him and not ourselves. Remember, you cannot serve yourself and Him at the same time. “No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches” Matthew 6:24.

I will then continue to try and serve God — something permanent — rather than the temporary possessions and lifestyles of this world.