Jesus said to a listening crowd in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” We must not be deceived. It is impossible to be fully committed to God and His kingdom, and to our money. None of us wants to be slaves to our money, and yet we all know that we have needs. The tension that we all feel is that we have to take care of ourselves and our families. We all have bills to pay and mouths to feed. The question we have to ask as we consider how we spend and steward our money is, how do we have a healthy view of our money? Jesus answered this question for us as He continued teaching in Matthew 6. Right after He said, “You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money,” He said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life” (verse 25). Why don’t we need to worry? Jesus answered this question several verses later as He said, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (verse 32). We do not have to worry about finances or our basic needs because we have a God who knows our needs. Since He knows them, we can bank on the truth that He will take care of us. The ways He takes care of us may not always be how we expect, but He will always take care of us. God is, of course, an infinitely greater source of hope for us than our money. Because He is taking care of us and knows each one of our needs, we can trust Him to take care of us rather than our money.
Paul encourages us to put our trust in God rather than in money in 1st Timothy 6. In this passage of Scripture, he wrote to Timothy, “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment” (verse 17). This verse is clear. We cannot place our trust in our finances. After all, it is unreliable. God, however, is infinitely reliable. Even more, God richly provides us with everything that we need.
As we think about stewarding our finances well, before we begin to think about how we will steward our finances, we have to first remember where to place our trust. You see, if we place our trust in money, we will end up disappointed. If we, however, place our trust in God, who richly and generously provides for us, we will not only be content with what we have, but we will also be more generous and thoughtful with the money that we do have. Today, commit to placing your trust in God, who richly provides for you in every single way.
Find a notecard and write down 1st Timothy 6:17 on it. Then, place that notecard in your wallet. Every time you see this notecard with its verse, remember where to place your trust: not in your finances, but in God, who richly provides.
“God, You richly provide for me every day. I thank You for…”
1All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers[a] who are well loved.
Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 13 And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 15 For,
At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.
