Let money be your servant

Jesus explained that money is dangerous because it may choke our spiritual life. As Christian disciples we are called to be on the offensive in relation to money and use it to serve the purpose of God in our generation.

It is wrong of us to be ruled by money, but it is wonderful to have money to rule over! Money can be a great blessing if we make it our servant.

Let money be a blessing for you and your family.

When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. (Eccl.5:19)

Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. (Deut.29:9)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Ps.84:11)

The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. (Deut.28:8)

The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity - in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground - in the land he swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. (Deut.28:11,12)

Let your money become a blessing for other people.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:9)

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Tim.6:17-19)

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thess.4:11-12)

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but he must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Eph.4:28)

Exercise:

In what way has God blessed you materially?

In what way have you used your material possessions to bless others?

Continue to memorise and add this Bible verse:

Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labour and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. (Eph. 4:28)