Selwyn now looks at the question of money and will no doubt over the next few days, cover what sort of attitude we should have to money and possessions.
I think it’s a matter of priorities. God must always come first, and love of God and love of our neighbour should always determine how we manage our financial affairs. If you accept that all you are given, or earn (through the talents God has blessed you with), belongs to God. It is then possible to easily give out of your surplus to others who are less fortunate than you. In a sense, money and possessions are held in an open hand where there are no barriers to letting it go. Contrast this to a closed fist, which guards what it has, and desires more – usually, it’s a grab for ‘security’, which excess money and power promise but can’t deliver. In summary, those who can’t trust God with their future, transfer their trust to money and possessions – the more money, the greater is their hope that independence and security will be obtained, but the promised goal is never reached. Death usually intervenes and what they have accumulated on this earth is of no heavenly use to them. On the other hand – those who follow Jesus – and trust Him for the provisions of life, while keeping their eyes fixed firmly on Him, will enjoy the treasures of heaven, for eternity. It’s a simple choice isn’t it? The remote possibility of up to 80 years of absolute luxury on earth without the certainty of peace and hapiness or more than 80 billion, trillion years of unbelievable joy in heaven.
I liked parts of Selwyn’s conclusion: ” … our Lord is not against us owning things; what He is against is allowing them to own us. … Money, possessions and material things can quickly become idols which replace the rule of God. … We cannot serve God AND money, but we can serve God with money.”
Do you agree that a Christian’s attitude to money and their willingness to share their wealth is a good indicator of their spiritual health?
The money test
Selwyn now looks at the question of money and will no doubt over the next few days, cover what sort of attitude we should have to money and possessions.
I think it’s a matter of priorities. God must always come first, and love of God and love of our neighbour should always determine how we manage our financial affairs. If you accept that all you are given, or earn (through the talents God has blessed you with), belongs to God. It is then possible to easily give out of your surplus to others who are less fortunate than you. In a sense, money and possessions are held in an open hand where there are no barriers to letting it go. Contrast this to a closed fist, which guards what it has, and desires more – usually, it’s a grab for ‘security’, which excess money and power promise but can’t deliver. In summary, those who can’t trust God with their future, transfer their trust to money and possessions – the more money, the greater is their hope that independence and security will be obtained, but the promised goal is never reached. Death usually intervenes and what they have accumulated on this earth is of no heavenly use to them. On the other hand – those who follow Jesus – and trust Him for the provisions of life, while keeping their eyes fixed firmly on Him, will enjoy the treasures of heaven, for eternity. It’s a simple choice isn’t it? The remote possibility of up to 80 years of absolute luxury on earth without the certainty of peace and hapiness or more than 80 billion, trillion years of unbelievable joy in heaven.
I liked parts of Selwyn’s conclusion: ” … our Lord is not against us owning things; what He is against is allowing them to own us. … Money, possessions and material things can quickly become idols which replace the rule of God. … We cannot serve God AND money, but we can serve God with money.”
Do you agree that a Christian’s attitude to money and their willingness to share their wealth is a good indicator of their spiritual health?