Understanding The Bible's Take On Money issues. Series

When we allow money to control us, we open ourselves up to financial hardship, struggle, loss, frustration, and even demotion. When money starts to control us, problems arise. Many individuals engage in giving, spending, and seeking strange money, which typically represents a life of hardship, loss, frustration. Recurring dreams about money often lead to financial struggles. These dreams can cause long-term poverty and bring shame to a person's career, family, business, and social life.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus warns us, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) When we prioritize money above all else, our hearts become consumed by it, and we lose sight of our true treasure, which is our relationship with God.

But there is hope. We can break free from the grip of money and the ancestral powers that may be holding us back. In the book of Deuteronomy, God promises us, "Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth." (Deuteronomy 8:18) It is God who gives us the power to create wealth, not money itself. In I Timothy 6:10, Paul warns us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. When we desire to get rich, we open ourselves up to temptation and the potential to fall into sin.

In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus teaches us not to worry about money or material possessions. Instead, we should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trusting that all our needs will be met.

But when we trust in wealth rather than God, we are guilty of loving money as our god. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:24, no man can serve two masters. We must choose to serve God or money, but we cannot serve both. Furthermore, using our money to oppress others is a sinful behaviour that God condemns. As James writes in James 2:6, "For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, so the rich will fade away even while they go about their business." And in Isaiah 3:15 and Amos 2:6–7, God speaks out against those who exploit the poor and marginalized.

Wise men and women fear the temptations that wealth brings and recognize the danger of loving money as their god. Let us not fall into the trap of obsessing over money, but instead trust in God and use our resources to bless others and bring glory to Him. May we remember that true wealth is found in our relationship with God, not in our bank accounts.

In Acts 8:20, Peter rebukes Simon, saying, "Your money will perish with you, because you thought you could buy God's gift with it." The fear of poverty drives many people to do wrong things. The desire for money to meet immediate needs can be overwhelming, but it's important to recognize that chasing after "strange money" can have harmful and long-lasting consequences for one's future if not careful."

The Bible's Job is an example of a wealthy individual who prioritized his relationship with God above his riches. He generously used his wealth to help others, as seen in Job 31. When he lost everything in a single day, he remained steadfast in his reverence for God. After demonstrating his unwavering love for God, Job was eventually restored to wealth. This story shows that it is possible for someone to be both rich and devoted to God. However, it's important to recognize that navigating wealth while maintaining a strong faith can be challenging. It requires a conscious effort to avoid letting wealth become an idol and to use it in ways that honor God.

The Bible warns us about the consequences of chasing after "strange money" and the importance of labouring to earn our wealth.

In Proverbs 13:11, we read that wealth obtained by vanity will be diminished, but those who gather by labor will increase. This reminds us that hard work and diligence are essential to earning a living, rather than relying on get-rich-quick schemes or unethical means.

In 1 Timothy 6:9, Paul cautions us that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, leading to destructive and harmful desires that can ruin our lives. And in Ecclesiastes 5:10, we learn that loving silver or abundance will never bring satisfaction, as this too is vanity. Jesus himself warned us in Luke 12:15 to beware of covetousness and not to define our lives by the abundance of our possessions. And in 1 Timothy 5:8, we are reminded of our responsibility to provide for our own households and not neglect our duties as faithful followers of Christ.

Let us remember that true wealth is not measured by our bank accounts or material possessions, but by our relationship with God and our love for one another. May we prioritize labouring for our wealth with integrity and using it to bless others, rather than chasing after fleeting riches that can lead us astray.In Proverbs 21:20, it says, "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."