Why is it so easy for money to become a distraction as we follow God? Our hearts gravitate towards that which we think the most about… and while it’s hard not to think about money (because there’s your job, and all those bills, and all that stuff we want and need), it’s better to put God first—always.
When money is your first priority, then people, relationships, and service are less important. But when God is first, people, service, and integrity are the most important things to you. This post explains why men of integrity love God more than they love money.
"Money’s Distraction"
"Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me'”—Mark 10:21.
It is easy for money to become a distraction. Just the making and management of money takes effort and focus. Indeed, money becomes a subtle master if it is not held in check.
Our affections gravitate toward what we think about. If the majority of our waking moments are consumed by the thought of making more money, then we are distracted.
Yes, we need to do our work with excellence as unto the Lord. However, if making money becomes our consuming focus, then its devotion competes with God.
Billions of people wake up every day to make money, but are they making money or is money making them? If my life is consumed by money, very little is left for a life well spent.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money”—(Luke 16:13).
Time and energy for others become scarce in the wake of compulsive money making. You may think that your current obsession with making money is for the long-term purpose of independence. This is flawed thinking, because a follower of Jesus Christ is never totally independent on self—they are hitch or chain trust to the will of God.
We have a built in eternal expectation in our community and to Christ that results in accountability and service.
Yes, finances afford you options, but only options that are under the purview of God’s will. A life of unshackled leisure and self-indulgence is not a life well spent for the Lord.
He may free you up to serve Him and others, but not to sit and soak. Too many options can be a distraction. So, where is the balance? How can you avoid money’s distraction?
Stay close to Christ and let Him love you. He will love you away from money’s allurement and into heavenly investments. Let Him love you away from the seduction of possessions.
Then you will want to reciprocate love to your lover. If your love quotients are met by stuff, then your affections will gravitate to the moneymaking mistress.
When you allow money to love you, you feel a debt to materialism. Your emotions and energies feel obligated to love back. An affair with money and possessions leaves nothing for the lover of your soul. And, without an intense love relationship with your Creator, you will become sad and dissatisfied.
Loving God satisfies the soul.
Fortunately, there is a solution to money’s distraction. Let God love you—then you are compelled to love Him. Money’s distraction is derailed by a love relationship with Jesus. When you love Him wholeheartedly, there is no room for money to distract.
Then give generously to whom He loves, especially the poor. Generous givers love God, not money. Eternal rewards await those who send ahead what they cannot keep.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be”—(Matthew 6:19-21, NLT).
Read
“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV
Pray
Search my heart, God, and show me my attitude about money. Show me how You would like me to earn it and spend it. Show me where I can have more integrity in this matter.
Reflect
How can I use money as an expression of my love for the Lord and people?
Respond
Start making God your priority over making money. Find places that you can give your money to do God’s work like tithes, offering, pledges & events etc... or determine how you can change your lifestyle so money doesn’t have to be all you think about.
If money has been your primary focus, even if you are a good money manager, then it is taking your focus away from God and His provision for you. Focusing solely on making money, having money, or buying things with your money, is allowing something that is worldly to take precedence over God.
The challenge is being able to manage money while staying true to what God says. However, money isn’t the only place we have a hard time maintaining integrity.
God's Word is also at odds with how the world views other points of integrity, like truth. The next post shares five reasons why absolute truth and honesty is critical in a life of integrity.