WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 1, 2023
TOPIC: DON’T TRUST IN MONEY; TRUST IN GOD
BY T. O. BANSO
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 New King James Version).
Just like many other people, this man believed that money was the most important thing in life. Therefore, he made all efforts to acquire as much as he could. He was very successful in this pursuit and was able to own many good things of life. He lived a life of affluence.
He had always believed that money was the solution to every problem and nothing proved him wrong until he faced a crisis in his life, different from others that he had used money to solve in the past. He was diagnosed with a health condition and he went from one hospital to the other in search of the best medical help. He could afford it as money was not his problem. When he wasn’t satisfied with the medical opinion given by a hospital, he went elsewhere for another medical opinion until he was convinced that the health challenge was a terminal illness and he must put his house in order before his death. In frustration, the man blurted out, “Money, shame on you!”
Sadly, this man eventually realized that there were things money couldn’t do. All along, he had fallen for the deception that money could solve any problem. He had replaced God with money in his life. Truly, money is important in human transactions or existence on earth but we must never put our trust in it because money, is not all-powerful or all-conquering. Money, sometimes, does not help. Money has limitations. Money doesn’t solve all problems; God does.
There is a temptation for those who are rich to think that money is everything. They are tempted to put their trust in their money and not in God. That’s why Jesus said it was hard for those who trusted in riches to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:24). Just as it happened to that man, those who trust in their money will one day be disappointed that they misplaced their trust. Money does fail. In other words, money, sometimes, cannot help to solve one’s problem or get one out of a predicament.
While there is nothing wrong with working to earn money to meet your needs in life or being rich legitimately or without disobeying the Word of God, never replace God with money. Beware of the tendency to put your trust in money just because you are rich. There are things money can never do but only God can do. Let your trust be in God, no matter how rich you are.
Paul wrote to Timothy, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 New King James Version). Rich people tend to be proud or arrogant and trust in their riches, not in God. Timothy was in Ephesus when Paul wrote this letter to him (1 Timothy 1:3). Ephesus was a very rich city and some members of the church could have been wealthy, hence Paul’s instruction to Timothy to give them the command in 1 Timothy 6:17.
The New Living Translation renders 1 Timothy 6:17 thus: “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.” Note that this translation describes money as “unreliable.” The New King James version uses the phrase “uncertain riches.” Don’t put trust in money that is unreliable or in uncertain riches. Also, note in that scripture that God richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment or gives us richly all things to enjoy. But don’t trust in whatever God has given you to enjoy. Trust in God, not in your wealth. Many people used to be wealthy but, today, their wealth is gone.
Job, declaring his innocence amid the accusations by his friends, said he had not put his trust in his wealth, which he had lost at that time. Job 31:24-28 says, “If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high” (New International Version).
Job said he didn’t put his trust in his wealth or made it his security. He wasn’t like the rich fool in Luke 12. He said he would pull down his barns, build greater barns, store all his crops and goods there and tell his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry” (verse 19 New King James Version). This rich fool trusted in his riches but God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Verse 20 New King James Version). Jesus added that anyone who laid up treasure or earthly wealth for himself and was not rich toward God was a fool (verse 21).
Don’t put your trust in your money or wealth. Wealth can be lost. Money can finish. Those who put their trust in money are usually stingy with God and man. They are selfish and not generous toward God. Jesus warned, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 New King James Version).
Jesus also said a similar thing in Luke 12:33-34: “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (New King James Version). Don’t make your money your God; put your trust in God, not in your money. You cannot serve God and money; you must choose to serve God or money (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13).
After telling Timothy to command the rich not to be proud or trust in their money, Paul also told him to tell the rich, “They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed” (1 Timothy 6:18-19 Revised Standard Version)
As the Bible says, money is unreliable. Some people have died prematurely after their whole world came crashing down following the loss of money in business transactions or financial misfortune. Proverbs 23:5 says, “In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle” (New Living Translation). The New King James Version puts it this way: “Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
During the period of the severe famine in Egypt and other lands, food was available in Egypt for sale because of the food storage programme that Joseph recommended and implemented during the seven years of abundance. However, at a point during the famine, the people of Egypt and Canaan had no money left to buy food from Joseph. Genesis 47:15 says, “So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, ‘Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed’” (New King James Version). The phrase “money has failed” means that the people ran out of money. They exhausted their money.
Genesis 47:16-17 says, “‘Then bring your livestock,’ said Joseph. ‘I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.’ So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock” (New International Version).
Don’t put your trust in money. It can be lost or stolen, or it can finish. You may even have plenty of money but it may be unable to solve the problem you’re facing. With money, some things are impossible. But with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; 14:36; Luke 1:37). While it is not a sin to earn money legitimately or be rich, don’t put your trust in money or make it your god. Don’t be like the man in Psalm 52:7 whom the Bible says did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. Trust in God, not in your money. Psalm 62:10b says that if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Don’t trust in chariots or horses; put your trust in God (Psalm 20:7). Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever (Psalm 125:1). Trust in God, not your money.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for giving us all things to richly enjoy. Holy Spirit, deliver me from the temptation to be arrogant because of my money or put my trust in it. My money shall not become my god. I shall serve God and not money. I shall not put my trust in my wealth but in God. In the name of Jesus, I shall use my money to do good and be rich in good deeds. I shall be liberal and generous to God’s causes on earth and to fellow human beings.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
