WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 19, 2022
TOPIC: LOVE GOD, NOT MONEY
BY T. O. BANSO
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24 New King James Version).
The story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-30 underscores the truth that you can’t have eternal life when you love money more than God This man approached Jesus to find out what good deed he must do to have eternal life. There is no good deed anyone can do to have eternal life. All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5 New King James Version). However, Jesus didn’t condemn him for asking such a question.
After he prided himself in obeying all the commandments that Jesus had told him to obey, he could not do what Jesus told him to do to have eternal life. Jesus had told him that if he wanted to be perfect, he should sell his possessions and give to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven. Then he should come, and follow Him (Matthew 19:21).
However, the Bible says that the man went away very sad, rejecting the terms to have eternal life, which he had asked for, because he had great possessions. He loved money, not God. He loved his great possessions and not the eternal life he had wanted to have.
Although this man had great possessions, he was possessed by his possessions. He was a slave of his possessions because he couldn’t give them away. You’re possessed by whatever you own but can’t give away. You must free your heart from your treasures on this earth. Whoever is entangled in the things of this earth, can’t make heaven. Do you love God, not money?
Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (New King James Version).
The word “mammon” refers to money. Some Bible translations use “money” instead of “mammon”. The New International Version puts Matthew 6:24 this way: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Take note that this scripture does not say not to serve God and money. Rather, it says, “You cannot serve both God and Money.” In other words, it is impossible to serve both. You cannot love God and love money at the same time. You either love God or love money. This is one of the reasons you shouldn’t love money.
Luke 16:14 describes the Pharisees as “lovers of money.” Also, 2 Timothy 3:2 says that in the last days, men will be, among other things, “lovers of money.” In verse 4, the Bible also says that men will be, among other things, “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Please take note of the two phrases “lovers of money” and “lovers of God.”
We are already in the last days; perilous times have come. Are you a lover of God or a lover of money? Loving money is part of loving the world. And 1 John 2:15 says not to love the world or the things in the world; if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Verses 16-17 go further to tell us why we shouldn’t love the world: “For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (New King James Version). This is another reason not to love money. It will pass away with the world. Don’t love money; love God.
1 Timothy 6:10 says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Beware of the love of money. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (New International Version). Again, this is another reason not to love money but God. If you love money or wealth, you will never be satisfied with what you have.
To love God and not money, you must seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Next, be heavenly-minded. Colossians 3:2 says you should set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Let your heart long for eternal life. If you’re heavenly-minded, you’ll know that you’ll not be on this earth, as it is, forever.
Another thing you should do is to feed daily on the Word of God and obey it. Psalm 119:36 says, “Help me to prefer obedience to making money!” (The Living Bible). In addition, avoid greed. “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15 New Living Translation). Furthermore, use your money to advance the Kingdom of God and for the benefit of humanity. Be a giver. Don’t keep storing your riches on earth as if you won’t die. Store your treasures in heaven. If you put your money where your heart is, your heart will always be where your money is (Matthew 6:19-21).
Loving God does not mean that you won’t work or you must always sleep in the house of God! It doesn’t mean that you won’t work. But you will make God number one in your life and obey His Word. Also, you won’t pursue money the way non-believers do, knowing that only the blessing of the Lord makes one rich and adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22).
As Jesus said, love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment (Mark 12:30). Also, Luke 10:27 says to love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. You cannot love God and money at the same time. Love God.
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, deliver me from the love of money. Holy Spirit, help me to love God, not money. Help me to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I shall not be a lover of money but a lover of God in Jesus’ name. I pray that those who are serving money, not God, will repent; they will seek first the Kingdom of God and not money. They will be lovers of God, not lovers of money in Jesus’ name.
(For over 800 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
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Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
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