WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 30, 2022
TOPIC: MONEY DOES NOT ANSWER ALL THINGS!
 BY T. O. BANSO
âA feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry, but money answers everythingâ (Ecclesiastes 10:19 New King James Version).
Riches delude the owners that, with money, they can get anything. Rich people are deceived to think that with their wealth they can achieve anything they desire. They think they can buy their way through. They believe that they can buy over anybody because they believe that everyone has a price.
To them, just as Solomon, an extremely wealthy king said, âA feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everythingâ (Ecclesiastes 10:19 New King James Version). The World English Bible says, âA feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.â
Money answers all things! That statement is relative. Money may answer everything needed to organize a lavish party with so much to eat and drink, but money does not answer everything in life. It is not the answer for all things.
Here is one limitation of money or riches the Bible points out: âThose who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches–None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruptionâ (Psalm 49:7-9 World English Bible).
There were rich people who would have agreed to pay anything just to avoid death, but when death came, it didnât go into any deal with them! It didnât demand money in any currency! Death is no respecter of persons – it comes for the rich and the poor. The New Living Translation renders Ecclesiastes 10:19b as âmoney gives everything!â Money may be able to help someone to live a healthy life, but it can never give him immortality!
Of a truth, many things are, but not everything is, about money! Money can give laughter, but it canât give enduring joy or peace of mind! It is true many people can be compromised with money, but some people have integrity and their consciences are not for sale.
The children of God, living a holy life, are conscious that God has already bought them at a high price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). The precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter1:18-19). Therefore, they’re not available for a buyer. How much can compromise your integrity? If you name your price, there’s someone ready to pay you off.
Money doesnât answer all things, because not everything is for sale. That was what Naboth the Jezereelite, by his principled position, told King Ahab who wanted him to give him his vineyard near his place in exchange for a better vineyard or sell it to him. Ahab wanted to have Nabothâs vineyard for a vegetable garden. âBut Naboth said to Ahab, âThe LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!ââ (1 Kings 21:3 New King James Version).
Naboth refused to sell his family inheritance in line with the Word of God to the Israelites. Unless in an exceptional case of poverty, the land was not to be sold; and even in that situation, the seller could buy it back. A near relation also had the right to buy it back to avoid a family permanently losing possession of the land. In addition, at the Year of the Jubilee (every 50th year) the land must be returned to the original family that owned the land (Leviticus 25:23-28).
Ahab could not buy Naboth with money, but Ahabâs wife eventually got him killed for her husband to possess the vineyard. But Ahab’s house, including Jezebel, did not escape the judgment of God because of this sin. Money does not answer everything and not everybody answers to money.
Simon the sorcerer couldnât buy the anointing of God on Peter. Neither the anointing nor Peter was for sale! In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer offered money to Peter to receive the power that anyone he laid hands on would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Peter replied, âMay your money be destroyed with you for thinking Godâs gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sinâ (Acts 8:20- 23). Evidently, Simon didn’t expect that his offer would be rejected.
The Contemporary English Version says, âEating and drinking make you feel happy, and bribes can buy everything you needâ (Ecclesiastes 10:19b). But there are still men and women with honour who will not worship mammon. Such people donât collect bribes. Are you one of them? âTake no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truthâ (Exodus 23:8 New Living Translation).
Deuteronomy 16:19 says, âYou must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godlyâ (New Living Translation). The Bible says anyone who hates bribes will live (Proverbs 15:27b). âExtortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heartâ (Ecclesiastes 7:7 New Living Translation). The Bible condemns bribery repeatedly. Avoid it.
Money is important to man, but donât let it replace God in your life. Money has limitations; God has no limitations. Money can fail; God does not and can never fail. With God all things are possible; with money some things are impossible. Money is not the answer to everything. Money cannot buy the gifts of God, the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit. These are not for sale.
Put your faith in God, not in your bank accounts. Money can finish; God is inexhaustible â unlimited! Donât worship money; worship God. You should serve God with your money, but don’t try to serve God and money! You can’t serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Avoid the love of money (1 Timothy 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:5a). Let money be your servant, not your master.
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 â 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 POINT: Father, I shall put my faith in you, not in my bank accounts. I shall not worship money, but You. Money shall be my servant, not my master in Jesus’ name. I shall be incorruptible and I shall not corrupt anyone in Jesus’ name. I pray that all those who are worshipping money and not You will repent and worship You. All corrupt leaders will repent and give their lives to Jesus.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
  
  
  
  
