We need money for food, water, electricity, transportation, clothing, shelter, etc. The list goes on and on.
We don't need money, though, in order to make it to Heaven. In fact, all of the money, cars, clothes, homes, possessions, and prizes that we gain on this earth will not come with us to Heaven... or Hell.
1 Tim. 6:[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Many times people take the scripture above and say that MONEY=EVIL. That isn't what Paul was trying to teach Timothy. He was saying that the LOVE of money= EVIL. We cannot allow ourselves to go along with what the world thinks and make money more important than our walk with God. Our jobs, our education, and our careers are important and we should strive to do our best, but they are not as important as God. Yes, we are told in the Bible to work and to take care of our families, but we can't let that consume our lives and shut God out.
Col. 3:[2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
We must remember that "providing for our family" doesn't only include material things. It also involves being spiritually fed, sheltered, watered, and guided. Our treasures should be those of God's glory- not of this world.
Matt. 6:[19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Do the best you can to provide for your family. Being rich is not a sin. Loving riches over God, though, is a sin. Be careful to see where you treasure is. Is it in Heaven or is it in this present earth?
I love this. I have thought so much about this lately. Considering I manage a bank, obviously money is something that is on my mind a lot, lol. However, on a daily basis I encounter people in crisis over their accounts that have spent everything they have and more at a casino trying to dig themselves out of a hole that they got themselves into at the very same place. Their accounts are hundreds of dollars in the negative due to charges at a casino. And when their paychecks come in, it barely covers the negative balance and the only thing they know to do is withdraw back into their overdraft to go back to the casino to try to win it all back. And when they get to the end of their rope, the come pleading in desperation for fee refunds, loans, or any break they can get to keep their utilities on, their vehicles from being repossessed, their mortgages from being foreclosed on, or most importantly, their kids fed. So they get pay day loans which only makes it worse. This is a vicious cycle that a person can never escape and when you see someone crying in your office out of sheer desperation, you understand what that scripture means. Their desire to "win big" often causes them to lose all. It is very disheartening to watch and I pray for these daily. Thanks for the devotions. I enjoy them so much!
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