She awoke early to pray and reflect on God's word. He was packing his bag, getting ready to go in to work another call-back for overtime. "You sure have been gone a lot this summer," she initiated with a slight tone of disappointment. "The summer is almost over and the kids are going back to school in two weeks. I was even kind of hoping we could dive into that daily devotional book we received as an anniversary gift. I just don't understand why you have to work so much off duty. Sometimes I wonder why I am still working. We really don't need that much money to live on."It was like a loud wake up call in the middle of a deep sleep. The calendar on the desk held every single day for the month full of appointments, jobs, activities, and maintenance schedules. The checkbook in his backpocket bulged thick with receipts, proof of his increased spending on items he wouldn't have normally purchased. There was good money to make in his side job, but at what cost to his family?Pat Morley challenges that the test of a man's true character is in how he spends his time and money. Those two things describe who we really are and what's important to us. Like a gun, the problem lies not with money itself, but with how we use it. We find that the topic of money is mentioned 2,350 times in the Bible. Jesus knew that it would always be a major issue. In fact, the lure of money brings the strongest temptation mankind will ever face. Why? Our need for money exists to live a basic life, but the call for a better life continually drives us to make more, do more, experience more, etc. " Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." (Ecc. 5: 10) The pleasures accompanying excess money have an intoxicating power, not too unlike the power of an unhealthy addiction. We have the responsibility to be careful with the pursuit of wealth as described in Matthew 13: 22, "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choked it, making it unfruitful."So what is God's desire for us in lieu of this power of money? Matthew 6: 24 says, "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." Money was capitalized to emphasize its godlike power over our minds. The word "serve" translates "to be a slave to", so there is no choice in the matter: we are slaves to only one. He wishes for us to depend on Him, in faith, for His ultimate fulfillment and provisions. "And my God will meet all your needs according to hs glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4: 19)What is God's perspective of money? He wishes for us to be stewards of the things He gives us: money, possessions, talents, etc. He wants us to acknowledge His Lordship over all of creation, owner of every facet of our life. He wants us to learn the steward's attitude of being a faithful caretaker. I Cor. 4: 2 states "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." Morley concludes, "The steward leads a balanced life, enjoying God's abundance while always serving others in love.". To God be the glory.Next week: The Four Pillars of Financial Strength.
