Years ago, I watched the movie, “The Money Pit”. The main characters made a foolish purchase of a house that fell apart, piece-by-piece. Soon their relationship started crumbling too.
Sometime after that, my pastor shared Paul’s caution to church leaders in 1 Timothy 3:3. Paul urged them to be “free from the love of money.” I thought, “That’s wise counsel for all Christ-followers.”
To develop a healthy, biblical relationship with money, we must build on this truth: God owns us and everything we have, and it is only as we wisely steward His resources we discover not only a thriving relationship with Him, but with money and possessions as well.
The love of money is a heart problem. It is a choice to pursue wealth for sheer luxury or selfish consumption instead of looking at life from a biblical, eternal perspective and accumulating money and resources as a powerful tool to bring glory to the Lord.
There’s a fine line of difference sometimes, but here are 10 signs you might love money.
The concern here is not wealth itself; it is only the love of money that is evil. It is the compulsive and sometimes unethical pursuit of wealth that leads to ruin.
People with this heart attitude set themselves up for temptations and snares —
This is a huge issue in a culture of abundance. Examine your checkbook, bank account, and credit card statements, and you’ll soon discover if this issue of greed is your heart problem.
Who is ruling us when we over-spend, or when we build up credit card debt and accumulate “beyond our means” to quickly repay? Proverbs 22:7 says “the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
It’s not a matter of “keeping up with the Joneses” now, but also the fashion trends of the Kardashians and the Hollywood crowd, and every enticement from Apple and the Shopping Channel and… it never ends!
The Bible says our unhealthy desires of the flesh, our constant cravings for things we see, and our pride in possessions are “not from the Father” (1 John 2:16).
But we love to flaunt our new purchases, don’t we? God gives us many things to enjoy, but we’re not to become “haughty” or proud, setting our hopes on “the uncertainty of riches” (1 Timothy 6:17).
Consider where and how you seek acceptance. Listen to your conversations. Check out what you post on Facebook. Are they are reflection of your thoughts and beliefs about money? Are you praising God for His good gifts, or bragging?
We love money when our hope and security are misplaced, rooted in our financial accounts rather than the Lord. Those who find their security in their possessions may come emotionally unglued when their valuables fall apart or “thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).
Sometimes money draws us away from trusting God in subtle ways. If you’re not sure you’re wandering, ask, “Does money bring me more joy and satisfaction than loving, obeying and serving the Lord?”
Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”
You’re Tempted to Sin
The love of money can lead us to many choices for sinful gain: cheating, etc.
Love of money clouds good judgment. Blinded by greed and lusts, you may get caught in “a snare” (1 Timothy 6:9).
Guard your heart, and if you find yourself tempted to make sinful financial choices, repent of losing your “first love” and return to the Lord!
[written by Dawn Wilson]
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