Money Matters

Why is it I spend so much time thinking about, working on and at times worrying about money matters? Today our board meets and one of the big issues we cover is our budget -- how our income and expenses are lining up. Late in the afternoon Susan and I are meeting with our financial adviser to decide on life insurance -- we're switching over to him for Susan's coverage. This morning Susan and I noticed how our dog is continually scratching herself and has raw places on her tail -- time to take Oreo to the Vet. In the background we can hear our refrigerator squealing, as it has the past three days. We may need to replace the 22 year old unit.

I struggle with the balancing act of trying to put enough away in retirement and pre-pay our mortgage, and yet have enough in the month to help our kids with college and occasionally buy something to fix up the house. We're really striving to avoid debt, build up an emergency account and live within our means. And God has been so faithful to us in how He provides. And yet I still worry and fret and think about money too much.

This morning I began reading Jeremiah. The one line that I underlined and pondered quite a bit is this familiar verse, describing the Israelites who had forsaken the Lord (and at times describes us):

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. -- Jer. 2:13

How had they forsaken their God? Idolatry. Serving the Baals. Worshipping wooden idols rather than the One who had delivered them from slavery. They had continually turned from the living water and tried depending on the brokenness and futility of other gods.

My mind jumped to two passages in the New Testament. First, the words of Jesus, speaking to a man who wanted to make sure he got his share of his father's inheritance:

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." -- Luke 12:15

And then the warning from Colossians 3:5:

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (emphasis mine)

That is my idol, and probably most of ours. We're so tempted to put our trust in money, and want more and more stuff and income. Rather than wanting more of God.

At our meeting today I'm handing out to our board an excellent article from the new Leadership Journal titled, "Dangerous Blessings," by Ed Gungor. This writer describes the bright side and the dark side of money. When we see the Lord provide for His children as we call out to Him for help, money can be seen as another sign of His Fatherly care for us. He loves us and delights in giving good gifts to us.

However, as we all know from the warnings from Scripture and lessons of life, money and the craving for more money can be deadly to our souls. Gungor offers an invaluable insight about riches:

"People serve money the way they serve God. Why? Because money transfers to its owner certain godlike features." God is all powerful. Money makes us seem powerful.

Then he recommends how believers can keep money from becoming an idol in our lives -- by giving it away. He writes, "When you give, you defy the fear that you won't have enough. You insult greed, the impulse to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves. If you really believe God owns it all and that He is your source and provider, giving will be a simple matter. "

I have a friend who doesn't have a lot of money. In spite of his paucity of funds, he always wants to buy me lunch and loves to do things like give a $20 bill to a single mother who works at a convenience store. I want to be like him, as he is like Jesus.

Father, would You please continue delivering us from the broken cisterns of greed. Please confirm this truth deep in our hearts that You will always provide for Your children. Empower us, we pray, to be good stewards of the funds that you have entrusted us while we're on earth -- whether it be a little or an abundance. And turn us into generous givers so we can show those around us what it means to be rich towards God. You are our riches, Jesus. We want Your living water more than anything. In the name of Jesus, our greatest treasure. Amen.