WHY IT MATTERS//
Money is something mentioned many times throughout the Old and New Testament. It’s also something that is very much a part of our daily lives. What we think about money and how we use it says a lot about us. Having an eternal and biblical perspective regarding true and counterfeit wealth is very important.
WHAT IT’S TALKING ABOUT//
This passage in Matthew is taken from the Sermon on the Mount. Interesting that Jesus brings this topic up right in between giving to the needy and not worrying about tomorrow. In the world’s eyes, money is associated with status, security, and power whereas in God’s eyes its associated with faithfulness, generosity, and stewardship. In Luke, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and uses a parable of a man’s shrewdness with worldly wealth to highlight how they are to conduct themselves.
Luke 16:10-15 NLT
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him.
15 Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
Matthew 6:19-24 NLT
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.
23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.