MONEY MATTERS

 It is not very difficult in our materialistic culture to defend how we spend our money. As Christians we seldom directly connect our spending to the state of our hearts and are often oblivious to how our heart should effect our spending. Should we allow spending and the state of our hearts to harmonize we would be surprised on both fronts. We would find our spending to be more in line with the world's values than God's values, and we would sadly discover that our hearts harbor more of the love of this world than we imagined or would like to admit. Jesus said that we cannot, try as we will, serve God and money. But we still try to serve both God and money, and think we are accomplishing the impossible. To the Pharisees who served money while claiming to serve God, Jesus said "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." Luke 16.15 esv

How to use "unrighteous wealth" (v9,10) in the service of God is not easy and straight forward. We do not have a legal list of buys and don't buys, of amounts and percentages, of ethics to guide our spending, but we do have a few guidelines given to us.
1) Acknowledge that all you have comes from God and give yourself with a grateful attitude to God. "For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us." (2 Corinthians 2.3-5)

2) Give to God  the first portion. "Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." (1 Corinthians 16.1-2) "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.^" (2 Corinthians 9.6-8)

3) Strive to be content with what God has given you and be grateful for it. We don't need all that the world says we need. "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." (Philippians 4.11) "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (1 Timothy 6.8) "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5)
4) Seek to fulfill God's purpose for you as you walk filled with hope for the present and God's promised future. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6.33 [Read 26-34, a wonderful passage]). "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2.10).

Have a Merry Christmas and may God help us to increase in the understanding of our spiritual richness in Christ. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8.9)