Choose Between God And Money

Focus: 1 Kings 18:21 - KJV

21. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Matthew 6:24

There is always a contest in the heart of man between submitting to and pursuing the will of God, and yielding to the inordinate pursuit of money or some other vain interest. Many are deceived of the devil to believe they make wealth of their own prowess whereas it is God who teaches us to make wealth. Yet, there are many who deceive themselves to assume they love and submit to God, whereas they cannot yield their resources or so much of it for the purpose of God. They consider it wasteful or misdirected to do so. Their minds are not with God but with mammon or Baal, if you like.

Elijah was confronted with a situation where a nation of God served Baal more than they paid attention to God. Christ spoke of inviting people to work at different hours and paying all the same wage. Rather than be joyful for the one who though started late, still had his earning, they were rather unhappy. That because they loved money more than their neighbor. Jesus further showed that money is the concern of the hearts of many after He asked someone with so much wealth to sell what he had and follow Him; and the same went away sorrowful. Wherewith, Christ said it is easier for the camel to enter the eye of the needle than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. In all of these examples, men preferred mammon to God; yet God is saying if we seek first His kingdom, we need not be subservient to money as it will of itself answer to us.

Our instruction today is to choose life by sticking with the kingdom. We can only be of the kingdom if we will keep our fists open and withhold nothing from God. When we withhold from Him, we forfeit the opportunity to gain some more from Him who teaches us to get whatever wealth we think we are getting. A refusal to honor God with what we have is an indication of our choosing that which we hold on to thereby not preferring God whom we leave without honor. Meanwhile, it is those who honor Him that He honors. For us to be honored of Him, it is important we choose to put Him above all things, particularly, financial considerations. For where one’s treasure is, there will his heart be. Put your treasure in God, that your heart may be with Him, in love.

Please pray:

Thank you, father for making me to know that you are more than gold or silver for they are yours, practically. Give me the heart to always honor you above money or power or any other earthly consideration, in Jesus’ name. Do not let me ever stray in my thought away from you into things that will perish, in Jesus’ name. Give us all the understanding to choose you against all other consideration even as you make silver and gold to serve us from now on and not us serving them, in Jesus’ name.

Please share with others. God bless you.