In Luke 16:13 it says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (NIV)
If God told you to give something away and you said, “God, I could give anything else away, but not that,” then you don’t own that thing—it owns you.
Luke 16:13 says, ““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”” (NIV).
We’ve got to decide whom or what we are going to serve—and our giving will reflect our decision. If God is Lord of your life, then he should be Lord of our wallets too.
There once was a wealthy man who gave to Christian causes far above his tithe. But it hadn’t always been that way for him. Years ago, he had met with a financial planner. After they had talked for a while, the financial planner took a sheet of paper and drew a box. Outside of the box, he drew two things: a dollar sign representing money and a cross representing Christ.
He said, “I hear two things vying for your attention. I can’t help you plan your life until you tell me which of these things you want in the center of that box, which represents your life.”
The wealthy man thought about it for a moment and then said, “I want Christ at the center of my life.” That was a turning point—that was when he started investing in eternity.
If someone drew a box representing your life and asked what was in the center of it, what would you say? Would you place a cross or a dollar sign inside the box? Would your bank statement support your answer? You can say that something holds first place in your life, but the way you spend your time and money reveals the truth.
When it comes to your finances, you have to make two key decisions: First, who will be your master? Second, where will you put your money—in eternity or in the here and now?
Jesus said, “Store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are” (Matthew 6:20-21 GNT).
God doesn’t need our money. He wants what it represents: our hearts. We can show God that he has our whole hearts by surrendering control of our money to him. Commit today to giving what he tells you to give in service to him and others.
Money or possessions can easily take God's place and become my master. Money is a hard and deceptive master. Wealth promises power and control, but often it cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made and lost overnight. No amount of money can provide health, happiness, or eternal life. It is much better to let God be our master. As his servants we can have peace of mind and security, now and forever.
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