PRAYING FOR THE RIGHT FOCUS ON MONEY

All we have to do is look at our bills when we go to the grocery store or see the price of fuel on the sign at the gas station to know that our money isn’t going as far as it used to.  We hear lots of things on the news about supply chains and work force shortages etc. and who knows what all is involved.  What we know is that the cost of living is going up much quicker than our earnings.

We all need a certain amount of money to buy food and clothes, pay the rent, and get around from one place to the next.  We know we need to save some of what we earn for an emergency and for retirement if we can.  Today’s consideration is based on asking ourselves when God’s Word says it is healthy to consider money in our lives and when does our focus on money become a problem?

Anyone who loves money never has enough.  Anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with what they get.  Ecclesiastes 5:10a,

Money gained in the wrong way disappears.  But money gathered little by little grows. Proverbs 13:11

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10

Money is a problem when we refuse to work to supply our need, thoughtlessly spend more than we earn and run up debts we are unable to pay.  Money is a problem when we are willing to engage in dishonest behaviour in order to get it. Money is a problem when we think money is a solution to all our problems. 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  Matthew 6:33

God, You promise that we will have all we need when we seek You first and live according to Your will.  Help us today to take the opportunity to look at both our practice of using money and our attitude toward it. 

Help us to have a healthy attitude towards money.  Forgive us for the ways we’ve tried to rely on money to solve our problems and only ended up with increased problems.  Help us to live simply and honestly, trusting that as we focus on You, You will provide for all our needs.  Amen