Money
Is it wrong to have money? Is that why Jesus told the rich man to give
away all his belongings and follow him (Mark 10:17-22)? Money's a big
deal. For many people, accumulating wealth is their reason for living.
We think we can't live without it, but can we live with it?
Jesus
talked more than once about the difficulty of rich people getting into
heaven. Yet the question isn't, "What do you own," but rather,
"What owns you?" God tells us to give some of our money to the
church for his use. But everything we own - houses, cars, coats - should
be for God's use. God asks us to give up anything that we view as more
important than him. And what we do have should be recognized as a gift
from him. We can enjoy those blessings, but be ready to use them for service.
Don't
love money, for you cannot serve God and love money.
Proverbs 28:20
Matthew 6:24
Mark 10:23-25
1 Timothy 3:1-3
Hebrews 13:5
1 Peter 5:2
A Christian is to give a portion of his or her earnings to the
church. We are also asked to set aside money to give to missions.
Leviticus 27:30-32
Numbers 18:26
1 Corinthians 16:2
Earn money honestly.
Proverbs 13:11
Ecclesiastes 5:10
The greedy people who are making money from worshipers at the
temple infuriate Jesus.
Matthew 21:12
Mark 11:15-17
John 2:14-15
You can be physically poor yet spiritually rich.
1 Corinthians 1:5
Ephesians 1:7, 18; 2:7
Revelation 2:9
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