DEVOTIONS

Monday, January 24 – “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) One of the struggles that we have when it comes to money, is thinking that we have to constantly maintain a certain amount of reserves for a rainy day.  There is nothing wrong with a rainy-day reserve, unless worshiping and serving that rainy-day reserve prevents you from worshiping and serving the Lord today.  Do you believe today’s verse?  Do your actions and decisions confirm or deny that claim?

Tuesday, January 25 – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) Idolatry is serving and worshiping something else, other than God, in your life.  Money can and will become an idol in your life.  You worship money.  You serve money.  You use your time, talents and treasures in order to get more money.  Today, put that idolatry to death.  Is money important?  Yes.  Is it your God?  No.  Don’t worship and serve money.  Use your money to worship and serve the Lord. 

Wednesday, January 26 – “For the love of money is the 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 isn’t evil.  The love of money is evil.  And only you can tell the difference in your own life. There are many financially sound people who don’t love money.  Just as there are many poor people who worship and serve money.  Your relationship with Treasures has nothing to do with how much or how little money you have.  It has everything to do with your heart, your desires, your lusts and longings.  Do you love money? 

Thursday, January 27 – “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12) Being content in your physical, worldly life is your goal.  If this contentment in life leads you to be rich, poor or in between, doesn’t matter.  For your contentment, your satisfaction, your ease of mind regarding life, isn’t determined by your bank account.  It’s determined by understanding that you can do all things, through the one who gives you strength.   

Friday, January 28 – “There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.  There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’  This too is meaningless – a miserable business!” So, are you enjoying your life?  Are you enjoying all of your stuff?  Are you enjoying where you get to go and what you get to do?  Or is your life an endless pursuit of stuff that you feel that you need to control, preserve and protect?  Is your love of money and stuff depriving you of utter and absolute enjoyment?

Saturday, January 29 – “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10:35) Many of us can honestly confess that we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Many of us can also honestly confess that we believe that we have to take care of our money, all by ourselves.  We are good at giving God part of ourselves, just not all of ourselves.  God can have worship, philanthropy, Christmas, Easter, Sunday mornings or Saturday nights (depending on that week’s schedule) and our political leanings (depending on the specific issues).  We will even give some of our hard-earned money to God to be used to build his church.  God doesn’t want your money.  Jesus died for you, not for your checking account.