THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, August 4, 2023

Lord, you are pleased to bless your people. But how do people get so off-track? How do the Scriptures get so twisted that their meaning becomes carnal? How disgusting that those with the it’s-“all-about-me” complex consider you just a genie in a bottle.

Yes, Lord, those who place their trust in you find hope in your promise to bless and prosper them (Jeremiah 29:11). But your promise doesn’t mean you will give believers wealth beyond imagination, or give us the lifestyles of the rich and famous … or government bureaucrats. You know, Lord, how people tend to trust their wealth. They may give you token acknowledgement every now and then but mostly leave you on the back burner of their life.

Sadly, we’re wired by our human nature to turn wealth into an idol. This displeases you. Some go too the extreme in the opposite direction and piously claim vows of poverty. This also displeases you. Who in their right mind would follow you if your required your followers to live in poverty or do without?

There is nothing wrong having wealth, or just being “well off.” This is a reward for hard work and trusting in you. But there is great spiritual danger when worshiping “mammon” replaces worshiping you. We lose affection for all you have done for us.

”No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Matthew 6:24 NLT

You promised Christ followers peace and contentment. You promised you’d supply our needs, not our selfish desires. We have what wealth cannot buy. Without doubt, you want us to take care of our family and prepare for our later years. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak volumes of the wisdom of having financial security. But we must never forget who supplies our blessings.

Amen, Jesus.