Someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word making it unfruitful (Matthew 13:22).
In Matthew 13:22, Jesus tells a crowd if we’re distracted by worry and the pursuit of wealth, we’ll find it impossible to see God at work in our lives. That’s because when we’re obsessed with what we have, we’re allowing three lies to choke the life out of us:
1. Rich people are those other people.
In America, it's popular to condemn rich people. However, wealth is subjective. Americans only think we’re poor because we see others who have more. Here’s the truth:
- If you make $40,000 or more, you're in the top 0.5 percent of wage earners in the world.
- If you've ever thrown food away because it spoiled in the refrigerator, you're rich.
- If you've ever paid more than $2 for a coffee, you're rich. Many people around the world live on less than $2 a day.
- If you've ever gotten rid of something not because it was broken but because you wanted an upgrade, you're rich.
We are those rich people, and the Bible specifically instructs those of us who are rich “not to be arrogant nor to put [our] hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put [our] hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
2. It's mine.
The world tells us, if we have ______, we’ll be happy. Think about all the devices or toys you “had to have” five years ago. Where are they now? The reality is this: What we treasure today will be in the trash pile tomorrow.
True contentment comes from knowing God, not acquiring stuff. After all, He gave us the ability to make money in the first place (Deuteronomy 8:18). Your job? From God. Your company’s success? From God. Everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to God (Psalm 24:1).
3. My walk with Jesus and how I handle money have nothing to do with each other.
Every decision we make is a spiritual decision. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Our hearts will follow our money.
Money is the No.1 competitor for our heart. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we make dumb financial decisions. That’s why the Bible warns that we cannot serve both God and money.
Don’t let the deceitfulness of wealth put a chokehold on what God wants to do in your life. Make a budget, meet with a financial coach or start giving today.
Jesus did not die on the cross so we could merely survive in life—He died on the cross and rose again so that we could thrive!
