Money is a tool. Through this tool, you can give back to God, share with others, purchase basic needs and also satisfy some of your wants and desires. God uses money in your life as a tool as well. Just as a sculptor can take a chisel and a rock and create a beautiful sculpture, God can use money to chisel away the surface to reveal the real you.
Money can be a tool to…
Reveal Dependence on God
In Deuteronomy, God reminded Israel that God was their provider - He was the one who gave them the ability to acquire wealth. Too many times we think we can do everything on our own; however, we must realize that everything we have is His in the first place, and He has simply given us the opportunity to be stewards over things. He has given us our health and the resources to work to earn money. He is our provider in all things.
Build Self-Control
Our materialistic society has lead many people astray, and because of that, many in our nation are living way beyond their means, buried in a load of debt. God uses money as a tool to help us build self-control. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit and is a key factor in successful money management.
Increase Your Prayer Life
As you seek direction in your use of money, or in your livelihood, God gives you an opportunity to increase your prayer life. If you become financial desperate, you may fall on your face before Him and seek guidance. This type of brokenness, though difficult, leads us closer to Him.
Identify Your Priorities
Matthew 6:21 says that "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." God uses money as a tool to identify what we really value. If you took your annual income and look at where it is all going, what does it say about your priorities? A little later in Matthew Chapter 6, verse 33, Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
In all of your money matters, please bear in mind - "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (I Timothy 6:10). Money itself is not evil. It can be used for evil or it can be used for good. Take a moment to do a self-check and see how God may be using money as a tool in your life to teach you something, or to reveal something about the real you. As you seek God to make wise financial choices and as you become a good and faithful steward of what He has given you, you will become a more lovely creation, a continuous work of the Master's Hand.
Denise Craig, Chief Financial Officer
