WHEN MAN BEGINS TO WORSHIP MONEY

Who needs money? It is a strange question it ask so, if not funny. Who does not need money? Everyone needs money. The Bible speaks extensively about the money and its role in our lives. The LORD Jesus Himself spoke a lot about money. According to various studies, the LORD, out of His 38 parables, 16 were related to money. 
– “Jesus talked much about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.” – Christianity Today Magazine

The LORD Jesus speaking about money made this very critical observation, which we all ought to take seriously and consider its implications with all sincerity and seriousness. Our LORD Jesus said, “You Cannot Serve God and Money”…
– “24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” – Matthew 6:24

We ought to be mindful of what PLACE we give to money in our lives, is what our LORD is speaking about. What PRIORITY we give to money, speaks a lot about the significance we attach to money, in our lives. Whatever opinion one might have about money, one thing is certain – money is a slippery slope, and we ought to be extremely careful. If we are not careful, money will make us slip, and will easily slide us away from God, and from the Narrow Path that we are called to walk upon. The place we give to money reveals clearly about our hearts, its affections, its love, and our worship priorities, more than any other issue in our lives.
– “Money is dangerous. If you have it and depend on it, it will kill you. If you don’t have it and crave it, it will kill you. Money can kill us, because it reveals our hearts.” – John Piper

The Amplified Bible uses the following words to amplify the meaning of “You cannot serve God and mammon” – money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord. The matter at hand, which our LORD is addressing here is about the human heart – whom are we loving more – God or money; and the place we give to money in our lives reveals whom are we actually worshipping – God or money?
– “To worship money means to ascribe to money the same characteristics that we ought to ascribe only to God. It means to give money the same amount of respect that we give God.” – Dr. Robert Jeffress – “Money Mania”

When we look at the world including many of us Christians, we see a world where money has become the driving force. The balance sheet becomes the ultimate indicator of our everything. Sadly, these days even the blessings of God are now being measured by our material possessions. What our LORD Jesus is speaking about is far more serious than what many of us truly gather from His words in Matthew 6:24. When profits drive our businesses, jobs and our lives, and profit margins determine our conduct, and money dictates our morality, then we are no more practicing evil; we are actually worshipping evil; and in fact we have become evil ourselves. This is the reality of the world we live in today.

Our faith in God is seen in our moral life. Our moral life is a reflection of our obedience to God. Sadly, many who call themselves as Christians are running after money with all their heart, would and mind, all the while thinking and believing that, they are pursuing the LORD Jesus Christ, and practicing His kingdom values, ethics and principles. I spoke with a few of the finest Auditors in Indian and abroad, and they say, many Christians are into all kinds of financial gymnastics which is not only illegal, but more seriously is immoral.

When man begins to worship money, then there remains nothing that is sacred in us. Everything is on sale for the right price – it is only a matter of time. This precisely what Jesus said “You Cannot Serve God and Money”…
– ” 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” – Matthew 6:24
– “16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” – Romans 6:16

When we love money…
– We greedily desire all what money gets us.
– We don’t mind crossing the legal boundaries.
– We don’t mind crossing the moral boundaries.
– We don’t mind to commit sin as long as we get money and all what it can buy us.
Let us be careful dear brothers and sisters. Everyone needs money in this life. Money helps us get through in life. However, money is also slippery and seductive. When we begin to appreciate all what money can get, slowly our affection for it can shift from money being a useful means to live our lives, to money becoming an indispensable driver of our life. This is when we begin to worship money, and not the LORD Jesus Christ. 

May we always seek the LORD Jesus earnestly and fervently that He would keep our hearts firmly in awe of Him and Him alone. Let not money disturb us, nor distract us from our wholehearted and undivided worship of the LORD Jesus. Even so the LORD help us.