Money Worry
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
Do you ever worry about money?
Like me, do you justify it as not worrying, but planning? I have to think about it in order to be prepared for what may come, right?
Recently, it seems like every time I turn around there is a bill I wasn’t planning on. All necessary things for our healthcare, hospitality, or ministry in general. Then there are the more physical (the sidewalk falling apart, the door that lost a couple panes of glass in the last storm, etc.)
There seem to be two courses we can take. We can be thankful for the resources we have available (both having access to them and being able to pay for them) or we can be worried about where the money will come from to continue availing ourselves of what we need and to save for the future.
Admittedly, not every one of these expenses is a ‘need.”
As we get older, it is a temptation to become stingier. What if we don’t have enough money for retirement? What if our health fails and we need more than we saved?
This may be “being anxious” which we are clearly advised not to do (Philippians 4:6).
Can financially planning for the future and living by faith both be done today? Will the Lord truly provide what we need?
He says He will. Hebrews 13:5, says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
In Luke 12 He tells us not to be worried about what we will eat or drink. He reminds us that God has clothed the lilies and He cares much more for us (Luke 12: 27-29).
Man has a responsibility, too. We are to work, earn a living, take care of our family, and, if we are stealing, we are to ”stop that.” Ephesians 4:28 says we are to labor with our own hands, doing honest work so that we may be able to share with anyone in need.
As our Pastor has been preaching through Revelation he has been pointing out that the book is encouraging people who are about to go through a very difficult time to be faithful to God. If we are faithful to Him, He will bless us. Deuteronomy 7:9 says that He “keeps covenant and steadfast love to those who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.”
The conclusion is that if we see that we are being anxious about money, we need to check our level of obedience to God’s Word. He will keep His covenant (His promises) to those who faithfully love and obey Him.
When we focus too much time and energy thinking about money, we miss the mark. When we focus our time and energy on the Kingdom of God, He will add all that we need (maybe not what we want, but certainly what we need!).
We can plan but worrying is faithless.