God and Money
God on Monday
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‘No one can serve two masters (…) You cannot serve both God and money’ Luke 16.13 (NIV).
Reflection
Jesus makes some hard sayings. A good deal of them are to do with money and material possessions. This verse is one of the hardest.
Take people in poverty who want to serve God. They may be working long hours just to meet the needs of their family. As they have little time for anything else, how can they find time to serve God?
Or take an entrepreneur who has spent most of her career building an enterprise. She now employs 40 people but is experiencing severe financial challenges due to a market downturn.
Out of concern for her workers, most of whom have been with the company for many years, this business owner does not want to dismiss any of them. She feels she has no choice but to increase her working hours, even though this will mean less time for her church involvements. What time is left for her to serve God?
Without wanting to trivialise such dilemmas, Jesus’ hard saying in the verse above suggests a solution: people who need to earn money also need to make sure they are serving God – and only God – in everything they do.
Their need to earn money is clear. God understands that. But are they – are we – earning money through serving God in every moment of our lives? In God’s economy, there is no area of our lives that cannot be dedicated fully to the service of God.
The question is not the need to earn money. Ever since money was invented, most human beings have needed to earn it. The question is how we make money. Do we do so only in ways that glorify God?
Response
Take time to reassess your priorities and motivations. Are there ways in which you pursue financial gain at the cost of disobeying God? Make positive changes and tell someone you trust that you have made them.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your call to radical discipleship. Thank you that I can serve you in making money, but not by serving money. Help me enjoy material things without them leading me away from you. Keep me trusting in your provision and help me always, in whatever circumstances, to be thankful and generous.
This week’s author
Peter S Heslam, Director of Faith in Business.
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God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the coming Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.
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