“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
Money is connected to everything. Without money we cannot live! The basics of survival are water, food and shelter. And money is necessary for those things. Money is necessary in our world.
Money doesn’t make character it just reveals it. Those who suddenly inherit wealth or win the Lottery, usually don’t do very well with the money. But the money didn’t corrupt them, it was already there. It just reveals it! Money is not evil, it is the love for it that corrupts and becomes evil (1 Timothy 6:10).
Money doesn’t make souls, but it buys and sells them (Revelation 18:11-13). It is money that fuels sex trafficking and prostitution. It’s money that bribes judges and people in authority. No wonder money is such a vital thing for the follower of Christ to surrender to God. No wonder we are commanded to give, even be generous beyond our ability. God wants us to trust Him and not money or as the Bible calls it mammon. But money itself isn’t evil, it is the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) and its control in our lives that is wicked! Just as poor people are not necessarily righteous because of their poverty, wealthy people are not necessarily evil, but if money is controlling them, it definitely allows them to do great wickedness.
But Jesus promised that as we give it will be given back, even more so (Luke 6:38). We’re told that if we put God above our money by tithing, He will release heaven’s bounty upon us, so much that we can’t even contain it. We’re even promised He will rebuke the devourer who comes to kill, steal and destroy in our lives (Malachi 4:8-12, John 10:10), if we tithe! Sadly, something like only 5% of the church actually tithes!!! What does that reveal?
Peter told us that the devil is “like” a lion who roars, seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is not a lion, just like one. He wants to be Jesus’ equal. He pretends to be a lion. Remember, he is a liar and deceiver, and he wants us to believe that he is actually real competition to Jesus. He is NOT even in the same category, by an infinite degree. Nevertheless, when we allow money to control us, we actually open a door for this deceiving devourer to “kill, steal and destroy.” But when we tithe, God literally rebukes this devourer!
Thank the Lord for His promise of rebuking the evil devourer in your life. If you are not yet tithing, please commit it the Lord and begin doing so immediately!!! Commit your money, all of it to the Lord, and He will bless you. Then follow His lead as He prompts you to give and to give generously. Thank Him for the promises He will release in your life as you give sacrificially, abundantly, above and beyond the tithe. Ask Him to break off the church in our city every place where money has control over them.
“Thank You Father, for watching over Your Word, Your promises, to fulfill them (Jeremiah 1:12). Now rebuke the devourer and every place he is trying to kill. Steal and or destroy in the lives of Your beloved in this city!”
