Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” – Hebrews 13:5

Notes:

In the above scripture, the Lord instructs His redeemed to hold fast and guard our hearts against the love of money.  The love of money can be expressed in terms of loving ourselves more than loving God and one another.  In addition, Jesus made it clear that out of the heart comes greed, lust, murder, adultery, etc.  Therefore, for every outward act of unrighteousness, there remains at the core an inward reality of an active sin.  Let’s take a few common sins that occur in this same manner.  Murder, an external act, begins with anger, an internal sin.  Adultery, an external act, begins with lust, an internal sin.  The storing up of treasures upon the earth, an external act, begins with the love of money (greed), an internal sin.  A fruit tree first appears in the form of a small seed in the earth where it is unseen, and as roots are created and it grows, it breaks the surface and becomes seen, as it will produce the fruit of its kind.  Every tree in the world first had its beginnings in a place that was unseen.  The love of money is therefore the root that produces the fruit of storing up treasures:

For  the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:10

The Word says that by having this root in our planted in our hearts, we can be steered away from the faith, and incur upon ourselves great pain and sorrow.  The person who says that “I can possess wealth and riches, as long as they don’t possess me”, is like the person who says it’s ok if I commit adultery, as long as I do not lust.   

Willing to Take the Challenge?

The greatest way for us to guard our hearts against the love of money is to develop a heart of giving and generosity:

 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.- 1 Timothy 6:17-18.

Although God’s will is not that we store up treasures upon the earth, it is His will that we prosper:

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers – 3 John 1:2.

God’s primary will for our prosperity is so we can have the means to give to those in need, and be able to sow into ministries that are focused on advancing the Lord’s Kingdom and His covenant through Christ:

“But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day”. –Deuteronomy 8:18

For our Lord has also said, “it is better to give, than to receive”.   Let us press on unto maturity, not being deceived by teachers of sordid gain, but through developing the heart of the Father, be faithful stewards and servants over that which He entrusts to us.