1 TIMOTHY 6:6-10 THE KINGDOM FINANCIAL PLAN

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

The lure of wealth is strong because money appears to be the remedy for all our needs and desires. We think money brings power, status and fulfillment. However, when money becomes an end in itself it brings only the appearance of those things and the ever increasing desire for more. Men and women have been driven to despicable levels by the love of money. Throughout history and at every strata of society, people have betrayed and financially ruined family members and friends in order to pursue their god. Others have even sold out their God at the altar of money.

In contrast, when our love of money is kept in godly perspective we are truly blessed. As a tool for furthering the kingdom and honoring God, money is a true gift. But the power of the gift is in its use and not its possession. At the College of William and Mary there was a chairman of the theater department, Dr. Howard Scammon, who would make an announcement at the intermission of their summer performances in which he would solicited donations. He would say that money is like manure in that it is only any good when it is spread around liberally.

Our contentment can only be found in God through our obedience to his perfect will. Like St. Peter walking on the Sea of Galilee, when we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on anything else (usually money) we begin to sink into the chaos of greed and self-centeredness. It may be as obvious as Rooster, Lily and Miss Hannigan attempting to extort money form an orphan’s benefactor in the musical “Annie,” or as subtle as compromising your conscience and faith in order to gain a questionable tax advantage, but the misbehavior has the same root; the love of money.

Jesus, my Lord, I am ever in your debt for everything that I have and everything that I am. Help me Lord to express my gratitude by investing my life and my gifts on the things of the kingdom through being obedient to your will. Save me from the love of money and inspire me to love to use my money for your sake. Amen.