money.

i loathe the stuff. it never feels like you have enough, and for the people who seem to have more than they need, they seem to feel the same way the rest of us do…it’s a pain in the rump. i’ve thought and commented to people many times that a simple barter system would be so much better, and everyone could participate equally. (those who couldn’t become the concern of the family/group they live with and/or the church) i’m sure that even if we did switch to a barter system, people would still have issues with idolizing whatever the perception of wealth would be in that scenario. it’s not a catch all, but that grass seems greener from where i’m standing.

for as long as there has been money, people have wanted more, supposing that it will solve their problems. but it never does…it just does a really good job of looking like it would. but the more we have, or the more we want it, the less we trust in God to provide for us. money becomes our salvation (in our minds only) and we do not trust Him to do what He says He will do.

it is no surprise, then, in mark 10 when Jesus talks about money as being a hindrance to getting into heaven.

the man who trusts in wealth cannot earn his way into heaven. he cannot purchase a ticket through the pearly gates, or do anything at all toward the salvation of his eternal soul. money is a tool, and only a tool. it would be like approaching God with a bag of hammers and asking if it would help us along in our salvation. it doesn’t make any sense to try that does it? but that’s what we do with money.

i had to shell out for a lot of car repair stuff in the last few weeks, and so i’m trying really hard right now to hand everything over to God and continue to trust in Him to meet our needs just like He was doing before hand. we don’t have extra at all right now, but we have enough. and enough should be all we ever need.

i’m not looking to get rich in life. i’m never expecting to have a big, fat retirement account (or retiring at all for that matter) money isn’t the answer, it’s just a means, and that’s where it needs to stay. other wise we wind up trying to shove that proverbial camel through the needle’s eye, and exercises in futility aren’t high on my priority list.

trust God, and keep Him first no matter what. it’s not always going to be easy, but it’s always going to be worth it!