Money Comes and Money Goes

This week's post comes from Starla at Keepin It Real

My husband and I like to play the lottery.  So far, the most we have won is $9.  The possibility of hitting that jackpot makes it fun and somewhat exhilarating but it's not something that we put our hope in.  Truth be told, we won something far better than the lottery a long time ago when we established our relationship with God.  Christ himself is much more valuable than money.  Money comes and money goes, but money cannot give you peace, bring you happiness, or buy you love. 

 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. Eccliastes 5:19

God reminded me that when it comes to money or anything else it all belongs to Him.  It can be here one day and gone the next but the One who owns everything will always be here.  This I know because he has blessed me time and time again, even though I never deserved it. We know that we need money to live but God is our provider at the end of every single day.  I try not to look too far ahead because when I do that's when I begin to worry about things that I cannot control.  Hmm, I just thought about something.  My current bible study is on the book of Ecclesiastes.  You know, about King Solomon and his pursuit of wealth, status and things.  The futility of labor and wisdom.   When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? Ecclesiastes 5:11  Part of me is like king Solomon in his pursuit vanity of vanities as he calls it.  I think this study will really help me bind my will to God's will concerning money and loose my will for myself concerning money.  Does that make sense?   


I learned a great lesson about value when my Auntie died over 2 years ago.  My uncle (grandma's brother) lost his sweetheart.  They were together for 53 years.  She was our family matriarch for years and years.  Both of them have always been there for everyone in our family throughout the years.  As you know, when someone dies, their material possessions are often divided. Whether it be in a will or not, some family members will always want what they think they deserve.  My Uncle told them that the most valuable thing he ever owned (Auntie) was no longer in that house.  He told them to take it all.  And he meant it.  I'm not sure what, if anything, was taken by whom or if she even had a will.  I never asked because it was none of my business and my only concern was being there for my Uncle.  He knows that he will see her again.  His faith in God is unwavering.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are heirs to the treasures awaiting us in Heaven.  ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite aka peridot, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.  Revelations 21:18-21. I can't imagine a more beautiful place myself.  Our treasures are in heaven but if we have nice lavish things on earth is that good or bad?  I guess it depends on where your heart is, and that's the bottom line.


So why do my husband and I play the lottery?  Are we putting our hope in money?  No, even though it would be nice to win but maybe not. I can come up with all kinds of excuses for wanting to win that kind of money.  But I know that God is good and has always provided our every need and even our desires according to His will. God knows what's best for us and we want His will and grace above all else.  I don't know if it's wrong to pursue money this way.  We are not extreme but the more I read about money in the bible, I realize that there are more warnings and negative things about money than anything else.
  

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:19

When I wake up each day, God is the first thing I think about, not money and may it never be the other way around.  I thank Him for waking me up every day.  Then, I get ready to go to work for...money (release me from this slavery, just kidding).  The reality is we need money and most of us have to work to get it.  That's fine by me because when we work for something we are more careful and appreciate it more.  It is by His grace that I am able to work or that I even have a job.  I give God the glory for blessing me.  We are truly rich with God's grace and mercy, family, health, love and more.   Make sure that your character is 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 is a great reminder for me to be careful what I wish for, including winning the lottery.  I really would rather have Jesus than all the money in the world, and that is the honest truth.