Saturday, December 7, 2013

Whom Do You Serve?

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:24

Are you devoted to God or to your money? Not everyone can give up their job and just serve Jesus…some of those people are called missionaries and pastors—but even they need money to exist. In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus goes on to teach that we shouldn’t worry…For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25. So don’t worry…be happy…be content with what you have and be devoted to God. Simple thought by which to live. Can you give up desire for wealth and all it can provide for you?

Training Tip – I recently heard a story of a mother talking to her child in the toy section of a store. The child asked for a particular toy…and the mother said that the child needed to check and see if he had saved enough money at home for that toy…and then wait a week. If he still wanted it and had the money saved, she would bring him back to buy it. The child understood the principal and didn’t throw a fit or demand to have the toy NOW! That is a great goal to work on with your children. Tell them about that principal and have them agree to that plan. Save, and then wait a week to see if they still had the desire to have that particular toy…book or thing. Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:11… Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Be content—that gives us a picture of not desiring that which we don’t have or don’t need. Can you picture yourself being content…and not desiring a new toy, game or some more stuff!

Lord Jesus, help me, my children and grandchildren to be content with what we have, especially at this time of the year when we are bombarded with temptations to want more “stuff”. We want to serve and honor God, not money or wealth.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.
© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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