Love Money Or Love Jesus? Invest In The Lord For The Best Returns

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.’ (Psalm 73:28)

A dream we’ve all likely had is what it would be like had Publishers Clearing House knocked on our door, and the C-listed celebrity spokesman told us we won the big prize that would have set up a life without financial worry. Sitting poolside while a butler poured another glass of iced tea… Unfortunately, that dream never came true for any of us, except for a handful of people in faraway places. As I understand, Publishers Clearing House is no more as it recently went bankrupt, so it is a dream that will now go unrealized. (Sigh.)

Though the benefit is the string of letters stating ‘you could be the next big winner’ will no longer clutter your mailbox, it is of course a pleasant thought of being rich and without the worry of not having enough. However, is that really true? We think that ‘money can buy happiness’, and while there is truth that it may ‘rent’ a lot of happiness, many who are indeed rich aren’t happy.

We see many wealthy individuals who are miserable, and unfortunately some turn to drugs or other addictions in an attempt to find happiness. A few may even commit suicide, though to many of us living normal, everyday lives it seems unfathomable these wealthy people would be so unhappy.

But wealth does not ‘buy’ happiness, especially over the long-term. If anything, it opens up more problems. It is likely they are bombarded constantly by others wanting charity, or demands they use their money for this cause or that cause. They may find that their relationships are shallow, that ‘friends’ aren’t friends at all. The need to guard their wealth becomes a burden. Their choice of loving money over loving the Lord provides the self-made prison they find themselves in.

The last verse of Psalm 73 talks about the man who thought of chasing riches but instead stuck with the Lord and His ways.  Early in the Psalm, the man (Asaph) sees the wealthy and becomes a little envious. The perception is the wealthy have no problems and no worries. But then, in a deeper dive, he sees the wealthy as one who have their money as their ‘god’, or they set themselves up as their own ‘gods’ to themselves.

Their ‘love of money’ becomes the root of evil in their lives, as stated in 1 Timothy 6:10 and warned against in Hebrews 13:5. The Psalmist concludes that money is not the answer to contentment, only God Himself can provide it. No amount of money can buy the Joy and Peace that Jesus can provide, if only we would invest ourselves in Him.

Money, in and of itself, is neither good or evil but a necessity, especially in our modern times. It is also not just the cash we have on hand, or the number in our checking or savings account or 401K. In the Old Testament, livestock given in trade was a form of ‘money’. It could be the skills we have that we use to earn our pay; we trade our skills in exchange for cash.

Regardless, we do need money to pay our bills, to keep the electricity on or gas in our cars. It is good, and prudent, to save money for contingencies and for eventual retirement, to allow for a life when we can no longer perform our jobs like we should. But even money is something we should not depend on. The only thing we can depend upon is the Lord.

Obviously, most of work (or have worked) not to get rich but to make ends meet, hopefully to have a little bit more money than month as it goes.  What if the work goes away, or what happens when it becomes time to take down your shingle and ‘gone fishing’ is now your full-time endeavor?  (There’s someone I know who comes to mind with regards to fishing.)  As many of you who are retired have found, the Lord will provide. 

When the time comes to retire, know that the Lord does not intend to go into retirement with you, but continues to work in you, for you, and with you.  The Lord will continue to provide for you – perhaps not in the way you may think, but He will provide. 

When you retire from work, likewise you do not retire from what the Lord wants you to do.  Several of our ‘retired’ folks work hard in providing the Gospel through their Faithful serving in volunteerism.  Elders, ushers, and greeters, and several MBC staff members are in this category.  Others serve as chaplains in local hospitals, visiting the patients and providing Spiritual comfort. Retiring from secular employment should never be considered retiring from everything else, especially for our work in the cause of Jesus and His Gospel. 

As the Psalmist says, ‘I will tell of all Your deeds’; no matter the circumstance, whether he works another 25 years or is out on the street, the Psalmist knows who he really serves and knows where to go if or when things go astray – he doesn’t reach for his wallet, instead he goes to the Lord.