The Money god

Verse of the day: Judges 17:1-2, Now there was a man from the mountains of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you, and on which you put a curse, even saying it in my ears—here is the silver with me; I took it.”

In this chapter we immediately see the level of moral corruption that existed in Israel at this time. In just one household, we see what the love of money can do to the morality of a person. Micah’s love of money and greed brought him to the place where he stole from his own mother. It seems that she was suspicious of her son, as he says that she cursed the money and says it in his ear. We have a great admonition, reminder, and warning in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Micah was driven by greed, which led to theft from his own family. His mother, on the other hand, appears to be a person who was also driven by the love of money. In verse 3 she claims to have saved the silver to dedicate to the Lord, and make an image from it, but in verse 4, after Micah returns the money, she uses only two hundred of it to make the image, and keeps the rest. It is obvious that the apple did not fall far from the tree, and it is likely that Micah learned his love of money from the example she herself set for him. Sadly, this age old form of idolatry is still prevalent today, even within Christianity. Many Christians are driven by the love and gain of money to their own hurt. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that those who love money, who desire to be rich, have strayed from the faith and caused themselves many sorrows. When money is our god, this god will only lead us to greed, thievery, and dishonesty, all for the sake of gaining more. Making money will become a priority over serving and worshipping the Lord. Jesus said this in Matthew 6:24, right before He spoke about not worrying about our provision, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” When money becomes our god, we forsake the God who gave His only begotten Son for us. We stray from Jesus, the One who gives us eternal life, and the One in whom we have treasures and rewards that are far more valuable than anything money can buy. In the earlier verses from 1 Timothy 6, the Apostle Paul reminded us that “godliness with contentment is great gain”. As children of God, our goal should be to gain as much knowledge of God, and intimacy with Him, as we can. We must strive to learn how to be content with all that He provides, and be satisfied and thankful for what He chooses not to give us. A life lived by faith and one lived righteously, for the glory of God, is far more valuable than all the riches this world has to offer. Sadly, we waste far too much time trying to gain and gather that which we cannot take with us and that which perishes. Proverbs 23:4-5 tell us, “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” The more we chase after earthly riches, the harder we will work to gain it, and the further away from the Lord it will take us. The best advice any of us can receive in respect to where our focus should be in respect to earthly gain was given to us by Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).