Wealth
Where do material blessings come from? It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV "But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth."
Can money get in the way of more important things? Wealth can become the center of our life and take God's place. It's in the Bible, Jeremiah 9:23-24, NIV "This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord."
Wealth can give us wrong attitudes about material things. It's in the Bible, Luke 12:15 NIV "Then [Jesus] said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
It is unwise to make financial success a priority. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:24, NIV "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." I Timothy 6:9, NIV "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."
While it is not impossible, it is difficult for the rich to become citizens of God's kingdom. It's in the Bible, Mark 10:23-25, NIV. "Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!' The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'"
The love of money leads to evil. It's in the Bible, I Timothy 6:10, NIV. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Contentment is not related to amount of money or possessions. It's in the Bible, Philippians 4:12-13, TLB. "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power."
Our interest lie where our money is invested. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:21, NIV. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
