Be careful what you wish for…Money – 15 October 2007

Getting what we want is sometimes the worst thing that can happen to us – very often what we want and what we need are completely different issues. This week we are going to look at some of the things the world wishes for, starting today with money.

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” Luke 15:13-16 [NIV]

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of mis-spent youth. Great wealth at a young age is very enticing: life can be one long party – but what happens when the money runs out?

Are lottery winners the happiest people on earth? I don’t think so. The more we have, the more we have to worry about.

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. Matthew 6:24 [NIV]

"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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."
Matthew 19:23-24 [NIV]

Do you feel that everything would be better if you just had more money? Could you live without all the stuff in your life? Perhaps you may find that giving away some of what you have can bring more happiness than another dose of “retail therapy”.

Lord, help us to pray for the things you most want to give us – let no worldly goods come between us and you. Amen.