Matthew 6:24-30

Life ultimately comes down to whom we serve. As Jesus states, we cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Are people enslaved to money? Absolutely. Many constantly want more, believing it will give them what they desire—but at what cost?

Consider this: money is a tool, but God is the true treasure.

When money is viewed as a tool, it can be used properly. In the words of Jesus found in Luke 16:9:

“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”

However, when money becomes the goal, we should consider the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:10:

“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!”

And in Proverbs 23:4–5:

“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.”

At the heart of the matter, we often pursue money because we struggle to trust God to take care of us. We doubt His provision and His timing, and we choose instead to rely on ourselves.

God wants us to be about His Kingdom, and we cannot do that effectively if we are consumed with worry about making ends meet. And when is the money we have ever truly enough?

Consider the words of Paul found in 1 Timothy 6:9-10:

“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

Chasing wealth for its own sake leads only to emptiness. When money becomes the focus, it slowly pulls our hearts away from simple, pure devotion to Christ. It distracts us, consumes our thoughts, and reorders our priorities without us even realizing it.

God calls us to seek first His Kingdom. He promises to provide for our needs when we trust Him as our source. Provision was never meant to be our burden to carry alone.

If your pursuit of money is keeping you from the things of God—your church, your time in prayer, your generosity, your peace, your obedience—then it may be time to reconsider your priorities.

Money is a tool, but it was never meant to be your master.