Wealth and Debt

Scripture Verse: Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Observation: Wealth is not meant to be served or, if it is served, God cannot be served.

Application: I’ve been reading some things over the last year by a really smart person who is very wealthy and keeps working at being wealthy. But interestingly enough, he is quick to admit that making money (at least for him!) is relatively easy but is not the be-all/end-all of life. He points out the importance of having loftier goals than accumulating wealth, even though much of his life has revolved around making money. He strives to make money in a way that leverages his personal gifts for the benefit of others.

Thinking of him and reading the passages for today got me to thinking—we may not be able to serve God and wealth, but wealth can serve us as we serve God. In other words, if we were somehow to accumulate some form of financial fortune, its only real purpose would be to assist us in serving God and, of course, neighbor.

And here’s the flip-side—debt sometimes keeps us from serving God and neighbor. It could possibly be said, “you cannot serve God and debt.” This message, of course, strikes more of us closer to home. When we allow ourselves to get to the point where our debts become our focus, well, that has an affect on us as well.

Each ditch, wealth and debt, have their own trappings. The former deludes us and the latter cripples us should we, in either case, foolishly endeavor to have two masters.

Just something to consider before "Black Friday" and that which follows arrives.

Prayer: Lord help us to not be overly focused on wealth or debt, but let each in some way be of service to us and we endeavor to serve you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included Matthew 5-7)