Jesus was in the middle of what we call His Sermon on the Mount when He said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
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He went on to add,
“THAT IS WHY I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” (Emphasis mine.)

I’ve pretty much always read the second verse without the first. You know, a gentle nudge to remind me that I’m not supposed to be worrying about where my next something-something is coming from.

Today, though, as I read these two together, I see much more than a gentle nudge. I see a firm declaration and I feel a kick to the seat of my pants!

For the Son of God to say ‘you can’t serve God and money’ immediately followed by ‘THAT IS WHY I say to you…’ puts the command to not worry in a more compelling light.

Could it mean that when I’m worried about how the pantry will get filled, I’m choosing money over God?

I think so.

Worry is focus on the wrong thing.

Every one of our “where will I get the money for groceries” has our focus on us and money as the only answer to our need.

Each “how will I afford the kids’ school clothes” says we’re in control and money is our answer.

Jesus said we must not do that!

I know! It’s hard when there’s nothing in the bank and your pantry is empty. I’ve been there. I was never so grateful for a $25 gift for a grocery store. It wasn’t “enough” I thought, but God showed me it really was.

I know what it’s like to wonder if I’d have to send my son to school in his same tired, faded, a-little-too-short britches he’d been wearing for a year only to be able to send him in not only new duds, but in what became his signature style.

I know. I know it’s hard not to focus on those things. I get that.

But Jesus said
to choose a different way.

It doesn’t require a huge mind shift. Not really. Instead of “where will I get the money for groceries” shift to “Lord, we need food for supper tonight and breakfast tomorrow. I don’t have the money to buy anything. Help?”

You’re still quite cognizant of the problem, but now you’re declaring that Almighty God is in charge of handling it. You’ve laid out your problem before the Provider.

Once that’s done, listen. Listen for His prompting. Do you sense the need to call someone – a food pantry or your church? Then it’s time to drop your pride and make the call.

Do you feel compelled to pray more? Hit your knees and get it all out before the Lord. Cry. Laugh. Rant. Rave. Do it all with the heart that says God is the ONLY answer to any of your problems.

Just don’t return to the “me and money will take care of this” mindset.

• Oh! When this crisis is done, when your family is clothed and fed, be sure to do two things:
  thank God for His provision and
  praise Him for being your Provider
• make a memorial to this moment
  when He stepped in and did what
  you could not. Write it in a journal,
  hang a picture, whatever, but put
  up a memorial to glorify God and
  remind you and your whole
  household what happened.

Today’s the perfect day to choose. Will you and money stay on the throne of your life or will you step down, choose to use money as a resource, and let God have full reign?

#ChooseWell

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