This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing to walk through the parable of the sower. Jesus said:
“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
In today’s message I am going to focus in on the words, “the love of money”. If you develop a love for money, your misplaced love will certainly become a weed that will compete with, and ultimately choke-out the Word in your heart.
Since we are talking about money, I believe we should get counsel from those who have experience with it. Solomon was the richest man in the world in his day. He was an ultra-billionaire and the best part is that the Lord made him rich. Let’s learn something from Solomon.
In Proverbs 23:4,5 Solomon said, “Be wise enough not to wear yourself out trying to get rich. Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.” The issue with God is never whether or not you have money. God has made countless people rich. The issue is ‘money having you,’ especially to the point where it becomes your underlying motivation in life. I personally know people (a few in my family), who are completely motivated by the accumulation of money. Some have ruined their marriages, relationships with their children, and even their health over the pursuit of the “almighty dollar”. Once money becomes your motivation, you are no longer in position to allow the Word of God to grow in your heart.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Solomon taught us not to wear ourselves out attempting to get rich (see Prov 23:4,5). It’s not worth it. You can ruin your life chasing a buck. If you chase God instead of chasing money, God can see to it that money chases you (see Matthew 6).
- There is nothing wrong with being rich or even working to be rich, just as long as the pursuit of money is no the object of your heart. Some have developed a lust and thirst for money in their hearts to the point where the almighty dollar has actually become their god.
- Keep a Godly perspective when it comes to money. Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master. There is nothing wrong with having money, but it should not be your #1 pursuit. Pursue God, don’t pursue things, and before you know it things will be pursuing you (see Mat 6:33).
- Rest in your divine assignment. When you get to the point where you are at peace with the plans God made for you before the world began, it is then and only then that you can experience true prosperity. What God has to offer is bigger than money and the good news is that it does not exclude it. If you live your life God’s way you can still be prosperous financially, but more importantly, you will also have a healthy body, a sound mind, a close-knit family, the satisfaction of knowing you are walking in your divine purpose, and an overall Godly understanding of true success.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by making You my #1 priority. I thank You for a healthy perspective concerning money. I can have money, because money does not have me. I know money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master, and I declare that money is not my master. You are! I seek You with my whole heart and I experience the success in life You planned for me before the world began. I rest in Your plans and Your provision. I pursue You, not things, and as a result, things wind up pursuing me! With the proper motivation I get to experience Your best without getting frustrated, disillusioned, or burned out! I declare this by faith! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
