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)
Yesterday I focused in on the words, “the love of money”. The King James Version calls it “the deceitfulness of riches”. That’s what I talk about today. Pursuing money over pursuing God proves to be a deceitful pursuit.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- The love of money is deceitful. Pursuing money over pursuing God is not worth it. The endless pursuit of money often causes people to wind up with money, but only to realize that they have lost everything else along the way. Many lose their families, their integrity, and even their health in a tireless pursuit of money. Jesus once asked the question, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Mat 16:26). What good will the money be if you lose everything that matters to get it?
- Don’t put your trust in money, put your trust in God. Solomon, both the wisest and richest man of his day, said, “Those who trust in their riches will fall like dead leaves, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer” (Prov 11:28). In Mark 4:19, a scripture we have been studying over and over again, Jesus said, “The people who are like thorny ground receive the Word, but “The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, choke the word, making it unfruitful.” One of the definitions for the word “deceitful” includes the word “untrustworthy.” That’s really the message behind Solomon’s teaching. His point is a point about trust. Solomon was a billionaire and he taught us NOT to trust in riches. He does not cut any corners either. Solomon plainly states that those who trust in their riches will fall like dead leaves. These are leaves that were once green, full, and flourishing, but after a change of season, the leaves dried up, changed colors, and eventually fell. Solomon then contrasts that image with the image of the righteous, who will prosper like the leaves of summer.
- You must make your choice between serving God and serving money. God is not opposed to you having money. His problem is with money having you. If you have a proper relationship with money, God can give you loads of it. But He just does not want you to put your trust in it. If your trust is in your wealth and not in God, then your wealth has become your god. Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Mat 6:24). You can either put your trust in God, honor Him with your finances, and do whatever He tells you to do with the money He places in your hands; or you can pursue money and make money the focal point of your life. If you do, you will quickly find out that you don’t like that scenario. Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master. Let money serve you, don’t serve it! If you serve it, you will wind up deceived and disappointed.
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 in every area of my life, including my finances. I don’t love money, I love You. I don’t pursue money, I pursue You. I don’t place my trust in money, I place my trust in You. By maintaining my focus, I position myself to receive Your best. You can bless me financially, because I am focused on doing whatever You tell me to do with the money You place in my hands. Living this way, I never have a fear of running out. I live every day with faith in running over! I declare this by faith! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
