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June 01, 2006 |
Money: Let's Just Be Friends
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." -1 Timothy 6:10
This may be the single most misquoted verse in the entire bible. Many people think it says, ìMoney is the root of all evil,î whereas the Apostle Paulís words really focus on our heart attitude about money.
Proverbs 4:23 gives good counsel when it comes to our attitude about money, encouraging us to guard our heart, ìfor it is the wellspring of life.î Every day a chorus of voices clamors for our heartñfrom the overt messages of marketers to the subtle but powerful influence of planned obsolescence to the comparison game we often find ourselves playing.
An unguarded heart leaves us vulnerable to falling in love with money and the things it can buy; it leaves us open to believing the lie that if we only had a little bit more then life will really be good.
The best protection for our heart is being bathed in Godís Word. As we know God more we canít help but deepen our relationship with Him. We see His amazing love for us, His grace, and His mercy. We see that our identity as much-loved sons and daughters of His is fixed. And we gain a new freedom around money and material things because they no longer have the power to shape our identity or our value.
Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas
For anyone looking to celebrate Christmas–and all special occasions, for that matter–with less spending and more joy, “Hundred Dollar Holiday” is highly recommended. And it’s appropriate to read this short book well before the holidays are upon us. Author Bill...
“We had Matt come and speak at our Generosity Conference. He did our Debt Reduction breakout session, and Matt delivered the perfect balance of scriptural basis, practical tools, and humor for an excellent presentation. Our attenders not only raved about the session for weeks afterward, but they have put many of his tools into practice and are challenging one another through their small groups. I’d recommend Matt for any gathering dealing with stewardship and finances, especially as it relates to debt reduction and financial freedom.”