Spending to the Glory of God
How can our spending of money be done to the glory of God? Money has an emotional element, in fact, as we are experiencing during this pandemic experience, a very powerful emotional element. Having or not having money contains both physical and emotional realities. Jesus knew this well for two thirds of his teaching parables have to do with money or the use of possessions while only one third have to do with salvation!
My hope is that all people in the world would have adequate means to support healthy life. I know this will never be true because of the failures of our human nature—mine included. Nonetheless, what we do with what we have been given is a spiritual activity. It is spiritual because through the decisions we make in our spending, we are exhibiting the moral or spiritual compass by which we live.
There are basically three things we can do with our money—spend it, save it, or give it away. Many times, we just look at what we give away as being spiritual but the other two—spending and saving are spiritual as well. Eugene Peterson in the Message translates the Isaiah passage like this: “
Why do you spend your money on junk food, and your hard-earned money on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: eat only the best and fill yourself with only the finest.”
Thanking God for all we have received and then spending, saving, or giving it away
in ways that honor Him
will result in blessings. Welcoming God into on our financial conversations will bless us and give wisdom to our decision-making process.
Prayer:
Thank your Lord for gifts received, help me fill my needs and respond to the needs of others with your gifts. Amen
Pastor Jerry
Next Monday: Working to the Glory of God.
