This is a popular description of people in the last days. They are “lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, … haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” The focus of this article is on lovers of money and lovers of God.
Scriptures tell us that, “No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other or be loyal to one and despise the other.” You cannot serve God and riches! Let me state that it is not wrong to be wealthy, but it is when we allow our riches to control us and we reject the Creator. Kindly note that the devil is not mentioned here as a master. The devil is a joke when compared to the Scripture that the love of money is the root of all evil. It is said that whoever has wealth never has enough. The late Margaret Thatcher observed that , “It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake.”
The rich have allowed their wealth to control them using it as a weapon to oppress and dominate others. Politicians who have been elected to look out for the interests of the people get caught in this system by looking out for themselves. The current economic crises of today have come about because of these greedy and oppressive regimes. Scriptures tell us, “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.” This warning is not about persons being wealthy, but as a result of how the rich and political leaders are mistreating the poor.
Even in some churches we are seeing prosperity preaching where the focus is on money by some pastors, and the Word is being watered down to attract more worshipers. Nowadays, you do not hear in churches, very often, teachings to promote obedience to the Maker. Today, however, it’s all about putting “me” first. A lot of people hear this diluted version of the gospel and believe it is good medicine. Some pastors are mainly concerned with increasing their memberships to get increased tithes of 10%. Thus the Kingdom message has been diluted for the sake of having quantity instead of quality. For example, some preachers will say, “All things are working out for your good.” However, they fail to add the other part, “those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose.” In a nutshell, we are seeing many false pastors in some churches who rob their worshipers of the truth, just to get more money in the collection plate.
Instead of revering and fearing God, many of us have become so caught up in obtaining material possessions and competing with each other. We were taught never to put out hat where our hands cannot reach. In other words, we must live within our means. Some of us build homes we cannot afford – just to keep up with somebody else. We end up chasing at the empty promises of this world and stressing out ourselves. Our goal rather should be to pursue an intimate relationship with the Maker.
Those whose hearts are moved more strongly by love for God and love for the neighbor than by the love of money, the message is that our money is to be used not just to benefit ourselves, but to also bless others and to advance the Kingdom of God. When we oppress others, we are oppressing ourselves. Likewise hating others, we are hating the Maker who made us all in His own image and likeness. Above everything, your priority should be to know the Lord intimately. When you do, “you become calmer; you’re easier to get along with; you are more joyful; and you remain stable in every situation.” It is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth. We came into the world empty-handed. We will depart with absolutely nothing in our hands.
