It's not an accident that Jesus talked about the kingdom of God more than He did about money, and it's also no accident that money comes second as the most discussed topic by Jesus. There has always been a constant struggle in the hearts of man between the value of God's kingdom and the love of money.
As Christians, we despise the idea of greediness and can sometimes think we're not affected by it. We think that just because we give our tithes and we save our money that we're out of the danger of greed, but the danger of greed goes beyond where we put our money and is actually determined by the state of our heart.
Luke 12:34 tells us, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Sure we can give our tithes and save some of our finances, but when times get tough, who do you run to to be your security? Do we readily run to the God who saves or do we run to the bank to check how much money we have left and act according to that?
Matthew 6:24 says, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
It can be hard to be released from the service of money and turn fully to the service of God, but God's Word promises us that there is hope and that we can indeed be set free from greed and the love of money.
We are told in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
First thing we must understand is that God doesn't want you to be broke and penniless. He wants everything added upon you, but He desires it to be secondary to your desire for Him.
Second thing we can learn from this scripture is that you cannot and will not seek what you have not yet experienced. Consequently, we will not seek God's kingdom unless we truly experience it to the fullness and majesty and glory that it is. Truth be told, a true revelation of the Person and Lordship of Christ will overshadow the power and false promises of greed and lust for money. Sadly, so many people shut their doors to the glory that is in the power behind Jesus name because of the fear of not having enough.
When God calls us to count the cost and follow Him - giving up our corrupt practices, serving in generosity, earning in honest ways that show integrity, and many other practices that honour God more than our wallets - we will be rewarded not just with money but with hearts that have clear cut values, and Jesus puts His name, His peace, His righteousness and His joy right on the top.
When at the bottom of our hearts is a greed for more, we will fall short, but when we surrender all of our hearts to Jesus Christ, He gets rid of the destructive greed and replaces it with His peace and providence.
