Fasting Devotional Day Fourteen: Saturday, January 15, 2022
Text: Matthew 6:5-7:23; Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:24
By Lynn Smith
Thoughts:
In today’s passage, Jesus had just taught his disciples how to pray, using “The Lord’s Prayer” as an example (v. 9-13). After teaching on prayer, Jesus moved on to fasting (v. 16-18). Then he moves on to possessions and money. He warns them not to try to accumulate possessions but instead heavenly possessions. V. 21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. He concludes his teaching on possessions with our focus verse (24), ending with “You cannot serve both God and money.”
Much has been written about money and possessions. Jonathan Swift said, “A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” Money is something which affects everyone in one way or another. We need money to pay for the things we need – food, shelter, clothing, etc. If we are blessed enough to earn more money than we need to live, then we have the freedom to buy things we want rather than just what we need, or we can invest and let our money work for us. Most of us barely have enough money to survive and maybe have a few extras along the way. Many people spout the following quote, supposedly Biblical: “Money is the root of all evil.” But that is a misquote. The Bible does not say that, but rather says the love of money is the root of all evil. So, today’s passage reminds us of our focus must always be on God and not on possessions.
Challenge:
If you want to find out where a person’s priorities lie, you could get a very good clue in two places: 1) how and where they spend their time and 2) how they spend their money. Where are your priorities? Do you live to work, or do you work to live? When you make your budget, receive your paycheck, and begin to pay your bills, what is the first bill you pay? When you have free time, how do you spend that time? I ask these questions of myself as well as to you my dear readers. Take some time today and evaluate where you spend your time and money. Are you using your time and money to further God’s kingdom? It has been said money makes a good servant but a poor master. Who are you serving today?