TID #167 Serve God Not Money

Published

What’s up TRC and Friends. Today we jump into Matthew 6:24 and talk about Jesus’ approach to money.

Here’s the podcast and the notes follow. Thank you for listening or watching! We hope this is helpful.

Jesus teaches that we cannot serve both God and money – we must choose one master. This instruction from the Sermon on the Mount provides guidance for how Christians should view and handle finances.

What Does it Mean to “Serve Money“?

Serving money means being enslaved to it as a master. This can manifest in several ways in our setting:

  1. Consumerism – identifying primarily as a consumer
  2. Economic identity – deriving worth from financial status
  3. Brand loyalty – being controlled by brand preferences
  4. Lifestyle inflation – feeling compelled to maintain/increase standard of living

How Do We Know if We’re Using Money as a Tool vs Serving it as a God?

The key difference lies in who/what is in control:

  1. When using money as a tool, we can use it well for God’s kingdom
  2. When money controls us, it shapes our behaviors, affections and priorities
  3. Good stewardship means wisely managing resources while being under the direct control of God’s ethical framework
  4. Our heart reveals whether money is a tool or an idol, we know it

How Does Money Create Anxiety?

Anxiety often stems from misplaced trust and divided loyalties. When we trust in money rather than God for security, anxiety naturally follows:

  1. Worrying about having enough
  2. Stress over financial decisions
  3. Fear during economic uncertainty
  4. Constant concern over resources

What Does it Look Like to Serve God, Not Money?

Four key practices help us maintain proper perspective:

  1. Generosity – Giving freely kills greed
  2. Simplicity – Living simply enables greater generosity
  3. Sabbath – Regular rest or stopping shows trust in God’s provision
  4. Hospitality – Sharing resources demonstrates we value what God values

Life Application

Consider these questions this week:

  1. Where does money hold sway over my obedience, peace or joy?
  2. What would change if I truly lived as if everything belonged to God?
  3. How can I practice greater generosity, simplicity, and hospitality?

Challenge: Choose one area where money creates anxiety in your life. Practice surrendering that to God through an act of generosity or simplicity this week. Remember that Jesus offers freedom from the tyranny of money when we trust the Father who already knows and provides for our needs.