From time to time, I hear people quoting famous money managers or people in business, such as Warren Buffet. These nuggets of wisdom can be valuable. How much more valuable to hear from our LORD and King on our financial strategy! However, sometimes the advice is a bit different than we expect to hear…
25“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
This is a simple statement, but how true to help us keep our ultimate goals in perspective. How about another one for those of us who are convinced we can capture all we dream of by making money?
24“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
Some will dismiss it as nonsense because they do not have eyes to see. However, for those of us whom the Holy Spirit guides we can see much more in this statement. We must lay down our own selfish desires and plans and submit to Christ. By submitting to Him we will find true life through Christ.
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
If we strive and struggle to save our live… our desires and plans… our vision for life… then we will lose it, chasing all the wrong things.
10“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Let us put Christ first. Putting Him first means we will choose sometimes the path that is difficult in this wicked world. We must “pick up our cross daily and follow [Jesus]”. The cross was hard, brutal in fact, but above all, selfless and devoted to the Father’s will.
23And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27“But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Let us proclaim our love for Him and His love for us. Let us not be ashamed of Him before men. There are serious consequences to this. Jesus, Himself, says He will deny before the Father those who deny Him before men. Don’t rush over that statement. Pause on it and reflect. Are you acknowledging Jesus publicly and broadly? or are you silent, trying not to offend those who reject Him?
Let us put Christ first rather than all the things that the world tells us to chase, even when it seems hard.
33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Truly what good is it to have all the selfish desire we may want in this world… to succeed beyond the wildest imagination of the worldly… if we lose our relationship with Christ and end up without Him in this world and eternity beyond?
25“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .