Less Of More By Chris NyeSample

Chris Nye: Less of More Devotional Day 6

“From Wealth to Generosity: Love of Money vs. Love of God”

Scripture reading: Matthew 6:19-34; 19:16-30

Jesus talked more about money than any other topic save “the kingdom of God.” He talked more about money than forgiveness or grace or love or justice. Perhaps the Christian message has something to say about our great love of money.

This is where we must make a distinction between money and the love of money. The apostle Paul famously warns Timothy, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6:10, emphasis mine). Jesus himself simply states, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15 NLT, emphasis mine). The deepest warnings of Scripture regarding money are not that money is evil, but that we are. Money just reveals that.

Jesus’ primary teachings on money have to do with devotion and service (Matt. 6:24; 19:23-24). In Matthew 6:24, when Jesus plainly says human beings cannot serve two masters, that “you cannot serve God and money,” the word he uses for “money” is the Greek term mammon, which is better translated as “stuff” or “possessions.” Serving God is nearly impossible the more you accumulate stuff. The Bible is full of examples of unchecked prosperity breeding thanklessness and pride within the human heart (Deut. 6:1-15; 31:20; 2 Chron. 26:6-16; Ps. 49:5-6; Hosea 13:4-6; 1 Tim. 6:10).

The biblical counter-narrative to consumerism and greed is for believers to cultivate a grateful and generous life. 

• Thanksgiving is the practice of speaking your gratitude to God and others. The Christian must be different from the non-Christian in that they are to be abounding in thanksgiving for all they have—however little, however much.

• Once you practice thanksgiving, you’re quite literally halfway to just “giving.” Grateful people give their money and possessions away; they share what they have because they understand it’s not theirs. All of life is God’s and certainly all of our money is his. 

What would happen if you became more consistently thankful? You’d become consistently generous. And it would be much more likely that your devotion would be fixed where it belongs.

Today, every time you’re reminded of a blessing, give thanks. Find something of yours that someone else could use, and give it away.