No one can be loyal to two masters. He is bound to hate one and love the other, or support one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and the power of money at the same time.

Matthew 6:23 (Phillips)

 

Our attitude towards money is a very practical way of expressing our commitment to God. According to Jesus, we cannot serve God and serve our self-interest. What you give and how you give reveal your truest spiritual condition in some profound ways. While you may not realise it, money either increases or reduces your love for God.

While money can be useful to advance the Kingdom, it can also be a major impediment to doing God's work. Here is where faith and life meet. We have a choice between serving God or serving money. This is because how we give is more important than what we give.

The love and the hold of money is not just a burden, but also a bondage. Some of us hold back from giving for fear that God may not provide. This attitude reflects a poverty mindset and an unhealthy approach to money. Perhaps our experience of lack or scarcity has caused us to view God in the light of our unhappy circumstances.

Rather than refraining from giving, we should invite God to reveal and heal our wounds so that we can remain spiritually healthy and strong. It is constantly committing ourselves to hearing the good news about who we are and what we have in Christ. The good news not only transforms us from within, but it also transforms our values and priorities.

We can contribute to the greater good if we treat our giving thoughtfully and scripturally. It can also make us more conscious to the needs of those around us and encourage us to sow generously. When we feel the joy in giving, we become cheerful givers.