Bible Passage: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-34
As a pastor, I love doing pre-marital counseling for a couple I’m going to marry.
We always spend one session talking about a biblical and wise approach to money.
During that session, we walk them through a “what money means to me” exercise.
It goes like this:
“If I have more money, I’ll have more…” (fill in the blank)
Common answers are “status” (people will be impressed with my car/house), “security” (I’ll feel safe), “adventure” (I can get that RV), “pleasure” (I’ll eat what I want), “independence” (I’m a man and don’t like asking for help, now I won’t have to), and “control” (I can do whatever it is I want).
Most men want a little of all those things, but a lot of one or two.
As the soon-to-be-married couple and I work through this exercise, there are usually two “aha!” moments.
The first is that the couple realizes that their disagreement about buying that RV (or whatever else) is actually about his desire for adventure versus her desire for security.
The second “aha” is that they realize how Jesus offers to meet those same desires in a way that material things never can.
What status upgrade could you need after you discover you are a son of the King, co-heir to the riches of Christ, and future ruler of God’s great earth?
What security could you need when you grasp that you have an inheritance that no tariffs or stock market fluctuations can touch and that even death and suffering will not have the final word in your life?
What adventure could you need when you realize you’ve been called into a rescue mission with God Himself that will include exciting and dangerous steps of obedience as you join God’s battle against the devil?
Men, lift your eyes and hearts to God and His Kingdom first. Consider the worth of life with Him and the value of living as part of His people.
Things are good, but the lie of materialism is that things will give you what God alone can give you. Recognize that you’re in a battle and note the temptation.
As the old song says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Prayer: Lord, I believe, and I also doubt. I’ve experienced the failure of material things to give me the status (or…) that I seek, but I fall for the same lie again and again. I know I have unbelievable status with You, but part of me struggles with this. Make Your glory and goodness real to me. Increase my faith and love for You, so that the things of earth really do grow strangely dim in the light of Your glory and grace. Amen.
Reflection: What does money mean to you? How is God offering you that same thing in other ways? What would it look like to receive that from Him, to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33 NIV), and to live in light of what He’s already given you?
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