You Cannot Serve God and Wealth

‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’ The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. ‘The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped. Luke 16:10-18

"If I were a rich man" begins a familiar song from Fiddler on A Roof. Plenty of money would make personal and family lives easier. Churches struggle with funding and many worry about their survival. Poverty can crush one's spirit. And yet, we are called to put our hearts and minds focused on God. Despite the worries and anxieties, God has promised that there will enough, there will be what we need from moment to moment. 

Wondrous Creator, source of life

you have promised to feed us all

and lead us into verdant valleys

providing for our every need.

We worry about the cost of it

focus on the money and not the love

our focus is on numbers and receipts

and we forget all of your promises.

Take us by the hand again today

help us to walk this way of love

following you, focused on you

trusting that all of our needs will be supplied. Amen.