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When Money Stops Being the Master

How much do you think Jesus talked about money? It's more than you realize. One out of 10 verses in the Gospels mention money and 35% of Jesus' parables are concerning money. Jesus must have thought like you and me that money is cool. . . when you teach it to serve. 

This week in the Red Letter Challenge we arrive at a topic that is really important to Jesus - Money.

Jesus knows that money reveals our motives, shapes our destiny and is a powerful tool. Our relationship with money reveals who we trust. 

Zacchaeus Meets Jesus Finds Salvation.

In Luke 19 we meet Zacchaeus, a man whose life had been built around wealth. When Jesus calls him out it transforms his life almost immediately. Jesus doesn't lecture him about generosity. What happens is his heart changes—and generosity explodes from within. He says, “Half of my goods I give to the poor.”

Jesus’ response is memorable: “Today salvation has come to this house.”

His life is now marked by Jesus and now instead of serving money he is serving the heart of Jesus, love god with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

Money was no longer his master it became a servant to his new way of living. 

Jesus also tells us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Many people assume their treasure follows their heart, but Jesus teaches the opposite. Our hearts often follow where we invest.

When we trust God to take care of us,  giving becomes less like losing and starts becoming partnering with the work of God Himself.

Everything we have definitely belongs to Him. And when we give it freely, our resources can serve purposes that reach far beyond this life.

See you Sunday as we continue the Red Letter Challenge together.

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— Pastor Sam