Love of Money

For Thursday, July 24, 2025:

Luke 16:13 NLT, Jesus speaking: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

In the audience listening to Jesus’ teaching that day were Pharisees, who dearly loved their money. Jesus is challenging them to love God more than their money, to always put God first. Let me summarize this for us: Money – you can’t take it with you. But the love of God can be an eternal part of your life, and even the life after this life! Jesus is counseling us to pick one!

When the subject of money comes up, I’m always reminded of one of my go-to sayings: “People get squirrelly about money!” That’s not good, but it’s my observation. Regular people, nice guys and gals, sometimes turn possessive and narcissistic when money is involved. It’s like something within them changed when the topic turned to money. Irrational statements are made, and irrational decisions come forth all because of money. Squirrelly.

We need money and we need God, but they’re two separate things. Money is never to be worshiped; God is! It’s that same God who gives us money so that we can help widows, orphans and the poor among us. So be generous and love your neighbor! If you run short, God can always give you more!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship