In God We Trust

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.

Matthew 6:24

THE REMINDER IS ON the front of every US coin and on the back of every US bill. Four simple words: In God We Trust. It sounds simple enough, yet if we are completely honest, many of us depend more on the piece of paper the phrase is printed on than we do on the God we claim to trust.

More than 15 percent of Jesus’ teachings dealt with money and possessions. Jesus taught more about money than He taught about heaven and hell combined. Could it be He knew how hard it was for us to trust that He has given us a new heart and has promised to provide for our needs? Or was it that He knew we would struggle with living as orphans when in fact we are sons of the King?

For orphans, the world can be especially frightening because they lack parents to provide love, protection, and a sense of belonging. We can also be guilty of “orphan thinking” when we live as if we are completely on our own or when it comes to taking care of our needs. When we fail to trust that what God says about us is true—that we are His beloved sons—we will always resort to trusting in our own resources to make life work.

Does your anxiety level rise and fall in direct proportion to the rise and fall of your bank account balance? Take a moment and reflect on the fact that you are a beloved son of a King who promises to provide for you and who doesn’t want you constantly worrying about money.

BOTTOM LINE

There is a strong connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.

Moment of Strength: 1 Timothy 6:10