Money Matters

Money Matters

Bible Blast: Read Luke 18:18-25

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! Luke 18:25

Karl Rabeder is a guy from Austria who has a ton of money—4.7 million dollars, to be exact.

It might be easy to think that, if someone has millions of dollars, he must be really happy. However, at least in Karl Rabeder’s case, that’s not true at all. That’s why he chose to start giving it all away in 2010. He realized his wealth wasn’t making him happy at all. So Karl began selling his homes, fancy car, glider planes, and other stuff. He’s doing some great charity work with his money, and he plans to live in a small cabin somewhere instead of in a great big villa. He said his goal is to have nothing left. He really feels that having so much money can get in the way of real happiness.

I can’t help but think of the dude in the Bible we call the “Rich Young Ruler.” You read about him in the Bible Blast. When Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor, the young man had a really hard time with that command, “for he was very rich.” I doubt it was because the young man was an especially greedy guy. I think Jesus knew it would be very difficult to give away all of his riches to help the poor.

Jesus leaves us with a funny word picture at the end of that section of Scripture: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The bottom line there is, if someone has lots of riches, his or her wealth can really become a big fat distraction from God because people often end up worshiping the money and the happiness they think it brings instead of worshiping their Creator.

Now, I hope you’re not running around the house right now yelling, “We have to sell everything and give everything to the poor!” Don’t rush out and put a For Sale sign on the family car. The whole idea here is that no matter how much money you have or don’t have, you must not worship it. Put your faith in God. Then you will have true happiness.

Girl Gab: Pray this today: “Dear God, help me to realize that any money I make is really your money. Let me always obey you in how I spend it. In Jesus’ name, amen.”