Pushing Past False Promises
Getting to promises worth building your life on
Few things in this world make bigger promises than money.
Some of those promises are true—if you had 100x in your bank account, it would, indeed, start to solve a few problems.
Other promises, however, are greatly exaggerated–including the promise to shield you from other problems or threats.
Still worse, money creates problems or threats that it doesn’t tell you about.
In fact, Jesus talks a good bit about money because it just might be his single greatest opponent for your soul.
He puts it bluntly: “You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24).
It really comes down to whose promises you’re going to believe and build your life around: God’s promises, fulfilled in Jesus, or the promises of money.
Take a few minutes today over lunch, tonight before bed, or first thing in the morning and open yourself up to the Lord’s work in you heart with these prompts:
Consider your current relationship with money in every place it’s factoring in: your personal life, at work, extended family issues, or anywhere else.
What are the false promises (or threats!) of money that you’re believing and acting on (serving, maybe even a slave to)? Write those down.What is the fruit of living by the promises or under the threats of money? What does it do to your heart, mind, spirit when the promises or threats of money dominates?
Now let’s repent of those things before the Lord: we put off the tyranny of serving and trusting in the promises of money in order to put on serving and trusting in the promises of God.
That might sound something like: “Lord, I confess that I’ve looked to money to be my security in this world. I repent. I serve you alone, the one true God whose promises are true and who is my security in this life and into the next.”
Write out your prayer or pray out loud and write down any reflections, if helpful.
This is just one thread from this month’s always free Greenhouse Retreat, From Worry to Seek First.
There’s plenty more where that came from, just click here.
Greenhouse Retreats: helping you to create conditions ideal for long-term fruitfulness.
Happy flourishing y’all,
Alex
P.S. In my last post I invited you to share how you’re using GR in your context.
Thanks to Kenny for telling me he printed out multiple copies for himself, the other dads, and his high school son for his trip to the mountains with his kids scout troop!
One pastor told me that this month’s Scripture passage was perfect for him as it’s the theme for their big capital campaign and where he’s been living: “Love when the Spirit does that.”
Let me know your story!
P.P.S. Even if you’re not doing a couple hour retreat, this material can help give structure to a regular, shorter time with the Lord. Print it out and put it in a place where you might make some time to meet with the Lord.