January 20, 2004: Make Your Money Count (Part 2), Attitudes Toward Money

1. Laziness

“A door turns on its hinges, but a lazy person just turns over in bed.” Proverbs 26: 14 (Contemporary English)
 
“Some people are so lazy that they won’t even lift a finger to feed themselves.” Proverbs 19:24 (NLT)

    Obviously not all disadvantaged people are lazy, but the Bible warns us against being lazy. This slothful attitude toward money is, “let me rejoice in my comfort of my bed.” According to this mindset, the world, the church, my parents, my kids and society owe me. Laziness is a spiritual disease that causes us to have an unrealistic view of work and money.

“Laziness leads to poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10: 4 (NIV)

 
    Being diligent, responsible and good stewards of the talents God has given us leads us away from financial woes.

2. Instant Riches

“Don’t be selfish and eager to get rich - you will end up worse off than you can imagine.” Proverbs 28: 22 (Contemporary English)

 

“Committed and persistent work is what pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are rip offs,” Proverbs 28: 20 (The Message)

 

“There is another serious problem I have seen everywhere--savings are put into risky investments that turn sour, and soon there is nothing left …” Ecclesiastes 5: 13 (Living Bible)

    Shady stock promoters, con artists and others prey upon this instant gratification attitude that creates a financial trap. We blindly squander away non-discretionary money on schemes that promise easy, no-wait, no-pain riches. The trap, of course, causes us to lose the very money that we could have used wisely. Slow and steady savings build assets - not fast, furious and foolish squandering.

3. Earning Addiction

    But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing. Ecclesiastes 4:8b (NLT)

    Do you ever start running so quickly and so hard at work, home, or school that you push aside everything else? You shove past, and walk over, relationships, family, and Christ. You stomp on the people you love, and go out of your way to please people who could care less about you. You think, “one more deal, one more promotion, one more dollar and I then I will slow down.” Earning addiction causes us to be short-tempered, forgetful and totally self-centered. You spiritual gauge rests on empty. You never make time for prayer, devotions, Bible study or fellowship.

Balanced Attitude Toward Work and Money

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.” Titus 3:14 (NIV)

 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not just for people …” Colossians 3: 23 (NIV)

    Work is good. Earning a living is good. But getting out of balance with our life is not good. We tend to swing toward the laziness side or the workaholic side when it comes to our attitudes toward money.

Points to Ponder: The obvious point to ponder this week is: Where is your attitude with regard to money? What direction do you need to move toward, to be in a more balanced and God-pleasing way of life?

David Massey

Questions or comments? Email david@e-devotionals.org.

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