How God Uses Your Money to Test You
By Rick Warren
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
One way God tests you is with money. If he can trust you with material possessions, then he can trust you with true riches in heaven.
There are several things God tests through your money:
Money shows what you love most. If you really want to know what’s important to you, look at your calendar and your credit card statement. How you spend your time and money shows what you love most.
Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth . . . Store your treasures in heaven . . . Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (NLT). Put your money wherever you want your heart to be, and you will become interested in whatever you invest in.
Money shows what you trust most. Do you trust in your money for security, or do you trust in God? Do you trust in your own happiness, or do you trust in God for your happiness? Do you trust in money to make you feel good about yourself, or do you trust in God to make you feel good about yourself? Money is the acid test of faith.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:28, “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (NIV).
Money shows if God can trust you. Money doesn’t just show if you trust God; it also shows if God can trust you. Luke 16:10-12 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” (NLT).
How you handle money affects how much God blesses your life. Now that you understand the direct connection between money management and God’s blessing, ask God to help you get your finances in order so that he can trust you with true riches.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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