MONDAY: LORDSHIP & PRIORITIES

KEY PASSAGE

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

DEVOTIONAL

Your master matters.

God innately and intentionally created each of us to worship. It isn’t a matter of IF you worship but WHO you worship. The “who” doesn’t always mean someone, it often can take the form of something. Jesus warns people, more than any other thing, about the entangling nature of money. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus explicitly declares that you cannot serve, or worship, both God and money. Why? Because money is meant to serve you, not to be served.

In Matthew 13:22, Jesus paints the picture of the effect that the “deceitfulness of wealth” can have on the word of God planted in your heart. He explains that it is like thorns that grow among the word and choke it out. And the longer we allow thorns to be our master the longer we live under pain and disappointment.

However, when we trust God with our ENTIRE lives, including our finances, and make Him our master, we have the opportunity to live in abundance in every area of our lives. Why? Because God, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above any other thing in this universe, is willing and wanting to provide for His children.

Your master matters because the makeup of your life depends on it. Whatever you serve will ultimately shape you.

CHALLENGE

1. IDENTIFY - What do you spend yourself (your time, money, energy, etc.) on? Where you spend is where you serve.

2. RECLAIM - Exercise obedience and self-control in any area where your money may have taken the driver seat by delaying a purchase, blessing someone, etc.

3. PRAY -  “God, I choose to make you my master today in all ways. Order my priorities and direct my decisions today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”