What's in YOUR Wallet?

1 Tim 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

How many of us have ever seen a hearse carrying a U-haul behind it? Not many. Yet, some people seem to store up their treasures as if they are taking them to heaven. Some people aren't content with what they have. Yet Jesus came and died for us so that we may have salvation in heaven and also peace here on earth. He never intended for your treasures to be material things.

I highlighted the words "love of" because they make a big difference in how the Scripture reads. This is one of the most mis-quoted verses of the Bible. Money is not the root of all kinds of evils, loving it too much is. Taking your focus off of Jesus and putting it on money and material things to buy with it can lead you into so many problems.

For example, the average American has $8562 in credit card debt. The average household has 12 credit cards. 20% of those cards are maxed out. Three million people declared bankruptcy last year. One of 2 marriages fail with the #1 reason for divorce being over money issues. #2 reason being adultery.

I'm not saying that it is wrong to buy a new couch or get yourself some clothes from time to time. I'm talking about the extremes. The "wants" vs the "needs". Each January, I do a re-evaluation of our family finances. Last year, we decided to follow the plan of Dave Ramsey. http://www.daveramsey.com/ We had our $1000 Emergency fund in place and it saved us many times. We were working on our Debt Snowball. Not counting the purchase of our home, our debt did go down over the course of the year. We are blessed. We managed to avoid many grievances by watching our dollars and pennies.

I know it is not popular to speak of tithing, but I have to admit that you can't outgive God. No matter how much we give Him, He always blesses us back. I heard a wonderful quote this weekend from our preacher. "God can do more with your 90% than you can with your 100%." Our cars seem to be more fuel efficient when we tithe. Our pantry stays full an extra day or two when we tithe. Our lives seem to be more at peace when we tithe. When I try to control my 100%, it never pays off. God is in control of everything.

More than those good reasons, we like being able to bless others with gifts. We have been the beneficiaries of assistance during rough periods of life. We love to do the same for others. We also love the ability to give to missionaries, as our heart leads us. (http://www.overlandmissions.com/) We were priviledge to hear Laura speak on her short-term trips to Zambia and Zimbabwe. She trains the people who go plant churches to unreached people. We want to be part of something bigger than our 4 walls in Florida. Again, money is not evil. Loving it so much that you can't give it away is.

Jesus said where your heart is, there your treasure is. So maybe it isn't so much about what is in your wallet as much as what's in your heart? If you remember that God is the one that has given you all that you have, then it is easy to give him back what is already His. You will be blessed.

Have you looked to see what is in your wallet?