Love People, Use Money

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

”But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing. For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.“ – ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

”It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (GOD’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking.“ – 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬a ‭AMPC‬‬

We live in a time where almost everyone is looking out for “number 1” i.e. self. It’s all about what I want, what is in it for me, and what is pleasing to me. If I don’t stand to benefit from it, I’m not doing it. If GOD is not going to reward me with what I want, then why am I doing it? It is so subtle that most of us don’t even notice that we are walking in it, the flesh. I once heard a minister say that “witchcraft is not the lady on a broom, it is walking in the flesh”. So when we walk in the flesh, we are performing witchcraft. ”For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry.“ 1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬ ‭BSB‬‬.

I grew up in a time when we were told that if you want to have your way with a girl, you must just tell her that you love her. Growing up, I’ve come to learn that loving someone is wanting what’s best for them more than what my flesh might want at that moment. Love puts others’ needs first, whether mentally, physically, or spiritually, especially above my fleshly desires. The man of God once said, “We are to love people and use money, and not the other way around”. When we swap these 2 around, we are headed for disaster. We will only hurt GOD’s people and also pierce ourselves through with many acute mental pangs in our pursuit of things.

The answer to all of this is Jesus, Jesus is a picture of GOD’s love and as He pours His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, we become more like Him in love (Romans 5:5). We have to always be on high alert and check our walk with the LORD because we are only able to walk in love when we walk in the spirit. ”It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.“ John‬ ‭6‬:‭63‬a ‭NKJV‬‬.

I’ve come to learn that loving someone is wanting what’s best for them more than what my flesh might want at that moment