A Wasted Life

 

What is the purpose of your life? This is one of the most important questions anybody could ask themselves. It is the focus of Pastor Rick Warren’s best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life. God created you for a specific purpose! Discovering that purpose will change your life forever, giving focus and meaning to your life—a reason for living. What if you discovered God’s purpose for your life, but were unable to respond because of mishandled finances?

Millions of people are unable to answer God’s call for their lives because they live in financial bondage. They have become slaves to debt and materialism. The Bible warns about this danger:

• “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” (Prov 22:7)
• “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Matt 13:22 )
• “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.” (1 Tim 6:9,10)

Practical Help

First, start by understanding a basic truth—you were created by God and for God. You were created to glorify God and to have an eternal relationship with Him. Next, do not buy into the “myth of ownership.” You don’t “own” anything—God owns it all. You are just a manager.

Once you have this perspective, making good decisions about money and possessions is easier. It is easier because God has so much instruction in the Bible about wealth; there are approximately 2350 verses in Scripture about money and possessions. There is instruction about planning, saving, spending, debt, risk, diversification, contentment, and much more. Beware—money has the greatest ability to replace God in your life! “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money and stuff).” (Luke 16:13)

Following God’s Word can help avoid bondage and gain financial freedom. Only then will you be free to respond to God’s calling. Only then will you be free to serve. Only then will you avoid a major tragedy—a wasted life.