“Money is not the most important thing, Jesus is.”
I know what you’re saying: “Elizabeth. We all know this already, that money is not the most important thing.”
Okay, true! But just hear me out.
A few weeks ago I was out front watering my garden. Now, I used to have one hose for the front yard, and one hose for the backyard. The hose in the backyard burst, and since all my veggies are back there, it was a no-brainer that I replace it with the hose from the front yard. Oh – did I mention that I didn’t just run out and buy a new hose because, at the time of this post, I’m currently in between jobs? Ha. That would be helpful for context.
So, a few weeks ago I was out front watering my garden. 😎
I hadn’t really been watering at all in the front, without the hose. Earlier in the season I had watered extremely well (thankfully, with the hose) and mulched really well. I have a project that I’ll show you in a subsequent post, of how that went. In all of our 100+ degree excessive heat, the mulch had been doing an excellent job of helping the beds retain moisture. But the time had come that I needed to water again.
I had a 5-gallon bucket that required filling up and carrying from the spigot to the plants, back to the spigot, and back to the plants. It seemed to take forever. And although it was morning, it was quite hot.
I was considering how easy it used to be to just run out and replace things when income was consistent. Then I thought of Solomon’s quip that money answers everything. Specifically, he said:
“A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.”
Ecclesiastes 10:19, NIV
Oh, King Solomon.
While I was pondering this, the thought at the beginning of this post floated right into me. Actually, it was just the first part.
“Money is not the most important thing.”
I thought – well it sure would be helpful right about now. I could just run out to the store and . . .
Then I started thinking of the people who I heard make that statement – and you know, those people are really well off. So, of course, they could say that. “Money is not the most important thing. Family is, and the people you hold near and dear. Etc.”
Wow.
Did I really just think that – that I know who people are, and what their lives are like, beyond what I can immediately see? Things are not always as they seem, and the obvious occurred to me that life could change in an instant. Whether I was financially prepared, or not (David and Absalom come to mind).
Money is not the savior. But Jesus is. Money may answer everything, but Jesus has the final say. Does this sound too churchy or too preachy to you? Jesus is the basis for my whole life.
He is the one who said:
“Come unto me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, LSB)
Rest.
I could use some of that right now.
He also said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)
In a world where so many concepts are being redefined, he is the only one who cannot be redefined. He is my solid rock in a constantly shifting culture.
And he is my ultimate provider. In the book of Daniel, the three Hebrews stated, our God is able to deliver us, O King, but even if he doesn’t . . .
Do I have that kind of trust in my provider? Do I trust that he is more important than money? The answer has to be yes. Money will never be the most important thing. It is not money that I serve, it is Jesus. He is my provider. He is my savior. He comforts me. He gives me hope. Permanently. Money can only give me a reflection or temporary feeling of those things. I say this in the midst of a season where I have to trust him daily for the things I need.
When I trust him, he not only provides for me and waters me by the washing of his word, but he also helps me to take a step back and make room for my family. I also have time to pray with and encourage my friends. Those are the very priorities that most often get lost in the busyness – a side effect that usually comes with the hot pursuit of money.
And guess what – when I have time to laugh with my friends, they encourage me, too!
And so, I write this in the hope of encouraging some of you.
In these times of shifting economic, political, and moral sands:
“Money is not the most important thing, Jesus is.“
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