“No one can serve two masters. Either you hate 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 (NIV)

Julie DeShong, Prayer Team

The secular world often tells us that money and material possessions define our worth and success. This mindset can lead to a constant drive to accumulate things and a persistent worry about the future.

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However, Jesus calls us to view life through a different lens. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reminded not to be anxious about our basic needs like food, drink, or clothing. God provides for the birds of the air and the wildflowers of the field, and He will surely provide for us.

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While worry and the desire for control are natural human experiences—especially when facing financial uncertainty—our finances can easily become an idol if we allow them to take priority over God.

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Recently, our family faced a situation where we wondered how we could support both our regular giving and the church’s capital campaign amidst rising household costs and job changes. At first, I thought I could figure it out on my own… although the past has shown that this never works for me. I came to the conclusion that things would not work out at all.

 

I again realized that I could not tackle this concern on my own, so I decided to give all my thoughts and worries to God. I approach much of my prayer life as a conversation with God. This approach has helped my prayer life grow and has taught me to pause and listen. I asked for specific guidance on how to evaluate and manage our resources. God answered in unexpected ways. While there was no sudden windfall, He provided the perspective, patience, and direction we needed to adjust our budget and meet our giving goals in ways I had never even thought of.

 

Ultimately, Jesus is not simply telling us not to worry; He is asking us to seek God's kingdom above worldly possessions. Trusting God does not mean avoiding planning; it means prayerfully considering what truly matters, practicing patience, and believing that God is always working in and through us.

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Scriptures for this week:

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Monday Philippians 4:6–7 Bring Your Worries to God

Tuesday Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in God's Guidance

Wednesday Philippians 4:11–13, 19 Contentment and God's Provision

Thursday 1 Timothy 6:6–10 Godliness with Contentment

Friday Psalm 37:3–7 Trust, Delight, and Rest in God