Tag: Generosity

All Kinds of Evil

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in reaching for it, have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:10, NET)

Paul’s words to Timothy cut straight to the heart of humanity’s struggles. Money itself isn’t the problem; it’s the love of money that brings ruin. When we long for riches, we’re making a dangerous confession: that we are not content with what God has provided. This greed exposes the idolatry of our hearts, where money becomes the means to satisfy our base desires. It’s no wonder Paul says this love is the root of all kinds of evil—it fuels selfishness, envy, dishonesty, and exploitation.

At its core, the love of money is a rejection of God’s sufficiency. When we fixate on wealth, we declare, “What You’ve given me isn’t enough.” This pursuit blinds us to the eternal treasure God offers. It’s like drinking salt water to quench thirst—it only leaves us more parched, chasing satisfaction that money can never deliver.

Consider this: money enables. It gives us the means to live out whatever desires dominate our hearts. If those desires are rooted in greed, pride, or lust for power, money becomes the fuel for destruction. But if our hearts are captivated by Christ, even wealth becomes a tool for His kingdom—serving others, meeting needs, and spreading the Gospel.

Paul’s warning isn’t theoretical. He points to those who’ve strayed from the faith, pierced through by their cravings. These aren’t hypothetical risks—they’re the stories of people who traded God’s eternal riches for temporary gain and paid the price.

The antidote to greed is found a few verses later: “Godliness combined with contentment brings great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). True contentment doesn’t come from having more; it comes from trusting fully in the sufficiency of God. It’s living in gratitude for His provision and believing that He truly is enough.

Today, ask yourself: What does your heart long for? Are you seeking riches, status, or possessions as a source of fulfillment? Or are you resting in the security of God’s provision? Let’s remember that wealth isn’t the problem—it’s the place we give it in our hearts. Pursue God with all you have, and He will be your treasure, satisfying every need in ways money never can.

Nothing Wasted: Trusting God’s Purpose

It’s a bold statement when Jesus says, “The Lord needs it.” Just before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He asks His disciples to bring Him a colt. No lengthy explanations, no assurances for the colt’s owner — simply, “The Lord needs it.” To the owner, this colt may have been valuable or essential for work, but Jesus’ words demand a higher purpose for it. When something is needed for God’s purposes, no matter how mundane or precious, it’s never wasted.

Similarly, earlier in the Gospel accounts, we see Mary pouring costly perfume over Jesus’ head, a luxury that shocks the disciples as a “waste.” But Jesus defends her, framing her act as one of deep worship. “She has done a beautiful thing to me,” He says, indicating that her extravagant offering has profound meaning in God’s unfolding plan.

Our own lives often mirror these moments. We may be called to release what we value or find security in — our time, finances, talents — without clear assurances. Yet, when the Lord needs it, the act itself becomes sacred, filling it with purpose beyond our understanding. Just as Mary’s act became a testimony of love and faith, our sacrificial acts echo through God’s Kingdom in ways we may never fully see.

Trusting God’s purpose with our resources isn’t just about giving up; it’s about giving in to a greater story. Each offering, big or small, plays a role in something eternal. So when we’re prompted to step out in faith, remembering that “the Lord needs it” brings us into alignment with a purpose where, truly, nothing is wasted.

He Who Dies With the Most Toys Still Dies

Growing up as a millennial who often identified with Gen-X culture, I vividly remember the iconic “No Fear” t-shirts that were all the rage in the 90s. One slogan stuck with me: “He who dies with the most toys still dies.” At the time, it seemed like a clever pushback against the materialism of the culture around me, but there was more truth in it than I realized. It calls out the futility of measuring life by our possessions.

Jesus addresses this very issue in Luke 12:22-34 when He challenges His followers to stop worrying about what they’ll eat or wear. He points out that, in life, we often want more than we need. This isn’t just about greed; it’s about a deeper issue—trust. Instead of trusting that God will provide for us, we often rely on ourselves, stockpiling resources in the hope that we’ll feel secure. Like the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21, we build bigger barns, gather more, and look to our possessions for peace. But even if we gain everything we think we need, it’s still not enough, because deep down, we don’t trust that God’s provision is sufficient.

We’re not all that different from the rich fool. We live in a culture that tells us security comes from having “enough”—enough money, enough success, enough recognition. The problem is that our definition of “enough” keeps changing. When we focus on accumulating more, we’re really saying that God isn’t enough for us. We don’t trust Him to give us what we need, so we try to take care of ourselves.

Jesus offers a better way. He tells us to seek first God’s Kingdom and trust that everything else will fall into place. What He promises isn’t a life of luxury, but a life free from the constant anxiety of trying to secure ourselves. Faith is trusting that God knows our needs better than we do—and that, ultimately, our treasure isn’t in what we can accumulate here on earth. It’s in heaven, where no amount of wealth or possessions can ever compare.

At the end of the day, the slogan still holds true: “He who dies with the most toys still dies.” But for those of us who trust in God’s provision, we’ve found something better than toys. We’ve found true peace, true security, and a treasure that will last for eternity.