What's Your Treasure?

I will never forget the first time I heard it. There was the sound of clinking coins and a cash register, and then in the background, the sound of a grinding bass in 7/8 time.

“MONEY!” It was loud, forceful, and unmistakably the voice of David Gilmour of the English band, Pink Floyd. While the bass kept up its grinding rhythm, Gilmour let loose with the following lyrics ;

“Money, get away. Money, get a good job, and you're okay.
Money, it's a gas. Money, grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.
New car, caviar, four-star daydream… Think I'll buy me a football team.
Money, get back. I'm alright Jack. Keep your hands off my stack!

I was still in my teens at the time and totally enamored with the message. I mean wasn't this what life was all about? Wasn't money the central dynamic of everything?

I left my teens a long time ago, but unfortunately the message from that Pink Floyd hit is still quite contemporary. Cultural wisdom tells us that to get ahead financially we must get all the money we can, can all the money we get, and then sit on the can to make sure no one takes anything from us.

That kind of mentality puts money front and center as the ultimate treasure, and the path to wealth and security. But does this work in reality? I wonder how many successful celebrities must crash and burn in front of us before we realize that money brings neither true wealth nor security.

We are designed by God to find security and meaning in relationship, not money. God knows that financial treasure will never satisfy us, but only leave us troubled and void deep within. He tells us to seek a relationship with Him first and foremost, and He will provide everything we need. He wants us to treasure our relationship with Him above all our “stuff.”

The problem for many of us is that this is backwards from the way we currently think. We trust our ability to amass wealth to give us security, more than we trust any relationship. So we refuse to take God up on His offer to be our provider.

The Bible records the quandary of a single mother faced with the choice of trusting God, or her own resources. In 1 Kings 17:7–16, we are introduced to a widow who was living during a time of severe drought. She and her son had only enough food for one last meal.

The prophet Elijah was instructed by God to go meet this widow and ask her for some food. The widow informed him that she had only enough for herself and her son. Elijah informed the widow that if she would trust God and prepare a meal for him, God would continue to provide her with food until the drought ended. Although Elijah’s instructions violated all her reasoning, the widow trusted God and said Eli jah first. From that day forward to the end of the drought, she and her son had an ample supply of food. The widows treasure was her relationship with God, and He supplied everything she needed.

What's your treasure, money or relationship with God? It can't be both. One treasure leads to emptiness and discontent, while the other provides satisfaction and security. The choice is up to you.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Our current series is “How to Be Blessed Financially,” And my topic this week is “How to Have a Financial Breakthrough.”

Pastor Che