As many say, money can be both a blessing and a curse. While it’s necessary for us to have them, it can also be a force that pulls us away from our spiritual roots. As much as money gives us comfort and security, it can also be a distraction that leads us to lose sight of our faith in God. The Bible does not condemn wealth or possession outright but gives us many warnings about the dangers of placing our trust in them. Money, when we allow it, can become an idol and draw our hearts away from God, destroying the very foundation of our faith.
Today we will see the ways in which money can destroy or weaken our faith and how we can guard ourselves against these dangers.
1. Greed Replaces Gratitude
One of the most subtle ways that money destroys your faith in God is by fostering greed. When people become focused on getting more money, they often forget the blessings they already have. Instead of being thankful to God for what He has provided, they constantly crave more, believing that material things will bring them happiness and fulfillment. This desire for more can drown out the voice of God and turn their attention away from their spiritual side.
What we have to learn is that the more money people get, the more they begin to believe that material success is the measure of their worth, rather than understanding their true identity in Christ.
2. Money Creates Division Among People
The desire for money can cause division, not only between us and God but also between people. Wealth often creates barriers between different kinds of people, leading to jealousy, resentment, and inequality. People who have more may look down on those who have less, and those who are less wealthy may envy the rich. In a society that promotes consumerism and success based on wealth, people often find themselves comparing their finances with others.
When money becomes the basis for our relationships, it can destroy the unity that God desires for His people. The more we focus on money, the more we are likely to forget about God’s command to love one another and live in peace.
3. Money Becomes the Ultimate Security
As we start to have more money , we may start to rely more on money for security than on God. Money becomes the safety net that we turn to in times of need, rather than trusting God’s plan.
The fact that we rely on money can make us question God’s ability to provide, making it seem secondary in the face of financial stability. One of the biggest dangers when you have money is the belief that you have control over your life and your circumstances. When you have money, it can give you the illusion that you can manage everything on your own, making you depend less on God.
The Bible warns us against putting trust in riches: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.” If money becomes the primary source of security, it takes away from the faith that God is our ultimate provider.
4. The Pursuit of Money Can Lead to Dishonesty
In the process of getting financial success, some people will compromise their integrity and lie or get into some dishonest practices. Whether through lying, cheating, or cutting corners, the desire for money can make people act in ways that contradict the Christian values.
When people prioritize money over honesty and righteousness, they begin to turn away from God’s values, and their faith becomes weaker and compromised.
5. Money Fuels the Desire for Power
Along with money also comes power. People who are wealthy usually have the ability to influence decisions, control circumstances, and dominate others. The desire for power can make people compromise their faith, as they are willing to manipulate situations for their own benefit.
Jesus Himself warned against the desire for power. When people seek power for personal gain, they stray away from the values of humility and service that Jesus taught, and they move even further away from God.
6. It Encourages Selfishness
Getting more wealth often comes at the cost of others. People might become so consumed with getting more money that they neglect the needs of the less fortunate. Selfishness appears when people begin to focus on their own material success at the expense of others.
Jesus Himself taught us that it is better to give than to receive. When money becomes a tool for selfish purposes, it distracts from the call to love our neighbors and care for the poor. The selfish mind doesn’t listen to the core of the Christian value of sacrifical love and service.
7. Money Can Lead to Idolatry
The Bible teaches us that God is a jealous God and that no other god should be worshipped besides Him. However, in our pursuit for money, we can easily turn money into an idol , something that people begin to worship and place above God. When money becomes an idol, it is no longer just a tool but the object of one’s devotion and faith.
Money becomes a false god when we put it before everything else, making us put our trust in it rather than in God. This shift away from our Creator to material things can destroy our faith and diminish the importance of our spirituality.
8. Money Shifts Focus from Eternal to Temporary
Money can draw a person’s focus away from the eternal to the temporary. The materialistic mindset might encourage people to value things that will eventually fade away. Rather than investing in heavenly treasures, people invest in things that only last for a short time.
In Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus teaches us to not store treasures on earth because they will be destroyed or stolen, but rather store up treasures in heaven because they will be eternal. When people are consumed with getting material possessions, their faith in God becomes weaker because they forget about the eternal rewards that await them.
9. Money Can Create a Sense of Pride
Money has the potential to cultivate pride, as people can begin to see that their success is the result of their own abilities, efforts, or intelligence. This attitude diminishes the need for God, as people believe that they have earned their money through their own effort. Pride takes away from the humility that is needed to fully depend on God.
The desire for money can fuel pride, making it difficult for people to see God’s hand in their success and making them ungrateful for the blessing they have.
10. The Pressure to Keep Up with the Others
As people seek financial success, they might always feel the pressure to keep up with the others, that is, to match or surpass the lifestyle that the others around them have. This can cause them to overspend, live beyond their means, and get in debt to appear wealthy, even when they are not. This mindset can make people make decisions that conflict with God’s calling and can lead to a life with anxiety, stress, and worry.
Focusing on keeping up with others or wanting to live a life of material success can destroy your peace and your relationship with God.
Want to learn more about the teachings of Jesus? You can read: Difficult Teachings: The 40 Most Challenging Teachings of Jesus.
Read also: 10 Lessons that Jesus gave us
