Money and WealthPrøve

Do not set your hope on your wealth, but on your heavenly Father. Not only for life after death, but also for this earthly life do we need more than material riches. Even if we are wealthy, we should not set our hopes on our money. Or, in the words of king David: “if riches increase, set not your heart on them” (Psalm 62:10). For material things are uncertain. We can lose them unexpectedly — think of a war destroying your house, or a natural disaster flooding your fields and so ruining your harvest. Moreover, money can’t solve every problem. It can’t keep us healthy or keep our loved ones safe from an accident. But God can. In today’s Bible passage, He is called “God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy”. In Matthew 6, Jesus calls Him “your heavenly Father” who knows what we need and will provide for us. We can’t take care for everything ourselves, and we don’t need to. “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33, ESV).