The great deceiver – I’m not talking about Satan. I’m talking about money.

Several times I read in Acts where money is the reason why people reject the gospel. In one, a fortune telling girl loses her power because Paul drives the demon out of her. But her boss, who lost his source of income, gets mad at Paul and puts him in prison. Another time, some silversmiths who fashioned sliver idols in a town feel threatened by Paul who was performing miracles and preaching Jesus. They rouse up the crowd to get rid of Paul and his companions.

Their love of money prevented them from having the greatest treasure…. It’s a like a child who wants a shiny dime instead of a hundred dollar bill.

We, Americans, care a great deal about money. It is linked to so many things we want – status, comfort, security, addiction. But aren’t these the things we should look for in God alone?

We are to have our status validated as sons of God in God alone.
We are to find our comfort and peace in God alone.
We are to find the security of eternal life in God alone.
We are to be addicted to God alone.

But we clamor for fading status, comfort, security and addiction in the world and money is what will get them to us.

It IS a great test. Perhaps the greatest test of them all.

If you don’t have money, be thankful. (You are not tested as greatly)
If you do have money*, be careful. (You are being tested greatly)

“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life,” John 6:27

*In case you don’t think you have money, even if you are below poverty line in America, you are still richer than most of the world.