1 Timothy 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Ambition is a complicated thing. Setting goals and working toward them is good and commendable, but the nature of those goals is of utmost importance. If, say, a person’s goal is to invent things that make life easier for us and for others, that’s a good thing and they might even become wealthy in the process. However, if a person’s goal is not inventing to help people but rather for the money itself, someone with the same gifting and ability will never be satisfied or happy. That’s the fundamental problem with all sorts of gambling: the lure is the thought of getting rich without benefiting anyone else in the process. Wanting to provide for our families is not bad, but when the money itself becomes the goal, we’re in real trouble. That’s why Jesus said that we’re to “lay up treasure in heaven,” rather than materially. (Matthew 6:19-21) As He said, our heart is with what we value, and money is a barren place for hearts. Dickens’ famous story A Christmas Carol illustrates that truth with great skill. Until his heart is changed, Scrooge is the most pathetic figure of all, even more so than Tiny Tim, because Tiny Tim knows he is surrounded by love, and he receives it. Money can be useful, but it is totally heartless, and if we see it as our goal, we become heartless too.

The longer I live the better I understand why Jesus talked more about money than He did about heaven. How we interact with money reveals so much about us! I have had pipe dreams of what it would be like to be wealthy, but God has graciously not allowed those to become goals. As I have told many people many times, knowing that God is my provider has been very liberating. I deal with many people who can’t seem to grasp that God really knows what we need better than we do, and He’s not stingy. Matthew 6 is familiar to many people, but they have trouble really believing and trusting it. I need to walk in consistent trust and obedience myself, and I need wisdom and anointing to speak faith into people’s hearts. However, liberation from the love of money, the desire to be rich, is a choice, an act of the will, and I can’t do that for anyone; all I can do is pray, and speak God’s truth in love.

Father, the whole issue of goals and priorities is huge, and I run into it constantly. Help me not look down on those with mistaken goals and priorities, but rather draw them into the liberty of Your Spirit by word and by example, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!