Jul. 5, 2005 - Money Represents Priorities

This is Part V of a five-part series called Money 101.

Money also represents our priorities and reveals our hearts.  If we look at how we spend time each day it is easy to identify our priorities.  We do what we choose to do.  How much time is spent at work, sleeping, praying, reading the Bible, eating, communicating with our families, playing with our children, etc.?  Our allocation of time reveals our hearts and our priorities.  This is essentially what Jesus told Martha.

“But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”  Luke 10:41-42

Martha’s priority was preparing food and serving the guests, not the things of God.

The same principle applies to money.  How we spend money reflects our priorities in life.  When I meet with clients, their use of money reveals far more about their values and priorities than anything they say.

Money follows our hearts.  Jesus made this clear with the rich young man who asked him what he could do to inherit eternal life.

“And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’  But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property.”  Mark 10:21-22

The young man would not give his money to the poor because His heart was not in it.  His heart was centered on self and so he kept his money.  His money followed his heart.  If you read the context of this verse, the rich young man was really quite bright and seemed to have more promise as a disciple than any of the twelve.  Yet Jesus let the young man go his way because his heart was not right.  How did Jesus know?  Follow the money.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:21

It can be equally said “For where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.”  Our hearts and money are inextricably linked.  Perhaps that is why 16 of Jesus’ 38 parables relate to money.  He knows that the surest way to our hearts is through our wallets.  God uses money as a barometer of our priorities and to reveal our hearts.

This concludes my brief series called Money 101.  Many future posts will refer to some of these foundational topics as there are many implications which follow from them.

Other posts in this series:

• Part I - Money 101 An Introduction
• Part II - The Usefulness & History of Money
• Part III - The Characteristics of Money
• Part IV - Money Represents Time