You Can’t Take Money to Eternity

Our society is full of the pursuit of money as a source of identity and purpose.  Unfortunately, this pursuit results in financial bondage.  Financial bondage is sometimes mistakenly considered to just be debt, but there are many forms including trying to get rich, spending as a source of escape, or even excessive saving.  These pursuits are often placed before God.

We have to remember we can’t take money with us to eternity.  We’ll leave it behind when we move on someday.  For me, this is reason enough to try and not place money first in my life and use it for my desires or purposes.  Rather, it should be a tool to fulfill God’s purposes.

I came across a scripture this week in Revelation that is a sobering reminder to keep our guard up against greed and to not identify ourselves with money and possessions.  Again, we will leave them behind.

¹¹The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— ¹²cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; ¹³cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men. ¹⁴They will say, The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.  ¹⁵The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn ¹⁶and cry out: Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!  ¹⁷In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!  Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, Was there ever a city like this great city? ¹⁹They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!  In one hour she has been brought to ruin! ²⁰Rejoice over her, O heaven!  Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!  God has judged her for the way she treated you.  ²¹Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:  With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.  Revelation 18:11-21 (New International Version).

My study Bible had this to say about the scripture:

God’s people should not live for money, because money will be worthless in eternity.  And they should keep on guard constantly against greed, a sin this is always read to take over their lives.

I think we have to remember as humans we are always vulnerable to selfish desires and temptations. Part of being a good steward is strengthening ourselves from such temptations by establishing accountability with other Christians, counselors or our family.  We also have to pray and be open about our finances with God.  Finally, reading and thinking over scripture such as this can bring us back to God’s perspective and help us live in His economy.

How does this scripture make you feel about money?

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