Count Your Time, Not Money - Part 2

Count Your Time, Not Money - Part 2

As shared in Part 1, biblical wisdom is to count our time, not our money. Counting our money is to pursue an upside-down kingdom, which is of the world. We are to make our money count, instead of counting our money.

Financial gurus say, "Hey, you should first achieve financial independence, then you can pursue what you want to do in life." Is that really in the Bible?

The last I checked... it is still Matt 6:33 - "But 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

By the time you are done with pursuing financial independence, you probably have missed out much of God's assignment for your life. Furthermore, most of these gurus never stop even after reaching their goal of financial independence. Going after $$$ will often make you want more $$$. It is never enough because it's idolatry.

He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “First, make sure you have financial independence... T̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶j̶o̶u̶r̶n̶e̶y̶,̶ ̶n̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶f̶f̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶r̶ ̶b̶a̶g̶ ̶n̶o̶r̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶n̶o̶r̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶e̶y̶;̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶w̶o̶ ̶t̶u̶n̶i̶c̶s̶ ̶a̶p̶i̶e̶c̶e̶." - Luke 9:2-3 (Today's Financial Independence Version)

What about Matt 6:19-21? What about Matt 6:31-34? What about Phil 4:19? What about 2 Cor 9:8 and many other verses?

Disclaimer: There is nothing wrong to have financial abundance. But it cannot be our kingdom priority unless we are of the world. When Jesus returns suddenly, He's not going to ask, "How much finances have you made in your life?"

I have met and spoken to people who are bound by finances (and they can be rich too). By saying that, I'm referring to the decisions that they made apart from what God is showing through the Word. Some even stay stuck in full-time church ministry because they are afraid of not having a stable income or a proper job if they leave (even if God has already spoken). 

Money is a very powerful Mammon. In fact, it is the only thing compared against the Master (Matt 6:24). The Bible doesn't say that you cannot serve God and satan. It says that 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧. The enemy doesn't have to fight with you. He just gets you obsessed with Mammon, which is the currency and the system of the world that controls everything you need IN the world. It is so subtle that many believers fall into his trap without any realisation. (Covid-19 shows us that we are not ready for the persecution that is to come).

No matter how we justify using the Scriptures on the importance of financial independence, it is simply not there. Neither is it in the life of Jesus. Jesus lived in complete (financial) dependence on the Father.

In the final part, we will look at the Parable of the Shrewd Manager and what financial stewardship really is.