Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:5-7
Who really are your ‘leaders’? Are the ones you think about really the ones you go to for personal advice, and counsel? Do they really know you? Do they actually seek you out to spend time with you… personally? Who are the ones who bring the “Word” to you like a personal mentor does? We’ve been taught to revere and see people as our ‘leaders’ who don’t even know us. Is that the model Jesus presented?
Jesus said…
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
When we have real spiritual leaders they will constantly be pointing us to Jesus. They will constantly be pushing you to consult with the Holy Spirit for answers to your questions. They will be speaking to you personally, one on one, face to face. Your real leaders will be spending time with you and REALLY know you. Those are your REAL leaders. Do you have any of those? If not, find some.
The next issue is the ‘love of money’. This is a HUGE issue for everyone or it wouldn’t be spoken about so many times in scripture. There is so much danger in the love of money. As it leads to and revolves around ‘fear’. That fear will lead people to switch their focus from Jesus to finding another that will become their “Source” of security and life. How? Ponder verse 6 of the passage above. If the Lord is your Helper — how would that be related to money? Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you on this reality in your life.
Real spiritual leaders aren’t wrapped up in the status of money. They aren’t flashy, or fashion trend setters. They aren’t always having to have the latest ‘toy’, vehicle, or cultural fad. Too many ‘hirelings’ (professional ‘ministers’) are very concerned on their ‘appearance’ and status. Unfortunately most of religion is steeped in the ‘love of money’. It is interesting that ‘leadership’ and the love of money are combined in this passage of scripture. Why? To me it seems to be the one if not the main trap set for spiritual leaders by the enemy. Having money can be like a ‘drug’, in that you can become quickly addicted to it and always be looking for more and more.
Do you see more money as your goal — as the solve to all your problems? Or are you really turning to Jesus and the Holy Spirit for your answers to your problems? Is God really your Source?
I have this saying written into one of my study Bibles, and it’s a saying I heard many, many years ago.
“You never know God is all you need, until He is all you’ve got.”
When I first heard it — the ring of Truth was sounding. And another saying I also heard that made absolute truth was…
“God’s work, done in God’s time, never will lack God’s support.”
This is especially hard to hear and realize for those trying to gin up financial support from other people to build the next ‘great’ thing, building project, all in the “Name” of God. Think on this saying the next time you hear about the next great building project ‘for God’.
Is God able to support you? Most don’t want to admit it, but feel God needs our help with that issue. Sure we need to be faithful to His instructions and ‘inner witness’ from the Holy Spirit. The problem is most Christians don’t even ask Him about financial things, or jobs, or what to buy, or dress like.
Here’s the cold hard facts.
You really don’t own anything — if Jesus is your Master and Owner. If you call Him “Lord” He is your Master. Did He buy you with a ‘price’? (1 Corinthians 7:23) So how much of your Master’s money have you spent without His approval or instructions? Why do you love your Master’s money so much? Do you love the Master’s money more than the Master Himself? What do your past actions show? It isn’t about the 10 percent (tithe = OT rule), it’s about the 100 percent of the money given you to steward for Him.
Find spiritual leaders who actually KNOW you personally. Find spiritual leaders who don’t have a ‘love of money’. Find spiritual leaders who actually KNOW the Holy Spirit and have His mature fruit displayed in their lives. Find leaders that spend time with you. Those are the leaders you are to ‘imitate’. Not the ‘platform’ ones this culture and system puts in front of you.