DO YOU LOVE GOD OR MONEY?

If I were to ask most people who believe in God if they loved God more or money, the answer they would is give is "I love God more."

However, if I probe with further questions, the answers would reveal more of what is in the person's heart about God and money. The Lord Jesus Christ says "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45)." The Word of God says in Ecclesiastes 10:19, "Feasting makes you happy and wine cheers you up, but you can't have either without money."

Indeed, money can solve so many problems of human beings, as we see today so many people are suffering untold hardships all over the world. In fact, according to human research, the highest cause of divorce in today's world is a lack of money to run the home.

Today's world is sadly filled with people who are so desperate to do anything because of money. Some work so hard to the neglect of their families and when asked why they hardly spend time at home, their answer would be "I have to provide for the family."

We find today families who sell their daughters no matter how young out to prostitution all for money. Young boys join gangs where they sell hard drugs, help to courier hard drugs and engage in so many vices all to earn a living.

In the offices, you find people who are willing to tell lies and engage in all manner of mischief including betraying their co-workers and subordinates just to keep their employment to earn income.

The Word of God is clear when it says in 1 Timothy 5:10 that "The love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows."

In Africa and other continents, we see people, especially politicians who engage in ritual killings of their fellow human beings just to get their ambition of getting into political office and even remaining in office for the trappings of power and wealth such positions hold for them.

We hear stories of young ladies who visit herbalists to prepare concoctions for them that would enable them attract the right men whether married or single into their lives to solve their financial problems.

We hear of young men who are armed robbers who visit herbalists to prepare concoctions for them that would enable them rob their fellow human beings of money and other valuables. When they have done this, they go to some 'churches' to pay tithes and offer thanksgiving to an unknown god for their success in crime, which they call business.

We hear of people who operate what is known as baby factories where young girls who have gotten pregnant and don't want the babies are kept and nurtured until they deliver their babies and then sell them for money, the amount depending on the baby's sex.

We hear of people who call themselves surrogate mothers who help childless married couples to hold the sperm of the husband to fertilize their eggs and when they deliver the child, they give to the childless couple for money.

We hear of couples who marry off their daughters at tender ages to rich men all for money.

We can go on and on and on with such horrific stories about the extent to which people have placed themselves just to earn a living. The question to ask is, does God have a place in the lives of these people? Like I said at the beginning, those who say they believe in God will say God comes first in their life but their very lifestyle would prove the exact situation.

The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 6:31-34, "So do not start worrying: 'Where will my food come from? (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what He requires of you, and He will provide you with all these other things.

So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings."

For those who are desperate to have money, the above advice from our Lord Jesus Christ is what you should concern yourself with because one day you will leave this world and would give an account of all your activities here and that would determine where you spend eternity - either with satan and his demons in hell fire FOREVER or with the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven FOREVER.

For those who are rich genuinely with the true blessings that comes from God, the Word of God says in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others. In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life."

Dear friend, as you read this, please remember that nothing is more important in this life than seeking God genuinely, finding Him, knowing Him, loving Him, obeying His commandments and loving our neighbours as ourselves. Never ever allow money to distract you from the love and service of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, to which He has called every one of us.

Eternal life beckons and nothing can stop God's will from being done. Choose right today. Choose Jesus Christ and He will take care of all your needs in this life and give you eternal life with Him forever in His Heavenly Kingdom in the hereafter.

God bless you mightily as you heed His Word, act on it and share with others in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Gabriel Ama.