MONEY MATTERS 10.12.25

October 13th, 2025

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

Money is an unavoidable part of our lives, yet God’s Word speaks clearly about how we are to view and handle it. From beginning to end, Scripture reminds us that everything belongs to God. The resources we enjoy—our income, possessions, and even the materials that make them—are gifts from His hands. God doesn’t need our money; He desires our hearts. Salvation is never something that can be purchased or earned. It is freely given through Jesus Christ.

However, money has a powerful way of competing for our devotion. Materialism whispers that more will make us happy, but it never satisfies for long. Jesus warned that we cannot serve both God and money because what we treasure most will capture our heart. When we chase wealth, it becomes an idol that steals our attention and affection from the One who truly provides joy and peace.

God’s purpose for money is far greater than personal comfort—it’s about kingdom impact. He invites us to partner with Him in using our resources to bless others, spread the gospel, and reflect His generosity in a world obsessed with getting more. When we tithe, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from God and that He comes first in our lives.

In God’s economy, giving is never loss—it’s gain. Jesus taught that we cannot out-give God, and every act of generosity becomes a seed that He uses to grow His kingdom and strengthen our faith.

REFLECT |

What areas of your life reveal where your true treasure lies?
How can you use the resources God has given you to make an eternal difference this week?

BIBLE VERSES

Key Verses are denoted with an *

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DAY 1 | EVERYTHING BELONGS TO HIM

Have you ever stopped to consider where everything you own actually came from? That car in your driveway, the roof over your head, even the clothes you're wearing right now - none of it materialized from thin air. Every single thing we possess traces back to the raw materials and opportunities that God provided in the first place. This isn't meant to make us feel guilty about what we have, but rather to shift our perspective on ownership. When we truly grasp that everything belongs to God, it changes how we view our possessions. We're not owners; we're stewards. We're not accumulating for ourselves; we're managing what He's entrusted to us. This truth is both humbling and liberating. Humbling because it reminds us of our place in creation - we are the created, not the Creator. Liberating because it frees us from the pressure of thinking we have to provide everything for ourselves. God is the ultimate provider, and He's already given us everything we need. When we acknowledge God's ownership over all things, it becomes easier to hold our possessions with open hands. We can enjoy what He's given us without being enslaved by it. We can be generous because we know the source never runs dry. We can trust Him with our needs because He's already proven His faithfulness in providing.

BIBLE VERSE |
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." - Psalm 24:1

REFLECTION QUESTION |
If you truly believed that everything you own belongs to God and you're simply managing it for Him, how would that change the way you make decisions about your possessions?

QUOTE |
"Where do y'all think your stuff came from? Did you just conjure that up from thin air? That ride you drive, that house you live in, the clothes on your back this instant, the stacks that you pile in the bank, it all came from the raw materials that God provided in the first place."

PRAYER |
Lord, help me to remember that everything I have comes from You. Give me the wisdom to be a faithful steward of what You've entrusted to me, and help me hold my possessions with open hands, knowing that You are my ultimate provider. Amen.

DAY 2 | LOVE CAN'T BE BOUGHT

In a world where everything seems to have a price tag, it's revolutionary to discover that God's love and approval are not for sale. You can't swipe your credit card for salvation. You can't write a check big enough to buy your way into heaven. God's grace is a gift that must be received, not a commodity that can be purchased. This truth cuts against the grain of how we often think about relationships and success. We're used to earning approval through performance, buying our way into exclusive circles, or impressing others with our wealth. But God operates on an entirely different economy - one based on grace, not transactions. When we try to earn God's favor through our giving or good works, we're actually insulting the gift He's already given us through Jesus. It's like trying to pay someone back for a gift they've freely given - it misses the point entirely. God doesn't want our money as payment; He wants our hearts in relationship. This doesn't mean our giving doesn't matter to God. It absolutely does. But it matters because it reflects the condition of our hearts, not because it earns us anything. When we give out of gratitude rather than obligation, out of love rather than fear, we're responding to His grace rather than trying to earn it.

BIBLE VERSE |
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17

REFLECTION QUESTION |
Are there areas in your life where you're still trying to earn God's love and approval rather than simply receiving His grace?

QUOTE |
"God's love and approval are not for sale. They're not for sale. You cannot bribe God. You cannot buy him off. You cannot pay your way into his good graces."

PRAYER |
Father, thank You that Your love for me isn't based on what I can give You or how well I perform. Help me to rest in Your grace and respond to Your love with a grateful heart rather than trying to earn what You've already freely given. Amen.

DAY 3 | WHAT CAPTURES YOUR HEART

Money has a way of being seductive, doesn't it? It whispers promises of security, freedom, and happiness. It competes for our attention, our energy, and ultimately, our hearts. The truth is, whatever we value most will get our best - our time, our focus, our passion, our devotion. Jesus understood this when He said we cannot serve both God and money. He wasn't being dramatic; He was being realistic about human nature. Our hearts have a tendency to follow our treasure. Where we invest our resources reveals what we truly believe will bring us life and satisfaction. The challenge isn't that money is evil - it's not. Money is simply a tool. The challenge is that stuff is seductive. It promises what only God can deliver. Materialism is an insatiable idol that will never be satisfied, no matter how much we feed it. There will always be something newer, better, or more expensive calling for our attention. But here's the beautiful truth: when God has our hearts, everything else falls into proper perspective. Money becomes a tool for His purposes rather than a master demanding our service. Possessions become blessings to enjoy and share rather than idols to worship. We find freedom from the endless cycle of wanting more because we've found our satisfaction in the One who is enough.

BIBLE VERSE |
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." - Matthew 6:24

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What evidence in your life shows where your heart's true treasure lies - in your relationship with God or in material possessions?

QUOTE |
"God does not need your money. God wants your heart."

PRAYER |
Lord, I want You to have my whole heart, not just the parts that are convenient. Help me to see where money and possessions are competing for my devotion, and give me the strength to choose You above all else. Amen.

DAY 4 | ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER

The world is full of words, but what people really need to see is authentic love in action. It's one thing to say we care about others; it's another thing entirely to demonstrate that care through practical help. God isn't just calling us to have good intentions - He's inviting us to be His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs His love made tangible. This is where our resources become powerful tools for the Kingdom. God has supplied us with money, time, skills, and opportunities not just for our own benefit, but so we can partner with Him in meeting the needs around us. When we use what He's given us to help others, we're participating in His work of bringing hope and healing to our world. The beautiful thing about practical love is that it speaks a universal language. When someone is hungry and we provide food, when someone is struggling financially and we offer help, when someone is lonely and we give our time - these actions communicate God's love more powerfully than a thousand sermons. God is looking for people who will move beyond good intentions to actual generosity. He wants us to be known not just for what we believe, but for how we love. When we use our resources to serve others, we're showing the world what God's heart looks like in action.

BIBLE VERSE |
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." - 1 John 3:18

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What practical step could you take this week to show God's love through your actions rather than just your words?

QUOTE |
"Can I tell you the world is full of words, Church. These guys are saying we need to show them. Saying it's one thing, we should say it. We gotta live this now."

PRAYER |
God, help me to move beyond good intentions to actual generosity. Show me specific ways I can use the resources You've given me to meet the needs of others and demonstrate Your love in practical ways. Amen.

DAY 5 | GOD'S ECONOMY

The world's economy and God's economy operate on completely different principles. The world says acquire, accumulate, and stockpile - get as much as you can for yourself. But Jesus teaches us something radically different: give, and it will be given to you. In God's economy, generosity leads to blessing, not scarcity. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme or a formula for material prosperity. It's a fundamental truth about how God's kingdom works. When we give with the right heart, God blesses us - sometimes materially, but always spiritually. We experience the joy of participating in His work. We discover the freedom that comes from trusting Him as our provider. We find that it really is more blessed to give than to receive. Tithing - giving the first tenth of our income back to God - is one way we demonstrate that He comes first in our lives. It's an act of worship, gratitude, and trust. When we give our firstfruits to God, we're saying that we believe He will provide for our needs from the remaining ninety percent. Here's the amazing promise: you cannot out-give God. It's impossible. He will always be more generous than we could ever be. When we operate according to His economy of generosity, we discover that it's easier to live on what God blesses than on what He doesn't. This is the upside-down, inside-out way of God's kingdom - and it works.

BIBLE VERSE |
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:38

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What would it look like for you to trust God's economy of generosity more than the world's economy of accumulation in your daily financial decisions?

QUOTE |
" The world says, acquire, accumulate, stockpile, get for yourself. Jesus says, give, give, and it will be given to you. This is God's economy."

PRAYER |
Lord, help me to trust Your economy over the world's economy. Give me the faith to be generous, knowing that You are always more generous than I could ever be. Teach me to give with joy and trust You to provide for all my needs. Amen.

ACTION STEP

This week, identify one specific way you can use your resources (whether money, time, or possessions) to help someone in need. It could be as simple as buying groceries for a neighbor, contributing to a local charity, or helping a friend with a financial burden. Take action on this opportunity and reflect on how it feels to partner with God in meeting someone else's needs. Additionally, if you don't currently practice tithing, consider taking God up on His challenge to 'test Him' in this area - even if you start small.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank You for this time of discussion and reflection on Your Word. We're grateful for the reminder that You are the source of every good thing in our lives. Help us to hold our possessions with open hands, recognizing that they belong to You. Give us generous hearts that are quick to help others and slow to be consumed by materialism. For those who are struggling financially, we pray for Your provision and peace. For those who have been blessed with abundance, we pray for wisdom and a heart to give generously. Help us all to remember that our true treasure is found in You, not in earthly possessions. May our lives reflect Your love through both our words and our actions. Guide us as we seek to honor You with everything we have. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.

BIBLE APP PLANS

Understanding Financial Stewardship
10 Days – In Touch Ministries

What does a prosperous life look like for a Christian? Some teach that God wants His people to be wealthy, while others believe the truly spiritual person should avoid the pursuit of riches. But what does the Bible say? What’s God’s definition of being prosperous? Join Dr. Charles Stanley as he examines the principles of financial stewardship and helps you gain insight into sound biblical principles for managing your money.

Being Generous: With or Without Money
5 Days – Life.Church
You might be a billionaire, or you could be in middle school–either way, you can be generous. Being generous has less to do with your bank account and more to do with your mindset. Jesus lived generously, and He’s inviting you to follow His lead. This 5-day Plan will provide you with simple steps to live generously.

Smart Money Smart Kids (Youth)
10 Days – Rachel Cruze and Dave Ramsey
Over the next 10 days, Rachel will share what it was like growing up as a Ramsey kid while walking you through a no-nonsense, biblical approach to raising money-smart kids. Based on the best-selling book Smart Money Smart Kids, these devotions won’t just challenge you to teach your kids about money. They’ll show you how to change your family tree for generations to come.