November 6, 2023

Dear Friend,

As we begin the month of November, let’s talk about money. Jesus said that we can know where our heart is by taking an honest look at where we spend our money.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)

Look at your checkbook or check your credit card expenditures for the last couple months. The place you spent your money is where your heart has been lately.  Now, I’m not talking to you about paying your bills.  God certainly calls us to be responsible and pay our bills, including our taxes. In fact, Jesus taught us to pay taxes when he said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s.”  (See Matthew 22:21).

When we flip through television channels today, we can see modern day money changers who sell oil or sell this or that to line their pockets. What’s more, if you listen for a little while longer you will find they don’t teach the full truth of God’s Word. Oftentimes they promise you that if you send them money you will get a financial breakthrough, a healing in your body, or success in your work. Can I tell you that Jesus doesn’t like that? He calls these types of people thieves—thieves in the house of God.  Let’s look at Jesus in action:

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.
13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
Matthew 21:10-14 (NLT)

Does it sound like Jesus was happy? No, He was angry because God’s children were being taken advantage of right there in the temple, the House of God. Jesus always spoke the truth. This week, ask the Lord where He would like you to spend your money.

Hallelujah!

Pastor Jo