Show Me the Money

Psalm 86:8-13

In the movie Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who is restarting his career based on idealistic principles that downplay the almighty dollar and promote relationships. The only problem is that the athletes are looking for the money. In an iconic scene, Cuba Gooding Jr, who plays a NFL football player, gets Cruise to scream into his phone, “SHOW ME THE MONEY”!

As important as money is, most of us don’t have visions of becoming rich and famous, but we do want enough money to live comfortably and to enjoy the pleasures of life. However, even such benign motivations can lead to creating our own gods; to creating idols that we worship with our time, talents and treasure.

⁸ Where among the heathen gods is there a god like you?

Where are their miracles?             TLB

When David wrote these words, he probably didn’t have money in mind. He might have

been thinking of Baal or Ashtoreth or Dagon or Molech. Or, he may even have been thinking of how he made Bathsheba his god and the pain that it caused.

In verse 8, The Living Bible asks us a penetrating question that actually points out the deficiency of manmade gods. Yet our nature pushes us to other gods; pushes us to find other objects of worship; pushes us to try to find meaning in life outside of the true God. We can’t help ourselves; but He can, He has and He does.

 ¹⁰ For you are great and do great miracles. You alone are God. ¹¹ Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name. ¹² With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever, ¹³ for you love me so much! You are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell.         TLB

 Let us respond to the Living God, the only God, as David did; by following Him wherever He leads; by worshiping Him with every fiber of our being; by praising Him with all our heart and giving Him all the glory.

“SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!” It was a funny scene in an entertaining movie, but so hollow compared to the one true God.

Glory to God - A Discipleship tactic

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble,whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

There are many things we as Christians and as individuals struggle to improve. My journal is filled with petitions to God to teach me to be a better person. My prayers often ask God to fill my heart with love for others, and to give me a tender disposition when dealing with the difficult individual.

I also ask God to give me safety and security, and then I ask Him to show me how to trust Him at all times. I beg my Heavenly Father for so many things. Even things I do not need. But, I am starting to realize that all I do, all I have, all I ask for should have a common denominator. When everything I do is for God's glory and not for mine, I am on the right track.

If I can't do a certain thing for the glory of God, then I shouldn't be doing it. I should be able to write, "Hallowed be His name" over any pursuit I have in life. If I can't say that of what I am doing, then I should not be doing that thing.

Can you write that over your marriage right now? Hallowed be His name. Can you write it over your career and business ethics? Hallowed be His name. Can you write it over what you fill your leisure time with? Hallowed be His name.                                                                                                                                --Greg Laurie

I have never been worthy of praise, but God always has been. That is one of the reasons I go to Him and ask for self-improvement. "...whatever your do, do it all for the glory of God. When He makes improvements to my habits, attitudes, faith, love and trust, then I am prepared to extend the invitation to follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) 

Isn't that what a disciple is suppose to do?

Who is Malcolm Butler?

1 Timothy 6

 

If you know the answer to the title question, then you either a) love NFL football; b) love the New England Patriots; or c) actually watched the Super Bowl game and not just the commercials and half-time show. Malcolm is the rookie free agent defensive back who single handledly put an end to the drive that would have allowed the Seatle Seahawks to win two consecutive Super Bowls.

 

Some players when they make a big play are all about making themselves the center of attention. Malcolm seemed to be the exact opposite. Following the game the NBC sideline reporter had to chase him down to get an interview. And when she asked him a question, he seemed emotional to the point that he could barely respond. He did anything but come across as if the whole game depended on him.

 

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment”.    1 Timothy 6:17

 

Apparently some of the believers in Ephesus had a problem with money – imagine that! Human nature hasn’t changed much has it? Even back in the first century people put too much emphasis; too much trust; too much hope in their money.

 

But, this verse has a much wider application for us than money. The question isn’t do you put your hope in wealth, but what do you put your hope in? It could be money; but it could just as easily be a relationship, your career, your abilities – really almost anything.

 

Our human nature trusts in ourselves. We trust in what we can see and control. We live in an earthly body that is prone to desire what is here and now, and then to take credit for it when we get it. It’s called pride, and we all struggle with it.

 

It would have been easy for Malcolm Butler to take all the credit; to say I worked hard to get where I’m at and I deserve this; to say my hope all along has been in me and my efforts. But he didn’t. In fact, after intercepting the pass, as he ran to the sidelines, he pointed up. I took this to mean, give God the glory.

 

What do you hope in; trust in; have faith in? In the above verse Paul wrote Timothy to tell the rich Ephesians to “put their hope in God”. Like the rich Ephesians, we need to identify what we hope and trust in other than God; confess it and embrace our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and gives us every good gift.

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20timothy%206&version=NIV;MSG

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/1Tim.6