Our happiness matters deeply to our Heavenly Father, and we see this in the immense dominion and authority He entrusted to the first man. Believers are not just individuals but a corporate unit in the eyes of God. Together, we make up the body of Christ, moving in unison to answer His call and fulfill His mission within the earthly realm. In this way, the first man, Adam, wasn’t just a singular person; he stood as a representative of the entire human race. The intimacy we experience in our relationships with Heavenly Father makes us feel that all His attention is solely focused on each of us, but we can be sure that His eye is upon the church as a whole. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT) says: “But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.” We are a singular body of millions, destined to run our race with the same mind and heart as our beloved Savior. We are indeed one with him.
The goal for every believer is to become like Christ in every way—that we have his heart and mind, not only as imitators, but as true children of God and siblings of our big Brother. This is more than a privilege; it’s our destiny—the very reason we exist. Galatians 4:6-7 (NLT) tells us: “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Being an heir of God is more than a title, it’s an extraordinary transformation. As we grow into the likeness of our precious Lord and Savior, we’re to reflect his love, compassion, and power in all that we do. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) declares, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
Our transformation in Christ is achieved from the inside out. It requires both our minds and hearts to say “yes” to him and accept his invitation to be Lord of our lives. We are spiritually born again when, from the depth of our hearts, we profess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead. We receive the gift of Holy Spirit, and He, the Spirit, comes to dwell within our body temples. Romans 5:5 (NLT) declares: “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” This love that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with is unlimited; it is our treasure—the source of our joy, and it all abides within.
With the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance, we are empowered to live in a way that reflects God’s glory, character, and purpose. However, we must also recognize that certain aspects of our old life can corrode our hearts and keep them tied to darkness. One of them is making money an idol. This practice causes us to act not in unison with the body of Christ but in alignment with the enemy’s aim to separate us from God. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT) says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” If the love of money becomes our focus, it consumes our hearts and entangles us with the things of this world. This leads us away from God’s purpose and injures our relationship with Him.
Constant Pursuit of Wealth
Money drives every decision when increasing our bank accounts becomes our primary goal in life. Whether it’s about career choices, personal priorities, or relationships, when money is the focus, it can easily become an idol. The grind of always pursuing it and finding more and more ways to get wealth can undermine our spiritual growth and keep us tied to darkness. It disconnects us from our true purpose because, before we know it, we’re consumed by greed. We’re constantly trying to get those coins—desiring more money and possessions. And often, it’s all about trying to elevate ourselves to an unhealthy level of self-importance. We have to recognize this evil trap for what it is and guard our hearts against it.
Trusting Money Over God
Fear is a spiritual weight that holds us back from walking fully in God’s promises. It paralyzes our faith, twists the truth, and causes us to settle for less than what God has for us. It whispers lies: What if God doesn’t come through? What if I’m not good enough? What if I fail? Fear will keep us bound if it is left unchecked. God tells us in Proverbs 3:5 that we shouldn’t lean on our own understanding but put all our trust in Him. Fear convinces us to do exactly the opposite—to trust our own understanding instead of leaning on God’s. It convinces us to trust money over our Heavenly Father’s love and provision.
Placing trust and security in wealth instead of trusting in God’s provision is a form of idolatry. Some of us refuse to tithe and hold so tightly to money that our faith is solely in how much of it we possess. When we feel safe only because of our bank account or material possessions, we’re relying more on money than on God’s promises to provide for our needs. He warns against this, telling us in Matthew 6:24 (NLT): “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.”
When we compromise our values, integrity, or our relationship with the Lord for the sake of money, it’s a sign that money is dominating the focus in our lives. Our obsession with it is preventing us from sowing into God’s Kingdom the way He requires, and from seeking His Will in all that we do. It is the highest privilege imaginable to become like Christ, and as we grow in him, we must also guard our hearts against anything that seeks to take his place. The enemy is subtle, often using things that seem necessary—like money, relationships, and achievements—to shift our focus away from God. If we sense this happening, we must pray for God’s help and forgiveness. We must also shift our focus so that it is solely on Him and the reality of His goodness and love.
The belief that money can provide ultimate satisfaction imprisons us. It leads to emptiness and disillusionment. We must be blatantly honest and evaluate our lives. If money is the motivation for how we live our lives, we’re endangering our souls when we should be offering them to God as a living and holy sacrifice as it says in Romans 12:1. If we want to please our Heavenly Father and live righteously before Him, money simply cannot be the focus of our lives. Only God deserves this place, and when we surrender to His transforming power, our lives will become the masterpiece He created them to be. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“A Prospering Soul, Part 3- When Money Is the Focus in Your Life”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.