Conversation Conversations

Week 34 — Money

"The love of money is the root of all evil. Some men in their passion for it have strayed from the faith, and have come to grief amid great pain." —1 Timothy 6:10

Jump to day: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sunday

"Wherever your treasure lies, there your heart will be." —Lk 12:34

Conversation:

Abba: Child, it's not mind over matter as much as matter over mind. Hearts don't choose treasures as much as treasures change hearts. Your priorities don't determine your life-style as much as your life-style forms your priorities. Therefore, your love of money is devastating. It is the cause and root of all evil.
Child: Abba, You are freeing me. May I not be possessed by my possessions.

Response:

Give from the heart.

Monday

"So Judas flung the money into the temple and left. He went off and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver." —Mt 27:5-6

Conversation:

Abba: Child, Judas swore it would never happen to him. He told himself he was being practical and was not trapped by money. He deceived himself. The devil added lies to that lie, and Judas committed suicide. Money is dangerous. Beware.
Child: Abba, I don't trust myself.
Abba: "In weakness power reaches perfection" (2 Cor 12:9).

Response:

Give it up before you're hurt.

Tuesday

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life shall be required of you. To whom will all this piled-up wealth of yours go?' " —Lk 12:20

Conversation:

Abba: Child, don't you trust Me? You hoard things as if I weren't your Father and hadn't promised you daily bread. The money you have in the bank I have earmarked for the poor. There's plenty to go around if no one keeps extra. If you have extra, it probably belongs to someone else.
Child: Abba, hardly anyone goes by the system You're describing. I'd be destroyed by our economic system if I did what You say.
Abba: Don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the Spirit (Rm 12:2).

Response:

Give what never belonged to you anyway.

Wednesday

"You cannot give yourself to God and money." —Lk 16:13

Conversation:

Abba: Child, you don't realize it, but indirectly you worship money. You are involved in idol worship of a false god. If you don't receive deliverance, you're doomed. You are being bribed to enter hell (Gn 25:31).
Child: Abba, why do You keep harping on money? Can't I just be a Christian and not worry about changing my finances?
Abba: No.

Response:

Give up selfish rebellion against God.

Thursday

"You are indeed accursed, for you, the whole nation, rob Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me in this, says the Lord of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?" —Mal 3:9-10

Conversation:

Abba: Child, if you're a good steward with money, I'll entrust you with greater things (Lk 16:10). Using money is a kindergarten of the kingdom. Tithing and almsgiving are the ABC's of kingdom-living.
Child: Abba, I knew You were going to bring up tithing. I have a problem with this.

Response:

Give alms.

Friday

"But if you give what you have as alms, all will be wiped clean for you." —Lk 11:41

Conversation:

Abba: Child, I'm not talking primarily about money; I'm speaking of relationship. Do you trust Me or not? You know I've never let you down. So what's the problem?
Child: Abba, the only way I would ever be so free with my money is if I was secure in Your love.

Response:

Give your love and yourself to Abba.

Saturday

"How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs." —Mt 5:3

Conversation:

Abba: Child, having money won't make you happy, but freely giving it away will bring you great joy. You can be happy any time you wish. Just put in your widow's mite (Lk 21:4). I will multiply it and give you happiness.
Child: Abba, if I would only let You be my Father and love me! If I won't trust You for my daily bread, how can I trust You for my salvation and eternal life?

Response:

"Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fold of your garment" (Lk 6:38

Excerpts from Scripture are taken from The New American Bible, copyright 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.

Nihil obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, July 13, 1995.

Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, July 25, 1995.

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