Can’t Serve God and Money with Taylor Standridge

Oct 25, 2024

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“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” - Matthew 6:24

Serving two masters is not merely an economic or social concern but is profoundly spiritual. It touches on what it means to be a follower of Christ, challenging us to examine what truly governs our lives. Taylor Standridge joins us today to talk about it.

Taylor Standridge is the Production Director of FaithFi: Faith & Finance and the co-author of Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety.

Overcoming Financial Anxiety with Faith

Many struggle with financial worries—bills, job security, or retirement savings—leading to sleepless nights and constant stress and anxiety. Look at the Sparrows addresses these concerns by guiding readers through biblical teachings that reveal a path to peace. It emphasizes that true security doesn’t come from money but from trusting in God’s provision and grace.

This 21-day devotional reminds us of God’s love and His role as our ultimate source of security.

Serving God vs. Serving Money

One key theme in Look at the Sparrows is the contrast between serving God and serving money, inspired by Jesus’s teachings in Matthew 6. While not inherently bad, money often represents worldly values like wealth, power, and status that can draw us away from God.

The devotional encourages readers to recognize that money is a tool—a good gift from God to be used for His purposes. However, if we believe money can provide the security and identity that only God offers, it can become a form of idolatry that distracts us from a life centered on faith.

Larry Burkett put it well:

“The love of money is a form of idol worship, just as surely as the worship of pagan images. It is not the money that is the problem; it’s the attitude toward it.”

The Bible has 2,350 verses about money and stewardship because money often competes with God for our trust and loyalty. Ecclesiastes 5:10 is a stark reminder for all who are chasing after wealth’s promise of satisfaction:

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Pursuing wealth always leaves people empty, while a life focused on God’s provision leads to true fulfillment.

Danger Signs You May Be Serving Money

The devotional offers practical guidance to help believers identify when money might be taking priority over God:

Prioritizing Work Over God: If making money takes precedence over nurturing your relationship with God or serving others, it may be a sign that money has become an idol. Pastor Josh Teis puts it well: “If rest feels like a sin, work is an idol.”
Never Feeling Satisfied: Constantly wanting more and never feeling content with what you have can indicate that money holds too much power in your life.
Reluctance to Give Generously: If giving feels like a burden or you struggle to be generous, it may reflect an unhealthy attachment to money and a lack of trust in God’s provision.

Shifting from a Scarcity Mindset to Abundance

The “scarcity mindset” often underlies financial anxiety. Scarcity can lead us to focus on our own needs, creating envy and conflict. Yet, Scripture calls us to a different approach—one of generosity and trust in God’s abundance. As Paul teaches in Philippians 2:3, we are to “count others more significant than ourselves,” living with a spirit of selflessness.

Jesus exemplifies this mindset in stories like The Feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21), where He provided for the crowd’s immediate needs and did so with abundance, leaving twelve baskets of leftovers. This act of generosity illustrates God’s ability to exceed expectations, reminding us that His provision is more than enough.

In times of financial stress, Look at the Sparrows invites readers to trust God’s endless generosity and shift their perspective from scarcity to abundance. As we align our hearts with this truth, we open ourselves to a life where we see God as the ultimate provider and experience the joy and peace that come from His love.

How to Get a Copy of Look at the Sparrows

If you want to transform your approach to money through faith and find peace in God’s provision, you can request a copy of Look at the Sparrows by making a gift of $25 or more at FaithFi.com/sparrows. Those who become a FaithFi Partner at $35 per month can receive the devotional before it’s available to the general public.

You can also purchase individual copies or place bulk orders for your church or small group as well.

Explore this journey through Scripture and discover how to move from financial fear to a life anchored in trust and generosity.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I'm a grandmother, and I have an 80-year-old grandson. I'm trying to get him started in investing. I'm considering gifting him a stock, like Apple or Walmart, but I also want to be biblically responsible. Can you provide some guidance on that?
I'm considering getting a reverse mortgage on my home to help cover long-term care needs. But I heard a commercial suggesting an equity loan might be better so I can determine where the overage goes after the home is sold. What are your thoughts on that?

Resources Mentioned:

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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