Monetary Gain

First, I want to be honest. I have read and watched many books and movies with Christian values over the years, and I want to recommend all of them. But in order to bring in some extra money, I want to link the recommendations to the Amazon Affiliates Program.

I hope you will all enjoy my reviews/recommendations of these items, even though they are linked that way, and excuse me for using a few of my blog posts to do so.

So, I wanted to be up front about this, before tackling today's post: Monetary Gain.
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I don't like money. I wish the world worked without it, and that people could survive without it. It would be nice if we just lived in a world where everyone shared responsibilities and the rewards of those responsibilities. I think I'm imagining some sort of cooperative Utopia. Oh well. I can dream!

Anyway, because I'm going into the Amazon Affiliates venture, I wanted to be sure I was doing it with the right heart. I prayed about this before ever deciding to do it, and I feel that I've been given the go-ahead, as long as it doesn't replace the main focus of this blog: to glorify God and understand Him better.

So, what does the Bible say about money?

The love of money is the root of evil, and the desire for it will lead us to destruction.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 - Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

We are supposed to focus on the treasures God gives us rather than the treasures we can find on this earth.

Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

We should be content with what we have.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

If we serve God with all of ourselves, He will bless us for all to see. He will bless us so that our blessings may be a testimony and a blessing unto others.

Psalm 31:19 - How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

So, God will bless us when we follow and obey Him. It doesn't mean He will make all of us millionaires, though He certainly CAN! But God wants to bless us, and give us the desires of our hearts. All we have to do is trust that He knows best, and follow the rules He has set for us.