What steps can Christians take to prioritize God over material wealth and success? The Setting: Demetrius, Silver Shrines, and Divided Loyalties Acts 19:24 introduces “a silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, [and] brought in a great deal of business for the craftsmen.” The riot that follows shows how quickly devotion to profit can turn into hostility toward the gospel. The passage helps expose an age-old tension: when livelihood, reputation, and comfort are tied to money, Christ’s call feels threatening. Why Wealth Can Quiet Our Hearts toward God • Profit promises immediate reward; God asks for long-term trust (Hebrews 11:6). • Success flatters the ego; surrender humbles it (James 4:6). • Possessions feel tangible; eternal treasure remains unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18). Steps to Put God First and Mammon Last 1. Choose One Master, Not Two • Matthew 6:24: “You cannot serve both God and money.” • Daily decision: every purchase, career move, or savings goal becomes an act of service to one master or the other. 2. Seek the Kingdom before the Paycheck • Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” • Practical rhythm: start the day in Scripture, arrange the calendar around worship and ministry, then fit lesser tasks around those priorities. 3. Grow Contentment, Starve Greed • 1 Timothy 6:6–10 highlights contentment as “great gain.” • Habit suggestions: – Keep a gratitude journal. – Fast from optional spending one week each quarter. – Celebrate God’s provision stories in family conversations. 4. Practice Generous, Cheerful Giving • Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” • 2 Corinthians 9:7: “God loves a cheerful giver.” • Set percentage giving as the first line in the budget, not the last. Increase it annually when God prospers you. 5. Work as Worship, Not Idol-Making • Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men.” • Evaluate: does my product or service bless people or merely exploit them? Reject practices that resemble Demetrius’s profiteering off idolatry. 6. Embrace Sabbath Rest • Exodus 20:9-10 commands a weekly pause, reminding us we are not defined by output. • Use the day to refocus on God’s sufficiency rather than personal productivity. 7. Guard the Heart through Fellowship • Hebrews 10:24-25 urges believers to spur one another on. • Invite trusted friends to ask hard questions about spending, saving, and motives. 8. Store Up Eternal Treasure • Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” • Redirect resources to missions, benevolence, and acts of mercy that carry eternal impact. 9. Keep the Cross in View • 2 Corinthians 8:9: “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” • Regularly remember Christ’s costly generosity; it drains materialism of its charm. Living the Difference Today Like Demetrius, modern culture crafts countless “silver shrines.” The believer who deliberately follows these steps—choosing one master, seeking the kingdom first, giving generously, working worshipfully, resting faithfully, and walking in accountable fellowship—finds freedom from the grip of material success and the joy of treasures that never perish. |
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