Following up on the “worlds most dangerous drug”
Some FYI information connected to this sundays sermon.
The reason I choose to relate money to a drug.
Unfortunately far too often, we see many people struggling with addictions. If you are a person of self improvement and personal growth you have faced personal addiction in your own life. Take food for example, it is probably one of the more common addictions. If you are confused about the term “addiction” here, try taking your self off all sugar for a week and you will see what I mean.
Addictions are driving motivations that attach themselves to our core and hold us hostage to fulfill their needs. Money is a common driving motivation that holds people hostage to abundant living as they spend their life chasing after it. Money addictions exhibit all the characteristics of a drug. This analogy allows us to identify this culprit in our lives.
How do you know if you are an addict?
Check your motives! What are the main factors that move you forward in the day? What do you day dream about? Imagine your world in an ideal state, how central is money to that dream? Do you spend time each day dreaming about life with more money?
But that is normal, right?
It may be normal by the definition of common, but that does not make it right for you. Consider the day dream of life with more money, how does this money come about? Did you get it from your action and work or are you day dreaming simply about more money? It may mean you lack a fulfillment in your daily practices of work, family or spiritual life. This is “not always” a clear sign that we are living for money. Hopefully we are living for the Kingdom of God.
What does freedom look like?
Because so many live for manna (money) it is hard sometimes to actualize life any other way. Our dreams are a great place to consider understanding life free from the clutches of money. Those who live their life for the Kingdom of God have purpose far great than wealth accumulation. Therefore dreams are connected to their life’s work, their family development, the furthering of the gospel via what channel they are a part of. Someone may serve the Kingdom through ministry to the oppressed and dream of the day of liberation. Some may serve the Kingdom through uniting broken relationships and dream of the day of unity. Others may be ministers of the good news and dream of a great awaking. Regardless of what their life in the Kingdom is, their hopes and dreams are developed by the Holy Spirit. Motives should be based on a passion for the Kingdom of Heaven. This is what freedom looks like!
So, Wealth Accumulation is not on the list?
Correct! It is not on the list of good reasons to live your life. That includes rephrasing it into “I am working for a good retirement,” or even “I just want to leave my children something.” It is your life, your chains to carry, you have to decide. Just remember you can not live for both money and God.
This message is online at Vimeo and my website www.coltonclay.com
May you experience the love of Christ!
Colton Clay
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