Grace to Choose

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Matthew 6:24 (NLT).

Living in grace means living in freedom to serve God instead of the world. As you think about your personal life, how much time do you invest into being successful? Are you looking for the praise of people and respect for your position? Or, are you seeking God’s approval and provision instead? By His work of salvation in your spirit, the Holy Spirit has given you an inborn desire to love God and be devoted to Him. It is because of His grace that you can read Matthew 6:33 and desire that lifestyle: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (physical needs) shall be added to you.” (NKJV). To live in grace means to desire God’s righteousness and His kingship in your life. As you submit to His Kingdom priorities, you will live under His provision. God’s grace puts you on this quest, guides you step-by-step, and His grace provides for your needs. This is the reason why you can’t live both in grace and in slavery to money. If you are serving money and worldliness, you must be strong to get the provisions. If you are serving God, you can trust Him to provide. “Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:10 (NLT).

There are two obstacles to seeking God for your happiness and provisions. First, you must decide that God is worth more to you than what the world is offering. As long as you value the world’s possessions or praise more than you value God, you will default to serving money. The other obstacle to trust in God’s control and power rather than in your own control and power. As long as you trust in your own ability to be secure, you will not release control to God. This is the reason why you have to decide that He is good and has the ability to handle every one of your needs. Do either of these obstacles exist in your thinking?

Jesus met a man who was rich and wanted to also have eternal life. The man was a moral person who lived a religious lifestyle. But, he was unable to give up the security and pleasure that he found in his possessions. When Jesus recognized that the rich man was a moral person, He asked him to crucify his love for the world by giving away all of his many possessions. The man could not love God more than he loved his riches. He wanted to serve money and serve God, but couldn’t do both, so he chose his own wealth and security. How about you? Are you living a spiritual life of submission to God and pursuit of His righteousness? Or, are you trying to be religious and worldly at the same time, like the rich man? The choice is always yours: Will you let God control you and your future or will you control you and your future?

Most people know the famous verse that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse is speaking about Paul’s ability to depend on Christ in times of riches and in times of poverty. “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty… And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:11-13, 19 (NLT).

If you choose to obey Jesus Christ’s command to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” then you will be strengthened in every situation to trust God’s provisions. When you live in grace, you learn how to be content and at peace with His provisions.

Prayer: “Dear Heavenly Father, Teach my heart to trust You, my mind to value You and my will to obey You. Please give me the faith to give my future into Your hands. Take away my fears and my love for the world. Please give me love for you and help me to prioritize Your Kingdom. I release control to You and will be content with Your provisions. In Jesus’s name, amen.”