Do You Like Payday?

Who doesn't like payday, right? All of a sudden, a couple days a month become extra special days because someone gives us money. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars! And it's not so much the amount of money we get. It's just the plain and simple fact that SOMEONE IS GIVING US MONEY!!

Do you love money? I think most people do. Do you enjoy the feel of money in your pocket? Do you play with coins like they're poker chips? Do you arrange your paper money so it all faces the same direction, fold it nicely and put it into your wallet, purse or pocket?

The Bible tells us that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money itself is not bad. However, it is the LOVE of money that is.

I just read a story of two young friends of mine who thought it was somehow okay to steal some things, sell them and use the money to buy things they wanted. In their case, the love of money got them into trouble. LOTS of trouble.

Have you ever been given something that's NOT money? I'm not talking about the socks you got for Christmas. I am talking about something beyond the concept of money or necessary usefulness like those socks. I'm thinking about something that's actually worth MORE than money itself. Something that's . . . priceless?

A pastor friend of mine recently baptized several people in Lake Michigan. Pictures of the baptisms were posted on Facebook. One of the comments read, "Payday!" That is SO true. Our salvation is something priceless that we receive from God, a gift, when we place our faith in Him.

The other day I was on Facebook. I usually cruise through the news feed looking for friends who might need help or prayer. A message popped up from a young friend of mine who wanted to talk. Last night we met and shared stories from our lives. At the end of our time together we prayed together. On my way home I smiled and thought . . . payday! I was just given a blessing from God. :)

I absolutely LOVE helping others. Money means little these days, just a means to an end. But helping someone in need, helping someone who is hurting or in need of prayer, comes with a much larger reward than cash.

If we truly love God and are obedient to Him and His will, God WILL reward us. Not with money but with opportunities to share God's love with others. The "reward" we seek should NOT be monetary but in seeing God honored . . . seeing HIM get the glory and not ourselves. In so doing, we WILL get paid alright. Through His many blessings. Have a happy and prosperous payday . . . all in the name of Jesus!

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

Money - Pink Floyd 
Child Poverty - Compassion International