Do I Love What God Loves?

“Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God.” 1 Timothy 6:21 (TLB)

The key to a friendship with God is deciding whose friendship I want most.

I don’t have time for everyone to be my best friend. I've got to decide who I most want to be my closest friend.

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God” (1 Timothy 6:21).

They know all the baseball scores. They know the stock market quotes. They know the top 10 songs. They know who’s in and who’s out in every TV show. But they don’t know God. They’ve missed the most important thing in life!

If I'm not a friend of God, it means I care about something else more. James 4:4 says, “You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy” (NCV).

When James writes “loving the world,” he means loving the value system of the world. God wants me to love people, but that doesn’t mean I have to love the world’s value system.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the distractions of life. And when I'm distracted by loving the world’s value system, there’s not much room to love people. Instead, I love materialism. I love pleasure. I love popularity. I love prestige. I love passion, possessions, and position. 

But God loves people. And he wants me to love them too. One way to show my love of others is by taking an interest in their interests. In other words, what is important to others becomes important to me (always within the context of biblical truth).

That’s how I show my love of God too. If I'm going to be a friend of God, then I've got to care about what he cares about and stop caring about the things he doesn’t care about. God doesn’t care about my image. He’s not interested in my status. He’s interested in your character—not how I look but who I am.

If I'm ready to take a practical step toward friendship with God, then choose to value what he values.

In summary:

There is a fundamental tension between worldly preoccupation and a genuine relationship with the Creator, rooted in the warning of 1 Timothy 6:21. It asserts that knowing God is the ultimate human priority, yet many allow their attention to be consumed by ephemeral data—sports scores, market trends, and pop culture—at the expense of spiritual intimacy. Drawing from James 4:4, the message emphasizes that friendship with God requires a decisive rejection of the world's value system, which prioritizes prestige, possessions, and position. True alignment with God involves a shift in focus from external status to internal character and a transition from self-interest to a sincere, sacrificial love for people.

Bottom line:

The depth of mt friendship with God is determined by my willingness to exchange the world’s value system for His eternal priorities.

Next Steps:

Perform a "Value Audit" over the next 48 hours: Identify one specific area where I am currently seeking "status" or "image" (such as social media validation or professional prestige) and intentionally redirect that mental energy toward a character-building discipline or a selfless act of service for someone in your immediate circle.

The Quiet Choice We Make Everyday

 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13 (NIV)

In order to know what I really love most, look at how I spend my time and money.

Jesus talked about how money reveals priorities. He said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13 NIV).

The word “cannot” is filled with deep spiritual truth. He doesn’t say that it’s difficult to live for both God and money, or that it’s stressful. He says that you “cannot” live for both God and money. In other words, it’s impossible.

My number one goal in life can’t be to serve God and to make money. One has to be subordinate to the other. I can’t have two bosses.

I have to choose what I love most in life. You may say, “I love Jesus most.” But it doesn’t really matter what I say; what matters is what I do.

If I want to know what I love most, look at two things: my calendar and bank statement. The way I spend my time and the way I spend my money, shows what I value most.

In so many cultures today, it’s easy for money to become a god—for it to have first place in life. But that’s not what God wants for me.

Here’s what God wants for me: He wants me to love people and to love him—and to use money as a tool.

If I get that reversed, I'm in trouble. If I start to love money, then I'm going to start using people—and people weren’t made to be used. Instead, use my money as a tool to help me love people and God well.

How do I do that? I use my money to do good, to further the gospel, and to care for people in need.

Remember this: When I live for money, it becomes my master. But when I give my money, it serves me.

In summary:

Jesus teaches that it’s impossible to serve both God and money, because whatever I give first place in my life becomes my true master (Luke 16:13). What I genuinely love most isn’t proven by what I say, but by how I spend my time and money—my calendar and bank statement reveal my real priorities. Money itself isn’t the problem, but when it takes the place of God, it leads me to use people rather than love them. God’s design is the opposite: to love Him and love people, and to use money as a tool for good, generosity, and care for others. When money becomes my master, it controls me; but when I give it away with purpose, it serves me and aligns my life with what truly matters.

Bottom Line:

I can’t serve God and money at the same time—one will always be your master—so your time and finances reveal what you truly love, and money must remain a tool to serve God and people, not a master that replaces them.

Next Steps:

Do a simple, honest alignment check—and then take one concrete action.

Trust God with Your Tithe

In Deuteronomy 14:23 it says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” (TLB)

If you want God to bless something, you have to put him first in that area. So if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put him first in your money. This is the principle of tithing: You give the first 10 percent of your income back to God.

Here are four verses that help explain the promise, purpose, place, and day for tithing.

First, Proverbs 3:9-10 gives the promise about tithing: “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines” (TLB). God says that if you honor him with the first part of your income, he will bless you financially.

My wife and I have been able to remove all debt, except our mortgage (which we are aggressively trying to pay off). We had decided God gets paid first, right off the top. It all comes from God in the first place, and I want his blessing on the rest of it.

Why does God tell us to tithe? Deuteronomy 14:23b says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (TLB). God doesn’t need our money, but he wants what it represents: our hearts. He wants us to trust him.

Where should you tithe? Do you tithe to your local food pantry? Or do you tithe to your brother who’s been out of work for three years? Those are for charity. Tithing isn’t charity; it’s an act of worship. It goes to God.

Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn . . . Test me in this,’ says the Lord All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’” (NCV). The storehouse is the temple, or the place where you worship God.

When are you supposed to tithe? You do it on the day you worship. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn” (TLB). When you give to God on the first day of the week, during the first part of your day, and from the first part of your money, you’re declaring, “You’re really number one in my life.”

Notice that the verse says to “put aside.” Tithing should not be an impulsive thing. You’ve got to plan for it so that you are honoring God’s plan and purpose for tithing.

Then we can watch how God blesses and uses us and honors his promises in our lives. 

Are You Serving God or Money?

In Luke 16:13 it says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (NIV)

If God told you to give something away and you said, “God, I could give anything else away, but not that,” then you don’t own that thing—it owns you.

Luke 16:13 says, ““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”” (NIV).

We’ve got to decide whom or what we are going to serve—and our giving will reflect our decision. If God is Lord of your life, then he should be Lord of our wallets too.

There once was a wealthy man who gave to Christian causes far above his tithe. But it hadn’t always been that way for him. Years ago, he had met with a financial planner. After they had talked for a while, the financial planner took a sheet of paper and drew a box. Outside of the box, he drew two things: a dollar sign representing money and a cross representing Christ.

He said, “I hear two things vying for your attention. I can’t help you plan your life until you tell me which of these things you want in the center of that box, which represents your life.”

The wealthy man thought about it for a moment and then said, “I want Christ at the center of my life.” That was a turning point—that was when he started investing in eternity.

If someone drew a box representing your life and asked what was in the center of it, what would you say? Would you place a cross or a dollar sign inside the box? Would your bank statement support your answer? You can say that something holds first place in your life, but the way you spend your time and money reveals the truth.

When it comes to your finances, you have to make two key decisions: First, who will be your master? Second, where will you put your money—in eternity or in the here and now?

Jesus said, “Store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are” (Matthew 6:20-21 GNT).

God doesn’t need our money. He wants what it represents: our hearts. We can show God that he has our whole hearts by surrendering control of our money to him. Commit today to giving what he tells you to give in service to him and others.

Money or possessions can easily take God's place and become my master. Money is a hard and deceptive master.  Wealth promises power and control, but often it cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made and lost overnight. No amount of money can provide health, happiness, or eternal life. It is much better to let God be our master. As his servants we can have peace of mind and security, now and forever. 

Make Time for What Matters at Christmas

In Luke 10:41-42 I read, “Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'” (NIV)

As Christmas approaches, I need to simplify my life, doing less, not more. By simplifying my life, I’ll have more enjoyment, more fulfillment, and less stress.

At one of the busiest times of the year, I need to make sure I’m filling my calendar, my mind, and my heart with what’s important, not trivial things that won’t even matter in five years, much less for eternity.

The trivial things I’m talking about are not evil things. I can fill my life with good things that keep me from spending time with God. I can be involved in ministry all the time and be so busy working for God that I don’t leave God any time to work within me.

An example of this is Mary and Martha, who were sisters and also friends of Jesus. One day they invited him to their home for a meal. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to his teaching. Martha was busy worrying about the food and making sure everything was in place.

Doesn’t that sound like Christmas? We spend months buying and wrapping gifts, decorating the house, putting up the lights, fixing the tree, sending out the cards, preparing the meals, planning parties. Then, when Christmas arrives, we realize we were so busy with the preparation that we didn’t make any time for Jesus.

“Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:40-42 NIV).

Mary knew there was one thing worth her time: getting to know the Son of God.

Nothing else will matter in eternity. God didn’t put you on Earth just to work and then retire. He put me here so I can get to know him.

This Christmas I need to stop, take a breath, and shift my focus to the one thing that matters most in this life: Jesus.

In summary, Jesus told Martha, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' As Christmas approaches, I need to simplify my life, I’ll have more enjoyment, more fulfillment, and less stress. I need to only fill my calendar, mind, and heart with what’s important, not trivial things that won’t even matter in five years, much less for eternity. The trivial things are not evil. I can fill my life with good things that keep me from spending time with God. I can be so busy working for God that I don’t leave God any time to work within me. An example of this is Mary and Martha. Martha was busy worrying about the food and making sure everything was in place. Doesn’t that sound like Christmas? We are busy with all the preparations. Then, when Christmas arrives, we realize we were so busy with the preparation that we didn’t make any time for Jesus. Mary knew there was one thing worth her time: getting to know the Son of God. Nothing else will matter in eternity. God didn’t put you on Earth just to work and then retire. He put me here so I can get to know him. So I need to stop, take a breath, and shift my focus to the one thing that matters most in this life: Jesus.

Martha didn't realize that in her desire to serve, she was actually neglecting her guest. Am I so busy doing things for Jesus that I'm not spending time with him? I should not let my service become self-serving. Jesus didn't blame her for being concerned about household chores. He was only asking her to set priorities. Service to Christ can degenerate into mere busywork that is totally devoid of devotion to God.

For God’s Blessing, Put Him First

In 1 Thessalonians 2:12 I read, “You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory." (GW)

At times I know I have so much, and yet feel unfulfilled. I’ve got a good family, and a good job, and I’m part of a great church. Then why do I feel so unfulfilled?” It’s because I was made for more than this! I was made for more than survival.

Until I begin to live in God’s Kingdom, by God’s power, and for God’s glory, I will never find fulfillment in life.

So how do I live a fulfilled life, the kind of life I was designed by God to live?

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 2:12, “You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (GW).

What does it mean to live in God’s Kingdom? It means I make God’s agenda my agenda. I make God’s will my will. I care about what God cares about. I put God first in whatever area I want him to bless.

What does it mean to put God first in my life? Here are five areas, called “FIRST”:

Finances. If I want God to bless my finances, even during hard times, start tithing.

Interests. Put him first in my hobbies, career, and my recreation. Give God first consideration in every decision.

Relationships. Put him first in my family, marriage, and friendships.

Schedule. Give him the first part of every day. When I wake up, sit on the side of your bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I just want to love you a little bit more and know you a little bit better.”

Troubles. Turn to God first when I have a problem. Prayer should never be my last resort. It should be my first choice.

Put God first in everything. Then watch how much God blesses me.

In summary, I need to live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. I have so much, and yet feel unfulfilled. Why, because I was made for more than this! I was made for more than survival. Until I begin to live in God’s Kingdom, by God’s power, and for God’s glory, I will never find fulfillment in life. How do I live a fulfilled life, the kind of life I was designed by God to live? I need to live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls me into his kingdom and glory”. To live in God’s Kingdom? It means I make God’s agenda my agenda. I make God’s will my will. I care about what God cares about. I put God first in whatever area I want him to bless. Five areas to put God first in my life, “FIRST”: Finances. If I want God to bless my finances, even during hard times, start tithing. Interests. Put him first in my hobbies, career, and my recreation. Give God first consideration in every decision. Relationships. Put him first in my family, marriage, and friendships. Schedule. Give him the first part of every day. When I wake up, sit on the side of your bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I just want to love you a little bit more and know you a little bit better.” Troubles. Turn to God first when I have a problem. Prayer should never be my last resort. It should be my first choice. I need to put God first in everything. Then watch how much he will bless me.

By His words and example, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in a way God would consider worthy. Is there anything about my daily life that would embarrass God? What do people think of God from watching me?

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.