DIRECTED BY MONEY
“But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD – Jonah 1:2.”
Everyone is familiar with money. No one can say he or she
does not know what money is. Oh, that the kingdom of God would be this popular
and known and even more. Money has been a means of exchange, the medium of
purchase or its power, the currency used in the market to get possession.
Truly, the subject of money is discussed more in the bible only second to the
Kingdom of God. but as we speak, money has even taken over that spot in the
heart of many men in the world.
From the beginning, the matter of money wasn’t on the top of
the list but after certain period of time we see that even Abraham had to
purchase a burying place with money. In the time of famine, people came to
Egypt to buy foods with money. In worship, when the place where God chose to
put His Name is too far for the people to bring their offerings of ram, goats,
doves etc., they were told to convert it to money.
With money, weapons of war were bought. Kingdoms and kings reigned and exercised dominion. With this, temples were built and altars raised. In a worldly sense, it is a sign which the people of the world used in measuring one’s success, prosperity and achievement. Majorly because of its usefulness, the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes had to say –
“…money answereth all things – Ecc. 10:19.”Well, by now, we know that it is limited. Know this, money has its limits. If money answers all things, then where is the place of "with God all things are possible?"
There are people in the bible whose attitude toward money
should be used to learn and apply our hearts unto wisdom. While it is true that
money is involved or enshrined in almost all the activities of man, the will of
God concerning it is for us not to bring ourselves under its dominion or
control. When God blessed us that His children (people) will be above only and
not beneath, money is included in the list of those things we are to reign
over, dominate and have control upon. But as we speak the opposite is the case.
The controller of most people in this age is money. The god
of many people in this dispensation is money. What gives many people direction
knowingly, unknowingly, consciously, unconsciously, presumptuously or by
neglect is money. Take the portion where we have taken our text as an example.
God called a man to God to Nineveh but he headed straight for Tarshish. Have
you asked why? It was because he had money on him to pay the transport far. It
is recorded that – “…so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it…” So,
it means the opposite would have been the case if he didn’t have money. We are
not to spite or slight the man called Jonah. It is not within our authority to
judge him but the Lord would have us learn from Him that nothing should give us
direction but Him alone.
The betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ is traceable to money
directing one of His disciples. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas betray the
Lord of glory. For change of raiment and money, Gehazi shortchanged his destiny
and purpose. For money, Joseph’s brother sold him. Though hatred was the
foundation but money was a good option as at then for his brothers.
Now, it is on us to answer this: What or who is directing
us? Money? Today is not the day to begin to bring out issues. But let this be
known to you, if you are directed by money, the Lord God, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ is not your God. Definitely, when God is not your God, mammon
is. By whom are you led. Whose directives do you follow?
DIRECTIONAL GREETINGS
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