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My Answer: Money not the road to salvation

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Q: When our family got together over the holidays we began talking about what we wanted out of life, and one of my cousins answered with one word: money. I guess I’ve never thought about this much, except to be happy. Is my cousin on the right track? Should this be my goal, too? — K.G.T.

A: No, your cousin is not on the right track (assuming his answer was sincere). Being totally absorbed with money leads to greed, and blinds us to things that ought to be important to us also (such as our families).

Money has its rightful place, of course, and it’s not necessarily wrong to want to do well and prosper in our careers. But when money becomes our only goal, it takes over our lives and crowds out everything else. It also feeds our desire for power, and causes us to ignore the needs of others, using them instead for our own selfish desires. The Bible warns, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

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But what should your goal be in life? Instead of casting around and trying to come up with something that seems to interest you, let me suggest a far better way: Seek God’s goal for your life. God made you and put you here for a purpose — to serve him and live for him.

Begin by turning to Jesus Christ, asking him to forgive your sins and come into your life. Then seek God’s will every day, in both small things and big things. In addition, pray for your cousin, that he may realize he’s presently on a dead-end road, and may give his life to Christ.

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Q: No one likes to invite my aunt to family gatherings because all she does is talk about herself. She never listens or shows any interest in what’s happening to anyone else, and it’s hard having her around. What can we do about this? — Mrs. T.S.

A: To be honest, the only thing we can do with some people is simply accept them and love them just the way they are. It’s especially true as they grow older and may find it hard to change. The Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

After all, isn’t this the way God deals with us? He doesn’t wait until we’re perfect before he’ll love us; he accepts us just as we are. He is patient with us, and when we turn to him and by faith open our hearts to Christ, he welcomes us and makes us part of his family forever. And just as he has patience with us, so we need to have patience with others and their shortcomings. The Bible says, “Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Welcome your aunt, then, and ask God to help you be patient with her and take an interest in her concerns. Elsewhere in your letter, you mention that she lives alone now, and undoubtedly she looks forward to these gatherings. Think of them as opportunities to bless her and minister to her.

At the same time, ask God to help your aunt become more concerned about others. Sharing family stories around the table or engaging her in personal conversations might help with this. In addition, ask God to show you ways you can help her understand the importance of living for Christ and for others, and not just for ourselves.

(Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: https://www.billygraham.org.)

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