The deception of money is a trick the enemy uses on every generation. You may have been a victim of this deception. Deception is the act of causing someone to accept as authentic or valid what is false or invalid.[1] The enemy wants you to believe that the more money you have, the happier you will be. No amount of money can ever make a person happy.
Solomon was a wealthy man who had everything money could buy, but he discovered it did not provide true peace or happiness. Ecclesiastes 2:11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. [2] If you are pursuing the wind today, the Lord wants you to know that true wealth is having a relationship with Him.
Money Deceives Judas
Jesus gave Judas the fantastic gift of being a disciple of Jesus, but his thirst for money would be a roadblock in this relationship. A woman came to Jesus and anointed Him with expensive perfume. Judas revealed his heart when he complained about this.
John 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. [3]
God Opens Our Eyes to the Deception
We may not realize the deception of money, but as we listen to the Holy Spirit, He will show us the traps the enemy is using on us. Jesus speaks of this in His sermon on the mount. Matthew 6:33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.[4]
In life, we often seek what we think we need first versus seeking the Lord. When we seek the Lord first, all we chase after may not seem as important. The Lord has a way of changing our perspective as He transforms our hearts. In my life, things I thought were important when I was younger are not necessary to me anymore. Over time the Lord changed my heart and opened my eyes to the enemy’s deception.
Ephesians 1:18I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. [5]
To hear more about the deception of money, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-jesus-anointed-at-bethany
[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deception
[2-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.