Episode Transcript
Hello and welcome to another episode of Worldwide Wonderful Women. I am your host Paula Harris and this podcast is for women who are all about learning how to live in God's divine power. It is produced on behalf of Transformed Worldwide Ministries. Thank you so much for being here.
Hello and welcome to Episode #372 and it is entitled, "Moments or Money for Mom?"
I trust that you were able to participate in the National Day of Prayer and that you will have a blessed Mother's Day and you will also enjoy your celebration this year of Memorial Day. I truly appreciate your being here with me today.
With Mother's Day taking place this month, maybe you're puzzled as to what to get her this year. There are many items that are being advertised, but maybe you're still not sure what would be the perfect gift for for her this year.
The pressure you feel may be produced from her previous response as to what you had given her in the past. Then again, her personality may be one where she is happy no matter what you give her, so there's really no reason for you to feel any pressure. Also, you may be like me, where my mother and mother-in-law are no longer here with us. For you, it may be an aunt, a sister, a daughter, or another. As a result, you may desire to bless someone else who is a mother, yet she too may present a challenge regarding what to get. Furthermore, I am sure there are many like me who do not even want any type of gift, but appreciate moments of loving time with family members. In such cases, there's no pressure at all to even get a gift.
Some people, when they're not sure what to give, turn to money so the receiver can get whatever they want. Giving money is foolproof and powerful because it can be used to purchase a variety of things. They may believe that money is a powerful solution for such times.
However, on TV I saw a new trend of people boycotting spending money as before due to the economy. They are cutting back on spending money in 2025. They have decided to go without routine purchases they would normally make.
Either way, money in and of itself is not evil. It is the use and love of money that can lead to evil. It's when a person depends on money more than God that they get into trouble. First Timothy 6:10 states, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Whether you plan to spend money on Mother's Day or not, on this podcast I would like to share some insights to balance your view of it. For what the world says about money and what the Word of God says are the opposite of one another. I will share some thoughts from Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary on this topic. So I will share the world's view and then the Word's view regarding money.
The world says money brings freedom, but the Word of God says the desire for money can be enslaving and lead to destruction. Only Christ brings true freedom. And I just read that to you in 1 Timothy, Chapter 6.
The world says money brings security, but the Word of God says worldly wealth is very insecure. It will quickly pass away. That real security is found in knowing and trusting God. In Jeremiah 9:23-24 this is what the Lord says, "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom, or the strong boast of their strength, or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this, that they have the understanding to know me, and that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth for in these I delight, declares the Lord."
Then the world says money is what matters. But the Word of God says that Christ and the kingdom of God are what truly matters. In Matthew 6:33 it says, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So what matters first is seeking God and His kingdom, and then all the other things that matter to you will be given.
Now the world's view is money is power. But the Word of God's view is that power comes from being filled with with the Spirit. And if you look at Acts, Chapter 1:8, it says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." So really power comes when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
Then the world says money establishes not only your net worth, but your worth as a person. But the Word of God says your worth is based on what God says, not what your bank statement says. And we can look at Ephesians 1:3-8 and this is what it says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realm with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace that he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he has lavished on us." So come on, what establishes our net worth or our worth as a person? Think about that again.
The world says money makes you successful. But the Word of God says that success comes from knowing and doing what God says. In Joshua, Chapter 1:8 it says, "Keep the Book of the Law always on your lips. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
The world says money gives you options. But the Word of God says God is the one who ultimately gives you options. Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."
The world says money gives you happiness. But the Word of God says the happiness that money brings is short lived. And in the long run, money can actually produce many sorrows where lasting joy comes from knowing God. In 1 Timothy, Chapter 6:10, it says, "For the love of money again is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." So here again many griefs, many sorrows. Money can be short lived, evaporate, and bring a lot of sorrow. But then in John 16:24, it says, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete." So joy comes from God, and as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not from having a bunch of money in your possession.
The world says, money is your reward. Save it and spend it on yourself. But the Word of God says, give as much as you can. In Acts, Chapter 20:35 it says, "And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
And then last, the world says, money is your possession. Spend it on whatever you want. But then the Word of God says, all that you have is God's to do with as He pleases. You are merely a manager of His possessions. In Psalm 24:1 it says, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all its people, belong to Him."
What you do on Mother's Day is truly your choice. You will determine if moments or money will take the priority. Just remember that the world and the Word of God have different viewpoints regarding money, its power, and how it is to be used. The truth is, it doesn't matter whether you have much or a little, because if you have Jesus as your Savior and source for all things, you are truly rich indeed.
Go to our website given at the end of this podcast to learn how you can have this abundant life in Him. And until next month; smile, Jesus loves you!
Thank you for listening. To make sure you do not miss any future episodes, please subscribe to our podcast. We want all to be able to live in God's divine power. Also, sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website, twmforjesus.org. Please do share our podcast with others and Lord willing, we'll be together next month.
