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“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17
Surely how we use the money God has entrusted into our care is included in Paul’s exhortation. The Bible has much to say about money. Much of that teaching can be summed up by saying, “Money is a part of the creation. It, therefore, belongs to God, and exists for God.” But like so many other parts of God’s creation, we have worshipped money rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
How so?
We have been known to look to money for salvation and satisfaction. Surely every Christian at some time has thought or said, “If I could just make a little more money, then…” But money does not meet our needs, God does. Money is not our good Father who cares for us, God is. Oh Lord, forgive us.
We have also been known to seek money, in the same way as we should seek God. We can spend inordinate amounts of time earning more and more, and desiring more and more. We worship it through our hearts’ desires and our use of time. We worship it through neglecting our relationship with God and our humble service to the world. Oh Lord, forgive us.
Finally, we worship money by recreating God in our image, pretending that money is as important to him as it is to us, going so far as to say, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will have money and health abundantly.” In doing so, we cut the heart out of the Gospel and gravely dishonor God. Oh Lord, forgive us.
Embracing simplicity, first and foremost, is a reminder to ourselves that all our hope is in Christ. It is a discipline which we desperately need. It helps to pry our fingers away from the love of things over and against the love of God. Furthermore, when simplicity is practiced, as many Christians throughout history have done, it serves as a clarion call to the world that there is nothing in heaven or on earth that we desire more than God (Psalm 73:25), because his love is better than life and all that life offers. Gospel simplicity results in our good because its aim is God’s glory. Will we embrace simplicity?
Watch the below video. Be reminded that prosperity is not the Gospel. Be challenged to put down anything that sets itself up against the Gospel of Christ. Hear the call to engage as Gospel people against the so-called “prosperity Gospel”.
VIDEO – FEMI ADELEYE
Further Resources:
CAPE TOWN 2010 MULTIPLEX: POVERTY, PROSPERITY, AND GOSPEL
John Piper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLRue4nwJaA
Lausanne Standards: https://lausanne.org/en/documents/lausanne-standards.html
This blog is a part of the Lausanne Global Prayer Focus. We invite you to journey with The Lausanne Movement in prayer throughout the month of May. This journey will be a personal one, and a collective one. It will be focused on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, his good news for all people.
In week 2, we are focusing on The People Shaped by the Gospel. 
Download a prayer guide for the week, or visit lausanne.org/pray to access the new content daily. You may also enter your email on this page to be sent a weekly email reminder with the new prayer content each week of May. Be sure to select “Prayer” as a Topic Interest.