Relationships: Don’t focus on money

By  Tope Banso.
“There was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought any more about him” (Ecclesiastes 9:15 New Living Translation).
The poor man, in our focal text, was used and dumped! His wisdom saved the city but after that, he was abandoned. Could it be that he was despised because he was poor? (Proverbs 14:20) James 2:9 says it is a sin to pay special attention to the rich as it breaks God’s law to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18b).
There’s no doubt that money is very important in life. But relationships shouldn’t be all about money. Many people make this mistake. They go into relationships because of money and if the money is no more forthcoming, they abandon the person they’ve benefitted from in the past. Obviously, they only loved the person’s money and not the person.
You shouldn’t abandon a relative or a friend you’ve benefitted from financially in the past because he’s going through difficult times and he doesn’t have money to give you again.
Anyone guilty of this needs to ask God and the person they’ve wronged for forgiveness. It shows the person didn’t deserve the benefits he/she had enjoyed. Why should someone abandon his/her formerly well-to-do spouse because of financial difficulty after they both enjoyed the money?
I previously talked about being dependable and never abandoning your loved ones in their period of adversity, and someone asked, “What about somebody who wants to help but he doesn’t have and people think he has?”
I’m sure that question was about helping someone with money. Helping people in adverse condition is not ALWAYS about money. Even the person having financial challenge should not think everybody has money to give him/her. You may not have money to give or someone may not give you money but can help you in other ways.
Being dependable is not always about having money to give. Solomon was wrong saying, “Money answers everything” (Ecclesiastes 10:19b New King James Version). Money may answer many things but not everything.
We can stand with people in their adversity by our attention, presence, visits, phone calls, prayers, encouragement, advice, support, etc. Galatians 6:2 says we should share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Of course, we should give to them if and whatever we have, and the beneficiary should be content with and appreciate the help. James 2:15-17 says if a brother/sister who has no food or clothing comes to you, but you only pray for the person without giving him/her something to meet his/her need, it is useless. Faith without good deeds is useless.
When Job (Job 19:13-19), Jesus (Mark 14:50; Matthew 26:56) and Paul (2 Timothy 4:16) were deserted in their times of need, it wasn’t people’s money they needed. Sometimes, what people in adversity need is not your money. In relationships with people, don’t focus on their money.
PRAYER POINT: O LORD, help me to value people more than their money.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
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●●T. O. Banso, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
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