Finding Security

[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the Weekday Podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day. [00:00:22] Speaker B: Well, hey friends, it's so great to have you here on the Weekday Podcast. We are so honored to get to walk with you every single weekday. Today on the podcast, I want to think about this idea of finding our security in God. Now you've probably heard the phrase that money talks. But have you ever noticed that when money talks, it never seems to say enough. Instead it whispers promises of security or happiness and freedom. Yet somehow it often leaves us feeling insecure, even more anxious and trapped more than ever. And so today I want us to tackle the elephant in the room, our relationship with money and the grip that it has on our hearts. Now, Jesus was not afraid to talk about the subject. In fact, he deals with it head on with a statement that honestly might make us uncomfortable. Jesus says in Matthew 6, verse 24, no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. And here's what he says, you cannot serve God and wealth. Now the word here for wealth is a word that's more than just about money. It actually represents our entire system of material stuff and the security that can become a rival to God in our lives. It's like tug of war between two masters, each pulling for our allegiance. Now here's what makes this so challenging. Money is not neutral. It's not just a tool. It's a force that actively competes for our trust, our attention, and even our worship. When you think about it, money promises security, but it can disappear overnight. Freedom, but it often enslaves happiness. But it leaves us empty status. But it can't by respect and control, but it controls us instead. Instead, God promises eternal security, true freedom, lasting identity, identity in Christ, peace that surpasses understanding, lasting joy. The issue isn't about having money. It's really about money having us. When we serve money, we end up worrying constantly about losing it. We base our decisions primarily on financial impact. We find our identity in our bank balance. We struggle to be generous when we are all about money. We trust in our savings more than our Savior. But here's the good news. We can break free of money's grip through gratitude and trust in God. Here's how number one, recognize the rival. In other words, acknowledge where money has become the master in your life. Identify areas where financial fears drive your decisions and be honest about where you're finding your security. Number two Realign your trust. Start seeing money as a tool and not a treasure. Practice thanking God for His provision. Make decisions based on kingdom values, not just financial gain. Number three Release control. Start giving regularly, even if it's small. Create a budget that prioritizes being generous. Trust that God will provide more than you plan. And then Number four Remember your true source. Meditate on God's faithfulness in your life. Record specific ways that God has provided for you. Share testimonies of God's provision with others. This isn't about becoming poor or ignoring financial responsibility. It's about breaking free from the enslaving power of money so that we can serve God with our whole hearts. It's about finding our security in the 1 and as Psalm 50:10 says, owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The truth is, financial pressure will always be there. The bills will keep coming, the economy will continue to fluctuate, but our security does not have to rise and fall with our bank balance. So today I challenge you to take a step towards breaking money's grip on your life. Write down three ways that God's provided for you. Give something away without thinking about the cost. Make one financial decision based on faith rather than fear. Because true security, it isn't found in what we have, but in who has us. When we get this right, what we'll discover is a freedom that no amount of money could ever buy. Have a great day. We'll see you back here soon. [00:04:19] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugar Hill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 9, 15 and 11 and we're always streaming live at Live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome.