At our church, we give parents the option on Sunday morning of sending their preschoolers out to the narthex during the sermon. They hear a simplified version of the sermon, sing songs and pray. Usually, whichever pastor isn’t preaching, does the children’s message. On Saturday I realized that we had a pastor on vacation so I could probably assume that I was doing the children’s message. Sometimes I don’t realize this until the middle of the service on Sunday morning! I shared a verse with them last Sunday that Pastor was sharing in the sermon.

1 Timothy 6:10 (New King James Version)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

That is such a misquoted verse. It doesn’t say that money is evil but that the LOVE of money is a root of evil. That love of money and of the things it can buy is where many evils start to grow. We all need money. We all like money. We all (adults and children alike) like the things money can buy. The problem comes when we love money and the things that money can buy MORE than we love God. We love God because He first loved us and gave Himself up for us. None of those “things” we love has ever done that nor can they ever do that. I gave each of the kids a penny and asked them to drop it in the offering plate. (Kids don’t always like to let go of that money! Adults, either, for that matter!) Every time they put money in the collection plate they should remind themselves, “I love money. BUT I love God more.”

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the many gifts you give us on this Earth. Help us to receive these blessings with thanksgiving. Help us also to hold loosely to these earthly blessings while we hold tightly to the gift of life and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. May You always be our first love.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.