I surveyed my congregation recently about the primary concerns in their lives. We offered feedback on 31 various categories used from a national polling company. Any guess what the top three concerns are for this group of people from south Charlotte?
Number 1: financial security, affecting 75% of the congregation. Number 2: dealing with stress, affecting 71%. Number 3: daily finances, affecting 67%. I'm guessing that the results are not unique to our zipcode. I wonder how much of the stress we are dealing with relates to the pursuit of wealth and what it can buy.
Interestingly enough, the top two topics that Jesus discusses most in the Bible are: 1. the Kingdom of God and 2. money. The first is worth pursuing. The second often gets in the way of the first, causing us undue stress. The Bible teaches that relationships with God and with one another are where true joy resides, rather than in things that we buy. Jesus encourages that it is better to give than to receive.
My congregation and I have some work to do related to money and stress. We are overly stressed about money. The Bible offers the solution. Will we heed its wisdom? Will you?
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