Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Mt 6:21). If you have shares in companies it stands to reason that you are going to follow what those companies are doing so you can sell your shares when things start to look bleak. If you are supporting a missionary in South Korea you will be following the news on what is happening right now between North Korea and the US, and praying into that. “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” While there’s nothing wrong with owning shares or having investments, if we are spending more time focussing on self financial gain than we are sharing our wealth and using our gifts for the sake of the Kingdom then we are not in a great spiritual place.
The Pharisees loved money and would cheat others out of it in order to advance their own wealth. About this Jesus said, “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight,” (Lk 6:15). He also said, “If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Lk 16:11). God knows how much a focus on money can take us away from Kingdom thinking and living. He even goes to the extent of saying “You cannot serve both God and money,” (Lk 16:13). With this in mind it pays us all to do a spiritual health check on our view of money. Do we see our money being hard-earned and therefore ours completely? If we have little money, are we bitter towards those who have more, expecting them to support us? Do we get excited the more our wealth accrues in the bank? Jesus wants us to be wise with money, to be generous with money, and not let it rule our lives.
Julie