GTY: Strength For Today Daily Devotional

Loving Money Ignores True Gain

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0700

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment” (1 Timothy 6:6).

True wealth is found in contentment, not in monetary gain.

Love of money and contentment are mutually exclusive. An ancient Roman proverb says, “Money is like seawater; the more you drink, the thirstier you get.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 summarizes the point this way: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money.”

History has also demonstrated that no amount of riches can compensate for a lack of contentment. Millionaire financier John D. Rockefeller said, “I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness.” That wealthiest of industrialists, Henry Ford, was quoted as saying, “I was happier doing mechanic’s work.”

The Cynic and Stoic philosophers of Paul’s day were probably more content than any of the modern corporate tycoons. Those philosophers viewed the contented person as one who was self-sufficient, unflappable, and unmoved by outside circumstances. But true Christians have the best understanding of contentment because they know it comes from God. Paul told the Corinthian church, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5; see also 9:8).

The genuine believer, therefore, sees contentment as more than merely a noble human virtue. For him, it derives from the sufficiency God the Father and Christ the Son provide (Phil. 4:19). Thus a godly person is not motivated by the love of money but by the love of God (see Ps. 63:1-5).

The richest person is the one who needs nothing else because he is content with what he has. He adheres to the philosophy of Proverbs 30:8-9, “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

Loving money deprives us of the contentment the writer of Proverbs alluded to and Paul wrote about. Such greed also leaves us spiritually impoverished and ignores the great gain that comes from true godliness—hardly the end result any of us should settle for simply because the love of money dominates our life.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God that His daily and weekly provision has been and always will be sufficient for your needs.

For Further Study

Read Psalm 63:1-5.

What attitudes result from the psalmist’s efforts?
What additional insights does the prophet add in Isaiah 55:2 and 58:11?

Additional Resources

The Love of Money

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0700

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

There are specific indicators that warn us if we are loving money.

Today’s verse is a classic reference and contains the overarching scriptural principle concerning our attitude toward money. In referring to the love of money, Paul is essentially talking about the sin of greed. That sin is a serious offense in God’s eyes, which means we ought to desire with all our hearts to have victory over it. And we can begin to achieve such victory by recognizing the major warning signs of greed or money-love.

There are at least five major behavior and attitude symptoms that reveal the presence of greed in one’s life. First, if you are truly a lover of money, you will be more concerned with acquiring it than with giving an honest, quality effort in everything you do. Believers are to pursue truth and excellence first of all, and God will see to it that we receive the proper monetary rewards.

Second, if you are greedy, you will feel that you never have enough money. Your attitude will be like the leech’s daughters who constantly say, “Give,” “Give” (Prov. 30:15).

Third, if you love money, you will tend to flaunt what it can buy. You will be unduly eager to show off clothing, your new car or truck, or the new property you just purchased.

Fourth, if you are a slave to greed, you will resent giving your money to support worthwhile causes or help other people. You will want to keep everything to spend on your own selfish desires.

Finally, if you are in love with money, it is likely you will sin to obtain more. That could include cheating on your income tax return or expense account report or shortchanging customers.

If you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt. 22:35-38), none of those symptoms will be in your life to hinder your pursuit of Him. That’s what Jesus meant when He said we can’t love and serve both God and money (Matt. 6:24).

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that God would make the allure of money so faint for you that you would never be a slave to greed.

For Further Study

Write out and memorize Philippians 4:11. Carry it with you, and quote it to counteract the greedy thoughts of dissatisfaction that arise periodically.

Additional Resources

The Right Attitude Toward Money

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0700

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Believers should not have a self-centered preoccupation with money.

With all the attention modern society gives to money, what it can buy, and the dividends it can earn, Christians are continually challenged to view it properly. But Scripture provides us with much help and guidance in this area. It is replete with warnings and admonitions about how we are to act and think concerning money and wealth.

There are at least eight basic, biblical guidelines that when believed and followed will give us a God-centered view of money. First, having money in itself is not wrong (1 Sam. 2:7). Second, we ought to recognize that money is a gift from God and comes to us through His providence (Deut. 8:11-18). Third, we must be willing to lose our money, if that’s God’s will for us. Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21). Fourth, we must not be partial toward those who have lots of money (James 2:1-10). Fifth, we must not arrogantly seek security from money (Prov. 11:28; 1 Tim. 6:17). Sixth, money-making pursuits should never be our highest priorities in life (Matt. 6:33). Seventh, we ought to use money for eternal purposes, namely, leading others to the Lord (Luke 16:9). Finally, we must not selfishly hoard or foolishly spend money. On the contrary, true generosity should characterize every believer (Prov. 11:24-25; Luke 6:38).

Just like a firearm, money can be used for good purposes and evil purposes, which means there is nothing inherently wrong with it. Therefore, the real issue does not concern money itself, but what our attitude is toward it. The Lord wants us to view money as He did and be content with what we have.

Suggestions for Prayer

Confess your sinful attitude in one or more of the eight areas mentioned today. Pray that God would replace those sinful attitudes toward money with His righteous attitudes.

For Further Study

Read Deuteronomy 8:11-18.

What divine favors does God remind the Israelites of?
What sin is sure to befall any believer who forgets that God is the One who makes wealth possible?

Additional Resources

A Society of Things

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0700

“‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’” (Matthew 6:21).

In wealthy countries, where the focus is on material things, believers must strive for the right perspective on possessions.

Today’s text answers the simple but age-old question, Where is your heart? When our Lord answers the question, it is clear He is referring to all of life’s major preoccupations and investments—anything that receives most of our thinking, planning, and expenditure of energy.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had their hearts in the wrong places. Among their many other sins, the Pharisees were thing-oriented—covetous, greedy, avaricious, and manipulative. Matthew 6:21 is right in the middle of a portion of the Sermon on the Mount that deals with the Pharisees’ misplaced priorities regarding material possessions. The verse fits with Christ’s overall purpose in the Sermon, which was to affirm His standard of righteous living in contrast to the Pharisees’ inferior, hypocritical standard (Matt. 5:20).

Matthew 6:19-24 tells us how believers should view their luxuries and wealth. Most of us live in cultures that constantly challenge us with their emphases on materialism. We all spend some time thinking about those things, whether it be a house, a car, furniture, investment portfolios, computers, our wardrobes, or whatever. And many people become slaves to consumerism and greed. Therefore we need to deal with these issues and have a biblical viewpoint concerning the many material comforts we have.

Above all, if we want the same perspective on wealth that Jesus had, our view must far exceed that of the Pharisees with their proud, earthbound viewpoint. They were focusing all of their time and devotion on selfishly laying up worldly treasures. Theirs is not the godly standard of those who want to exemplify Christ in the midst of a materialistic society.

Suggestions for Prayer

What thoughts and activities occupy most of your extra time? Pray that they would not be merely about things, but about the things of God.

For Further Study

You need to have a right view of yourself before any other area of life is properly understood. Read again the familiar opening passage of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-12.
Memorize or meditate on one verse or more that ministers to a need you have.

Additional Resources

The Blessings of Assurance

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0700

“For as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10).

Assurance of salvation lets us enjoy earthly blessings.

It is encouraging that scriptural assurance results in specific, practical blessings in the Christian life. Here are six I’d like to share with you today.

Assurance makes you praise God. There is no way you can be filled with praise and gratitude to God if you’re not sure you’re saved.

Assurance adds joy to your earthly duties and trials. No matter what happens to you, you can be certain that all will work out well in the end. Difficulties are easier to handle when you know they’re temporary.

Assurance makes you zealous in obedience and service. If you’re doubtful about your salvation, you will be apathetic and discouraged. But if you’re sure, you will be hard-working and encouraged in serving the Lord.

Assurance gives you victory in temptation. When you are confident about your salvation, you can overcome the strongest temptation (see 1 Cor. 10:13). Even if you stumble occasionally, you will know that those events have not changed your standing before God. But you will be depressed and discouraged by temptation if you have no assurance. You’ll doubt your ability to cope with temptations and will wonder if falling victim to one or two will send you to Hell.

Assurance gives contentment in this life. You’ll rest secure in the promise that you have a glorious heavenly inheritance to look forward to. At the same time, you will be happy and satisfied that God “shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). But if you lack assurance of salvation, you’ll scramble and reach for all the world’s material goods and feel cheated when you don’t obtain them.

Assurance removes the fear of death. If you know you’re a child of God, you can be sure that the moment you die you will enter Heaven. If you don’t have that assurance, however, you’ll be even more afraid to die than one who has never heard of Christ.

If you are growing spiritually, you will have assurance, and that will let you enjoy these and other blessings as you look forward to being with the Lord for all eternity.

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that God would help you share the blessings of assurance with someone else.

For Further Study

Read Psalm 138.

What was David thankful for?
What reassurances are there for every believer?

Additional Resources