Rick Warren on God and Money: Which one will you choose?

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“To become a real servant you are going to have to settle the issue of money in your life. Jesus said, “No servant can serve to masters…You cannot serve both God and Money.” He didn’t say, “You should not,” but “You cannot.” It is impossible. Living for ministry and living for money are mutually exclusive goals. Which one will you choose? If you’re a servant of God, you can’t moonlight for yourself. All your time belongs to God. He insists on exclusive allegiance, not part-time faithfulness.

Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life. More people are sidetracked from serving by materialism than by anything else. They say, “After I achieve my financial goals, I’m going to serve God.” That is a foolish decision they will regret for eternity. When Jesus is your Master, money serves you, but if money is your master, you become its slave. Wealth is certainly not a sin, but failing to use it for God’s glory is. Servants of God are always more concerned about ministry than money.”

Rick Warren in The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth and am I Here For? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) 267.