4 Warning Signs That You Love Money More Than You Should

Here are four warning signs that your love for money is taking over your life.

A Clinched Fist

One of the best ways to see if your heart is where your treasure is would be to look at your checkbook ledger. Is there rarely anything given to charities or the local church or even those you know who are poor? Where does most of the money go? After car payments, insurance premiums, and house rent or house payments, where does most of your (and my) money go? Jesus reminds us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:20), and know for sure that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21).

Too Many Toys

The bumper sticker that says, “The one who dies with the most toys wins,” is tragic because if they die without Christ, they have lost everything! I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. The dead cannot take anything with them. It is as Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). If you find that you are stressing over too many payments, could it be that you have too many toys. Is it necessary to have the latest flat screen TV? Do we really need to have the newest car or computer? Of, just fill in the blank. Solomon warned that “the borrower is the slave of the lender” (Prov 22:7).

Cause of Friction

One waring sign about money loving money too much is when it becomes a point of contention, thereby becoming the dominant force in the marriage. Money can shred that “threefold cord” of God, the husband, and the wife, and insert itself into a marriage as its own “god.” Money can be a root of all sorts of evil (1st Tim 6:10). If we own a lot of possessions, our possessions can own us. When arguments begin to surface over money issues, it’s time to assess your love of money or your spouse’s devotion to it.

Devoted to Work

I had a friend who was so devoted to work that he was fairly rich. Sadly, his family actually suffered from it. What he thought he was doing for them, by working long hours, was actually taking him away from his family for long hours. That left it to his wife to run a household and try to raise three young boys, two of which were teens. As you can imagine, his marriage was ruined. He tried to make amends, but it was too late. The damage had been done. The man’s intention was to help his family have financial security, which is okay in itself, but when it becomes an obsession, and means time away from the family, then it might be because you love money too much.

Conclusion

I am not just writing this to others; I am writing to myself. There is a real and present danger for all of us. Anyone can fall into the trap of pursing money. The old “paper chase” has brought down many a good man and woman. It just isn’t worth it. Our money can’t buy another minute or let us go back to when our child first learned to walk, so if you see you’ve got a clinched fist, too many toys, get into arguments over money, and are devoted to chasing money through work rather than serving God and your family, you obviously love your money too much.