Is Money Your Master? Choosing God Over Wealth

We stand at Mount Carmel with Elijah and the people of Israel and face the same question he asked: how long will we waver between two opinions? The story shows a people split between the true God and false gods that promised rain, children, and security. Money functions like those false gods for us. It promises peace, identity, and safety, and it quietly takes the place of wholehearted devotion. The Bible speaks often about money because money exposes the heart and directs our worship more clearly than most things.

We name the idols and the remedies. Idols take shape in our budget lines, our debt, our spending habits, and our hoarding. The proper response starts with a clear decision to serve one master. Practical habits follow: tithing places God first and reorders trust; a budget gives every dollar an address and brakes impulse; attacking debt frees us from lenders who enslave our choices; saving and investing prepare us for storms we cannot predict; generosity trains our trust and redirects resources toward people and eternity. Each habit links devotion and daily practice so that stewardship becomes spiritual formation, not just financial technique.

Elijah’s contest ends with God answering by fire and then rain, proving that true worship restores life and provision. That scene calls us to execute our own idols: cut up credit cards, stop chasing wants as needs, and rearrange money so that it serves people and kingdom purposes. The ultimate test asks two questions we will meet one day: what did we do with the Son, and what did we do with what God gave us? We must answer now with faith and action, investing in relationships and eternity rather than letting money quietly become our master.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Decide who will be your master We must choose one master and live like that choice matters. A divided heart yields a divided life and weak witness. When we commit to God as our master, money becomes a tool instead of a throne. This choice changes daily priorities and frees us to live with purpose. [41:49]
• 2. Money reveals where our hearts rest Where we place treasure shows what truly rules us, not what we claim to believe. Obsession with security, status, or happiness through money exposes a shifting loyalty. When we notice what consumes our time, thought, and worry, we can repent and reorient. Honest awareness becomes the first step toward spiritual health. [45:55]
• 3. Tithe first, trust God to provide Putting the first ten percent under God’s care trains trust and obedience, not just generosity. Tithing moves God from a leftover to a priority and invites divine provision for what remains. This act of faith tests God in a practical way and opens us to unexpected provision. [53:28]
• 4. Budget, cut wants, attack debt Knowing where every dollar goes frees us from constant stress and the illusion that more income fixes the real problem. We control money by assigning every dollar a purpose and refusing to let wants masquerade as needs. Eliminating needless payments and reducing debt multiplies our capacity to give and to invest in family and kingdom. [56:17]
• 5. Invest now in eternal relationships We cannot take wealth with us, but we can invest in people and souls that last forever. Time, faith, and gospel investment in family and others produce eternal dividends. Choosing legacy over lifestyle reorders our giving, our work, and our parenting. That reordering shapes what we will stand before God having done. [81:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [22:55] - Scripture reading First Kings 18
• [24:22] - Closing the series on money
• [30:57] - Master or master question
• [31:41] - Elijah and Israel reviewed
• [36:27] - Drought and the attack on Baal
• [41:49] - Mount Carmel choice and challenge
• [52:07] - Tithing and Malachi promise
• [56:17] - Budgeting and spending habits
• [62:20] - Debt, wants, and practical steps
• [72:43] - Generosity and trusting God
• [84:58] - Invitation, decision, and next steps

1. In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah confronts the people with a choice. What two options does he present, and how do the people respond?
2. According to Matthew 6:21, what does the location of our “treasure” reveal about us? How does this connect to the idea of divided loyalty in the sermon? [45:55]
3. What specific action does Malachi 3:8-10 command, and what promise does God attach to obedience?

1. Why do you think Elijah’s question (“How long will you waver?”) was so urgent for the people of Israel? What might have kept them from answering immediately?
2. Jesus says our treasure and heart are linked (Matthew 6:21). How might money expose our priorities even if we claim to follow God? [46:28]
3. Malachi 3:8-10 calls withholding tithes “robbing God.” Why is this language so strong, and what does it imply about the spiritual significance of tithing?

1. What practical step could you take this week to identify where your “treasure” currently rests? For example: Reviewing bank statements, reflecting on time spent worrying about finances, or evaluating generosity habits. [45:55]
2. If debt is a form of slavery (Proverbs 22:7), what is one specific debt you could prioritize paying off? What lifestyle change (e.g., cutting subscriptions, meal prepping) would help accelerate this? [01:02:20]
3. Tithing is called a “test” of trust in Malachi 3:10. How might starting to tithe—or increasing your giving—stretch your faith practically? What fear or obstacle would you need to surrender? [53:28]
4. The sermon mentions “investing in eternal relationships” as a priority over temporary comforts. Who in your life needs intentional time, prayer, or gospel investment this month? [01:21:47]
5. What “idol” (e.g., credit cards, impulse spending, financial anxiety) do you need to “execute” this week? Name one action, like deleting a shopping app or setting up automatic giving, to break its hold. [01:16:39]
6. How could creating or revising a budget help you align your spending with your values? What category (e.g., entertainment, dining out) might need stricter boundaries? [56:17]
7. The sermon warns against letting money become a “master.” What daily habit (e.g., prayer before purchases, gratitude journaling) could remind you that God—not wealth—is your provider? [44:29]