The most important thing is love. Prioritizing money over relationships means being consumed with material things at the expense of our relationships with God and family.
Matthew 6:24-25 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”
Natural men, by design, mistakes, or circumstance, may believe that materialism is more important than love—their relationship with God and family.
The world is so low and ungodly that materialism devalues relationships. Even Maslow’s hierarchy of needs lists love as the third priority. However, God’s Word clearly states that love is first and foremost. We spend our lives chasing money as a source of identity.
Relationships are important. They are nurtured in love. Our relationship with money affects other relationships. If your relationship with money is wrong, your relationship with God and people will also be wrong (Matthew 6:24-25).
In Matthew 6:19-25, God is not saying that one should not work. The Bible tells us that money is a defense (Ecclesiastes 7:12), and that anyone who does not work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
This particular passage speaks of devotion to money. The consuming desire for money over relationships is wrong. You cannot be devoted to both God and money. One will be despised. Either God or money will be hated.
It is a lie to believe that unless you work around the clock, you cannot pay your bills. We create our reality. As you think in your heart, so are you—it is according to your faith. While the thought of meeting needs is genuine, it also leads one to chase money and possessions.
Matthew 6:31-32 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.”
These are genuine concerns, but when they dominate you, you begin to behave like an unbeliever. Unless you consciously change your thoughts, you will value material things over relationships. The reason we neglect relationships is that we are chasing money. Life is much more than that.
Let’s assess ourselves: What relationship are you neglecting in the pursuit of money? Value people above everything else.
Philippians 2:1-2 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”
God wants us to value relationships above all else. Judas valued money more than his relationship with Jesus Christ, selling Him for thirty pieces of silver. It’s important to remember that a man’s life does not consist of the things he possesses. So, spend time with your family. Call your parents. Be deliberate about nurturing family and relationships. Don’t block people out because of money.
Abraham and Lot had many possessions between them, which caused discord between their servants. But Abraham valued his relationship with Lot more than money and possessions. He demonstrated the proper priority by letting Lot choose the land first.
In our quest for material things, we often neglect our relationship with God. Even in prayer, our relationship becomes transactional. Sometimes, we avoid church because of the desire for money.
Only men of corrupt minds think that gain equals godliness (1 Timothy 6:5). You must value your relationship with God more than anything else. You must value your relationship with God even when it costs you money.
Hebrews 13:5 urges us to be content with what we have. You cannot mend relationships with God or family using money. God esteems you far more than your wealth. It’s you that matters first—put God and your family first. Make a conscious effort to prioritize God. Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice (Proverbs 16:8). Relationships are fragile; if you don’t invest in them at the right time, they may be gone and never return.
In conclusion, make a personal assessment regarding your priorities. Determine to prioritize relationships over money, no matter the cost. You will not regret it, but instead, reap a great reward in time.
