Rick Warren Daily Devotional (August 30, 2025) Hope in God, Not Your Bank Account.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” - 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)
The only thing in all of creation that worries is a human being. Plants don’t worry. Animals don’t worry. Only human beings act as if we don’t have a heavenly Father. When you worry about your finances, you’re basically saying, “I think God is a liar. I don’t really think he will meet my needs.” But God will if you meet the conditions.
When I was a kid, I’d go to my dad and say, “Dad, I need some money.” Not once when I was growing up did I ever wonder, “Where is he going to get it?” I never worried about it.
Worry is really a form of atheism. Every time you worry, you’re basically saying, “I don’t believe there’s a God who is going to take care of me.” If you’re a Christian and you worry, you’re acting like an orphan. You’re acting like you don’t have a heavenly Father who has already promised over and over again in Scripture that he will meet your needs if you obey him and do what he tells you to do.
Worry is a warning light. Every time we worry about our finances, it’s a warning that we doubt God loves us and will take care of us. We always get into trouble when we doubt God’s love. Always.
Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (NLT).
As long as you love anything more than God, that thing is going to be a source of anxiety because that thing can always be lost.
Your bank account is not your security, no matter how big it gets. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (NIV).
Put your hope in God, because he will assume responsibility for your needs if you’ll trust him.
Talk It Over
- Is there anything that you love more than God? Is your answer obvious to everyone else by the way you live?
- In times of economic recession or financial need, in what or whom do you put your hope?
- What can you choose to do differently when you start to worry?
