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Our Creator, your word speaks plainly to us about the seduction of money. Money, or any other form of wealth, has been a ruler of humankind through all time. Emperors, military figures, industrialists, and religious leaders come and go, but money often remains the "king of the hill."

Money is a god. We bow down to it because it promises to provide all we want. Money doesn't care what we want, or what we'll do with it when we get it. Money doesn't care what words we use, or how we rhapsodize about other gods or values -- as long as deep in our hearts it is money we worship. It doesn't even mind our railing about the evils and dangers of money as long as when "push comes to shove" it is our bank balance that we treasure most. Money doesn't even mind if we are consciously unaware of who our ruler is. Money is very flexible. It doesn't require us to swear allegiance, to memorize a creed, or genuflect to any symbol or place. As long as it has our hearts, it doesn't care what other loyalties we may have.

Lord, we are slowly learning how dominating money can be. It can enable us to accomplish all manner of philanthropic goals. It is also the means needed to meet all that is required for daily living. It fuels a church's ministry and a school's teaching. Money can hire a highly skilled specialist to save a life, to turn around a failing industry, or to bring together the members of a dysfunctional family.

O God, bring to us the sensitivity to recognize when we have turned away from you to make money the king of our hearts. Forgive us when we use it as a guide to determine our worth or another's worth. May we be wise in understanding money's power, without allowing it to determine our soul's journey. Money, indeed, can make possible the grand dreams of a believer's heart, as long as the believer's heart is guided by your will, dear Lord. It is your Son to whom every knee should bow. It is in his name we pray. Amen.