The eagerness and the anxiety

We live in a world of eagerness and anxiety, in a world that runs fast. We see many cities like New York and São Paulo where you work 24 hours, where the streets are always full, where the eagerness is incredible, people who have up to three jobs to support their families and make them live a decent life. But, there is a desire that goes beyond all this: “The insatiable desire for money.” 

Jesus touched a lot on this subject, and is that we can come to feel so eager for money that we can completely deviate from what is really important: God. That is why in Matthew 6 Jesus tells us that we can not serve two masters and this is referring to money. Why is it that Christ spoke so much on this subject? He did it because most of the men feel great desire for wealth.

Christ said:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:25-26

There are people who spent the last Christmas trying so hard to buy the best clothes, to eat the best food, even people who could not afford those expenses. And Christ makes a comparison with the birds of the sky, which do not work, however, they are sustained. In other verses He also talks about the lilies of the fields, referring to the fact that not even Solomon dressed himself with such glory.

However, all beauty is destroyed, we work for so many things, but in 50 years we will look in the mirror and we will be completely wrinkled. The point here is that none of this should be our concern, much less the center of our lives.

We must worry about getting hold of eternal life.

When Jesus calls us to lift our eyes and observe the birds of the air, He is not merely offering a poetic illustration; He is reminding us of the profound truth that human value is rooted not in possessions but in divine care. The problem with the constant pursuit of wealth is that it blinds us to this reality. We begin to measure life according to what we have instead of who we are in God.

Many people spend their days anxiously calculating how to get ahead, how to achieve more, or how to maintain a certain image, and in that constant struggle they lose the peace that Christ freely offers. True rest is not found in a bank account or a paycheck; it is found in trusting a God who feeds the birds, clothes the lilies, and cares infinitely more for His children.

This is why Jesus redirects our priorities: He wants us to understand that life has a deeper purpose than the accumulation of temporary treasures. The human heart was not designed to carry the burden of anxious striving. When material things become our central pursuit, they eventually exhaust our strength and consume our joy.

Christ invites us to look beyond the visible and place our hope in what endures. Eternal life, fellowship with God, and a heart aligned with His will—these are the treasures that neither moth nor rust can destroy. If our days are filled only with the pursuit of wealth, we will reach the end of life realizing that the things we valued most were the very things we could never keep. But if we invest in what is eternal, we receive a reward that time cannot diminish.

Therefore, the call of the gospel is not merely to abandon worry but to replace it with faith. Jesus does not say, “Do not worry,” and leave us empty-handed; He immediately reveals the antidote: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” This means aligning our desires with His purposes, trusting His provision, and living with the confidence that our Father knows exactly what we need. When we choose this path, the grip of material anxiety begins to loosen, and we discover a joy that cannot be purchased and a peace that cannot be manufactured.

Eternal life is not only our future hope—it is the lens through which we must interpret every earthly concern. Only then do we truly understand what it means to live free from the insatiable desire for money and fully anchored in the care of our heavenly Father.

The Danger of Living for What Does Not Last

If we are honest, many of our daily worries revolve around things that will not last. We worry about appearances, about status, about having more than others, or at least not having less. Society constantly pressures us to measure our worth by what we own, how we look, or how much we earn. But Scripture repeatedly reminds us that everything visible is temporary. The things that consume most of our energy today will one day fade away completely.

Jesus makes it clear that storing treasures on earth is ultimately a losing investment. Not because material things are evil in themselves, but because they are unstable and fleeting. They can be lost, stolen, destroyed, or simply left behind when our time on this earth comes to an end. What profit is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul? This question should echo deeply in our hearts, forcing us to reconsider what truly matters.

The Illusion of Control Through Money

One of the reasons why money holds such a strong grip on the human heart is because it creates the illusion of control. When we have financial resources, we feel secure. We feel like we can handle life, solve problems, and protect ourselves from uncertainty. But this sense of control is fragile and often deceptive. No amount of money can guarantee health, peace, or eternal life.

Many people spend their entire lives trying to build a safety net that will never truly hold them. They sacrifice time, relationships, and even their spiritual life in pursuit of something that cannot ultimately save them. True security is not found in what we accumulate, but in who we trust. When our confidence is placed in God, we stand on a foundation that cannot be shaken.

Learning Contentment in a Culture of More

We live in a culture that constantly tells us that what we have is not enough. There is always something better, newer, or more desirable. This mindset fuels dissatisfaction and keeps the heart in a constant state of longing. But the gospel offers a radically different perspective: contentment.

Contentment does not mean the absence of desire, but the proper ordering of it. It means recognizing that God has already given us what we truly need. It is the ability to say, “God is enough for me,” even when circumstances are not ideal. This kind of contentment frees us from the endless cycle of comparison and striving.

The apostle Paul learned this secret when he said that he had learned to be content in every situation, whether in abundance or in need. This is not something that comes naturally; it is something that must be cultivated through a deep relationship with God. When our satisfaction is rooted in Him, we are no longer enslaved by the desire for more.

Redirecting the Heart Toward What Matters

Jesus does not merely warn us about the dangers of wealth; He invites us into a better way of living. He calls us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This means placing God at the center of our lives, allowing His will to shape our decisions, priorities, and desires.

When we begin to live with this perspective, everything changes. Work is no longer just about earning money, but about honoring God. Possessions are no longer sources of identity, but tools to be used for His glory. Time is no longer something to be consumed, but something to be stewarded wisely.

The problem is not having things, but being possessed by them. When our hearts are anchored in God, we are able to enjoy His blessings without being controlled by them. We become free—free to give, free to serve, and free to live with purpose.

Trusting God in the Midst of Uncertainty

One of the greatest challenges in abandoning anxiety about money is learning to trust God in uncertain circumstances. It is easy to say that we trust Him when everything is going well, but true faith is revealed when we are faced with lack, difficulty, or unexpected trials.

Jesus points us to the birds of the air not to promote passivity, but to illustrate dependence. The birds do not sit idly, but neither do they live in anxiety. They function within the order God has established, trusting that provision will come. In the same way, we are called to work diligently while resting in the assurance that God is our provider.

This kind of trust transforms the way we live. Instead of being driven by fear, we are guided by faith. Instead of being overwhelmed by uncertainty, we are anchored in the character of God. He knows our needs, He sees our struggles, and He is faithful to sustain us.

Living with Eternity in View

At the end of the day, the question we must ask ourselves is this: What are we living for? If our lives are centered around temporary gains, we will eventually face deep disappointment. But if our lives are anchored in eternity, everything takes on new meaning.

Eternal life is not just something we wait for after death; it is a reality that begins now. It shapes our values, our decisions, and our perspective. It reminds us that this world is not our final home, and that what we do here has eternal significance.

When we live with eternity in view, the power of money over our lives begins to fade. It loses its ability to control us because we understand that it is not ultimate. What becomes ultimate is our relationship with God, our obedience to His Word, and our hope in His promises.

Final Exhortation: Freedom from the Love of Money

The insatiable desire for money is a powerful force, but it is not stronger than the grace of God. Through Christ, we are given the ability to live differently—to live free from the chains of materialism and anchored in something far greater.

Let us examine our hearts and ask ourselves where our true treasure lies. Let us repent of misplaced priorities and return to the simplicity of trusting God. For in Him we find what money could never give: peace that surpasses understanding, joy that endures, and a hope that is eternal.

May we learn to seek first His kingdom, to trust in His provision, and to rest in His unfailing care. Only then will we truly be free from the anxiety of this world and live with a heart that is fully satisfied in God.