When you think about money, what comes to your mind? Some think they don’t have enough. Others focus on money as a medium of exchange or as a way to value assets, products, and services. Still others say money is the way to measure success and significance. And for most people, money is the way to measure security in life. The pedestrian assumption is that if one has money, then one has the resources to meet whatever needs might arise.

Consider what Jesus had to say about this assumption. In the above text, Jesus addressed the professing first-century Christian community in the financially prosperous city of Laodicea. The Laodiceans assumed that financial wealth provided security. Jesus sought to disabuse the Laodiceans of their erroneous assumption. He said, “but you do not realize,” which means they were deceived. Their belief that money was security was not true.

This is a startling idea because, for most of us, money is a major driver in our choices. As a maxim, money drives our decisions about what we do, where we live and work, what cars we drive, where we vacation, how many children we have, and perhaps whom we marry. And for most of us, money defines success, significance, and security. To this paradigm of thinking about money, Jesus says we are deceived.

To illustrate this deception further, would you consider following a person who was jobless, had no money, lived off the charity of others, and ultimately died broke? If your answer is no, then you would not follow Jesus, for Jesus was such a person.

True wealth is not denominated in terms of money; it is denominated by traits such as obedience, righteousness, and wisdom. Jesus possessed these traits and therefore possessed true wealth. Furthermore, true success, significance, and security can only come based on true wealth.

How then does money relate to true wealth? May I suggest that money is simply a tool to gain true wealth. That is, money is a tool to obey the will and ways of God. Therefore the proper use of money is always as a tool of alignment with the will and ways of God.

Here is your business tip: Money is not the definition of success, significance, and security. Money is simply a tool to do the will of God according to the ways of God. This means that money should be used to gain true wealth, which is characterized by obedience, righteousness, and wisdom. Always sacrifice money for true wealth, which is tantamount to alignment with the will and ways of God. Inculcate this philosophy into your organization. Demonstrate through words and actions that the true bottom line is not material wealth (money) but true wealth (alignment with the will and ways of God). As an organization, make wise choices based on gaining true wealth. Help each worker learn to use money as a tool to do the will of God according to the ways of God.