Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Matthew 16:23

We live in a world and society where money, power, and prestige have become idols, and we think our worth is based on how much we have in the bank, how much control we have over others, and how much people admire us. Yet Jesus teaches us that our worth lies in our inner being, our true heart that reflects God’s love and goodness. And Jesus shows us the way home to God, the source of our life, the One who loves us at all times, in all circumstances. We are to share our resources with those less fortunate, seek ways to carry out God’s will that all people be united in love and peace, and serve others without seeking recognition or reward.

Today I will take time to discern how money, power, and prestige—my own or others’—influence my thinking, attitudes, words, actions, and behaviors. I will ask God’s Spirit to guide me on the path of wholeness, truth, and love.