It’s Not What's in Your Wallet, but What's in Your Heart!

by Russell J. Schmidt

In the story of the Tower of Babel, God didn’t condemn the people for building tall. He condemned them for building proud. The issue wasn’t the height—it was the heart.
 

That same principle applies to many things we wrestle with today. Take alcohol, for example. Scripture doesn’t outright forbid its use. In fact, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding—His first recorded miracle. Would He create something inherently sinful? Of course not. The problem isn’t the wine—it’s the way we use it.
 

Alcohol wasn’t condemned for its content—it was condemned for its abuse.
 

The Bible warns against drunkenness, not celebration. It cautions us against losing control, not enjoying a glass in fellowship. Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach, while also urging believers to be filled with the Spirit, not with spirits.
 

Even Abraham shared bread and wine with Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem (Genesis 14:18). It was a moment of sacred fellowship, not indulgence—a foreshadowing of communion and covenant.

We can also use this application with money. What does 1 Timothy 6:10 tell us? “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Money itself isn’t inherently evil. It’s in the pursuit and use of the money that corrupts. It’s what’s in the heart of the person abusing or misusing money.
 

This isn’t just about the height of a building, alcohol, or money. It’s about stewardship. Whether it’s technology, food, or even ambition—the question isn’t “what” we’re using, but “why” and “how” we are using it. Are we building towers to glorify God, or monuments to ourselves?
 

Let’s be people who examine the heart behind the habit. Let’s teach others that discernment isn’t legalism—it’s love. And let’s remember that every good gift can be twisted when the heart is off-center.
 

Because in the end, it’s not the bricks or the bottles or even the money that breaks us—it’s the pride that builds without purpose, and without spiritual discernment.

So, what’s in your heart?