Are You A Funambulist?

As I prepared for this newsletter, I came across a new word while doing a quick Google search: funambulist. A funambulist is an acrobat who walks on a tightrope. I’ve never been to a circus, nor have I seen one perform in person—but you don’t need to. The image is clear enough: a person balancing on a rope barely two inches wide, one misstep away from falling.

In many ways, this is a fitting picture for the Christian life—especially when it comes to money. Many believers are walking a tightrope, and Scripture repeatedly warns us to guard our hearts against the temptation of wealth.

Both rich and poor people can be generous. And both rich and poor people can be deeply selfish. Why? Because generosity—or greed—is not ultimately about income or net worth. It is about the heart.

As Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us:

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

So how do we guard our hearts from the temptation of money, whether we have little or much?

The answer begins by recognizing that this is not merely a financial issue—it is a spiritual one that must be brought before the Lord and consult His word.

Those with wealth may be tempted to place their trust in riches, security, or financial independence. That is idolatry.

Those with little may be tempted to work relentlessly, placing their hope in effort, income, or future gain. That, too, is idolatry. In both cases, trust has shifted away from God and toward money. Idolatry occurs whenever we place our security, hope, or identity in anything other than the Lord.

So examine yourself.

Who is your master?

What truly holds your heart?

If everything you had were taken away, would you still be found worshiping the Father—the incomparable One, the true provider, the source of all that you need?

That is the narrow path.

That is the tightrope.

And only a heart anchored in God can walk it faithfully.

The following content has been prepared using advanced artificial intelligence tools, such as (but not limited to) FirefliesAI 🤖, ChatGPT 💬, Perplexity 🧩, and Grammarly ✍️. These resources have facilitated the drafting, grammatical refinement, and fact-checking processes ✅. While AI generated and organized the content, Kevin Apolinar meticulously reviewed and edited all concepts, interpretations, and final decisions to ensure accuracy 🎯, relevance, and compliance with professional standards 📊.