About Money...
Last Tuesday I was in a parking lot and spotted something on the ground. I'd just seen two men walk by and ignore it, so I figured it couldn't be what it looked like - a hundred dollar bill! As I approached I could then clearly see, sure enough it said, "prop money". Then I saw about 20 feet away was another fake bill. I looked around to see if there was someone filming all of it as a prank.
I picked up both fake bills and tossed them into a nearby garbage can. I figured maybe I could prevent someone else's heart from skipping a beat. Now finding $200 might not change your life, but it sure would have made for a good day! Who doesn't like finding money?
I read that, '1 out of every 10 verses in the Gospels deals directly with money and things.' I also read that, 'The Bible has 500 verses on prayer, almost 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses that mention money and our relationship with our possessions.'
If that's accurate - why all this talk about money and possessions? - Because Jesus understood the tremendous influence those things have on our lives. Even social research supports the Biblical emphasis on the issue of money. Think about this finding from George Barna: over 50% of Christians still consider money to be the primary indicator of success.
Many people complain that some preachers talk too much about money. Compared to Jesus' focus on the subject, perhaps we don't talk about it enough...? And we're not called 'to give' just to meet a budget, but we are warned to be careful with our money because it is a spiritual issue.
I want to start by looking at a passage from James where he offers a different perspective on the subject...
James 1:9-12 (NIV)
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. (10) But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. (11) For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
(12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
As we look at the circumstances of being poor or rich and what the spiritual implications are, it's not about how much you have - but did you pass the test, rich or poor. It's about managing the wealth, or lack of it, that we've been given. In this passage, James is attempting to give people a higher perspective on wealth and how we view ourselves.
But also, when we have a Biblical understanding of stewardship, of managing money and 'our possessions' from God's point of view, it changes…
I. Our view of others
In James' time, people in the Church were being treated differently depending on their wealth and status. James was encouraging them to look at their own relationship with money and also how they treated others based on their wealth. Let's look at James 2:1-5 (NIV)...
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. (2) Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. (3) If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," (4) have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
(5) Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
James was seeing discrimination in the Church based on people's financial worth. That will happen when Christians value money over people. I've seen Churches where one family with money runs the whole show - regardless of whether the decisions are Biblical or not. God doesn't place value on people based on their financial worth and neither should we.
As we read the words of James, we see that having…
A. Money doesn't equal righteous
Back in James' day, people assumed that if a person was wealthy – it was because he was righteous and that God had blessed him with that wealth. While it is true that God does bless those who live righteous lives, just because a person has wealth doesn't necessarily mean they are blessed.
Back then, rich people were perhaps viewed as righteous. Today, I've seen many look at it the other way. 'If a person is well off financially, they must have cheated to get their money.' And some almost see poverty as a virtue in itself. Neither attitude is correct – rich or poor doesn't make you automatically righteous. We see Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NIV)...
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (11) We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. (12) Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
We are to work hard and be good managers of what we earn. The stewardship of what we have - the management of 'our money and things' - a little or a lot - helps determine our righteousness. We have to be careful to not have an attitude that says, "Everyone who has less than me is lazy and everyone who has more must be crooked."
Wealth doesn't make one righteous, and the opposite is also true— having...
B. Money doesn't equal evil
Some suggest that people only turn to crime because of poverty. If that was true – why, as the richest nation on earth do we still have crime? 'Well maybe it's because of the uneven distribution of wealth'. If that was true – why would a 'rich person' ever steal? Rich or poor, money has little to do with being righteous or evil. Our relationship with the money we do - or don't - have makes a big difference. But our relationship with Jesus makes all the difference!
1 Timothy 6:9-11 (NIV)
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (11) But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
It's not money or things that are necessarily bad, but our relationship to money or things. When we understand God's view of people with or without wealth – it changes our view of others. When we understand the Biblical perspective on money, it also changes…
II. Our view of things
You may have heard me say it before, 'You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse'. Even though we know that we can't take it with us, we need to be continually reminded that money and things are only temporary. This life is not all there is!
In modern American culture, for many, it seems the ultimate goal of life is to work hard and save as much as you can so you can retire comfortably. And there's nothing wrong with that - unless that's the only goal of your life. Yes - being financially prepared is a wise move and, in my opinion, it's probably a really good idea for everyone to save a little something for the future. But for those who follow Jesus - our future is so much bigger than just our 'golden years' in this life! If your focus is a lot more on your 401k than on God's plan for your life - you will be sorely disappointed in the end.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)...
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The end goal of life is not just to amass a great deal of wealth but to honor God with your whole life. And that includes managing money and things well - not just for your purposes, but for God's purposes in your life!
Things are temporary and are really neither good nor bad as long as we remember…
A. Things come from God
Everything we have is ultimately from God. ...Back in the Old Testament, after God had led the Israelites out of Egypt, He'd performed miracles and had provided for them - before they entered the Promised Land - Moses gave them this warning from God in Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV)...
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." (18) But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
It's not a sin to have money and things – but it can quickly become one when you forget from where they come. And money and things, and the ability to make money, can unfortunately go away rather quickly. So is your heart focused on them or focused on the source of your hope? Are you generous with others with the money and things that God has given you? Do you use the money and things that God has given to you for His purposes - or solely for yourself?
We talk about tithes and offerings. The concept of giving back to God a tithe, ten percent of what you've been given, is a very old one. In the Old Testament, after being blessed by God and winning a battle, Abraham gave a tenth of his wealth to the priest Melchizedek. Then we see this, all the way back in Genesis 28:20-22 (NIV)...
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear (21) so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God (22) and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."
- Does God need your money? Is God sitting in Heaven saying, "Well, I had all these plans for my Church, but I just can't afford it right now." No! God owns everything! God will do what God will do with or without my small offering back to Him. So why then should we give back to God?
Putting money in the offering basket, giving to missions, giving to those in need, giving God a tithe - isn't just about blessing God – but about acknowledging God's blessing and a testimony to His ownership. Of course, here at Deep River, we have expenses and bills and utilities – but even if we never collected another dime – God would still continue to be God! Who would miss out greatly, however, is us; those who call Deep River their home Church!
God has invited us to give back to Him to be a part of His plan, to be a part of His work! Back in the Old Testament in Leviticus, tithing was the law for God's followers. Under the Old Covenant, it was mandatory to give a tenth back to God. Under the New Covenant, we are now free to willingly give a tenth back to God, to give generously in order to show God we understand the source of any blessing we have, financial or otherwise.
As followers of Jesus, we need to understand that any money and things we have are…
B. Given for a purpose
Whatever we have, a lot or a little, has been given to us for a purpose. Paul challenges believers in Romans 12:10-13 (NIV)...
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (11) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (12) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (13) Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Money and possessions, 'things,' are to serve us and others - we are not to serve things. Do your 'possessions' own you? Do you ever find that you might be neglecting your spiritual responsibilities because you're too busy with accumulating more? Have any of your family members 'gone without' so that you could maintain a certain lifestyle which you've come to associate with success? Do you have difficulty giving to God or people who might be in need? Do discussions of money or things dominate your conversations with your spouse?
When we understand how God views money and things - it changes how we view people, it changes how we view those things themselves and it greatly affects…
C. Our view of eternity
I heard a story of a man who was upset with his preacher for talking about God's ownership of things. The man invited the preacher over to his well appointed estate. He walked him through the many rooms of the house, the gardens and the woods of the elaborate grounds. When the grand tour was over, he said, "Now, are you going to tell me that all of this doesn't belong to me?" The preacher smiled and said, "Ask me that same question 100 years from now.¨
Eternity is sooner than we think. Are we just storing up money and things for this temporary life or are we using those things to prepare us for the next? Rich or poor – it doesn't matter when we come to the end of this life. What we will answer for is what we did with what we had.
So What?
Many of you here have a very Biblical outlook on money and things and are very generous with what God has blessed you. I've seen it, and many times have even been the beneficiary of your generosity – thank you!
For those of you who don't practice tithing, giving back 10% to God, I encourage you to work towards that. Too many Christians look at tithing in worldly terms - "If I give 10% of my income to God, will I have enough for me? If I give 10% to God, will He give me back more…?" A tithe is a spiritual investment that can't be evaluated on the basis of profit and loss.
I'm not asking you to give just so we can meet our budget. Giving back to God really is more for your benefit than anyone else's. Your giving should be a reflection of your relationship with Jesus. It's about breaking the hold that the things of this world can have over us, and letting go of control over 'your money'. And when you learn to do that – you will be blessed! I won't presume to tell you exactly how God will bless you, but I can promise - God is the only financial manager who can make 90% go a lot farther than 100%.
Each of us need to be reminded on a regular basis of the power of money and things. How we handle those things is just as important a discipline as prayer and Bible study when it comes to where our hearts are. I want to close with a final quote - "The man who has no money is poor. The man who has only money is poorer still."