Survey of Firstfruit Fundamentals
Lesson 7: Money
printer-friendly MP3
"Success is nothing more than a few basic spiritual disciplines, practiced every day."
"Success is the natural
consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals."
Question 1: Is
money evil?
The key verse
here is 1 Timothy 6:10
1 Timothy 6:10 [see
Lesson]
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.
Look at this verse closely. Is it saying money is evil? Clearly not. It says the
love of money is the root of all evil. The better word for, "love" here is,
"covet." It is the coveting of money which is the root of all evil.
The Barnes Notes commentary gives the meaning as the love of money is the root
of all kinds of evils, rather than every evil on the planet. One look at the
history of mankind sees that the coveting of money is at the root of many evils.
Most of what happens in this world and most of what is talked about in this
world politically and in the streets is money, investments and the economy.
Where there is money, there is a constant seeking of control. Money is power and
power usually corrupts because of human nature and worldliness.
When we look at, for example, the Vietnam War we find that it was manipulated
primarily to maintain a war economy. We are a consuming world and nothing
consumes products at a greater rate than war. I heard one philosopher state that
major countries exist and endure based on its ability for war. We saw the 20th
Century preoccupied with great world wars and even a long-term cold war after
World War Two. Look at the news of the last 30 years or so. What has been the
primary news story? The answer is war. The US has been involved in warfare
somewhere virtually every year since 1945. Take Iraq as another way to explain
this.
Look at the listed wars in the region since 1914.
Mesopotamian campaign (1914–1918)
Anglo-Iraqi War (1941)
Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988)
Gulf War (1990-1991)
Iraqi no-fly zones conflict (1991–2003)
Iraq War (2003–2011)
Now we could talk about hatred and politics as cause for continual war, but at
the root of war is the ability for powerful people and corporations to make
money.
We could also talk about inventions that have been made that replace our need
for conventional elements such as oil and electrical power. These inventions
have not seen the light of day so that those corporations controlling oil and
power can continue.
These are just a couple of examples of how the coveting of money is at the root
of many evils. President James A. Garfield once said, "He who controls the money
supply of a nation controls the nation." We see that most governments of the
world, including ours, spend a lot of time and resources to control the money
and the economy.
So we can now see that money is not the problem. Rather it is the love of or the
coveting of money that is the problem.
Question 2: What part should money play in my life?
Money is a
necessary part of life on earth. There is no getting around the use of and the
need of money short of going off into the wilderness and getting completely off
the grid.
For a true Christian, money is merely a tool. Our primary focus is all the
responsibilities God gives to us and all the Godly principles that relate to
money, riches and possessions. Money is a training ground to learn about
stewardship, tithing, giving, saving and providing for ourselves and our
families. With money we learn how to avoid greed, envy and jealously. With money
we learn about relationships with our spouse, our family, our friends, the
government, the church and with Almighty God.
Money is, in no way, to be a ruler in our lives. We control it. We do not allow
money or the lack of money to control our lives. We control money by controlling
our lives, our environment and our possessions. Our stewardship of money, our
bills and finances, our possessions and our lives defines what role money should
play throughout our lives. We are to control money physically, mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. Money is merely a tool by which we carry out Godly
responsibilities and duties.
Money pays for our essential needs. We control money by controlling and managing
our needs. Most individuals in the Western World [US,
Canada, Australia, and countries in Europe] tend to live right up to
the limits of the available money. Indeed, most of those populations live beyond
the limits of available money by going into debt with loans and credit card
debt. Living right up to the limits of one's income and/or living with debt is
money controlling your life. This is to be avoided.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Matthew 18:23-25
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would
take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten
thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and
his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Now that is bondage. We want to avoid bondage by being a good steward of money.
See the Minister
Notebook pieces:
Advice to a Teenager
Simplify Your Life!!
Abundance Through Stewardship
Question 3: Is it wrong to strive to make more?
No it is not. Several Godly
principles and admonitions speak to making money and prosperity. The scripture
speaks to the pitfalls of money but nowhere condemns riches or prosperity. Many
of the servants of God were the equivalent of millionaires. Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Job and Jesus were all millionaires. Indeed, most of these and others we
could mention were multi-millionaires. David and Solomon were abundantly rich.
Nowhere do you see the riches of these men condemned.
There is a series of books on the millionaires of the Bible which are available
at Amazon. The Millionaires of Genesis* is found here.
Whether we be poor or whether we have riches will be according to the will of
God. Firstfruits who ultimately know greater prosperities will be those who have
already developed a measure of spiritual maturity and who have learned
stewardship. His heart will invoke prosperity principles without being greedy or
who is merely seeking riches for the sake of having riches.
In striving for riches, keep in mind that half the effort is simplifying your
life and reducing the need for so much money. This is learned in stewardship.
Again, we do not want to live up to the limits of our income. We want there to
be free space in our finances. Who is richer, the husband-wife team that makes
$10,000 a month with a budget demanding $10,500 or the husband-wife team that
makes $4,000 a month, but who are living comfortably on $3,000 a month. I can
tell you from my own life that the latter is the better situation. The family
with a freed up $1,000 is far richer than the family making $10,000 a month and
always in debt, never having a free dollar to spend. Getting rid of debt is just
as important as increasing one's income. Getting rid of debt frees up money.
Being debt-free is prosperity.
Another powerful tool in acquiring more is savings. The US has lost its
understanding of the power of savings. There is great power in compound interest
and great wealth can be made by making your money work for you.
Proverbs 21:20
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a
foolish man spendeth it up.
Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour
shall increase.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of
the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 10:4-5
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent
maketh rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is
a son that causeth shame.
Luke 16:11
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will
commit to your trust the true riches?
Romans 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law.
Quotes on money and saving money:
"Money should be mastered, not served."
"Enough is better than too much."
"Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust."
"You must learn to save first and spend afterwards."
---
*I do not necessarily
agree with everything one might read in this series of books, but several good
elements can be gleaned from the text.
Question 4: What is God's attitude toward money?
Clearly if we know
what God's attitude is toward money, we will know what our attitude should be.
There is one book that can help in this area.
Everything the Bible Says About Money by Lin Johnson. See it here.
There are others on the market and much can be gleaned from them including
knowing what God's attitude is toward money.
Let us look at some scriptures.
Money
Comes from God
Deuteronomy 8:18
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to
get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers,
as it is this day.
1 Chronicles 29:10-16 ...King
David's prayer as Israelites build the Temple
10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said,
Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the
victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is
thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine
hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give
strength unto all.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so
willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we
given thee.
15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers:
our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house
for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell
therein.
Psalm 50:10
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him
power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour;
this is the gift of God.
Haggai 2:8
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
Romans 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for
ever. Amen.
God
Gives His Children Enough
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.
Choose
Money or God
1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is
written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest,
and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
Proverbs 8:10-11
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice
gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are
not to be compared to it.
Proverbs 8:18-21
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice
silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill
their treasures.
Psalm 62:10
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set
not your heart upon them.
Job 22:21
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto
thee.
1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is
written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest,
and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
In all of these scriptures about choosing Money or God, the meaning is that the
spiritual elements will always be more important than the physical one. These
scriptures are not condemning riches, prosperity or possessions. 1 Kings 2:3
clearly says that if your primary focus is on the spiritual, the physical
prosperity can be known.
This is the attitude God has toward money. This needs to be our attitude.
---Know that all your money and possessions belong to God.
---God will provide for us, regardless of the circumstances. He will give us
enough.
---God must be first and foremost in our lives.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
Question 5: How do I not feel trapped and angry about not having enough money?
How do I not feel trapped and angry about not
having enough money?
This is an interesting concept. It is a common one and very understandable. In
reality, however, it is the wrong perspective. Usually, when we feel trapped, it
is the result of an error in stewardship. In question 4, we discussed the fact
that God cares for firstfruits. Clearly He does not want us feeling trapped or
angry about not having enough money. He wants us to have enough money.
Here are the possible reasons for feeling trapped?
1] Lack of obedience.
2] Lack of knowledge and understanding regarding stewardship, money and
finances.
3] Error in stewardship.
Feeling trapped and angry is much like being worried. Worry does not have a
plan. We are to trade worry for concern. Concern has a plan. Worry only has
pain. See my sermon
on worry. A person feeling trapped or angry about not having enough
money is a person without a plan. Indeed, he is surely worried too. Therefore,
create a plan.
First, begin with the list of possible reasons.
1] Examine yourself and
pray to God to discover if there is a problem with obedience
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.
Psalm 26:2
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psalm 7:9
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for
the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Psalm 17:3
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried
me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Job 13:23
How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my
sin.
2] Gain knowledge and
understanding
---become a student of stewardship regarding your finances.
---simplify
your life.
---create free
space in your budget and finances.
---tithe.
---create a savings.
---create an emergency fund.
---get out of debt.
---get education or training.
---look for every opportunity for a better job or source of income.
3] Look for the error in
stewardship
---where is the money going? Keep a
money diary that records where every penny goes for 30 days.
---eliminate the leakage; the wasteful spending.
---incorporate
the missing elements of stewardship you discovered in step 2 above.
Question 6: How can I be
at peace about money?
Peace comes from:
1. Obeying God in all things. Seeking Him first.
2. Getting out of debt. Tackle your finances head on.
3. Simplifying your life.
4. Tithing.
5. Being in command of your stewardship.
6. Having both a financial plan and a life plan.
7. Know that your self worth has little to do with your net worth.
8. Trading worry for concern. That is, get a plan.
Quotes on having peace of mind:
“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others
does not obtain peace of mind.”
“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”
“Only the just man enjoys peace of mind”
“Give up what appears to be doubtful for what is certain. Truth brings peace of
mind, and deception doubt.”
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to
change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
"You will give yourself peace of mind if you perform every act of your life as
if it were your last."
"Understanding precedes peace."
Scriptures on having peace of mind.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ:
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Question 7: How do I keep from feeling jealous of others who have more money
than I do?
You keep from
feeling jealous by simply immersing yourself into the word of God. Notice.
1 Samuel 2:7-9
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the
dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of
glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world
upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in
darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
Psalm 49:16
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is
increased;
Proverbs 10:2-4
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from
death.
3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth
away the substance of the wicked.
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent
maketh rich.
Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the
rich, shall surely come to want.
Proverbs 28:6
The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that
hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich
shall not be innocent.
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the
mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
1 Timothy 6:17 [see
Lesson]
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust
in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy;
Proverbs 14:30
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Galatians 5:26
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another.
Psalm 37:8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
James 3:14-16
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie
not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Exchange the envy and jealousy for wisdom and joy. Exchange the envy and
jealousy for concerted effort to your plan for peace and prosperity.
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I
am, therewith to be content.
Hebrews 13:5-6
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things
as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me.
Luke 3:14
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he
said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be
content with your wages.
Matthew 6:31-34
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Give up the jealousy and focus on your journey to prosperity.
back to the top
back to Firstfruit Fundamentals