Sermon: Moola …a sermon about money –Part 1
by Chris Cumming

It was the famous Jonathan Swift [satirist and poet] who said: “A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.”

Today we begin a journey to get wise about money in our heads.  We are going to immerse ourselves into the Word of God to see what is being said about money.  It will be a comprehensive journey as I encourage all of us to bring the finances of our lives under God’s authority.

Bring your finances under God’s authority.

Notice Luke 16:

Luke 16:10-12
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Notice the meaning here in the commentary.

Who will commit ... - If you are not faithful in the small matters pertaining to this world, if you do not use aright your property and influence, you cannot expect that God will commit to you the true riches of his grace. Men who are dishonest and worldly, and who do not employ the deceitful mammon as they ought, cannot expect to grow in grace. God does not confer grace upon them, and their being unfaithful in earthly matters is evidence that they “would be” also in much greater affairs, and would likewise “misimprove” the true riches.

True riches - The graces of the gospel; the influences of the Spirit; eternal life, or religion. The riches of this world are false, deceitful, not to be trusted Luke 16:9; the treasures of heaven are “true,” faithful, never-failing, Matthew 6:19-20. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses:
Luke 16:9
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Matthew 6:19-20
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

So God is saying to us that He wants us to be experts in the small matters of the world, as they are the training ground for us becoming experts in the real riches of the Kingdom of God.

This is going to be an ongoing series of sermons.  We will not necessarily being doing them all in a row but I will be bringing them to you in the coming months as we schedule them.  This will be very important training for all of us.  We will be dealing with worldly elements; money and finances.  From scripture, God will be giving us a multitude of spiritual principles and concepts to become experts in all aspects of them.  What you are going to see is that what we learn through money and finances will impact virtually every aspect of our physical and spiritual lives.

So… Bring your finances under God’s authority.

Here are the twelve elements into which we are going to be immersing ourselves:

1] Right Attitudes
2] Wrong Attitudes
3] Credit
4] Giving
5] Family
6] God’s Blessings
7] God’s Curses
8] Government
9] Investing
10] Planning
11] Restitution
12] Work and Wages

Let us begin.  Today we will deal with element one, “Right Attitudes.”  The sub-elements for Right Attitudes we will cover today are: Positive Attitudes, Honesty, Humility, Forgiveness, Thankfulness, Obedience, Contentment, Trust, Fairness, Counsel of Men [and Women], and Wisdom.

1] Right Attitudes
A famous preacher once stated, “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”

1A Positive Attitudes … What attitudes does God desire from firstfruits?
---God weights all motives.
Proverbs 16:2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

---God desires justice.
Proverbs 21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

---Do good to men.
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they [the world] may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

---Love God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-6
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

---Don't love the World.
1 John 2:15-16
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1B Honesty - …Be honest with money in thoughts and deeds.
Be honest with money in thoughts and deeds.
Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

The commentary on, “deal truly” says, “"do the truth", as the words may be rendered; whose words and actions, doctrine and life, agree together: it is not enough to embrace, profess, or preach the truth, but he must practice it.”

Embrace kindness and truth.
Proverbs 3:3 
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.

What happens if you embrace the kindness and truth of verse 3?  See the next verse.
Proverbs 3:4
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Have and invoke Integrity.
Proverbs 10:9 
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Honesty brings wisdom.
Proverbs 10:31 
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

Integrity will guide you.
Proverbs 11:3 
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Firstfruits think Honesty.
Proverbs 12:5 
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

Speaking the truth shows your righteousness.
Proverbs 12:17 
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

The honest person is a person who fears God.
Proverbs 14:2 
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. 

It would be better to be poor and honest than the other way around.
Proverbs 19:1 
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

1C Humility …not egotistical about riches
God calls us to be humble.
2 Chronicles 7:14 
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Before honor comes one who has humility.
Proverbs 15:33 
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Riches, honour and eternal life come to us how?
Proverbs 22:4 
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Humble yourself before opponents.
Matthew 5:25-26
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Humility will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12 
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Do nothing from selfishness.
Philippians 2:3 
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1D Forgiveness …forgiving wrongs by others
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls.
Proverbs 24:17-18
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Care for your enemy
Proverbs 25:21-22
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Forgive your brothers.
Luke 17:3-4
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Forgive the debts of your brothers.
See Matthew 18:23-35 and Luke 7:41-42

1E Thankfulness …an attitude of gratefulness
Thankfulness for God's Word.
Psalm 119:162 
I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Psalm 119:14 
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Commentary: as in all riches: or "as above all riches": the joy that believers have in the ways of God is superior to that which any natural or worldly man has in his substance of every sort.  Those testimonies of His, are more desirable than thousands of gold and silver, and give a greater pleasure than the increase of corn and wine. ~John Gill

Thankfulness for God's Law.
Psalm 119:72
The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Thankfulness for God's Commandments.
Psalm 119:127 
Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

In everything give thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Be thankful for the food and clothes we have.
1 Timothy 6:8 
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Be thankful trials.
James 1:1-2
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

1F Obedience …Willing to follow God’s directions
Do what God commands.
Deuteronomy 5:32
Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Avoid sin.
Proverbs 1:10 
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Do not try to serve two masters.
Matthew 6:24 
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Deny yourself.
Matthew 16:24 
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [stake], and follow me.

Commentary: Let him deny himself. Let him deny sinful self, ungodliness, and worldly lusts; and part with them. ~John Gill

Be doers of the Word.
James 1:22 
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1G Contentment …Accepting what God provides
The Lord gives and takes away.
Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Little with righteousness.
Psalm 37:16 
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Better is little but with the fear of God.
Proverbs 15:16 
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Neither poverty nor riches.
Proverbs 30:7-9
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Working man sleeps well.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Be content with your wages.
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.

Free yourself from love of money.
1 Timothy 3:3 
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.

Be content with the things you have.
Hebrews 13:5 
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.

Have self-control.
2 Peter 1:5-6
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.

1H Trust …Placing confidence in God’s power.
Trust God's Word.
Job 23:12 
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Trust in God.
Psalm 32:10 
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Wait on God.
Psalm 37:7 
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Do not fret.
Psalm 37:8-9
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Hope in God.
Lamentations 3:24 
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Seek God.
Matthew 6:33-34
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.

God gives to those who trust.
Matthew 7:9-11
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Have faith and receive of God.
Matthew 21:21-22 ...having the same faith God has. See sermon on subject
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Be not anxious or worry.
Luke 12:29-31
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Love eternal life more than this life.
John 12:25 
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Commentary: He that loveth his life shall lose it -The sense is, that whoever is so in love with this present temporal life, as to be anxiously careful of it, and takes all precautions to secure it; and rather than to expose it to any danger, chooses to deny the faith of Christ, and desert his cause and interest; as such an one shall not long enjoy this life, so he shall come short of an eternal one. ~John Gill

Put your mind on God.
Colossians 3:2-3
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

1I Fairness …Treating others as God would
Do not be partial.
Deuteronomy 1:17 
Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Do not distort justice.
Deuteronomy 16:19 
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

Return lost goods.
Deuteronomy 22:1-2
1 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.
2 And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.

Help your neighbor.
Deuteronomy 22:4 
Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.

God protects the afflicted.
Psalm 140:12 
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

Lord thwarts wicked.
Psalm 146:9 
The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Do not mistreat strangers.
Jeremiah 22:3
Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

Show mercy.
Daniel 4:27 
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Be careful how you judge.
Mark 4:24 
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

1J Counsel of Men …Willingness to learn from others
Avoid ungodly counsel.
Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Seek wise counsel.
Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

Love discipline.
Proverbs 12:1
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

A wise man listens.
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Be honest.
Proverbs 12:17
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

Counsel is wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Do not neglect discipline.
Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Plans fail without counsel.
Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Listen to counsel.
Proverbs 19:20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Plan by counsel.
Proverbs 20:18
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Counsel is good.
Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Be loyal to a friend.
Proverbs 27:10
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Give account to God.
Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1K Wisdom …Seeking the wisdom of God and man
Fear of God.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom discussed.
Proverbs 3:13-19
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

The Prudent have knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18
The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Wisdom is better than gold.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

The prudent seek knowledge.
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Wisdom vs. riches.
Ecclesiastes 7:12
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Quotes:
“If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.” ~Henry Ford

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” ~Benjamin Franklin