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Sermon: Moola
…a sermon about money –Part 5
by Chris Cumming
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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 continue the 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 [when
you die], 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…today’s subject
6] God’s Blessings…today’s subject
7] God’s Curses
8] Government
9] Investing
10] Planning
11] Restitution
12] Work and Wages
Let us continue. Today we will deal with elements Five, and Six,
“Family” and “God’s Blessings”.
Family.
Quoting from the book, "What the Bible Says About Money" by Larry
Burkett:
"Obviously God's Word has a great deal to say about
families--spiritually, emotionally, and materially. This topic
references those passages dealing with inheritance, counsel and
discipline, and provision.
In
the book, the first subtopic under Family is Inheritance or distribution
of assets of others.
There are a number of scriptures speaking to biblical individuals
giving an inheritance. In addition, there are scriptures speaking to
the right of the firstborn regarding the inheritance. We will look
briefly at this and then get on with the principles and warnings
regarding inheritance
Should we leave something to our children?
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.
Should one be hasty [greedily]
wanting an inheritance?
Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end
thereof shall not be blessed.
Notice the commentary:
Or, An inheritance gotten hastily (greedily
sought after by unjust means) at the beginning, the end
thereof shall not be blessed. ~Barnes
Notes
The F. B. Meyer commentary says; "will win a good inheritance by patient
industry."
Should we ever feel badly for leaving an inheritance?
Ecclesiastes 2:18
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I
should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Notice this scripture:
Ecclesiastes 2:21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in
equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it
for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Is God preparing an inheritance?
Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world:
Are we an heir of God?
Galatians 4:7
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an
heir of God through Christ.
The next subtopic under Family is "Counsel and Discipline."
This has to do with instructions from mother and father. This
would include you listening to the wisdom of your elders and then being
the wise elder for your family and friends.
Should we listen to the instructions of our mothers and fathers?
Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of
thy mother:
Proverbs 6:20
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy
mother:
Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not
rebuke.
Should we chasten our children
Proverbs 19:18
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his
crying.
Proverbs 29:17
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight
unto thy soul.
Will our children remember the wisdom we give them?
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will
not depart from it.
The third and last subtopic for Family is Provision.
To talk about provision is to talk about a household. Interestingly the
House of God is referred to as a household.
Matthew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto
the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which
bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
For the phrase, "Is like unto a man that is an
householder" the commentary says: "that has an household or
family under his care, as the ministers of the Gospel have, and which is
the church of God; called the household of God, the household of faith,
a spiritual house, and a family; consisting of fathers, young men, and
children; of which indeed Christ is properly the householder and
master." ~John Gill
The meaning of the phrase, "his treasure things
new and old" is the money and provisions the householder has for
day-to-day and for the long term.
Now to the definitive verse for providing for one's family.
1 Timothy 5:8 [See
Lesson]
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
This verse is not just talking about money but possessions, instruction,
knowledge, morals and wisdom. Notice another verse from the same letter
to Timothy. This is Godly provision.
1 Timothy 6:5-6
[See
Lesson 5 Lesson] [See
Lesson 6 Lesson]
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the
truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Our next topic is God's Blessings.
Quoting from the book, "What the Bible Says About Money" by Larry
Burkett:
"This topic actually covers God's blessings to those who obey and serve
Him, as well as God's discipline and justice toward those who turn away
from His path. The two attributes [blessings,
discipline] of God cannot be separated. God promises both
mercy and justice for those who serve Him.
The first subtopic for God’s Blessings is God’s Blessings.
God is not partial.
Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a
mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.
Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor
regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his
hands.
God honors those who honor Him.
1 Samuel 2:3
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your
mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are
weighed.
Notice what God says a couple of verses later:
1 Samuel 2:7
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
Does God deliver us from troubles? [showing
that God blesses us in many ways].
Job 5:17-20
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not
thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make
whole.
19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no
evil touch thee.
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power
of the sword.
God is our riches.
Job 22:24-25
24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the
stones of the brooks.
25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of
silver.
Serve God and have prosperity.
Job 36:10-11
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they
return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in
prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
Walk uprightly.
Psalm 15:1-2
1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy
hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the
truth in his heart.
Honor God and He will rescue.
Psalm 50:14-15
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou
shalt glorify me.
God helps the needy.
Psalm 113:7-8
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of
the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
God increases you.
Psalm 115:14
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
God gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding.
Obtain favor from God.
Proverbs 8:35
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
Riches are a blessing from God.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with
it.
We are always talking about being a good steward.
God blesses the good steward. [See
Who is Steward? Sermon series]
Luke 12:42
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his
lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of
meat in due season?
God will save us.
Romans 10:11-12
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The second subtopic for God's Blessings is Counsel of God or God's
directions to men.
Listen to God and prosper.
Proverbs 1:33
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from
fear of evil.
Take God's counsel over riches.
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.
Man's devices or the counsel of the Lord?
Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the
LORD, that shall stand.
Be not of the world.
John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore
the world hateth you.
The third subtopic under God's Blessings are Blessings...special
blessings for obedience.
Keep God's Word and prosper.
Deuteronomy 29:9
Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may
prosper in all that ye do.
Obey God's law and prosper.
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according
to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
God honors those who honor Him.
1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house,
and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the
LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour,
and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Do we wish to spend our days in prosperity?
Job 36:11
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasures.
Children are a gift of a God.
Psalm 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is
his reward.
The fourth subtopic under God's Blessings is Provision
--demonstration that God supplies
needs.
This section in the book begins with 29 verses from the first five books
of the Law [Genesis to Deuteronomy].
They speak of riches, land, children, protection, manna in the desert
and water.
Riches and honor are from God.
1 Chronicles 29:12-13
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.
Fear God and prosper.
Psalm 25:12-13
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way
that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 34:9
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear
him.
Delight yourself in the Lord.
Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of
thine heart.
Wait for the Lord.
Psalm 37:34
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit
the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Be sure to read all of Psalm 37 as there are at least 8 verses there
speaking to these blessings.
God provides wealth and riches.
Psalm 112:3
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth
for ever.
Riches and honor are with God.
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.
God will supply all your needs?
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.
The fifth subtopic to God's Blessings is Discipline or how God corrects
wrong actions.
Personally, I believe this to be one of the most important spiritual
elements in the Salvation Process. It is also one of the most important
element in day-to-day life. Living in Las Vegas, if you wish to survive
very long, you must invoke discipline. Las Vegas is one of the capitals
of temptation, enticement and pitfall in all the world. This city will
fight for your money, your attention and your time. The stories I could
tell. It is very much the same in the Salvation Process. Virtually all
of the admonitions in the Bible that speak to the elements of salvation
specifically imply discipline. The goal of any firstfruit Christian is
to become a master of discipline in this world and in their spiritual
life. There are two kinds of discipline:
#1] The discipline we invoke in obeying God.
#2] The discipline God invokes in insuring we adhere to discipline #1.
What was discipline like in Ezra's time?
Ezra 7:25-27
25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand,
set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are
beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye
them that know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the
king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto
death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing
as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is
in Jerusalem:
Are we to hear God's instruction?
Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not
rebuke.
Blessings come by virtue of our discipline.
Who is the prudent firstfruit? Who is a fool?
Proverbs 15:5
A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof
is prudent.
What does God say about judgment?
Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
In light of this verse 14, what is the discipline for us? It is easy to
answer this one. See verse 13.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
In Matthew 13 there is a verse referred to as the, "Use it, or lose it"
verse. Let us read it.
Matthew 13:12
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even
that he hath.
Notice the commentary for "whosoever hath":
Whosoever hath - This is a proverbial
method of speaking.
It means that a man who improves what light, grace, and opportunities he
has, shall have them increased. From him that improves them not, it is
proper that they should be taken away.
~Barnes Notes
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given
- Whoever has the true grace of God implanted in him, has a saving
knowledge of Christ, and a spiritual acquaintance with the doctrines of
the Gospel, shall have more grace given him; he shall grow in the
knowledge of Christ, and the Spirit of truth shall lead him into all
truth: ~John Gill
So how does one have the grace of God implanted in him? Here it
comes..."immerse yourself in the Word of God." The disciple of God is
in the scriptures. Blessings come from discipline. Discipline is how
we handle and administrate money.
The sixth subtopic to God's Blessings is Justice or to punish for wrong
actions.
Just a couple of scriptures on this one.
My purpose in choosing these scriptures is to show God's attitude in
ultimate punishment.
Zephaniah 1:17-18
17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind
men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be
poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in
the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the
fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all
them that dwell in the land.
Will wealth be useless in the day of wrath?
Ezekiel 7:19
They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be
removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them
in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls,
neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their
iniquity.
The last subtopic under God's Blessings is Wealth.
One could begin with many later chapters in Exodus [25-40]
which speak to the riches of the temple. We could talk about the
millionaires of the Bible such as David and Solomon. The point is that
wealth comes by God's Word and all things come through Christ.
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.
In light of this scripture, what is all this biblical talk on the evil
of riches and not putting trust in riches? The difference is that the
firstfruit with wealth never misses to acknowledge that the wealth is a
gift of God and that he is merely the steward of its administration.
Others lose sight of God and put their faith in the wealth itself.
All riches come through Christ.
John 1:3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made.
I want to finish with some general quotes on money and wealth.
The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost
all your money.
~Author Unknown
It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's
good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't
lost the things that money can't buy.
The little money I have — that is my wealth, but the things I have for
which I would not take money, that is my treasure.
Too many people spend money they earned...to buy things they don’t
want...to impress people that they don’t like. –Will
Rogers
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few
wants.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls
and looks like work. –Thomas
Edison
Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on
less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest.
You can’t win until you do this. –Dave
Ramsey
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
Every time you borrow money, you’re robbing your future self.
–Nathan W. Morris
One more quote to remember throughout these sermons on money:
Bring your
finances under God’s authority. |