A Messy View Of Money

A MESSY VIEW OF MONEY

WE HAVE A MESSY VIEW OF MONEY WHEN . . .

We believe that money will bring us security

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable.

Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

(1 Timothy 6:17 – New Living Translation)

THE SYMPTOM: We hoard it!

Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!— stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars.

It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

(Matthew 6:19-21 – The Message) Â

THE BOTTOM LINE: We need to learn to trust God

WE HAVE A MESSY VIEW OF MONEY WHEN . . .

We believe that money will bring us significance

Men who want lots of money are tempted. They are trapped into doing all kinds of foolish things and things which hurt them. These things drag them into sin and will destroy them.

The love of money is the beginning of all kinds of sin. Some people have turned from the faith because of their love for money.

They have made much pain for themselves because of this.

(1 Timothy 6:9-11 – New Life Version)

THE SYMPTOM: We flaunt it!

You want something, but you can’t get it. You . . . want what others have. But you can’t have what you want . . . You don’t have what you want, because you don’t ask God.

When you do ask . . . you don’t receive it. Why? Because you ask for the wrong reason. You only want to spend your money on your sinful pleasures.

(James 4:2-3 – New International Version Reader’s Version)

We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

(Ecclesiastes 5:15– New Living Translation)

THE BOTTOM LINE: We need to learn to what really matters in life

WE HAVE A MESSY VIEW OF MONEY WHEN . . .

We believe that money will bring us satisfaction

So I grew richer than anyone in Jerusalem before me . . . If something appealed to me, I did it. I allowed myself to have any pleasure I wanted . . . This was my reward for all my hard work. Â

But when I turned to look at all that I had accomplished and all the hard work I had put into it, I saw that it was all pointless. It was like trying to catch the wind. Â

I gained nothing from any of my accomplishments under the sun.

(Ecclesiastes 2:9-11 – God’s Word Translation)

THE SYMPTOM: We waste/spend it!

I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. Â

I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough . . . Â

Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. Â

But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.

(Philippians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:6-8 – New Century Version) Â

THE BOTTOM LINE: We need to learn to be content with what we have

MONEY WILL BE A BLESSING WHEN . . .

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy,

and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be . . . No one can serve two masters. Â

For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money . . .

So don’t worry . . . saying, Â

‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

(Matthew 6:19-21, 24, 31-33 – New Living Translation)

MONEY WILL BE A BLESSING WHEN . . .

You see money as a tool and you use it wisely

MONEY WILL BE A BLESSING WHEN . . .

You see money as a test and you give it generously

MONEY WILL BE A BLESSING WHEN . . .

You see money as a trust and you invest it eternally

Let’s Pray