Title: Greed: His Heart Will Hold On
Text: Heb 13:5
MP: Holding on to Jesus is better than holding onto anything else.
Outline:
1. Intro: Tax Day the Scariest Day of the Year
a. Lincoln Shot / Titanic Sank
b. Wrong Auditee
c. Money stirs up lots of emotions
2. Text: Two simple truths, but the connection?
a. Love of Money root of all evil /Jesus is too big to hold on to both
b. God is faithful / We sing the songs / Song here?
c. He is faithful is how we avoid the love of money
3. Be content with what you have
a. Perfection = Completion, Rich = never enough
i. A contented day
b. Contrast Credit Card debt
i. Living beneath for means
ii. Ford guy who gives $2 ml
c. How Giving makes us content
i. We don’t need your money – you need to give
ii. When you put it in the plate you are in control of the amount of worth it will have
iii. Where your treasure is // Your money will never love you back
4. Illustration: J. Bruce Ismay
Your money will never love you back. But, as I said, Jesus already has. He will never leave you, never forsake you. He won’t leave you out to dry, he’ll stick with you through whatever happens.
We all like to think that after we die, the judgment seat is a lot like the ultimate audit from the IRS. …
Younger kids grow up thinking that Halloween is supposed to be the scariest day of the year. As Americans age, however, ghosts and goblins give way to the real day of horror: April 15th. Yes, your taxes are due – although this year you actually have until Tuesday. But just to give you an idea of how successful the whole thing is, today is also the 142nd anniversary of the day Lincoln died, and its also the 95th anniversary of the day the Titanic sank.
There is something about money that can easily hold us all in the grip of fear. When I worked at Coopers & Lybrand, my boss was a former IRS auditor. He told me of a phone call he placed one day. He rang up and asked, “This is the IRS. Is this with Joe Smith?” Yes, came back the reply, voice beginning to crack with fear. He began the standard spiel that his taxes had been selected for a review, and the caller grew palpably sweaty. And then my boss said, “You’ll also need to bring the records for your restaurant.” “My restaurant?” the caller asked. “Yes. You are Joe Smith of 123 Wherever Lane, right?” A huge sigh. “No, that’s not me. That’s my father!” The expression of relaxation was like none other.
Money is like that – it can stir up all sorts of emotions. Its amazing how much power a simple piece of paper can have over us. It is often a factor when people commit suicide. It is the #1 reason married couples divorce. It is a subject that Jesus talks about more than any other. It stirs up all sorts of emotions within us. Fear, Desire, lack of or a sense of Control.
But as Christians, full-bodied people of God with a wide range of emotions, there is one emotion we should never allow to grow: Love for it. Greed is rightly called one of the seven deadly sins, because it is nothing less than the love of something other than Christ.
In our text this morning, Hebrews 13:5 we have two pretty simple propositions, but a connection that, at least to me, at first made no sense. And that’s usually my clue. If it at first it doesn’t make much sense, there’s probably some power there that needs investigation.
You’ll notice the text again: (1) Keep yourselves free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.
Nothing particularly surprising there. We all know that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. We all know that where our treasure is, our heart will be also. And when it comes to the question of serving two masters? Well, a good friend of mine said a wise thing to me the other day. He said, “Your heart can’t hold on to Christ and your money. Jesus is simply too big. There just isn’t enough room for money.”
You’ll also notice the second part of the verse: (2) For he has said, I will never leave you, never forsake you. So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper, What can man do to me? Another thing we as Christians almost take for granted. God is faithful. God is always there. Think about a thousands of songs that come to mind with that point. Even that phrase that the author quoted – while the text appears in a few places, some scholars suspect that was probably just a popular song or catchphrase.
So, you have this point: Don’t love money. And you have this statement: God is faithful. But how is it that they go together?
Simple “God is faithful” is the answer to the question, “How can I keep myself from loving money?”
The most famous Psalm of all time says it so well: The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want. Why would I need to be in want? The Lord is my Shepard.
Well, if only it were so easy. I still want. We live in a society whose economy in large part depends on convincing you that you really need this toothpaste or that computer and most assuredly “the” car of the future! We live in a society where some can come to the conclusion that “greed is good” all too easily.
And the author of Hebrews knows this, so, he’s going to tell us how it is that we can overcome greed. Be content with what you have, he says. And that’s the key.
Greed, of course, has one end: becoming rich. As Christians, our goal is to be perfect – complete – everything in God’s image. “Rich” is like that in that it presumes enough money will make us “what we’re supposed to be,” but we know better. Rich always means, “having just a little bit more.” Perfect means “being complete in God.” Rich can never be satisfied. Perfect always is happy where it is.
Contentment is such a wonderful thing, you know. The other day, I was just walking around a neighborhood in Arlington on a beautiful spring day, just feeling that I was enjoying what God had provided. The trees were blooming, it was 72 out. And I realized, God had made a perfect day for our enjoyment. Recognizing that you have enough is so liberating.
Contrast that with say, what the credit card company would have you believe. Oh, you need that vacation or this dress, they say, to be happy. And full disclosure, that thing will bring some enjoyment. But when I enjoy what I am given, I am free. When I need something more, I am in debt. And when that bill comes at the end of the month, I can be in bondage. The credit card has such a simple promise: You can live beyond your means. But there is always a price to pay!
I am on solid financial ground when I give you this perfect retirement plan: Live beneath your means. I guarantee you, if you live on less than you make, you will retire quite comfortably. So, why is then that people retire in fear and poverty? Because the desire to live beneath your means is so counter to the sin that so easily entangles us. I’m not saying that everyone can retire to a luxury villa in Monaco – but we can all live within our incomes, if only we can give up the love of money.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the gentleman’s name, but I remember a story from a few years ago of a simple auto worker who, on his death, was able to bequeath nearly $2 million to his church. He never made more than a average salary – but because he loved his church so, he simply learned to live beneath his means. And, he saved and gave the rest. If a simple auto worker in Detroit can do that, well, let’s just say it should be a lot simpler out here.
Now, I do want to talk about that giving piece for a second, but you know my reluctance. I don’t like talking about giving, because the common stereotype is that preachers are always talking about tithing. Well, I don’t need any more money from this church – I am quite content with what you give me. And, this church doesn’t need your money. Financially, we’re doing well, because we are living beneath our means.
But you know what? You need to give. Not because I need it, not because the church needs it, but because you need it. As Jesus said, where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. Not, where your heart is, there you will put your treasure, but where you put your treasure, there will be your heart.
Giving frees you from the love of money in a way that little else can. When you realize that little green pieces of paper have only the worth than you choose to give them, you are liberated. You are free indeed!
If you want to have more of a heart for Jesus, put your treasure there. You’ll find out something – Jesus is all you need.
Your money will never love you back. Jesus already has.
You know, if you saw the movie Titanic, you’re probably familiar with the character of J. Bruce Ismay. He was one of the owners of the White Star Line. He’s always portrayed as the consummate businessman on a ship that was a metaphor for greed. He’s often blamed for demanding that the captain speed ahead through the ice field, even though there is no evidence for this. And in the movie, he is often shown sneaking into the lifeboat ahead of the women and children, saving his own skin in a time that expected men to die a noble death.
Wm. Randolph Hearst, wanting to sell more newspapers needed a villain, and so he concocted the story.
But its all a lie, really, a fabrication. Ismay was a fourth generation owner of the White Star line who was forced into taking the trip. There was no business press to be gained by arriving early – it would have cost them more money to secure the port earlier, and White Star prided itself on luxury, not speed. And as for jumping into the lifeboat? Well, passengers report that he was ordered into the boat by Captain Smith, and all agree that no women or children came forward from the passenger deck where he was.
Ismay also went on to be a source of help for all the passengers who survived. You see, in addition to being head of the White Star Lines, he was also the head of an insurance board that paid out claims to the survivors. For four years he worked almost daily to ensure that everyone was paid. By all rights, he could have quit, but he felt it was his duty not to leave these people. Only when he was told, in no uncertain terms, that he had no future in the company his family had started, did he finally retire.
No, your money will never love you back.
But In Ismay’s case, being forced out of his company probably saved what fortune he already had left. In the Great Depression, the White Star Line was bought out by its bitter rival, Cunard, as both lines were losing vast amounts of money. But Ismay died rich man, loved by many of his fellow passengers.
Your money will never love you back. But, as I said, Jesus already has. He will never leave you, never forsake you. He won’t leave you out to dry, he’ll stick with you through whatever happens.
We all like to think that after we die, the judgment seat is a lot like the ultimate audit from the IRS. We think that there is some big old form we fill out with our good deeds on the left, our sins on the right, and somehow we need to achieve a balance in the end. I’m going to tell you that as a metaphor, it isn’t right – but its so popular that we need to deal with it.
If has to be an audit – like a court trial you know, then let me tell that Jesus would have to be the accountant who is defending you. When he is called our ‘advocate,’ that’s exactly what it means.
And if you have to think of it that way, let me tell you how the defense is going to go down. Jesus is going to look at the final bill and tell you that you owe, and you owe a lot. The bill is astronomical. You will never be able to pay it.
But when I say that Jesus will never leave, never forsake you, I’m not making that up. You see, even though you owe that lifestyle tax, Jesus is going to teach about grace. He’s going to say, look, I know you can’t pay this. But I already have. So, let’s just go up and tell the judge, here’s the payment. Paid in full. No debt for you.
I find it ironic this year your taxes aren’t due til Tuesday because of a holiday in DC – Emancipation Day. The day the slaves were freed. Greed is nothing a cruel task master, but Jesus is a liberating hero.
Jesus doesn’t want you in bondage to anything. Not to sin, not to money, not even to some notion of a balance. He loves you. He won’t leave you, He won’t forsake you. So why should you love anything else?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
But I suspect that when you think about April 15th, you’re thinking about what I’m thinking. That unholy number. No, not 666, but rather 1040.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(Emancipation Day) Paul said, buy your freedom if you can, but be content with wherever you find yourself. The only stupid thing would be to remain in bondage to your money…
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 3
Invocation Michael Hollinger
*Opening Hymn #151
“A Mighty Fortress”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer
*Hymn #408
“How Firm a Foundation”
*Responsive Lesson [See Right]
*Hymn #88 / #340
“More Precious Than Silver” / “Turn your eyes”
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture Hebrews 13:5
Sermon
Greed: “His Heart Will Hold On”
Invitation Hymn #17
“Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”
*Benediction
*Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE LESSON
“Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised.
Not one word has failed of all his good promise.
The Lord our God has been be with us, as he was with our fathers.
He will not leave us or forsake us, we will incline our hearts to him, we will walk in all his ways
We will keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of change.
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much. No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money.”
And do not strive after what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1 Kings 8:56-58; Jas 1:17; Luke 16:10-13; 12:27-34; Mt 6:19-21
SCRIPTURE READING
Keep yourself free from the love of money,
and be content with what you have,
for he has said,
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So, we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper,
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5 – 6
PRAYER LIST
Long Branch Church
Cory Keely
Andy Phelps
Debbie Grigsby
Susan Schulz
Warren Lee
Martha Puryear
Irene Griffith
Steve, Jeff, Zane, Bruce
and other missionaries in Central Asia
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Song Service Sunday, May 20th 7pm.
Church business meeting next Sunday for the purpose of electing a trustee to replace Nannie Griffith.
Ministry Consultation Committee next Sunday morning.
