Good morning! Here in Makati Gospel Church, we talk about money matters because we believe that our money matters to God. Last week, we started our “Investing in Eternity” series. In Luke 16, we saw in the parable of the corrupt steward that money has the power to impact our future and that how we handle our money proves our faithfulness and focus in life. We will build upon the second point today by looking at verses 10 to 13. Let us read it together… “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.”[1]
When it comes to money, we have to avoid two extremes. My leadership professor, Dr. Steve Hobson of International Graduate School of Leadership helped shaped my thinking on this. I learned that we are to pursue neither POVERTY nor PROSPERITY but STEWARDSHIP. The first extreme is what we call poverty mentality. It is to think that money is a necessary evil, that to be spiritual, a person must take a vow of poverty. The second extreme is prosperity mentality. It is to think that having a lot of money is a proof that you are spiritual, that it is God’s will for each one of us to be rich. Instead of these two extremes, adhere to a stewardship mentality. We must remember, “money is a training ground and trust from God.”[2] The problem with both poverty and prosperity mentalities is that they have some truth in them or half-truths. But a half-truth is a whole lie. The stewardship mentality gives us a balanced, biblical view of money.
For a person with poverty mentality, possessions are a necessary evil. We have no choice but to use it. But, for him, it is a sin to have more money. Only spiritual blessings are true blessings. Suffering is our lot in life. In this mentality, money is the root of all evil. But the Bible does not say that. What it actually says is that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”[3] On the other hand, for a person with prosperity mentality, it is our right to be blessed. Now, I believe God does bless us. He blesses us not only spiritually but also even financially. But the problem is that this mentality limits God’s blessings to financial blessings only. It focuses on what we can get from God, not on what we can give to Him. There is no room for suffering in this selfish, man-centered mentality. But stewardship mentality regards money as a responsibility.
Let’s read Luke 16:10-11 again: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Note the words “very little”. Verse 10 parallels verse 11. Now, note the words “worldly wealth.” That’s how the Bible views money. It’s not just a little thing. It’s a “very little” thing. Note also that Jesus did not call money as “true riches” but “worldly wealth”. Money is not to be CONSIDERED as our true riches. That’s why we should not serve it and we should not be devoted to it. It makes no sense to love it for it is not our true riches, no matter how little or how many you have. We are to love people and use money, not love money and use people.
How we view the lack or the abundance of money, how we relate to the rich and the poor, depends on our mentality. Those with poverty mentality think that spiritual or godly people are those who are poor. Why? Because they are humble. And the unspiritual people are those who are rich. Why? Because they are proud. On the other hand, those with prosperity mentality think that the spiritual people are those who are rich. Why? Because allegedly God blessed them with so much as proof of His favor upon them. And the ungodly people are those who are poor. Why? Because supposedly they don’t have enough faith to believe God for His provisions. Both poverty mentality and prosperity mentality lead us to judge people.
Yes, the rich may become proud. That’s why Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” But, the poor can also become proud, like when they refuse to work. Some people refuse to accept work because of a false sense of entitlement. They just put their hope in charity dole outs. Or, that they think they’re too big for a menial work because they feel they deserve a bigger pay. Maybe but you have to work for it. It does not fall from heaven.
Also, a person does not have to be rich to love money. Look at 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Note the words “want to get rich” and “eager for money.” A poor person can also end up loving money.
Look at Luke 16:10 again. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Note the words “trusted” and “dishonest.” So, according to stewardship mentality, a godly person is someone who is faithful and who could say, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”[4] And, for that mentality, an ungodly person is someone who is unfaithful or dishonest and greedy. It is because money is COMMITTED to our trust. It is not really ours. Luke 16:12 says, “And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” Notice the words “someone else’s property.” We are just managers, not owners. God has entrusted us with His resources.
How we view money, whether it belongs to God or to us, will affect the way we view work. For a person with a poverty mentality, he works only to meet basic needs. Of course, 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” But the problem is that he endures and does not enjoy his work.
How do you know if you have prosperity mentality? You are really driven to get rich that you compromise your standards or you cut corners, like cheating on your taxes or not paying the right wages. Another indication is when you work yourself to death. Yesterday, I saw Bro. Samson Huang wearing a shirt that says, “Life is not a job.” And I thought, “That can be turned into ‘Your job is not your life.’” You push yourself so hard to become successful at the expense of your relationship with your family and with the church. You fail to spend time with your family. You miss out on worship. You excuse yourself by saying you are busy or you are tired. I understand if some times office matters would occupy even your Sundays. But, we make time for what is important. The urgent is not always necessary and the necessary is not always urgent. If we are honest to ourselves, we know that we can manage our time if we really want to. But, according to stewardship mentality, more than meeting your needs, work is also worship. You serve God through your work.
Our mentality also affects our spending. A person with a poverty mentality spends so cautiously that he does not even enjoy the fruit of his labor. He is so “kuripot, makunat pa sa inuyat!”[5] On the other hand, a person with a prosperity mentality spends so carefree that he does not even know how to save. He gets neck-deep in debt due to credit card purchases for items he does not need with money he does not have to impress people he does not like. But a person with a stewardship mentality spends prayerfully and responsibly. He budgets well. And he knows how to enjoy life.
Luke 16:13 say, “No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.” Note the words “love,” “devoted” and “serve.” Money is a CONDUIT through which we serve and love God. The issue is not having money or not having it at all. The issue is the hold of money in our hearts and lives. Do we handle our money or money handles us? If we love money, we end up hating and despising God. I like what someone wrote, “The thief says, ‘What’s yours is mine—I’ll take it!’ The selfish man says, ‘What’s mine is mine—I’ll keep it!’ But the Christian must say, ‘What’s mine is a gift from God—I’ll share it!’” Money is a reflection of our priority in life.
One way of making sure that money occupies its rightful place in our hearts is through our giving. Always remember that God blesses us not just to increase our standard of living but also, much more, to increase our standard of giving. We are both responsible to God for our spending and our giving. Someone who has a poverty mentality gives because it is duty, a burden, something that we do because it is just the right thing to do. Someone who has a prosperity mentality gives because it is a deal, somewhat like a get-rich quick scheme, I give and God must return it a hundredfold. But someone who has a stewardship mentality gives out of devotion, an expression of love and joy for God.
Thus, keep in mind that we must pursue neither POVERTY nor PROSPERITY but STEWARDSHIP mentality. Because money is not to be CONSIDERED as our true riches, it is COMMITTED to our trust and a conduit through which we serve and love God.
As a response to our message today, I ask you to prayerfully consider the “I Invest Manifesto.” I am indebted to the First Baptist Church of Dallas for this manifesto.
“I Invest in Makati Gospel Church because I am a manager of God’s resources, not an owner. I Invest in Makati Gospel Church because God’s Word encourages me to invest a percentage of His resources in His work. I Invest in Makati Gospel Church because beyond obedience to God’s command, His love compels me to give. I Invest in Makati Gospel Church because it will help Makati Gospel Church fulfill its mission and vision for Christ.”
Thus, I challenge you to make a commitment to the Lord. “I believe in the biblical precept of honoring the Lord through giving to the church.” Please prayerfully consider making one or more of these commitments.
First, if you have not yet practiced tithing or giving 10% of your income to the Lord, you check the first box. “I commit to grow in my giving by starting to give a tithe or 10% of my income to the church.”
Second, if you are already giving your tithes, I would like to challenge you to check the next box. “I commit to grow in my giving by increasing the percentage of my giving to the church.” So, if you are giving 10%, as the Lord leads, you may add 1%, 2% or more to your giving. So, if you are giving 10% and you feel led to give 1% more, then you would commit to give 11% to the Lord.
Third, this month is our Missions month. Here we ask you to support our Missions Fund so we can help other Christian organizations. If the Lord also leads you on this, check the last box that says, “I commit to grow in my giving by supporting the mission fund of the church.” Then, fill out the separate commitment form.
Let us pray…
[1]All Bible verses are from the New International Version, unless otherwise noted.
[2]Dr. Steve Hobson, “Finances—Not Just About Money” (Servant-Steward Leadership class notes, sessions 9-10, IGSL).
[3]1 Timothy 6:10a.
[4]Philippians 4:11b.
[5]In English, “He is a miser, thicker than a local sticky and chewy candy.”
