YET FORFEIT HIS SOUL
James Series 3: Treasures
INTRO: This Bible study is a continuation of last week’s lesson titled Money Money Money…Money. So we will start with the book of James.
BIBLE VERSE: James 1:9-11
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
5. THE THEOLOGY OF MONEY
BIBLE VERSE: Mark 8:36
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
A. Poverty Theology: This imbalanced view teaches that we should have a disdain for possessions. Some who hold this position would say that it’s wrong to have excess money and things.
Example: Medieval Monks: Medieval monks use to gather themselves in castles/convents/etc a way from the world. Expressing a deep-heartening concern with the world, they would negate the scriptures about taking the message of Christ to the world, and cloister themselves away to live a life of poverty, chastity, and charity. Though not wrong to have this belief of not desiring worldly possessions, it is absolutely wrong to say that the Bible tells us that and people are sinning if they acquire possessions.
B. Prosperity Theology: This teaching wrongly assumes that prosperity is the reward of the righteous. This cause and effect relationship implies that if God is happy with you, He will bless you financially. If He’s not pleased with you, you won’t be blessed with possessions.
Example: Joel O’Steen Ministry Quotes: The top pastor in USA said this:
“You can change your world by changing your words... Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
“You may make some mistakes-but that doesn’t make you a sinner. You’ve got the very nature of God on the inside of you.”
“"Work out your own salvation. Salvation is more than a onetime prayer. It is constantly working with God, dealing with the issues He brings up and keeping a good attitude, fighting through until you win the victory."
-this last quote is the only mention of Salvation in his entire 300 page best selling book, Your Best Life Now
Now, this quote and many others are not always inherently wrong, God does bless his people. But when all that is talked about, the incorrect Gospel message has been preached.
The Colisseum: Again, years ago, thousands of Christians because of their beliefs were fed to lions in Rome and made fun of in front of tens of thousands. Their deaths, were entertainment to the masses. Literally, there were people lying next to their children who were formulating plans onto which appendage to feed the lions first. My point? If “God loves us and has a wonderful plan to bless us” applies to Christianity, then that message could also be preached to those about to be ravaged by lions. Can it? No way.
Deny Self: Remember, in three different gospels, Jesus says to “deny self” and even “take up your Cross daily.” He even asks what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world but “lose his soul.” Clearly, Christ’s messages were far more about sacrifice than about accumulation.
Purpose Driven Life: The Purpose Driven Life has outsold Osteen’s by a ratio of 7 to 1, finds the very basis of Prosperity laughable. "This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy?", he snorts. "There is a word for that: baloney. It’s creating a false idol. You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn’t everyone in the church a millionaire?"
C. Proper Theology: The proper way to view our possessions is that they are a trust given by God that we are responsible to manage. Everything belongs to Him and we are to serve as stewards whether we are blessed with a lot or with a little. We are the stewards of God’s money, and all the money belongs to Him.
6. THE TREASURES BOUGHT BY MONEY:
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:19-20
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Treasures: Now, here is the tough deal about materialism. You can be totally materialistic, without having any money at all. I have been in mansions of people who could not care less about money, they did not give a rip about anything in the home whatsoever. And I have been in trailers where though I drank the Pepsi that I was offered, it was brought up to me for months that I owed them because of the Pepsi.
What’s Your Treasure: Real quick, make a list. Are you ready? A fire is in your house, everybody is out, and you have time to go back and save 5 things, what do you grab?
Now, just cause you grab does not mean that you worship it, I would grab laptop and photos. But, those things are probably the closest to being your treasure that could override Christ (now would be a good time to mention something that was/is a treasure to you, my example is going to be my HS letter jacket).
Two Things Can Happen to Wealth (From Pastor Brian Bill):
A. Decay: First, they decay. In ancient times, wealth was measured in part by clothing. Garments represented a considerable investment. The best clothes were made of wool. No matter how beautiful the clothing, moths would often attack and chew right through the garments. Coupled with the attack of the killer moths, rust would corrode and consume things of value.
B. Disappear: Second, our possessions can disappear. Valuables were often buried out in the field or hidden in a brick wall. Back then, thieves would literally break into the walls and dig up the yard as they searched for valuables.
7. THE GLEAM OF MONEY
BIBLE VERSE: Genesis 19:25-27
25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.
THOUGH THERE’S A LOT TO IT: LOT’S WIFE’S HEART GLEAMED FOR THE LOST POSSESSIONS
CITY OF POMPEII: Clovis Chappell told the story of the evacuation of the city of Pompei which was destroyed in AD 79 by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. During the excavation of the city, there was found a body embalmed by the ashes of the volcano. It was that of a woman. Her feet were turned toward the city gate, but her face was turned backward toward something that lay just beyond her outstretched hands. The prize for which those frozen fingers were reaching was a bag of pearls. Chappell says, though death was hard at her heels, and life was beckoning to her beyond the city gates, she could not shake off their spell. She had turned to pick them up with death as her reward.
8. THE MASTERY OF MONEY
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:24
24“No one 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.
2 Wills (Serve): Literally means to engrave 2 Wills. Imagine, some rich relative just died, and all the siblings have been called in for the reading of the will. The lawyer pulls out a list and said the rare coin collection goes to Aunt Edna, the Precious Moments collection goes to Grandma Judy, the 17 Mustangs from all different years goes to Uncle Harold (Harold was the favorite, oh well, the bottom kisser wins big this day huh?), etc. And all the property is divided up.
Then a second will is opened with completely different results, this time the cars are evenly divided, but the Precious Moments, Rare Coins, and World Class Petting Zoo in Sydney, Australia all go to some homeless shelter.
Can you imagine the chaos? Yeah. And anger? And hurt feelings? And the fight that will occur as each person in the wills pays lawyers to determine which will to go by? It would be amazing!
And this is exactly what we do when we fail to serve Christ with single devotion (as money/treasures get most of our time).
Mammon: The word Jesus uses here for money is Mammon…which is surprisingly…a Proper Name. Jesus actually names Money…Money. Literally, we can serve Christ our Master or Money or Master, but we cannot serve both. Which one are you serving?
Sources:
Bill, Brian. Mastering Your Money, Series: Building for the Future, Independent Bible, Pontiac Bible Church, September 2001.
Lewis, Mary. Flipped Right Side Up, Baptist, March 2002.
MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Jas 1:9
Randolph, Kelly. Rich Man, Poor Man. Baptist, October 2002.
Tina Sinatra with Jeff Coplon, My Father’s Daughter (Simon and Cchuster, 2000), quoted on PreachingToday.com
Van Biema, David & Jeff Chu. Does God Want You to be Rich? Time Magazine: the Religion Pages, September 10, 2006.
YET FORFEIT HIS SOUL
James Series 3: Treasures
BIBLE VERSE: James 1:9-11
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
5. ________________________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Mark 8:36
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his ____________________________?
A. ___________________________________
MEDIEVAL MONKS:
B. ___________________________________
COLISEUM:
MEGACHURCH OPPOSITE THEORIES:
C. ___________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:19-20
19“Do not store up for yourselves ______________________ on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and ___________________ do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and _____________________. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2 THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO WEALTH:
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
B. ___________________________________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Genesis 19:25-27
25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot’s wife ____________________________, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.
POMPEII:
8. ______________________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:24
24“No one can serve two ___________________. 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 ______________________.
2 WILLS:
MAMMON: