Introduction: What would you do for a million dollars? Watch this video and listen to how people in our community answered that question. (WATCH VIDEO)
In their book, “The Day America Told the Truth” James Patterson and Peter Kim reported that for ten million dollars, 25% of the American population would abandon their family, 23% would become prostitutes for a week, 16% would give up their citizenship, 16% would leave their family, 10% would withhold evidence and let a murderer go free, 7% would kill a stranger and 3% would put their children up for adoption. And as most of us are aware of people would marry an absolute stranger for 1 million bucks. Sociologist Pepper Schwartz noted, “There are people out there who would marry a chair if it was wealthy
Will one million dollars or 10 million dollars truly make us happy? Our culture (specifically, American culture) has been doing all it can to convince us that. We see it in television and magazines. We are constantly bombarded with images of the rich and wealthy and the seemingly prestige that comes with it. Many of us live with the hope that if we just hit the jack pot or simply came across a lot of money that it will be the answer to all of our problems. If I just made a little bit more then…..(you fill in the blank).
Don’t get me wrong. Money is not bad. We need money to survive. We have to pay the bills we have to feed our families. We have to put gas in our cars. Money is necessary. The Bible tells us what the problem is. It is found in 1Timothy 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.” It is the love of money that is the issue here—the pursuit of it. When it becomes our chief aim in life it causes all kinds of problems. For so many money becomes such a concern that people will stop at nothing to get as much of it as they can. Even willing to compromise beliefs and convictions.
Money was never meant to become what it is for so many today. It was never meant to be a god. Read Matthew 6:22-24 in the Message translation: “Your eyes are windows to your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.”
That’s why Paul said to Timothy, “some have wondered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” You cannot worship God and money at the same time.
But it is important that we talk about it, especially in the church. Did you know that this topic is not a side-issue for Jesus? As a matter of fact 15% of Christ’s teachings were about money and possessions. That means he taught more about money than heaven and hell combined. Here are some of the things Jesus said:
• Luke 6:20, 24—“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
• Luke 14:33—“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
• Luke 18:25—“Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
• Luke 12:15—“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
• Matthew 6:33—“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
• Luke 12:33—“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
• Matthew 13:44—“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
• Luke 21:2-3—“But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you prepared for yourself?” This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
“We cannot ignore what our Lord has to say about money. People get a little uncomfortable talking about money especially in church. Why do possessions arouse such a strong emotion in us? Because this issue touches at the center of who were are. American’s in particular define success in terms of affluence. We even use the term my “net worth.” Yet in every setting and culture you and I must draw our identity from Christ and not from what we own or how much you’ve got. (Richard Foster interview in Discipleship journal)” If our identity comes from what we own, we’ll never be content with who we are.
Let us do all we can to keep from being deceived into believing money can do for us that which only God can do. Money cannot bring you lasting joy. You know why? Because when you run out you run out. Now where is your hope? If your joy is dependant on how much is in your bank account, what are you going to do when the well runs dry? Psalm 4:7 says, “You (God) have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine.” Don’t get me wrong…it is nice to have money. But it will not mean all your problems will be over. Don’t let it become your god.
Money might not be an idol for you. You might not be a worshipper of the All Mighty dollar but it might sure be a distraction for you. How is it a distraction? One of the ways money becomes a distraction is when we become discontent with the financial status we find ourselves in. I am certainly aware that for many (maybe even some in this room) there is a legitimate need to find a different job and make more money. Maybe because a spouse is sick or lost a job. What I am talking about is the distraction that comes from believing I need more or I deserve more. The media does a wonderful job convincing America that we don’t have enough or we need it bigger, faster than what we have now.
ILLUSTRATION: Consider the commercial I just saw this week. I believe it is a new vehicle made by GMC. As the truck is being showed off the voice on the commercial says, “It’s not bigger than you need but bigger than you are used to.” We here messages like this over and over and over again. The more we hear them the more we are convinced that it is gospel. And the discontentment sets into our hearts and unpacks its bags to stay.
ILLUSTRATION: Statistically, if you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house that keeps the weather out, and owns a reasonably reliable means of transportation, you are among the top 15% of the world’s wealthy. If you have money saved…a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition) and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy. Many Americans live in this bubble. We fail to see how wealthy we really are. I read a story this week about a man in Egypt who makes 35 cents a day. Sure the cost of living is not what it is here but either way you look at it it is still not much at all.
Like Paul we need to learn to be content whatever situation we find ourselves in…well fed…or in need. We’ll never learn this listening to the culture. I want to give you some principles to jot down. These principles are found in Randy Alcorn’s book: “God, Money and Possessions.” These principles are important for every follower of Christ to understand when it comes to God and money.
1). God owns everything.
Psalm 24:1—“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”
Leviticus 25:23—“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.
2). My heart always goes where I put my money.
Matthew 6:21—“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• What you spend your money on is the place you want more to be.
Our spending habits reflect the condition of our hearts.
3). Heaven, not earth, is my home.
By the way, this is something only a believer can say.
Philippians 3:20—“Our citizenship is in heaven.”
4). I should not live merely for the moment but for eternity.
Hebrews 11:25-26—“(Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
When we live for the moment we end up doing things we later on will regret. When you stand before God one day, having put off walking with him and trusting in him as your Lord and Savior it will be a mistake you will have to regret through all eternity.
5). Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
How do I break out of a lifestyle of materialism? Learn to give.
1Timothy 6:17-18—“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. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
There are two kinds of people in this world. Givers and takers. Which one are you?
Getters generally don’t get happiness; givers get it.” — Charles H. Burr
6). God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving.
2Cor. 8:7—“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
We have bought into the lie that when our annual salary goes up—our standard of living goes up. But haven’t you found it to be true that the more money you tend to have the more stuff you buy. The more stuff you buy the more you have to spend to take care of it. Maybe just maybe God is blessing some of you financially not so you can spend more on yourself but so that you can give it away to others. This is a hard principle for materialistic people to follow.
CONCLUSION:
As we close this morning I want to remind us of a very important question Jesus asked his disciples. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet lost his life or soul?” The answer to that question is nothing. It is absolutely nothing. I agree with what Billy Graham said. ““If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” — Billy Graham (1918-), American evangelist
