Money
1)
Since 1864 the words “in God We Trust” have appeared on
2)
Our nation has recognized a connection between God and
money.
3)
If our country can join together these two things,
Christians certainly should be able to do so as well.
4)
Money is something people often think about, but such
is especially true now.
5)
Gas prices, employment and retirement are common
concerns.
6)
People are doing some interesting things to get more
and more money.
7)
One new trick is looting cemeteries.
8)
People are stealing copper, brass and bronze items from
cemetery memorials.
9)
In
10) Tonight
we want to do a brief review of some of the basic things the Bible
says about money.
11) One
of the things to keep in mind involves the accumulation of money.
a)
What does the Bible says about gaining, saving and
spending wealth?
b)
If life on the earth is temporary, is money of any
value to Christians?
c)
Should we even pay attention to wealth?
12) There
are some passages in the Bible that tell Christians to have and manage money.
a)
We have all heard of someone who “cannot manage his
money.”
b)
There are those who have more than enough to pay their
bills, but they are “always broke.”
c)
Others have more than they need, but they still “live
paycheck to paycheck.”
13) Wise
money management is a subject found in several scriptures.
a)
It is, for example, found in the parable of the good Samaritan.
b)
We heard Lk. 10:25-37 for our scripture reading.
c)
Consider what we heard about the Samaritan.
14) This
man had “oil and wine” with him. Maybe
he was just carrying those things for a friend.
15) More
than likely they were things he had bought and owned. The animal he had was probably his.
16) He
had “two shillings” that he was able to leave with his host.
17) He
believed that if more money was needed later he could pay the future bill
(verse 35).
18) Here
was a man who had some resources with him and available for use.
a)
His money was not “burning a hole in his pocket.”
b)
In this parable Jesus said, “Go and do likewise” (verse
37).
c)
We usually associate these words with being good and
kind to others.
19) This
is certainly a correct way to understand the Lord’s point – there is no doubt
about that.
20) We
may also include another aspect of application when looking at this parable.
21) This
man could help someone, in part, because he was wise with his resources.
22) He
did not spend all he had and could thus share with someone who had a need.
a)
If we are not good managers, we will be limited in some
of the good we can do.
b)
We cannot give what we do not have. We cannot share if we have not been good
managers.
c)
This parable does indicate wise money management.
23) Another
parable that shows the importance of being a good steward is Lk. 15:8-10.
a)
Jesus said a woman had “ten pieces of silver” and she
lost one.
a)
If
this had been ten pieces of gold, we could understand why someone would turn
their house upside down.
24) Silver
was and continues to be far less valuable than gold.
25) Although
gold was not what the woman lost, she searched diligently.
26) Jesus
speaks of this woman as acting correctly.
27) Lk.
15:8-9 – READ
a)
Here is a lady who searched “diligently” for a lost
silver coin.
b)
She was so overjoyed when she found it that she called
together some of her friends.
c)
The main point is finding a wayward child of God (the
searching is to be intensive).
d)
Just as we are to be wise managers of souls, such is
also true for physical wealth.
28) When
we ask if money has any value and meaning for Christians the answer is “yes.”
29) Some
seem to have the idea that Christians must distance themselves from wealth.
30) It
is almost like knowing anything about money or being smart with it is a sin.
31) Both
the passages given show that such ideas are simply not
true.
32) We
should be familiar with finances, but money should not be what is most
important to us.
a)
This is the next point.
b)
Life tells us that money can buy us many things, but
Christians know there are things it cannot buy.
c)
Money cannot allow someone to avoid death. It will not buy true love or salvation.
d)
Many have rightly said it will not buy happiness or
true security.
e)
When money is what a person truly treasures, greed is
usually quick to follow.
f)
When a person embraces greed, they have said goodbye to
God.
33) Not
long ago I did some reading about the gold rushes from about 150 years ago.
a)
During this period a good year for farmers meant making
$200-$300.
b)
A miner could possibly make $30 a day.
c)
Mining
camps were havens for thieves. Gold
camps were places where people got beaten up and killed.
d)
There was disease and death. Supplies were often very expensive.
e)
Accidents that maimed and crippled people were
common. Many died.
f)
Greed drove many men almost insane. People thought gold could buy them all types
of things.
g)
People left their families behind to search for gold.
h)
A few struck it rich, but greedy gold miners were just
like greedy people today.
i)
At the end of the process there was grief and
disappointment.
34) Money
is not the most valuable thing in life.
35) Many
who have sought after it have “pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1
Tim. 6:10).
36) Wealth
has “drowned men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim. 6:9).
37) Assets
are a natural part of life and they need to be put and kept in the right place.
38) The
Bible tells us this in a variety of ways.
a)
Jesus told about vineyards that were rented (Mt.
21:41). This was a part of the ancient
world.
b) He spoke of collecting rent
(Mk. 12:1-2). This was not the most
important thing, but it was part of life.
c)
He spoke of people being “hired out” (Lk. 15:15) and
“settling accounts” (Mt. 18:23).
d)
He referred to people who agreed on how much they would
be paid (Mt. 20:2).
e)
There is a reference to 8 months wages (Jn. 6:7).
f)
Christians are going to have some involvement with
wealth.
g)
We need to make sure that our involvement is consistent
with God’s will.
h)
Part of that involvement is a willingness to work.
39) In
first century times as well as now people worked and were paid for it.
a)
This is God’s will.
b)
Eph. 4:28 says “working with our own hands.”
c)
3 Thess. 3:10 says if any will not work, neither let
him eat.
d)
Thankfully God has not told us that everyone must do
the same type of work.
40) In
the Bible we read about a wide variety of employment.
a)
There were builders (Ezek. 27:4), and carpenters (2
Chron. 34:10).
b)
Some dealt in purple cloth (Acts 16:14). Others were farmers (2 Tim. 2:6).
c)
People were flax workers (Isa. 19:9). We find managers (Lk. 16:8) and merchants
(Ps. 107:23).
d)
Some were oarsmen (Ezek. 27:26) or priests (Judg.
17:10).
41) There
are thousands of possible jobs that someone might perform to provide for their
needs.
42) For
the Christian, we want to pursue work that is honest.
a)
There are some ways to make money that are not honest.
b)
Some have been robbers (Mt. 27:38). Others have been fortune tellers (Acts
16:16).
c)
Among the Corinthians there were former extortioners (1
Cor. 6:10).
d)
We want honest work that is consistent with the
Christian faith.
43) Many
years ago I remember a man in the Air Force.
44) He
was the practical joker in the office and hardly ever carried on a regular
conversation.
45) One
day he asked someone who was preparing to exit the service what this man
planned to do.
46) When
this man in his office left the military, what would be his new line of work?
47) The
man said he wanted to get into the postal service.
48) The
joker said, “That is an honorable profession.”
a)
He was right.
This is a needed and important task.
b)
For Christians as we train for and look for work, we
want an honorable profession.
c)
We may sweep floors or we may own a business.
d)
We may help collect trash or we may be a well know
public figure.
e)
A job does not need to be glamorous to be an honorable
trade.
f)
For Christians, we want to have an upright job and be
good workers.
49) Some
seek money and employment, but they are bad workers.
a)
Jesus once spoke about a “wicked and lazy servant” (Mt.
25:26).
b)
Our world has a lot of lazy people. There are plenty of people who do not want to
work.
c)
Some get a job and do as little as they possibly can.
d)
We live in a time when many companies abuse good
workers.
e)
When they find someone who will work, they like to pile
work on them.
f)
When it comes to employment, we want to be the best
workers we can.
g)
This is part of being a light to the world.
50) As
we think about money and how we get it there are many small things to now and
do.
51) Tonight
we have given a brief overview.
52) There
are other questions to explore when it comes to money and Christianity.
a)
If we are good money managers, how much money should we
hold back?
b)
How fast should we try to accumulate wealth?
c)
How should Christians regard debt?
d)
How much money should be spent on self and pleasure?
53) What
about investing money in an education?
54) Should
we invest in money in people or things?
Should Christians have a budget?
55) What
about using money to invest in relationships with people?
56) What
about having some money for a “rainy day” – unexpected expenditures?
57) What
about money and the local congregation?
58) These
are some of the questions I wanted to start asking and answering.
59) My
plan is to still deal with these and other matters, but these topics may be
delayed for a while.
60) Tonight
we have seen some of the basics.
61) Christians
are involved with money and God wants us to be wise with our resources.
62) A
time is coming when we will account for the things in life we had to use.
63) If
that accounting were to take place tonight, would we be ready?