Money Matters
Scripture
1 Timothy 6"6-10
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.Wingmen, the Bible says much about money. Paul wrote to his young pastor friend, Timothy, who led the Church at Ephesus. He wanted to help him as a leader have a proper perspective of money. There are four facts we as Christians need to embrace as well. There are approximately 500 verses on prayer in the Bible; but more than 2,000 verses about money and possessions. Notice God’s Four Financial Facts: I. There is Something Better Than MoneyIn fact, there is something money can’t buy, yet it makes a person unbelievably wealthy. Profit is produced in your life that is never listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
I Timothy 6:6
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
Look at this equation. Godliness plus contentment equals great gain. Godliness refers to being God-centered, putting God first in your life. Contentment has the idea of an inner peace, the condition of being satisfied with what you have and not looking beyond God to find happiness or fulfillment. You look to Him as the source of your peace. “Godliness” is God being satisfied with you. “Contentment” is when you are satisfied with Him. This is not based upon your financial situations.The promise is that you will never go spiritually bankrupt. You are building eternal accounts. Money can only buy that which has a “For Sale” sign on it. The things God offers never have a “For Sale” sign. You cannot purchase with money the involvement, intervention, and blessing of God in your life. Contentment is having all you need, not all you want. God promises to meet our needs, not meet our greed’s. The martyred missionary Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” II. There Is Something Basic to Each of Us Concerning MoneySomeone has said there are three times when you have empty hands: when you were born, when you die, and when you come to the cross of Jesus Christ to get saved.
I Timothy 6:7
7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
When you were born you were empty handed regardless of the family in which you were born. When you die you will have empty hands; you will leave it all behind. No one arrives at eternity with his stuff. When you come to Christ you come with empty hands. Salvation is not for sale. Only Jesus could pay the price for your salvation. You come to God spiritually bankrupt. The difference between the saved and the lost is that the saved received what Jesus did at the cross to pay their fare to heaven. The lost, however, paid their own way and go to eternal death, which is hell.These three times are true for every person, in every culture, for all generations. III. There Is Something to Beware of about MoneyFor some, more money is never enough. They just want one more dollar! Paul warned us about the traps of money
I Timothy 6:9
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Money brings with it many temptations. There are traps associated with the pursuit of money. The idea is to be lured into a snare and getting caught. Satan works especially effectively in the area of finances. Consider these four traps:1. The Spending-More-Than-You-Make TrapWith the availability of credit cards and buy-now-pay-later plans, the temptation to spend more than you make constantly pulls at us. The desire for instant gratification is used by Satan and our flesh to live beyond our means.
Proverbs 21:5
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
The marketing world does an effective job of trying to convince us that wants and needs are the same. God says they are not.2. The Get-Rich-Quick Trap
Proverbs 21:5
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
The idea is to act quickly on an opportunity that seems too good to be true with the promise of great gain without applying significant effort.3. The God-Will-Bail-Me-Out TrapPeople who get themselves in financial bondage because of their own poor choices, unwise spending habits, and excessive spending sometimes have the idea that because they are aChristian, God will bail them out. God nowhere promises to bail us out when we get into a financial mess of our own making.
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
God says He will meet our needs when we meet His conditions. If you are living with the consequences of poor financial decisions, God will help you work through it as you submit to His principles, but you cannot expect God to cover your mistakes.4. The I-Can’t-Afford-to-Give-to-God TrapGod’s Word is clear on how He blesses obedience to His plan for generous giving. Many simply feel they can’t afford to give at the present time. They have the thought that when they can afford it they will give. That will never happen! You first give and then the blessing comes. It only works that way.
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure
it will be measured to you in return.”
God’s plan for giving involves first tithing, giving 10% of what you make to God, through the local church.
Malachi 3:9-10
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Then beyond the tithe you can give offerings to ministries that God has burdened you to support. IV. There Is a Bondage Associated with Placing Money First
I Timothy 6:10
10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
There are multi-faceted, grieving problems you will face if money comes before God. When trying to get ahead gets ahead of your relationship with God, the result is bondage and enslavement. This verse has often been misquoted and misunderstood. Notice what it doesn’t say, “Money is the root of all evil.” It says, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (KJV). God uses money to provide for your needs, build your faith, and demonstrate His blessings. But to put the love of money first, there are at least two consequences: (1) you drift spiritually, “…some have wandered away from the faith…” You lose that close fellowship with God and the awareness of His presence, as you get further away from Him. (2) Difficulties start. “…and pierced themselves with many griefs.” “Pierce” means to penetrate something. Money first can break your heart and cause great grief. “Evil” means bad, harm.