God and Money

Biblical Attitudes About Money

Audio MP3

February 5th 2012 AM

Pastor Craig Ledbetter

Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland

www.biblebc.com

 

I.                   Introduction

 

A.     Wise sayings

 

1.      “Money can be a wonderful servant, but it makes a lousy master.”

2.      “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”

3.      “Do not love money! Because it will never love you back.”

 

B.     Yet, RARELY do people handle money right. Most often, they get ruined by a wrong way of using money and living for money.

C.     Big companies LOVE it when people spend and spend and spend

 

1.      We live in a culture of covetousness and greed

2.      It is hard to live in a culture where other people have bigger and bigger TVs, and iPads, and iPhones, and you still using things from the 90’s (or God-forbid from the 80’s)!

3.      The modern push for owning everything you could buy has gotten this generation in deep trouble

4.      Money has become only numbers on paper, that don’t really matter – because someone always comes along and pays for everyone’s “mistakes”

 

D.    Christians see money differently - We see money as good, and to be used for good!

 

1.      Money Is Essential - We depend upon money (and especially making money) to provide homes, food, clothing, cars and other things we say are the necessities of life. If you do not have money in this society, then you are in serious trouble. I think we would all agree on the fact that money is very important.

2.      Money Is Way Overrated - This world is all about telling us how we can go about getting more of the stuff called money. However, too often we get caught up in trying to get more of the stuff and we end up hurting ourselves because we get to the place where we stop depending on the Lord. Our provision is His business - Matt. 6:25-33.

3.      Money Can Be Used For Great Good - It has built hospitals, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, provided for the needs of the Kingdom of God and helped countless millions. (Ill. The parable of the Good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-37.)

4.      Money Can Be Used For Great Evil - Money has financed the drug culture, pornography, prostitution, wars and every other vile practice known to man. It is the grease that lubricates the axles of sin - 1 Tim. 6:10.

5.      Money Can Lead To Terrible Bondage - When we allow ourselves to fall into the slavery of debt, we are hindering our ability to follow the Lord properly. Often, our indebtedness prevents us from serving the Lord as He would have us to - Pro.. 22:7.

6.      Money Must Be Used Properly - Every Christian has the responsibility to use the resources which have been given to him by God to do the will of God! To further His kingdom on the earth. When we invest our money in the kingdom of God, we also place our heart there. When we place our finances in the hands of the world, then we likewise tie our affections to things below and not things above.

 

E.     That’s what we are going to learn this month!

F.      There are some strong Bible truths about money – Money, spending, earning, and giving it away is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible!


II.                Message - Bible Truths About Money

 

God Honours several things about money

 

A.     Love God More (Prov 23:4,5). God honours money when we love money less!

 

1.      God honours us when we honour HIM ahead of money and possessions!

2.      don’t desire wealth – it disappears! Desire GOD!

3.      God owns us!

 

a.       That means He owns your TIME, and your WALLET

b.      He owns YOU! He bought you (1Cor 6:19,20)

c.       He has His name all over you! “This body belongs to Jesus Christ!”

 

4.      The devil is a liar!

 

a.       Having money will NOT give you any happiness

b.      Things you own do not make a life! They only become a museum!

c.       All the discontent in people’s hearts is from hell!

 

5.      So, Love GOD more than money! Seriously! He loves YOU more than anything else!

 

B.     God Honours Hard-Work - not hand-outs! (2Cor 9:6)

 

1.      He deserves our Best Efforts in everything we do – honour the Lord with our money (Prov 3:9,10)

 

a.       Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

b.      Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

 

2.      Listen to these promises:

 

a.       Pro 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

b.      Pro 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (healthy, well fed)

c.       Pro 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent (hard working) tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

d.      Pro 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean (poor) men.

e.       Pro 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
That is what it means to be diligent – to pay attention to details, and know things!

f.        1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

3.      So, Love working, more than money!

 

a.       Love to DO something, build something, invent something, make something

b.      It won’t matter if you get paid or not!

c.       I preached for YEARS before someone came along and handed me a check for $35 (€25)! I couldn’t believe it! I was being PAID to do what I love doing!

d.      I loved working at the Phone Company, at a retail store, even selling newspapers door to door… Why? Because I was taught by my Dad to love to WORK!

e.       Have a hobby!

 

1)      Build models

2)      Draw and paint

3)      Experiment with electronics – learn how things work! That’s what made companies like Microsoft and Apple, EMC and VMware great!

 

f.        Enjoy excelling – be the best at something!!!! Quit trying to just survive! You were created by an amazing God to do amazing things! Get busy!

g.       Work hard and then sleep well (Eccl 5:12)

 

C.     God Honours Frugality, not Poverty

 

1.      To live Frugal means to be careful how you spend your money – spend wisely

 

a.       Pro 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

b.      Pro 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

c.       Pro 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

d.      Mat 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

e.       Mat 15:37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

 

2.      Too many people are “poor”… Yes, because of circumstances outside their control… But in the western world, it boils down to just a few reasons

 

a.       Because of covetousness

b.      Because of lavishness – showing off

c.       Because of impatience – had to have what their parents took 20 years to obtain

d.      Because they believe in luck instead of hard-work

e.       Because they are too proud to just work – more interested in acting like they don’t need to work!

 

3.      Become wise in how you SPEND your money!

4.      The problem with our government is that it CAN’T stop spending! It keeps raising taxes because it is not FRUGAL with what it already takes in!

5.      Somebody once said, “You could save a lot of money if you decided to live as cheaply AFTER payday as you did BEFORE.”

 

a.       Many of you control your money as well as you control your mouth… NOT AT ALL!

b.      The proverbs 31 woman was a frugal woman! She was not a sit-at-home soap-watching, discontented and unhappy woman!!!

 

1)      She was industrious, inventive, frugal

2)      She was beautiful – took good care of herself

3)      Her husband was amazed and proud of his wife

 

6.      So, live sparingly – spend sparingly on yourself and your children – they won’t miss it! And they will work harder for money and appreciate it more than their spoild-brat peers!

 

D.    God Honours Paying Your Bills (Psalm 37:21; 1Tim 5:8; Rom 13:8; Matt 17:27)

 

1.      It is wicked to not pay your bills – to ignore them – to live like it doesn’t matter how much it costs for you to live! Psa 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

 

a.       God help us all to believe in paying all our bills!

b.      If you take something from someone, then you must pay for it – that includes bank loans AND when you take something from the government!

c.       And yet people have decided to not pay their mortgage, or their heating bill – all the while they get more channels on their sky box! They buy more packs of cigarettes, they buy 12 packs of beer and bottles of drink!

d.      Christians rob God and put off paying what God said is HIS – the tithe – so that they can go on their yearly holiday and buy their favourite toys!

 

2.      You OWE it to your family to pay the bills of your family – not leave them for someone else to pay! (1Tim 5:8)

 

a.       When you live frugally, you will not get more bills than you can afford

b.      If you want it, then PAY for it! Don’t live on credit!

 

3.      Yes you can get into debt (buy a house, start a business), but only when you have the character to pay it all back! When it is more important to be paid in full than to have a TV, or to go on a yearly holiday!

4.      If you buy something, do not rest until it is paid off

5.      Rom 13:8 says owe no man ANY THING! That has to be all our goal in life!

6.      Even taxes (Mat 17:27)

 

E.     God Honours Budgets

 

1.      God loves budgets!

 

a.       Pro 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (lays things aside for later)

b.      Luk 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

 

2.      Live within a budget – not on credit, or on loans!

3.      Rule #1 Don’t spend your money, before you have it.

4.      A Budget helps you:

 

a.       Know your limit on the money you can spend – some are surprised how much they actually spend on things!!!

b.      Plan, prepare for the worst – don’t dare live like things only get better and better!

c.       Use your money, not lose it or waste it (like Luke 15:13)

 

5.      We will talk about budgeting more next week

6.      Just believe me; every person needs to live within a budget!

 

F.      God Honours Contentment

 

1.      This is probably the hardest attitude – especially in our Western-World mind-set!

2.      Listen to God’s COMMANDS

 

a.       Luk 3:14 … and be content with your wages.

b.      Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

c.       1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

d.      1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

e.       Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

3.      Contentment means:

 

a.       Thankful for what you already have – take inventory

 

1)      We all know how to make a list of needs

2)      Make a praise list! Start there!

3)      “Needs” need to be met, but NOT until you have become thankful for what you already have: Heaven, A family, A wife, Children, A job, A roof over your head, Clothes, Food!!!

4)      You are ALL so very rich!

 

b.      It also means being “Cheerful about life as it is” – full of cheer – WITHOUT A DRINK IN YOUR HAND!

c.       It means a decision to be at rest not because you HAVE what you need, but that you trust the God who has what you need!

 

4.      Here is a thought for everyone in this room… What if poverty gripped you for a season? How would you react?

5.      I know how Jesus reacted!!!

 

a.       2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

b.      Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

 

G.    God Honours Faith in Him – Trust (Psalm 121:1,2)!

 

1.      God created us to live by FAITH – to learn to trust HIM

 

a.       Heb 13:5 … he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

b.      Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

c.       2Ch 32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

d.      That’s why we have troubles – to teach us to lean on Him, not on “them” in Dublin, or Brussles!

 

2.      But the modern way is to look to the government today! To trust IT!

 

a.       Lists of “entitlements” is an absolute mile long!

 

1)      Adoptive Benefit

2)      Back to College Initiative for Jobseekers

3)      Back to Education Allowance

4)      Back to Education Allowance (Second & Third Level Options)

5)      Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

6)      Back to Work

7)      Back to Work Allowance (Employees)

8)      Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)

9)      Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (Self Employed)

10)   Bereavement Grant

11)   Blind Pension

12)   Child Benefit

13)   Welfare Payment for Communions and Confirmations (over €300 last year)

14)   Cross-Border All Ireland Free Travel

15)   Death Benefit

16)   Deserted Wife’s Allowance

17)   Deserted Wife's Benefit

18)   Disability Allowance

19)   Disablement Benefit

20)   Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme

21)   Education, Training & Development Scheme

22)   Educational Supports for Jobseekers

23)   Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme

24)   Employment & Education Supports

25)   Family Income Supplement

26)   Free Travel Scheme

27)   Free Travel Companion pass

28)   Fuel Allowance

29)   Funeral Grant

30)   Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)

31)   Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)

32)   Health and Safety Benefit

33)   Homemakers Allowance

34)   Household Benefits Package

35)   Illness Benefit

36)   Incapacity Supplement

37)   Injury Benefit

38)   Invalidity Pension

39)   Jobseekers Allowance

40)   Jobseekers Benefit

41)   Leaving illness/disability payments to return to employment

42)   Living Alone Increase Payment

43)   Maternity Benefit

44)   Mortgage Interest Supplement

45)   National Fuel Scheme

46)   National Internship Scheme – JobBridge

47)   One Parent Family Payment

48)   Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme

49)   Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI)

50)   Prisoner’s Wife’s Allowance

51)   Rehabilitative Employment

52)   Rent Supplement

53)   Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplements

54)   Revenue Job Assist

55)   Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

56)   Short-Term Enterprise Allowance

57)   Smokeless Fuel Allowance

58)   State Pension (Contributory)

59)   State Pension (Non-Contributory)

60)   State Pension (Transition)

61)   Supplementary Welfare Allowance

62)   Tús – Community Work Placement Initiative

63)   Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)

64)   Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant

65)   Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension

66)   Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension

67)   Work Placement Programme

 

b.      Do you want to know the truth about Government Money?

 

1)      You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity. People must work to make money!

2)      What one person receives without working for, another person must work for, without receiving.

3)      The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

 

c.       Government programs have taken the place of

 

1)      Family – your PARENTS taking responsibility

2)      You reaping what YOU have sown – like the prodigal son did

3)      GOD most of all – troubles have a way of forcing us to PRAY and repent!

 

d.      We come under our parents, and our authorities instead of fighting them, and then leaving home, and then applying for money from the government!!!

e.       God’s people trust in God alone! No matter how long He may take, we trust Him!

f.        What is it to be a Christian if it is not that we rest in His perfect care, and trust HIS perfect ways!?

 

3.      Which direction is your hand open to? To the government, or the Lord of heaven & earth?

4.      Learn to PUSH – pray until something happens

 

a.       Learn to pray about every need

b.      Pray HARD about everything

c.       Get right in times of prayer

d.      Never let the government take the place of your faith in the risen Lord and Saviour!

 

5.      Get back to living by faith in the only answer to your needs – the just shall live by faith!

 

H.    God Honours a Loose Grip on Your Money (James 2:8)

 

1.      When you understand the previous truths, this will be easy!

2.      If you are constantly worried about money, and very “stingy” with it, then you have not learned all these great attitudes we all need to have!

3.      Listen to God’s Word

 

a.       Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

b.      Pro 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

c.       2Co 8:1-4 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. (generosity) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

d.      Luk 6:30-35 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

 

4.      Let go of money easily to bless other lives – don’t be a miser, tight-fisted

5.      Be a liberal giver, and you will have a continual feast

6.      Determine to use your money to invest in heavenly treasures (Mt 6:19-21) “Lay up your treasures in heaven!

 

II.                Conclusion

 

A.     Few people handle money right. Most often, they get ruined by a wrong way of using money and living for money.

B.     God’s people need to see money as a good thing to be used correctly!

C.     That’s what we are going to learn this month!

D.     God Honours Several Things About Money

 

1.      When We Love God More

2.      God Honours Hard-work - not hand-outs!

3.      God Honours Frugality, not Poverty

4.      God Honours Paying Your Bills

5.      God Honours Budgets

6.      God Honours Contentment

7.      God Honours Faith in Him – Trust!

8.      God Honours a Loose Grip on Your Money

 

B.     If You Want To See Money Differently…

 

1.      Just take a good look at Jesus!

2.      ASK Him for a new heart

3.      It’s called, being born again!