God and Money
Biblical Attitudes About Money
February 5th
2012 AM
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
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
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
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.
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
d.
That’s why we have troubles –
to teach us to lean on Him, not on “them” in
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
9)
Back
to Work
10)
Bereavement Grant
11)
Blind Pension
12)
Child Benefit
13)
Welfare Payment for Communions and Confirmations (over €300 last year)
14)
Cross-Border All
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
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
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!