Speaking about gifts being elevated to godly status
Matt 6: 19-24
From of old, trade allowed businesses to flourish and grow. Money forms the backbone of our economies. Money is not an evil thing by itself, it is a blessing.
WHAT IS MONEY ACTUALLY WORTH?
It is linen-reinforced paper and really has very little functional value. Money shows us how much we TRUST each other.
We have agreed as a culture that paper money is actually worth something, so we trust each other that it can buy us something. This piece of paper translates into food etc… it’s a means to an end.
It is interesting though, on our One Rand coin it states in small print “Sole deo Gloria” which means: “For God’s glory alone”
Jesus talks about money more than almost any other single topic in the Bible!
THE WAY THAT WE VIEW AND SPEND MONEY REFLECTS THE STATE OF OUR HEARTS…
Where your treasure is there your heart will be also… The idol of money is really easy to own.
Do not let money take your heart!
It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, money can get a hold on your heart.
Paul says to Timothy: “Those who want to get rich are going to fall into temptation and into a trap into many foolish and harmful desires that will plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people have wondered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” They have substituted their faith in God, as the ultimate provider, with money and being Self-sufficient. Money itself is not evil, it is not bad to be wealthy, but if it is loved in a way that separates us from God it is pure evil…
Doesn’t matter how much money you have, it will never be enough…
The itch that can never be scratched, the thirst that can’t be quenched and the hunger that can’t be satisfied… He wants us to thirst and hunger for HIM. For He IS the living water and He IS the bread of life.
JESUS TALKS SO MUCH ABOUT MONEY, NOT BECAUSE HE WANTS YOUR MONEY, BUT BECAUSE HE WANTS YOUR HEART.
Jesus was unafraid to keep poking into the issue of money. In Matt 19 He says: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God.”
You are at higher risk to miss out on the love of God, as rich people tend to put money before God…
Mammon is like a personification of money, the reality of a demonic force behind money and behind finances. The power of money is to abuse and to manipulate… causing strife anguish and hardship for those caught in its grip.
Oxfam statistic show that the top 26 people of this world own more wealth than the bottom 3.5 billion people…
Money can make you it’s slave, instead of owning money it will enslave you, and it is a very cruel master…
Ask yourself could you live without these things… what is the power that it has over you…? Do you love Him more than these things? He wants your heart.
We need to put this idol to death as you can’t serve two masters!The human heart has an immense capacity to LOVE, but THE HUMAN HEART CAN ONLY WORSHIP ONE THING Jesus says. No space for anything else.
You will know that you are loved and blessed if you are plugged into Jesus and into your true place of worship and you will know that you are a child of God.
If you plug something else into that place of worship it will rule you and destroy you no matter what you have, it will never be enough if that thing is money!
HOW DO YOU PUT THIS THING TO DEATH?
FOCUS your attention beyond what you can simply see in front of you, look beyond the stuff that’s here, and look towards Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who should be the object of all our affection! See the money as a gift, but look beyond the money to the ONE that GAVE you that gift. Jesus is right there and He longs to have our focus and attention on Him. It happens through prayer, scripture reading, worship, praise… If you focus on anything other than Christ, what your eyes linger on produces a longing in the heart, that is NOT helpful!
STARVE the beast to death! Simply live below your means…What if you down scale? Go smaller, have less… Debt fills you with anxiety! Say no to more things. Less is more, is the way of Christ… Store up treasures in heaven! Jesus will always deliver if we love Him more and love money less.
GIVE a lot away, extravagantly! No one has regretted giving to Jesus. It is the godliest thing you could do. It changes you on the inside and is very liberating. Jesus doesn’t want your money, He wants your heart! DON’T PUT YOUR HOPE IN MONEY OR RICHES. It pans out to be imitation joy, fake happiness and temporary hope…
Money will enslave you and in the end of the cycle, of needing more, it will leave you exhausted and burned out. Jesus will lead you to a place of rest.
Money will create anxiety within you, Jesus will give you peace that passes all human understanding.
Money will enslave you in the cruelest way imaginable, Jesus will set you free and as the Son sets you free you will be FREE INDEED…!