Richer Than You Think: Managing God’s Money God’s Way

Life is a Test and a Trust

I want you to do something.

Turn to the person next to you and say this: "I'm richer than I thought!"

Now, some of you are thinking, "Captain Rob, have you seen my bank account? I'm definitely not rich!"

But here's the truth - by global standards, most of us are far more affluent than we realise.

Let me give you some facts.

If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep tonight, you're richer than 75% of the people in the world.

If you have any money in the bank, any cash in your wallet, or some spare change in a jar somewhere, you're in the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

That means 92% of the people on this planet have less than you do.

So when we talk about the stewardship of affluence today, this message is for all of us.

We may not feel rich compared to our neighbours, but compared to most of the world, we're incredibly blessed.

Here's the second truth I want you to grasp today, and it’s a thread that has run throughout this series: everything you have is a gift from God.

You don't really own anything.

It all passes through your hands.

It was someone else's before you got it.

It'll be someone else's after you're gone.

You just get to use it for a while.

The Bible teaches that this life is preparation for eternity.

God is watching how we handle what he gives us here on earth.

Our faithfulness with what we have now determines what he can trust us with later.

Jesus put it like this:

Luke 16:11–12 NLT

And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

Think about that.

God is watching.

Not because he's suspicious or cruel, but because he's a loving Father who wants to prepare us for greater things.

He's testing our character.

He's watching to see what we'll do with the resources he's entrusted to us.

Few things reveal our spiritual maturity more clearly than how we use money.

It's the acid test of faith.

And today we're going to look at two things: the pitfalls we must avoid and the purposes God has for our money.

1 Timothy 6:6-19

1 Timothy 6:6–19 NLT

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

MESSAGE NOTES

The Pitfalls of Money: Three Dangerous Myths

Before we look at the positive side of money, we need to understand the dangers.

The Bible is full of warnings about wealth because money can do crazy things to our hearts.

1 Timothy 6:9–10 NLT

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Notice - it's not money itself that's the problem.

It's the love of money.

God wants us to love people and use things.

But when we start loving things, we end up using people.

We get it backwards.

There are three dangerous myths about money that can trap us if we're not careful:

Myth 1: "If I have more, I'll be happier"

This is what every advert tells us, isn't it?

"Buy our product and you'll be happy!"

We believe it's our right to purchase happiness.

And for a while, new things do make us happy.

A few years ago, a woman called Lara won around £1.8 million on the National Lottery with her husband.

At first it felt like a dream.

They bought the big house, cars, and invested in businesses.

But then things started to go wrong.

The 2008 financial crisis hit, their ventures failed, a fire damaged their home, the marriage broke down, and within a few years the money had gone.

She spent ten years trying to clear the debts.

Looking back, she said that money can help with some things, but it can’t fix broken relationships or guarantee happiness. 

Her story shows us what many people discover the hard way: more money can change your lifestyle, but it can’t heal your heart.

Happiness is rooted in relationships, purpose, and knowing God – not in how much is in your bank account.

Things bring temporary happiness, but it never lasts.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

Having more will not make you more happy.

If it did, the wealthiest celebrities would be the happiest people on earth.

But they're not, are they?

Myth 2: "If I have more, I'll be more important"

This myth says that your value is based on your valuables.

Your net worth determines your self-worth.

Of course, that's nonsense.

But we fall for it anyway.

We think, "If I only have a little, I'm only worth a little. But if I get more, people will respect me. They'll look up to me."

So we pay ridiculous amounts for a little logo on a shirt.

We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't even like.

Luke 12:15 NLT

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

A few years ago, a property developer in Britain became well known on TV shows about luxury homes.

He moved in high circles, lived in a multi-million-pound house, and presented himself as very successful.

But then court papers showed he was in serious trouble.

He had taken out a huge mortgage he couldn’t repay, owed millions to a bank, and large sums to others, including his ex-wife and former business contacts.

A judge finally declared him bankrupt and described his finances as “hopelessly insolvent”. 

For a while this man looked very important and successful.

But status, titles, and TV appearances didn’t protect him.

In the end, what mattered was the reality behind the image.

Your worth is not your net worth.

In God's eyes, your character matters far more than your bank balance.

The person who dies with the most toys still dies.

And when you stand before God, he won't ask about your possessions.

He'll ask about your heart.

Myth 3: "If I have more, I'll be more secure"

We even have a phrase for this - "financial independence."

But here's the reality: the more you have, the more you have to worry about.

The more you need to insure.

The more you need to protect and maintain.

And this might just be a personal testimony of mine - but the more you have to pack up and move about every few years!

The more it complicates your life.

The Bible says it's foolish to put your security in possessions:

Proverbs 23:5 NLT

In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

I don't care how rich you are.

You could lose everything overnight.

Talk to people who've lost fortunes in market crashes or business failures.

And even if you keep your wealth, it can't protect you from real trouble.

Rich people get cancer.

Rich people lose loved ones.

Rich people face heartbreak and pain.

Money is not much of a security blanket.

The only true security is found in God.

He's the only one who can never be taken away from you.

So those are the pitfalls - three dangerous myths that can trap us: thinking that having more will make us happier, more important, or more secure.

None of it is true.

But here's the good news: while money has dangers, it also has tremendous potential for good when we use it God's way.

Money as a Tool, Not a God

Here's a simple truth: money is a tool to help me fulfil God's purposes.

It's not a god to worship.

It's not the goal of life.

It's a tool God gives us to accomplish his work in the world.

God is like a Father watching how we handle a small amount now because he's preparing to entrust us with far more in eternity.

Luke 16:10 NLT

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Think about that.

What you do with a tenner reveals what you'd do with a thousand pounds.

What you do with a thousand reveals what you'd do with a million.

God is watching.

He's testing us.

Not to catch us out, but to prepare us for greater things.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NLT

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Did you catch that?

We're to use our money to do good.

We're to be rich in good works.

We're to be generous and ready to share.

Why? Because by doing this, we store up treasure in heaven.

We build a good foundation for eternity.

So the question isn't "How much can I keep?"

The question is "How can I invest what God has given me in things that will last forever?"

Five Eternal Funds: Where to Invest What God Has Given

We’ve spoken before about the five eternal funds (for which I am grateful to Pastor Rick Warren) - five ways God invites us to invest our money for his purposes and for eternity.

You need to invest in all five to have a balanced spiritual life.

Fund 1: The Treasury Fund - Use Money to Express Worship

The first fund is about worship.

When you give some of your money back to God, that's an act of worship.

It honours him.

It acknowledges that everything you have comes from him.

Proverbs 3:9 NLT

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.

God doesn't need your money.

He owns everything already.

So why does he ask us to give?

Because of what it does to our hearts.

Matthew 6:21 NLT

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Where you put your money, your heart will follow.

God says, "If you want your heart to be close to me, invest some of your money in my work."

That's why we tithe.

That's why we give offerings.

Not because God needs it, but because we need to give.

It keeps our hearts aligned with his purposes.

The Treasury Fund is about putting God first - not just in words, but in pounds and pence.

It's about saying, "Lord, you are my priority. My treasure is in you."

Fund 2: The Mutual Fund - Use Money to Encourage Fellowship

The second fund is about community.

God wants us to use our money to build relationships in his family.

When you share what you have with other believers, it draws you closer together.

It strengthens the bonds of Christian fellowship.

Romans 12:13 NLT

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

This means opening your home as many of you do.

Providing meals.

Taking a fellow Christian to lunch.

Buying someone a helpful book or resource.

Giving cash to someone who's in a tight spot.

That's the Mutual Fund in action.

Sometimes love costs something.

Sometimes helping costs money.

And God says when you invest in caring for your brothers and sisters in Christ, you're investing in eternity.

You're building the kind of loving community that reflects his heart.

Fund 3: The Growth Fund - Use Money to Grow Spiritually

The third fund is about personal spiritual growth.

God wants you to invest in your own discipleship.

He wants you to use some of what he's given you to strengthen your faith and deepen your walk with him.

Proverbs 10:16 NLT

The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.

Have you ever thought that one reason God gives you money is so you can grow spiritually?

Think about it.

Sometimes you need to buy a Bible.

Or a study guide.

Or a Christian book that will challenge you.

Or pay for a retreat or conference that will refresh your soul.

These are investments in your character.

And your character is the only thing you'll take to heaven.

You won't take your car or your house or your clothes.

But you will take who you've become.

God wants to do great things in your life.

And to build something great, you need a strong foundation.

So invest in books.

Invest in courses.

Invest in experiences that help you grow in Christ.

It's not selfish - it's wise.

Because the stronger you are spiritually, the more useful you'll be in God's service.

Fund 4: The Service Fund - Use Money to Help People in Need

The fourth fund is about ministry.

God wants you to use money to help people who are struggling.

To meet needs in Jesus' name.

If you want the simplest definition of ministry, here it is: meeting other people's needs in Jesus' name.

And God gives us resources to do exactly that.

There are emotional needs.

Physical needs.

Financial needs.

All kinds of needs.

And he wants us to help.

Proverbs 11:24–25 NLT

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Here's what amazes me - when we give to others, God always gives back.

He always does.

Not necessarily in the same way, but he blesses generosity.

Your world gets larger when you're generous.

It gets smaller when you're stingy.

God has a special heart for the poor.

But we get so caught up in our own lives, it's easy to forget the poor.

But God doesn't forget.

And he wants us to share his heart for people in need.

As a corps, we live this out every day.

A number of us volunteer to feed the hungry.

We provide a warm space and a warm welcome to the homeless.

We support the struggling.

We do it because Jesus did it.

We do it because people matter to God.

So invest in the Service Fund.

Look for opportunities to help.

Do it in Jesus' name, and you're investing in eternity.

Fund 5: The Global Fund - Use Money to Extend Your Mission

The fifth and final fund is about mission.

God wants you to use your money to help bring people to Jesus.

To spread the good news.

To see lives transformed by the gospel.

This is the longest-lasting impact you can make with money.

Because when someone comes to faith, they'll be in heaven forever.

And they'll thank you for it.

Luke 16:9 NLT

Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

What's he saying?

Use your money to bring people to Christ.

Because when you get to heaven, they'll greet you with joy saying, "Thank you! I'm here because of you!"

Think about that. Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you?

Because you paid for them to go to a Christian event, like a Summer School?

Because you bought them a Bible?

Because you supported a missionary?

Because you gave to evangelism or church planting or outreach?

This is the Global Fund.

This is using your money to extend God's kingdom to the ends of the earth.

When you invest in spreading the gospel, lives change.

Communities are transformed.

God is glorified.

And you store up treasure in heaven that will last forever.

Eternal Returns: You Can't Take It With You, But You Can Send It Ahead

As we reflect on what God is saying to us this morning, here's a truth that will change how you think about money: you can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.

Every pound you invest in God's purposes is treasure stored in heaven.

It's waiting for you.

It's building up interest.

And one day, you'll enjoy the returns forever.

Think about it this way. If your treasure is only on earth, every day you're getting further away from it.

You're moving away from everything you've worked for.

But if your treasure is in heaven, every day you're getting closer to it.

You're walking towards eternal rewards.

Which would you rather do - walk away from your treasure or walk towards it?

Someone once said, "We make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give."

That's the difference between success and significance.

Success is about accumulation.

Significance is about contribution.

God wants you to live a life that matters.

A life that echoes in eternity.

And the way you use your money reveals whether you're living for success or for significance.

Response

Before we finish, I want to invite you to do a quiet "money audit" with God.

Don't worry - I'm not going to ask you to share it with anyone.

This is between you and the Lord.

Look at the five funds we've talked about:

The Treasury Fund - expressing worship through giving

The Mutual Fund - encouraging fellowship by sharing

The Growth Fund - growing spiritually through investing in your own discipleship

The Service Fund - helping people in need

The Global Fund - extending God's mission to the world

Which fund are you neglecting?

Which one needs more attention in your life?

Now ask yourself: What is one concrete change I will make this month?

In just over a month’s time, we’re going to take the opportunity to renew our Generous Discipleship programme.

It used to be called Pledged Giving, then Planned Giving, then Give to Grow.

Now it’s called Generous Discipleship.

I’m asking you this morning to start to think and pray before God about how he wants you to respond to this programme.

Maybe you need to start tithing.

Maybe you need to be more generous with other believers.

Maybe you need to invest in some resources for your own spiritual growth.

Maybe God is calling you to give more to help the poor.

Maybe he wants you to support mission work or evangelism.

Whatever it is, don't just think about it.

Be ready to do it.

Make a decision today.

And be ready to pledge it.

In The Salvation Army, we have a long tradition of sacrificial giving.

We’re in the middle of our Self-Denial Appeal, where we give up something we enjoy so we can give more to God's work.

We support our corps.

We support community ministries.

We support global mission.

It's part of who we are.

But it's not just about programmes and appeals.

It's about a lifestyle.

It's about managing God's money God's way.

Let's pray together.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank you for all you've given us. Everything we have comes from you. Help us to be faithful stewards of what you've entrusted to us.

We confess that we're tempted by the pitfalls of money - thinking it will make us happier, more important, or more secure. Forgive us for those times when we've loved things more than people, when we've put our trust in possessions instead of in you.

Today we offer our affluence back to you - whether we have much or little. Help us to invest in the things that matter for eternity. Help us to worship you with our treasure, to encourage fellowship by sharing, to grow in faith through learning, to serve the needy with compassion, and to extend your mission to the world.

Give us generous hearts like yours. Give us wisdom to use money as a tool for your purposes, not as a god to worship.

We want to hear you say one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Help us to be found faithful with what you've given us.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.