Money Madness: A Mindset Towards the Master's Money
MONEY MADNESS: A MINDSET TOWARDS THE MASTER'S MONEY
1 TIMOTHY 6:10
A DEVOUT LIFE DOES BRING WEALTH, BUT IT'S THE RICH SIMPLICITY OF BEING YOURSELF BEFORE GOD. SINCE WE ENTERED THE WORLD PENNILESS AND WILL LEAVE IT PENNILESS, IF WE HAVE BREAD ON THE TABLE AND SHOES ON OUR FEET, THAT'S ENOUGH.
BUT IF IT'S ONLY MONEY THESE LEADERS ARE AFTER, THEY'LL SELF-DESTRUCT IN NO TIME. LUST FOR MONEY BRINGS TROUBLE AND NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. GOING DOWN THAT PATH, SOME LOSE THEIR FOOTING IN THE FAITH COMPLETELY AND LIVE TO REGRET IT BITTERLY EVER AFTER.
INTRO:
1. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING HAVE IN COMMON? SEASHELLS, BEADS, STONE DISKS, CATTLE. THROUGHOUT HISTORY THESES HAVE BEEN USED AS MONEY;
MONEY:
2. MONEY IS A COMMODITY ACCEPTED BY THE GENERAL CONSENT OF A CULTURE AS A MEDIUM FOR ECONOMIC EXCHANGE. MONEY EXPRESSES PRICE AND VALUE; CIRCULATES FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND COUNTRY TO COUNTRY; IT IS THE PRINCIPLE BAROMETER OF WEALTH.
3. MONEY IS THE ONLY COMPLETELY LIQUID ASSET, READILY TRANSFERABLE TO GOOD OR SERVICES...READY PURCHASING POWER.
MONEY WILL BUY:
A BED BUT NOT SLEEP
BOOKS BUT NOT BRAINS
FOOD BUT NOT APPETITE
FINERY BUT NOT BEAUTY
A HOUSE BUT NOT A HOME
MEDICINE BUT NOT HEALTH
LUXURIES BUT NOT CULTURE & CLASS
AMUSEMENT BUT NOT HAPPINESS
SEX BUT NOT LOVE
DRUGS BUT NOT JOY
ALCOHOL BUT NOT THE SPIRIT
VACATION BUT NOT REST
EDUCATION BUT NOT WISDOM
WATCH BUT NOT TIME
PERKS & BENEFITS BUT NOT BLESSINGS
POWER BUT NOT PEACE
A CRUCIFIX BUT NOT A SAVIOUR
A CHURCH BUT NOW HEAVEN
MONEY CAN'T BUY JESUS CHRIST OR THE THINGS OF GOD.
MONEY IS, IN AND OF ITSELF A NEUTRAL MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE BUT WE HAVE A ATTACHED A WIDE VARIETY OF MEANING TO IT. IT REPRESENTS POWER, PRESTIGUE, SECURITY. IT IS THE MEANING WE ATTACH TO MONEY THAT "SUCK US IN" TO COVETOUSNESS AND SELFISHNESS. SOLOMON WROTE, "WHOEVER LOVES MONEY NEVER HAS ENOUGH; WHOEVER LOVES WEALTH IS NEVER SATISFIED WITH HIS INCOME." ECCL. 5:10. IN PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY, HE SETS UP THE CONTRAST BETWEEN BEING CONTENT AND THE TRAP THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE EAGER TO GET RICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO AND THE MANY TRICKY TEMPTUOUS TRAPS ONE CALL TUMBLE INTO...
2. HISTORY OF MONEY;
BARTER SYSTEM WAS MODE OF EXCHANGE; SHEEPS, GOATS, BIRDS, GRAIN, OIL AND WINE WERE VALUED GOODS AS WELL AS PRECIOUS METALS. THE FIRST MENTION OF MONEY IS MADE IN REFERENCE TO ABRAHAM AS RESTITUTION OF 1000 PIECES OF SILVER WAS MADE FOR THE WRONG GOING OF SARAH. ABRAHAM ALSO PURCHASED THE FAMILY BURIAL PLOT FROM EPHRON TH HITTLE FOR 400 PIECES OF SILVER; JOSEPH PLACED BUNDLES OF MONEY IN THE BAGS OF HIS BROTHES AS THEY CAME FOR FOOD TO SURVIVE FAMINE; JOB IS DESCRIBES AS THE WEALTHIEST MAN IN THE LAND OF UZ BECAUE OF HIS DIVERSE LIVESTOCK.
THE EARLIEST STANDARD OF MEASURE IS UNKNOWN HOWEVER, MONEY USUSALLY FELL INTO THREE CATAGORIES, THE PRICE FOR LAND; PROPHETIC INJUNCTION AGAINST CORRUPTION AND OBLIGATION TO THE TEMPLE-TEMPLE TAX.
UNITS OF MEASURE WERE NUMEROUS AND DIVERSE; IN THE NT INCLUDED THE DENARIUS, THE SHEKEL, THE LEPTON (THE SMALLEST UNIT-MITE) AND THE TALENT. THERE WERE SO MANY FORMS AND CURRENCY THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE MONEYCHANGERS, WHO FOR A FEE OF BETWEEN 4-8% WOULD EXCHANGE YOUR MONEY FOR THE CURRENCY OF THE CITY...EVERY NOW AND THEN GETTING AN EXTRA "CUT " FOR THEMSELVES.
EXPL: PASTORAL EPISTLES WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN 62 AND 64. TIMOTHY TRAVELED WITH PAUL THROUGHOUT MOST OF HIS SENCOND AND THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEYS. HE SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME PAUL'S PROTOEGE AS PAUL SPEAKS FINGURATIEL OF HIMSELF AS TIMOTHY'S FATHER (PHIL. 2:22) AND TIMOTHY AS HIS "SON" (1:2,18; 2TIM 1:2, 2:1). PAUL CHARACTERIZES TIMOTHY AS HAVING A "SPIRIT OF FEAR" AND EXHORTS HIM NOT TO LET ANYONE DESPISE HIM ON ACCOUNT OF HIS YOUTH (4:12), NOT TO NGLLECT THE SPIRITUAL GIFT WHICH HE HAS (4:14), AND NOT TO BVE ASHAMED TO SPEAK OUT BOLDLY FOR THE GOSPEL (2TIM. 1:8).
PAUL INSTRUCTED TIMOTHY IN CARE FOR CHURCH AT EPHESUS WHILE HE WNT ON TO MACEDONIA, CHARGING HIM IN MINSITRY (1:3, 18) AND TO WARM HIM OF FALSE TEACHINGS (1:3-7; 4:1-8; 6:3-5, 20-21) AND TO SUPERVISE THE MINISTRY OF THE GROWING CHURCH, ABOUT 8YRS AFTER PAUL'S 3YR STAY. CONTEXT OF PASSAGE IS IN REGARDS TO FALSE TEACHERS; DRIVE FORCE FUELING FALSE TEACHERS IS GREED, GAIN; AND PICKS UP ON THE MONEY THEME FROM 4:1-5 ...CONTRASTING FALSE TEACHING AGAIST GODLINESS. THIS PORTION OF THE LETTER HAS BEEN CALLED THE TREASTISE ON CONTENTMENT. DECLARES INDEPENDENCE ON MATERIAL AFFLUENCE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THOSE WITH THE DRIVING DESIRE FOR DOLLARS.
6:9 - TALKS OF THOSES WHO WANT TO BECOME RICH AND SPEAKS OF ONE'S DESIRE AND ATTITUDE. "BUT PEOPLE WHO WANT OT GET RICH ARE TEMPTED AND GET CAUAGHT IN THE DEVIL'S TRAP. THEY ARE OVERCOME BY FOLLISH AND HARMFUL CRAVINGS, WHICH PULL THEM DOWN TO CMPLETE AND FINAL DESRUCTION."
6:10 - THIS SAYING WAS WELL KNOWN IN BOTH JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH WORKS; " THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE MOTHER-CITY OF ALL EVIL." IT IS A PROVERB THAT SUBSTANTIAES WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN IN V. 9, THAT IS THE WILL TO BE RICH CAUSES ON TO FALL INTO MANY DESIRES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT "THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF EVIL." ..BUT ONE OF MANY SOURCES OF EVIL. "FOR PEOPLE WHO CRAVE MONEY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE EXPERIENCE ALL KINDS OF TROUBLES OR ..ARE LED TO COMMIT ALL SORTS OF SINS." THE DEVIL HAS A BAG OF TRICKS TO TEMPT ALL PEOPLE.
POINTING BACK TO CHRIST WE SHOUD NOTE THAT
JESUS TALKED MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN MANY SUBJECTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SALVATION. CONSIDER THE MANY PARABLE JESUS TOLD-THE RICH FOOL, THE PRODIGAL'S SON, THE WIDOW'S MITES, THE PEARL OF PRICELESS MEASURE, THE TEN TALENTS, THE LOST COIN, THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD, THE SHREWED MANAGER, AND THE RICH MAN & LAZARUS.
JESUS PAID THE TEMPLE TAX, CLEANED THE TEMPLE OF THE MONEY CHANGERS, TAUGHT US TO "RENDER TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESARS", WENT TO THE HEART OF THE "RICH YOUNG RULES" CONCERN; HE COMMISSIONED THE DISCIPLES NOT TO CARRY AND MONEY WHILE TEACHING THAT IF GOD WILL CARE FOR THE BIRDS OF THE FIELD...HE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU. AND WE CAN'T FORGET THAT IT IS "EASIER FOR THE CAMEL TO PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE, THAN FOR THE RICH TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. . . AND THE POOR WE WILL HAVE WITH US ALWAYS.
I. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
1. MONEY MADNESS: MEDIA MANIPULATION - MENTALITY FUEL BY THE MANIPULATOR OF MADISON AVENUE. ILLEGAL AND LEGAL CON-GAMES, #, LOTTERY, POOLS...FOSTER THE "SOMETHING FOR NOTHING SENSATION!" GOTTA HAVE IT MATERIALISTIC PHILOSOPHY, PILLAGES OUR INNER CITIES, STATES AND GOVERNMENT...FUELED DAILY BY THE MATERIALISTIC MASSAGE OF THE MEDIA.
2. MONEY MADNESS: MEGA-MANIA MATERIALISM - PROBLEM IS NOT THE MONEY, BUT THE LOVE OF MONEY...THE INORDINATE AFFECTION OF METAL, GEMS AND PAPER...BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON THAT WHICH IS OF.... LOVE OF MONEY FOSTERS THE LOVE OF ME, FOR IT TRANSLATES INTO POWER AND POSITION. MIX UP OF PRIORITIES DUE TO A WORLD SYSTEM THAT IS ROOTED IN ECONOMIC INJUSTICE.
II. HOW PREVALENT IS THE PROBLEM?
1. MONEY-MADNESS: SATURATED SOCIETY: SOCIO, POLITICAL;
CUTS ACROSS ALL LINES; CLASS: BLUE COLLAR, WHITE COLLAR, NO COLLAR; CRIME STATS UP...NICHOLAS BEESON BROUGHT DOWN THE FINANCIAL EMPIRE - BARNES.
2. MONEY-MADNESS: SEEPAGE INTO SAINTS. CHURCH SERVICE /TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
WE ARE A LONG WAY OFF FROM BEING LIKE THE PEOPLE IN MOSES DAY IN EX.36...THE PEOPLE BRING MUCH MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR THE SERVICE OF THE WORK WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED US TO DO." MOSES GAVE THE COMMAND..."AND THE PEOPLE WERE RESTRAINED FROM BRINGING."
WE ARE MORE LIKE FESTIVE PEOPLE OF HAGGAI'S DAY WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM THE EXILE ONLY TO TURN A DEAF HEAR THE CALL TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE. "IS IT TIME FOR YOUR YOURSELVES TO DWELL IN YOUR PANELED HOUSES, AND THIS TEMPLE LIE IN RUINS? "CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!"
WE ARE MORE LIKE THE PEOPLE OF MALACHI'S DAY, DISILLUSIONED,
DISCOURAGED AND DOUBTING, NOT IN HARMONY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE GLORIOUS PROMISES OF GOD...MALACHI ASK THE QUESTION "WILL A MAN ROB GOD?".
III. POTENTIAL CURES FOR THE PROBLEM?
1. REDISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES.
2. RESTITUTION FOR PAST WRONGS.
IV. HOW CAN CHRISTIANS OVERCOME & UNDERSTAND MONEY MADNESS?
1. REPENT OF WORLDLINESS.
2. REDRESS MINDSET WITH THE WORD.
PROP: LOVE FOR THE LORD IS THE ROOT OF UNLIMITED RICHES.
TS: CHRISTIANS CAN OVERCOME MONEY-MADNESS MINDSET BY EMBRACING POINTS THE COMMON SENSE OF 1 TIM. 6:10.
I. LUST FOR MONEY PRODUCES PERILS.
"...IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL"
SCRIPTURE COMPARES OUR LIVES TO PLANTS; JOB SAID "MAN WHO IS BORM OF A WOMAN IS OF A FEW DAYS AND FULL OF TROUBLE. HE COMES FORTH LIKE A FLOWER AND FADES AWAY; (JOB 14) DAVID SAID THE RIGHTEOUS "..SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT BRING FORTH FRUIT IN ITS SEASON, WHOSE LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WHITHER.."(PS. 1); ISAIAH SAID, ALL FLESH IS GRASS. AND ALL ITS LOVELINESS IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF THE FIELD. THE GRASS WITHER, THE FLOWER FADES BECAUE THE BREATH OF THE LORD BLOWS UPON IT."(IS. 40:6-7).
1. UNDERGROUND ACTIVITY
A. SEEDS MAY SEEM SMALL BUT ROOT WILL GROW DEEP
B. ROOTS THAT GROWS DEEP WILL BE HARD TO PULL UP.
(ILL:) THE RICH YOUNG RULER - WENT AWAY SORROWING.
ATTITUDES-ENVY, JEALOUSY, AVERAICE, GREED, CONTEMPT, COVETOUSNESS & CRAVINGS, RIVALRY AND RESENTMENT...SIN.
2. ABOVE GROUND ACTIVITY
C. FRUIT WILL NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE; ACTS OF CRIME,
MURDER, STEALLING, EMBEZELMENT, FRAUD, PROSITITUION, DRUG ACTIVITY, WORKING THREE JOBS, WORKING ON SUNDAY, WORKING ALL THE OVERTIME YOU CAN WORK. TIPPING GOD.
3. IMPLICATION: ACTS, ACTIONS & ACTIVITY REVEAL UNDERLYING ATTITUDE THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT FLOWER BOUQETS OF SWEET FRAGRANCE. SEEDS OF IDOLATRY PRODUCE WEEDS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY THAT WHO WORK THEIR WAY TO TAKE OVER & CHOKE OUT LIFEY...ONLY SOLUTION IS SPIRITUAL WEED KILLER. YOUR REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
4. APPLICATION: GOD OWNS IT ALL; PUT HIM FIRST IN ALL. LOVE FOR THE LORD PROMISES ETERNAL TREASURE.
II. LUST FOR MONEY CHARMS THE CHRISTIAN.
..."FOR WHICH SOME HAVE STRAYED FROM THE FAITH IN THEIR GREEDINESS."
1. CHARMS, ALLURES, SEDUCES, ENTICES. WANDERED INTO THE WAY OF THE WORLD, ENTICED BY TEMPTATION; THE MAGNET OF MATERIALISM..PULLS.
2. HOW BY TEMPTATION:
TEMPTATION AT SOME TIME
TEMPTATION IN SOME PLACE
TEMPTATION WITH SOME THING
TEMPTATION BY SOME PERSON (S) .
3. COMPARE & CONTRAST: ADAM AND EVE
IMPULSIVE APART FROM THE ALMIGHTY...AND WE
STRAYED TO BE SOLD AS A SLAVE TO THE LENDER - POOR - TANTALIZED, TEASED, TEMPTED & TRAPPED BY THINGS! ...FOR SELF BUT FELL INTO A SNARE.
AMBITIOUS APART FROM THE ALMIGHTY..AND WE STRAYED TO BECOME SLAVE TO MONEY - RICH. ALLURED AND ENTICED BY PERFUME OF THIS WORLD; WEALTH, POWER AND SECURITY.
DEVIL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TEMPTER WHO WILL AWAYS ATTEMPT TO FEED THE FLESH OF DISHONESTY.
(ILL:) ACHAN/GEHAZI/ANAINAIS AND SAPHAIRA.
(ILL:) ALL THAT GLITTERS AINT GOLD.
4. IMPLICATION: DEVIL WILL SECRETLY SEEK TO GET YOU TO REPLACE GOD WITH A GOD; YOU CANT TAKE IT WITH YOU; AND IF YOU HOLD ON TO IT TOO TIGHT YOU'LL NEVER GET MORE.
5. APPLICATION: PROPER MINDSET: USE MONEY AS A MEANS TO AN END, NOT A END IN ITSELF; PROPERLY PRIORITZE BECAUSE IN THE END YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. MAN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RICH IN ORDER TO BE HAPPY.
LOVE OF MONEY CAN BE STRONER THAN THE LOVE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIPS. MURDER MOTHER, BEAT BROTHER, SHOOT SISTER, KNIFE NEPHEW, CUT COUSIN, UNLEASH ON UNCLE, INJURE AUNT.
LOVE FOR THE LORD ..MONEY
III. LUST FOR MONEY PLAGUES THE PERSON.
...AND PIERCE THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS."
1. SELF IMPOSED PAIN; SUFFERING, DISTRESS. "SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT".
2. SELF IMPOSED SORROWS & SADDNESS...MANY EVILS, MANY SORROWS IN MANY WAYS.
3. SELF IMPOSED ATTITUDE OF GREED WILL EVENTUALL FINDS ITS WAY TO HURT ONE SELF.
4 IMPL: ATTEMPT TO GET BLESSING BY ALWAY RECEVING WILL BE IN VAIN.
5. APPL: SELF - GET SELF OUT OF THE WAY.
LOVE FOR THE LORD ULTIMATE..OUR INHERITENCE IS OUR REWARD
"A NOBEL CHARACTER IS INDEED THE TRUE RICHES, WHIC HAS NO GREED FOR ME TO CONVET AND TO STRIVE AFTER IN DO DOING, YOUR ARE DAILY LAYNG UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN IN THE ETERNAL IDEAL WORLD, WHERE NIETHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH CORRUPT AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH NOR STEAL. AND WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO"
CONCL: AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD EMBRACE THE MINDSET AS OUTLINED IN 1 TIM. 6:10 IN ORDER TO OVERCOME MONEY-MADNESS; GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN; WHILE GREAT GAIN WITHOUT OUT GOD IS CONTEMPT.
CHRIST IS RICHNESS
CHRIST AT CALVARY
VICTOR OVER DEATH, HE IS IMMORTAL,KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS DUE HONOR AND MIGHT FOREVER....GODLINESS YIELDS FUTURE REWARDS OF SPIRITUAL GAINS.
ILL:
"MONEY IN AND OF ITSELF IS NEITHER GOOD NOR EVIL; IT IS SIMPLE DANGEROUS IN THAT THE LOVE OF IT MAY BECOME BAD.
WITH MONEY WE CAN DO MUCH GOOD;
WITH MONEY WE CAN DO MUCH EVIL;
WE CAN SELFISHLY SERVE OUR OWN SELFISH DESIRES.
WE CAN GENEROUSLY ANSWERE THE CRY OF A NEIGHBOR IN NEED.
WE CAN BUY OUR WAY INTO THE FORBIDDEN AND FACILITTE THE PATH OF WRONG.
WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR SOME ELSE TO LIVE AS GOD MEANT THEM TO LIVE.
MONEY BRINGS POWER, POWER IS A TWO-EDGED SWORD, FOR IT IS POWERFUL TO DO GOOD; IT IS POWERFUL TO DO EVIL"
"GIVING WITH A GLAD AND GENEROUS HEAR HAS A WAY OF TROUNCING OUT THE TOUGH OLD MISER WITHIN US. EVEN THE POOR NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GIVE. JUST THE VERY ACT OF LETTING GO OF SOME MONEY OR SOME TREASURED POSSESSION, DOES SOMETHING WITHIN US...IT DESTROYS THE GREED DEMON."
"THE REAL MEASURE OF A PERSON'S WEALTH IS HOW MUCH THEY WOULD BE WORTH IF THEY LOST ALL THEIR MONEY."
"ACCORDING TO THE SOCIAL SECURTIY RECORDS, 85 OUT OF 100 AMERICANS HAVE LESS THAN 250.00 WHEN THEY REACH THE AGE OF 65."
IF THE WORLD WAS SHRUNK DOWN TO A 1000 PEOPLE CONSIDER THE FACTS;
180 OF US WOULD HAVE
80% OF WEALTH; 50%+ OF REAL ESTATE; 85% OF THE CARS; 80% OF THE TV'S; 90% OF THE TELEPHONES; MAKE 5000.00 IN INCOME; WITH LESS THAN 1% SPENT IN AID FOR THE POOR VS. 700.00 PER YEAR FOR THE POOR...
UNCLE OLLIE WAS A TIGHTWAD, AND ANUT EM COULD NEVER GOT AN EXTRA QUARTE OUT OF HIM, UNCLE OLLIE MADE A GOOD SALARY BUT LIVED FRUGALLY BECAUSE HE INSISTED ON PUTING 20% OF HIS CHECK UNDER HIS MATTRESS..(HE DIDN'T TRUST BANKS). HE SAID THE MONEY WOULD COME IN HANDY IN HIS OLD AGE. AT 60 HE DEVELOPED CANCER AND TOWARD THE END HE MADE ANUT EM PROMISE, IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS BROTHERS, THAT SHE WOULD BUT HIS MONEY HE STASHED IN IS COFFIN.
THEY ALL KNEW HE WAS ODD, BUT THIS WAS CLEARLY A CRAZY REQUEST. AUNT EM PROMISED, HOWEVER, AND ASSURED UNCLE OLLIE BROHTER, THAT SHE WOULD DO AS HE ASKED. HE DIED, AND THAT MORNING SHE TOOK THE MONEY (26,000) TO THE BANK DEPOSITED IT, SHE THEN WROTE A CHECK, WENT TO THE FUNERAL AND PLACED IT IN THE COFFIN."
IF A MAN'S RELIGION DOESN'T AFECT HS USE OF MONEY, THAT PERSON RELIGION IS IN VAIN."