Money and Godliness

Introduction

Welcome

We will take prayer requests after our service tonight

Thank you all for coming out tonight

Don’t forget about our nominating committee meeting tonight right after service

We will wrap up our series tonight on “An Overview of the Church”

Our message is titles, “Money and Godliness”

This is the last subject we will discuss from 1 Tim

And its a very important topic

The Bible has a whole lot to say about money

And most of what the Bible says about money is attached to a warning

Money can be a snare to us in so many ways

But it’s not money itself that is bad, but the love of money

Its when money takes control of our heart that problems occur

We live in a world that places tremendous value on money

Money has great control over this world

It has control over politics

It has control over health care

It is responsible for crime and on and on

But money should never control Christians

And it can take hold of us before we even realize it

We are called to be Spirit led people, not mammon led people

The church is not exempt from the love of money

That’s because the church has to have, control, and use money to function

And anywhere where money is involved, the influence of evil is possible

1 Timothy 6:3-5

False teachers are Drawn into the Ministry by Money

Paul has much to say about false teachers in this letter

He spoke of them in ch 1, 4, and now again in ch 6

Do you get the hint that false teachers are a real problem for Paul?

You better believe it!

And we should’t think false teachers do not exist today

Satan plants them in every church that will allow him to do so

A mark of a false teacher is that they pursue a career in ministry for the money

Becoming a pastor is not a job, it is a calling

Any man that comes into the ministry to make money needs to leave

He’s in it for the wrong reasons and it will be a snare to him

How many preachers have been exposed over the years for stealing money from innocent people?

How many televangelists are millionaires?

How many have made promises on TV to give you a 100 fold return if you send them money?

There was one not too long ago that told his church God told him he needed a bigger jet

There is one that I heard claim to be a billionaire from ministry

Anyone who has that much money and is not feeding starving children, assisting churches financially who need it, and contributing to the work of the kingdom is probably in it for the wrong reasons.

Greed draws false teachers into the ministry “who suppose that godliness is a means of gain”

Here are a few warning signs of a false teacher

They promise good health

They promise big blessings

They preach a prosperity Gospel

They rarely preach about sin

They tell half truths that mislead rather than the Gospel truths that transforms

They are interested in money more than souls

They love to take Scriptures out of context to fit their theology

They want to make people feel good for their own popularity

They are people pleasers rather than God pleasers

2 Peter 2:17–19 NASB95

These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

False teachers do not feed the sheep of God

Beware

Don’t listen to them on TV

Don’t let their lies enter into your mind

Their feel good words are wells without water

They leave you dry and empty!

The Goal of a Christian Life is Contentment

(v 6) “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”

The goal of our Christian life should not be to pursue wealth but contentment

How many in here tonight would like to have more money?

How many in here tonight think that more money would solve some of your problems?

How many in here tonight would be willing to compromise biblical convictions to get more money?

That’s the difference

There is nothing wrong with having money or a lot of money

There is nothing wrong with being rich

Abraham was wealthy

King David was wealthy

Solomon was wealthy

God is not against wealth

(v 17-19) “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The problem is not wealth, it’s when we begin to trust in wealth over our trust in God

And when one places more value on the dollar than on his walk with God he’s crossed that line

Wealth cannot save us but Jesus can

This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when He said:

Matthew 19:24 NASB95

“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

As believers our goal should be to learn to be content with what God has given us

This will likely change at times in our lives

We get better jobs that pay more

We get raises

As long as we keep our godliness those things are just fine

It’s when we sacrifice godliness for money

(v 7) “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”

The things that pertain to godliness are eternal things

Our live should not be characterized by temporal things

If that is the case then we are teetering on a dangerous place

We know there is life after death

And this life is but a tiny fraction of what is to come

And we are to live for eternity, not for today

Everything we earn, save, buy, build, will be gone the moment we take our last breath

Everything we do for God will last forever!

Be wise and store up your treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust can get to them

Its going to mean a lot more than anything we can attain in this lifetime

The greatest wealth you can attain in this life is to learn to be content with what God has given you

To be truly wealthy is not having a big bank account

Its not having a million dollar 401K

It’s not bringing home six figures

It is being content in where ever you are and praise God for it!

Thank Him in the poor seasons

Thank Him in the abundant seasons

In all seasons thank Him!

(v 8) “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content”

This is what he is saying: Be content with the necessities of life

The real joy in this life is not in stuff

And when we fall into the temptation to be rich we really becomes slaves

You know I’d rather have the freedom to take my boat down to the lake than eat steak

I’d rather have the freedom to spend the afternoons with my children

I’d rather have the freedom to take off a Saturday than I would have the luxuries of this life

Contentment is the true treasure

Get what you need and don’t worry about the rest

If you don’t need it don’t place yourself in bondage over it

God gives us everything we need and then some

If we will follow His guidance He will teach us true contentment

The Desire to be Rich is a Place of Temptation

(v 9) “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition”

A desire to be rich wages a war on our faith

We are forced to choose which path to take

We either choose the luxuries of this life

OT we choose to be content with what God says we need

Words of Jesus:

Matthew 6:24 NASB95

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

When we begin to lust after wealth we lose our zeal for the things of God

Our Master moves from God to money

Our dreams change from serving God to building businesses

Our hope is not longer placed in God’s provisions but in our own fortunes

Why is it foolish to desire to be rich?

Because the desire literally destroys our faith

It takes the rightful place of God in our hearts

AND It ultimately leads to destruction

Jesus said: “Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”

There is only room in your heart for one love

Its either Jesus

Or its money

But it cannot be both

(v 10) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”

Notice it doesn’t say money is evil

Many people read this and leave out the words “love of”

Money is not evil

To have money is not evil

It is the love of money that is a root of evil

Its the desire to be rich that becomes the snare

Its the thinking that this life is all about financial security

One of the first things God taught me was to trust Him with my money

I have always been one who has had money

And it was an idol in my life that God said had to go when I got saved

And God convicted me almost immediately to start tithing to the church

And I did and I was really broke

I remember my washing machine broke and I spent $50 on a tub seal to fix it

It was a huge chance because that was a lot of money to me!

BUT regardless of how broke I got I still remained faithful in those tithes

And after many months God began to bless me financially

And since then I have been on both sides financially

And a lesson I learn over and over is money does not make you happy

No amount!

No matter how many things I buy it never really makes me happy!

I am the most fulfilled in this life when I learn to be content with what He gives me

When wealth becomes our pursuit, we actually forfeit our true joy

God really does want to give us true happiness

And He knows if we spend our entire lives pursuing riches we just really miss out on life

One day you wake up and its over

And all that stuff that seemed so important really isn’t

Hebrews 13:5 NASB95

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

See, all we really need is Jesus

Jesus gives a peace that surpasses all understanding

It is Jesus that gives us life and gives it abundantly

It is Jesus that meets all of our needs and truly gives us everything we need

And if we will learn contentment with what we have WE WILL TRULY BE RICH!

Christian wealth is not found in money, but in a deep love for Jesus

If you will love Him and submit to Him you will have the life you’ve always wanted

And HE will take care of you!

~PRAYER~