Paul's Instructions to the Rich

Introduction

Conversations During My Time in Banking: Young Couple with Kids & a Suped-up F-150.

They Thought They Had a Money Issue, But They Had a Heart Issue.

Two Traps

Financial Mechanisms (Products: Traditional vs. Roth IRA, Credit Card vs. HE Loan)

Financial Strategies (Process: Save 15% for the next 30 years, Rule of 72)

Money Issues are Typically Heart Issues.

Context of Passage: Paul Gives Instructions for Christian Living

When We Think of the Rich, We Immediate Think of Someone Else.

I. What You Do With Money Reveals What You Believe About Money.

What Do You Really Believe About Money?

Is It a Means to an End? (car, home, phone, TV)

Is It an End in Itself? (Savings, Investments)

Wrong View: Money Will Bring Me True Security.

What Paul Writes:

Two Temptations for Those Who are Rich:

False Pride.

False Security.

Money is Temporary.

Money is Uncertain.

Money Must Be Put in its Proper Place.

If I Believe that Something Will Bring Me Security, You’ll See It In How I Behave.

Man with $60K in his gun case.

We Need Something (or Someone) Who Can Handle the Weight of Our Expectations for Security.

II. What You Do With Money Reveals What You Believe About God.

What Do You Really Believe About God?

Is He a Means to an End? (comfort, his “stuff”)

Is He an End in Himself? (Goodness, Kindness, Greatness)

Wrong View: God is Stingy or Cruel.

What Paul Writes:

Key Statement: “Put Your Hope in God Who Richly Provides Us With All Things for Our Enjoyment.”

Think About That Statement: It Tells You A Lot About What Paul Believes About God.

God is Rich.

God is Generous.

God Gives What is Meant to Be Enjoyed.

What You Believe About God Changes What You Believe About Money.

If I Believe that God is Truly Good, It Will Change How I Behave.

You Can Always Tell What Someone Believes About God By What Comes Out of Their Mouth When They Lose Money.

But, Even Those Who Sincerely Believe in an Eternal God Do Not Always Think With an Eternal Perspective.

III. What You Do With Money Reveals What You Believe About Eternity.

You May Believe in God, But What Do You Really Believe About Eternity?

#1: Agnostic’s Honest Fear of Death.

#2: In My Experience, Most People Don’t Act Like They Believe in Eternity Until They’re at a Funeral.

2. What Paul Writes:

Paul Warns of the Temporal, Uncertain Nature of Money.

He Calls Them to Focus Not on the Current Age, But on the Coming Age.

The Current Age is Temporary & Temporary Treasure Has Many Threats.

The Coming Age is Eternal & Eternal Treasure Has No Threats.

Only When We Prioritize the Coming Age Can We Take Hold of True Life.

3. If I Believe that Eternity is Real, I Will Behave Differently.

Quick to Do Good.

Rich in What Matters: Good Deeds.

Generous & Willing to Share Because We Trust in God’s Care & We Know that the Need is Great.

Closing:

The One Who Said: “Where Your Treasure is, there Your Heart Will Be Also,” and “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Revealed to us that God is Indeed Good.

Though He was Rich, He Became Poor for Our Sake.

Though He is Perfectly Good, He Became Sin for us.

Though He is the Eternal Son of God, He Entered into Time to Take Away the Sin of the World Once & For All.

Though in Him was Life, He Died for Our Sake That We Might Grasp That Which is Truly Life.

His Name is Jesus.

Baptisms | Prayer of Surrender