Obstacle of Greed
Notes
Transcript
Obstacle of Greed
INTRODUCTION
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2300 verses in the Bible deal with money.
60% of Jesus' parables deal with money in some form.
Understanding how to deal with money is important in having a fulfilled life.
Greed keeps us from serving God. It is selfishness.
Greed gets in the way of God using us to make a difference in this world.
1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”
3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”
4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards.
5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them
8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.
9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.
11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”
12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.
13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.
15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.
18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.
19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
6 Truths Concerning Finances
1- Life Needs Money (1-2)
1- Life Needs Money (1-2)
It is amoral.
It is necessary.
To buy grain.
1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”
This is a crisis that came because they were being obedient to God.
It was time for harvest and the wall was not finished.
They are in debt- because of famine and taxes.
Famine- not just drought. Wrong time for rains. Or they planted less because of the work on the wall. Just refers to the fact they didn't harvest enough food.
It is a tool that can be used for good or evil.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
God tells us we must work for money to provide the necessities of our life.
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,
8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2- Debt Produces Slavery (3-5)
2- Debt Produces Slavery (3-5)
3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”
4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards.
5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
Debt causes slavery.
7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
It changes your relationship with those you borrow from.
Never a good idea to loan money to a family member or fellow church member. If they need it, give it.
Need is the important word.
When we know of legitimate needs in the church we are very generous.
3- Wealth Demands Justice (6-8)
3- Wealth Demands Justice (6-8)
6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them
8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.
“angry”- because of the injustice.
He had been sacrificing his own finances to bring back the Jews who were enslaved outside of Judah.
Here they were doing it to themselves.
ILL- Jesus- angry in temple because of the injustice of the business of the temple keeping people from worshiping.
War of social classes.
Rich causing socioeconomic oppression.
ILL- Pay Day Loans - 30 Day loan for $500 can cost $129 in fees- That’s 300% interest.
Those living paycheck to paycheck can’t afford to make the payment and still live. So they have to take out another one. And then they are trapped.
For God’s people they were protected from debt by the Sabbatical Year.
Every 7 years all debts were to be forgiven.
This was to keep the land allotment in the family.
As followers of Jesus we must care about the plight of the poor.
6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit.
7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
4- Discipleship Grows Contentment (10-13)
4- Discipleship Grows Contentment (10-13)
10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.
11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”
12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.
13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
Greed and contentment
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
We will either be motivated by greed or learn to be content.
Paul was a rich kid and young adult who learned to be content with very little.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
5- Money Proves Obedience (14-15)
5- Money Proves Obedience (14-15)
14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.
15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
The “why” matters.
“Because of the fear of God.”
Fear of God is always a healthy thing. Not fear of punishment but fear as in respect.
Why do you give?
Obedience?
Worship?
Guilt?
6- Giving Requires Sacrifice (16-19)
6- Giving Requires Sacrifice (16-19)
16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.
18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.
19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
So many gave up everything to help build the wall.
Nehemiah took care of himself and all the nobles so they were not a burden to those who were already sacrificing so much.
He funded the daily needs of those with him through his own personal money.
Equal Sacrifice-
Nehemiah had wealth and power that others did not have. Yet he sacrificed everything to get the walls built.
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,
2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Tithing- 10% of first fruits.
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Bring whole tithe into storehouse. - Why storehouse? So it could be dispersed as there is need.
Why the church? - so the church can decide how to disperse it.
CONCLUSION
God gave us the greatest example of sacrifice.
He sent his only son to this world to die for our sins.
Have you accepted the free gift?
Are you living in obedience to the God who sacrificed for us?
Are you living in obedience to the God who sacrificed for us?