Sermon Tone Analysis

Which of these subjects did Jesus preach on the most; Heaven, Hell, or Money?

Jesus talked more about money/possessions than He did Heaven and Hell combined.

Why did Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions?

Because there’s a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.

We may try to divorce our faith and finances, but God sees them as inseparable.

GREED OR PRIDE

All humans are born bent towards greed or pride when it comes to money.

Greed is obvious.

It is an unwillingness to be charitable towards others.

Pride is not so obvious.

It is those who are charitable for the sake of status, self-esteem, and/or satisfaction.

Both types need the gospel.

The greedy needs bending toward generosity, while the prideful needs bending toward godliness.

Only the power of grace can effect such change.

OUR GIVING IS A RESPONSE TO GRACE

Proof of Repentance

Three different groups asked him how they should prove their repentance.

John gave three answers:

Everyone should share clothes and food with the poor.

Tax collectors shouldn’t pocket extra money.

Soldiers should be content with their wages and not extort money.

Our approach to money and possessions is central to our spiritual lives.

No one had asked John about finances!

They wanted to know how to demonstrate spiritual transformation.

So why did John’s response center almost exclusively on money and possessions?

John wanted his audience to know: Our approach to money and possessions is central to our spiritual lives.

This truth is not isolated to John the Baptist.

Jerusalem converts eagerly sold their possession to give to the needy.

Ephesian occultists proved the authenticity of their conversion in Acts 19.

The experience of grace triggers graciousness towards others.

Grace reshapes the greedy.

Listen to Jesus words concerning the greedy.

Fool!

The greatest indictment against him—and the proof of his spiritual condition—is that he was rich toward himself but not rich toward God.

Greedy Christian?

Can such a person exists?

Christian’s can struggle with greed but they cannot live a life of greedy.

Wise!

Jesus isn’t altogether against storing up - only storing up treasure on earth.

He commands us to store up for ourselves treasures in eternity.

Treasure in Heaven?

Heaven and The New Earth are not immaterial or intangible places.

They are as material and tangible as anything on earth.

It’s true that when Jesus speaks about “treasures in heaven,” we don’t know the exact form those treasures will take.

Treasures in Heaven could be of material or spiritual nature, but either way they are real, meaningful rewards for God’s people who give generously.

OUR GIVING WILL BE REWARDED

William Borden 1887–1913

Borden, a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth, rejected a life of ease in order to bring the gospel to Muslims.

Refusing even to buy himself a car, Borden gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions.

After only four months of zealous ministry in Egypt, he contracted spinal meningitis and died at age twenty-five.

I dusted off the epitaph on Borden’s grave.

After describing his love for God and sacrifices for Muslim people, the inscription ended with this phrase:

“Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life.”

When the news of William Whiting Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper.

"A wave of sorrow went round the world . . .

Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" Borden had written six words on the last page of his Bible . . .

No reserves.

No retreats.

No regrets.

Eternal Rewards

If you imagine Heaven as a place where you will strum a harp in endless tedium, you probably dread it.

But if you trust Scripture, you will be filled with anticipation for your heavenly home.

Heaven will be a place of rest and relief from sin and suffering; but it will also be a place of great learning, activity, artistic expression, exploration, camaraderie, and service.

Jesus notices our smallest acts of kindness.

God keeps a record of all we do for Him.

God keeps a record of all we do for Him.

Imagine a scribe in Heaven recording each of your gifts.

The bike you gave to the neighbor kid, the books to prisoners, the monthly donations to the church, missionaries, and pregnancy center—all are being chronicled.

Scrolls are made to be read.

I look forward to hearing your giving stories and meeting those touched by what you gave.

If you handle the Lord’s money faithfully, Christ will give you true, eternal riches.

After speaking of the shrewd servant’s desire to use earthly resources so that “people will welcome me into their houses” (Luke 16:4), Jesus told His followers to use “worldly wealth” (money and possessions) to “gain friends” (by making a difference in their lives on Earth).

The reason?

“So that when it is gone [when life on Earth is over], you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (v.

9).

Friends in Heaven

Our “friends” in Heaven will be those whose lives we’ve touched on Earth, who will have their own “eternal dwellings.”

Luke 16:9 seems to say our friends’ eternal dwellings are places where we stay and fellowship, perhaps as we move about the heavenly kingdom.

The money we give to help others on Earth will open doors of fellowship in Heaven.

Now that’s something to get excited about!

Whatever good thing you do for Him, if done according to the Word, is laid up for you as treasure in chests and coffers, to be brought out to be rewarded before both men and angels, to your eternal comfort.

- John Bunyan

Is this a biblical concept?

Absolutely! Paul spoke about the Philippians financial giving and explained

God keeps an account open for us in Heaven, and every gift given for His glory is a deposit in that account.

Isn’t it unspiritual and selfish to talk about eternal rewards?

If it were wrong to want them, Christ wouldn’t offer rewards as motivation.

Rewards are God’s idea, not ours!

Love for God, love for people, and compassion for the poor are all vitally important.

But these motives for giving are in no way contrary to the fact that God also calls us to be motivated by rewards.

Our instinct is to give to those who will give us something in return.

Jesus directs our giving

Jesus directs our giving

If we give to those who can’t reward us, Christ guarantees He will personally reward us.

He’s talking about treasures that await us in Heaven, rewards for caring for the poor, including our efforts to reach the unreached with the gospel of Jesus.

Giving is a giant lever positioned on the fulcrum of this world, allowing us to move mountains in the next world.

Because we give, eternity will be different—for others and for us.

Rewards as Old as Moses

Moses laid up because he was going up.

He who spends his life moving away from his treasures has reason to despair.

He who spends his life moving toward his treasures has reason to rejoice.