#2 – Money Matters

THE WAY TO REGARD MONEY

‘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 loose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. I Timothy 6:6-10 (Message)

‘Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage – to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.’ I Timothy 6:17-19 (Message)

I. A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT RICH… BE CONTENT!

‘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.’
I Timothy 6:6-8 (Message)

Hebrews 13:5; ‘Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have…’ (Message)

‘Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.’ Philippians 4:11-12 (Mes)

Why Be Content….

Wealth Doesn’t Bring Contentment…
‘A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God.’ I Timothy 6:6 (Message)

Enough Is Never Enough
‘He that loveth silver will never be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods are increased, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners therof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? Ecclesiastes 5:10 (KJV)

Paraphrase – ‘The more you have, the more you spend.. right up to the limits of your income, so what is the advantage of wealth – except perhaps to watch it as it runs through your fingers.’
It Doesn’t Remove the Problems
Wealth Has Never Brought Peace to the Soul
‘Just then God showed up and said, “Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnfull of goods – who gets it?”’ Lk 12:20

Wealth Is Not Lasting
‘Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless..’

‘Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or – worse! – stolen by burglars’ Matthew 6:19

‘Just then God showed up and said, “Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnfull of goods – who gets it?”’ Lk 12:20

‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the Lord taketh away.’ Job 1:21 (KJV)

3. Our Basic Needs Are Easily Met
‘if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.’

We Need to Learn Contentment

1. By Having A Current Perspective On Eternity
‘Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless..’

2. By Having A Simple Acceptance Of The Essentials…
‘if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.’

Hebrews 13:5; ‘Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you…’

II. A WARNING TO THOSE WHO WANT TO BE RICH

‘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 loose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.’ I Timothy 6:9-10 (Message)

A. They That ‘Will Be Rich’ (KJV)
‘But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time’

B. The Love Of Money… Is The Root Of All Evil
‘Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some loose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.’ I Timothy 6: 10 (Message)

III. INSTRUCTIONS TO THOSE WHO ARE RICH

‘Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage – to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.’
I Timothy 6:17-19 (Message)

Don’t Be Conceited… ‘Full of Themselves’

B. Don’t Trust In Your Wealth For Security
‘Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. V. 17

Only God Is ‘Extravagantly Generous’

D. Employ What God Gives You
‘Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage – to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.’ I Timothy 6:17-19 (Message)

‘Do Good…’
‘Be Rich In Helping Others’
‘Be Extravagantly Generous..