The Love of Money
Introduction:
Jesus was the Master Storyteller. On one occasion
while a multitude of thousands was gathered, a man in the crowd told
Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Note
Christ’s reply in Luke 12:14-21. “15 And He said to them, ‘Take heed
and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses.’ Then He spoke a parable to
them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded
plentifully. . . . 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull
down my barns and build greater,’ . . . 19 ‘And I will say to my
soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your
ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ 20-21 But God said to him, ‘Fool!
This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those
things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure
for himself, and is not rich toward God.” NKJV Greed, or
covetousness, is the desire for wrong things. It is the desire to
gain worldly possessions for your own sake; not to help others.
Note I Timothy 6:9-10. “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. 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.” NKJV
There was nothing wrong with the possession of
wealth. It was the wrong use of it that Jesus condemned. Wealth
and possessions can lead one away from God and into ruin. See
Proverbs 15:27 “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.” and James 5:1-6. “5 You have
lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your
hearts as in a day of slaughter.” NKJV
Body:
I.
Those Led Astray by It
·
Achan
Read Joshua 6:15-18. “18 And you, by all means abstain from the
accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the
accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble
it.” (Joshua 7:1) “But the children of Israel committed a
trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi,
the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of
the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the
children of Israel.” NKJV The Lord was angry. When Israel
attacked Ai, they were routed by the men of Ai. (Joshua 7:4)
“So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they
fled before the men of Ai.” NKJV God tells Joshua the end of
Achan: (Joshua 7:10-12) “So the Lord said to Joshua: ‘Get up! Why
do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also
transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even
taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and
deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.’
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their
enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they
have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you
anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.”
(Joshua 7:15, 19-26) “15 Then it shall be that he who is taken with
the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he
has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and
because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel. 19 Now Joshua
said to Achan, . . . ‘tell me now what you have done;’ 20 And Achan
answered Joshua and said, ‘Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God
of Israel,’ 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent;
and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. 25b
So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire
after they had stoned them with stones.” NKJV
·
Gehazi
Read II Kings 5:20, 24-27. “20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the
man of God, said, ‘Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian,
while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord
lives, I will run after him and take something from him.’ 24 When he
came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them
away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. Now
he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, ‘Where
did you go, Gehazi?’ And he said, ‘Your servant did not go
anywhere.’ Then he said to him, ‘Did not my heart go with you when
the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to
receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards,
sheep and oxen, male and female servants?’ ‘Therefore the leprosy
of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.’ And he
went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.” NKJV
Greed caused him to lie.
·
Judas
Read John 12:4-6. “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s
son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold
for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ This he said, not
that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the
money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” NKJV
Judas betrayed Christ and lost his soul.
(Matthew 26:14-16) “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me
if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces
of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”
NKJV
·
Ananias
and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10) “1-3 But a certain man named
Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept
back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and
brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter
said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy
Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?’
5a Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his
last. 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in,
not knowing what had happened. 9a Then Peter said to her, ‘How is
it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?’
10a Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her
last.” NKJV They lied to the Holy Spirit about the price.
II.
What Greed Can Do
·
It robs God of what He is due. (Matthew 3:7-9)
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?’ Therefore bear fruits worthy of
repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham
as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up
children to Abraham from these stones.” NKJV
·
It chokes the Word of God in men’s hearts.
(Matthew 13:22) “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he
who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
(Mark 4:19) “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of
riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word
and it becomes unfruitful.” NKJV
·
It neglects those who are needy. (I John 3:17)
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need,
and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in
him?” NKJV
·
It causes men to stray from the faith and pierce
themselves with many sorrows. (Luke 16:19-23) “There was a
certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared
sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed
with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the
dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and
was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also
died and was buried. And being in torments, in Hades, he lifted up
his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” NKJV
(I Timothy 6:10) “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.” NKJV
·
It will cause one to lose his soul. (I
Corinthians 6:9-10) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor
sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” NKJV
III.
How to Overcome It
·
Pray to not enter into temptation. (Luke 11:4)
“And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is
indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us
from the evil one.” NKJV
·
Give generously to the Lord’s church. (II
Corinthians 8:1-3, 7) “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the
grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: That in a great
trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear
witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their
ability, they were freely willing, 7 But as you abound in everything
– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your
love for us – see that you abound in this grace also.” (II
Corinthians 9:6-13) “But this I say: ‘He who sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God
is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having
all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good
work.’ As it is written: ‘He has dispersed abroad, He has given to
the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’ Now may He who
supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply
the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of you righteousness,
while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which
causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of
this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is
abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the
proof this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your
confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing
with them and all men.” NKJV
·
Be content with what you have. (I Timothy 6:7)
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out.”
(Hebrews 13:5) “Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He
Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ ”
(Philippians 4:1) “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my
joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” NKJV
Conclusion:
The Bible never condemns being rich or even getting
richer. Gaining this world’s riches is not an end in itself, but a
way to help and serve others. This enables one to be rich
toward God!
Bobby Stafford
October 18, 2015
The
church of Christ
