The Perils of Money 9-12-99 Intro -- Gonna get real personal today --We are starting a series on how to Manage your money -- God has given us stewardship of the things- we own 0 -- We must use the materials he has given us wisely To Honor and glorify HIM -- Trouble is we donot always understand HOW TO USE THEM WISELY -- Gods Word is a BOOK of ABSOULTES IN it we can FIND THE SOULTION to all of lives PROBLEMS Including $$$$$$$$$ --How can we know if we are not TAUGHT? -- Today we will see the Perils of Money we will discuss BONDAGE of Money How to take responsiblity of Finincail lives Later lesson we will see how to Be FREE from the Bondage of Money how to mange money effectively for GODS GLORY -- Today Many have TREMNOUSE MONEY WORRYS AND WOES --Money is the thing that Married couples argue over the most - this Friction in the HOME is not GOD HONORING! *HOW can you EFFECTLY SERVE GOD when you are BURDENED with a LOAD OF CARE ( about $$$$$$) --We msut learn how to communicate and be HONEST about our $$$ situation --Young People listen closely you will see how GOD INTENDS YOU to HANDLE and MANGE your MONEY --You wont learn this in school TEXT: Mtt. 6:27-33 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. points 1. The SERVITUDE of MONEY 2. Condition of Servitude I. The Servitude of MONEY a) GOD uses $$ to enhance our lives; Satan uses it to SHAKLE US --we must reconize the dangers on money entaglements and Financial bondage! -- Until recently finiiucal bondage meant Physical bondage if a person could not pay his debt he was thrown into debtor prisison and his FAMILY belonged to the lender Scripture bears this out Matt 5:25-26 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. -- This type of Physical BONDAGE for the most part no longer exsist It has been replaced with another type of BONDAGE WORRY and ANIOUTY --Many families are DESTROYED ANUALLY by the this WORRY over $$$$$$$$$$ -- They have not learn how to MANGE IT CORRECTLY and in doing so have violated more that ONE SCRIPTURAL PRINCILPLE! b) It not simply the lack of money that results in bondage. An abundace can also cause the same type of worry * Too little ~ people worry about getting more Too Much~ People worry about keeping it WE MUST DEVELOP TH ERIGHT ATTITUDE ABOUT $$$$ !! 1. Attitude: Underline Proverbs 30: 7-9 Two principle are discussed Proverbs 30:7-9 7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. The dangers in riches is we become content without GOD The dangers in poverty is Honsety vs Dishonesty * With riches we think we have gotten byour own power and forget GOD * In poverty we are DESPERATE and it can lead to Desperate measure that are by no means GOD HONORING 2. We Worry about money because we do not understand GODS ATTITUDE TOWARD DEBT: There is much confusion reguarding whether or not a Christian should borrow money. This Study will be directed toward the Biblical Attitude about BONDAGE Debt = Delinquent Financial obligations Money Borrowed and payed back according to AGREEMENT is not DEBT but and OBLIGATION! ** Bondage can occur if other princles are not followed in our obligations~ we will see later 3. BONDAGE THUR DEBT The Most Common Bondage is the ABUSE OF CREDIT ** Underline Proverbs 22:7 Pro. 22:7 7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. --the Borrower becomes the SERVANT TO THE LENDER ** this PRINCIPLE SHOULD TELL US GOD ATTITUDE TOWARD DEBT!!! If we are Serving hte Lender how can we SERVE GOD Matt 6:24 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. -- IF we BORROW BEYOND our ABLITY TO PAY we lack SELF DISCIPLINE We are not Denying SELF we cannot effectly PICK UP THE CROSS and Follow HIM ** THIS IS SIN!!!! 4. God Loves the SINNER hates the SIN He will speak to the Attitude of INDULENCE not to the act a) the fact someone is in debt is the result of and EARLIER ATTITUDE think about this as we read LUKE 12:15 Luke 12:15 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Beware of COVETOUSNESS Covetousness =to fix the desire upon;to long for to lust after Keeping up with the Jones Worrying about getting more money not exercising SELF DENIAL and SELF DISCIPLINE b) Does this mean that GOD disallows any kind of pleasure or enjoyment? Pro 21:17 17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. -- There is something GREATER in this LIFE than MONEY AND POSSESIONS --We are to SET OUR SIGHTS on things Above// CONSIDER HIM// Be free from the BONDAGE OF SIN --SERVE HIM with A Full Heart Free from WORRY over anything INCLUDING MONEY!!! 5. What is GODS ATTITUDE ABOUT AVOIDING DEBT? a) Is it Scriptural to claim bankruptcy? --it seems lodical that if someone has incurred EXCESSIVE DEBT and has TRUELY REPENTED that he should be able to start afresh, DOESNT IT? ** UNDERLINE PS 37:21 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth. How is the evil man described? He doesnt pay his debts b) Describe Gods principle of credit Luke 16;12 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? ** We must be FAITHFUL in our OBLIGATIONS or DEBT will be ENCURRED! c) Is Gods plan Lodgical? It may Seem Logical to the Human mind to avoid paying the debt. We wonder HOW WILL WE LIVE IF OUR CREDITORS TAKE EVERYTHING GOd makes Promises and He Expects US be RESPONSIBLE for OWN ACTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS! Ps 50:14-15 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. -- God looks into the very HEART of the Believer. God ask Abramham to sacrific his son God ask him to SURRENDER ALL to HIS GLORY God looked at the heart of Abraham and SAW TRUE COMMITMENT to HIS WILL Abraham believed GOD for the SON in the first place Now He believe he would retrive his son from death He didnt know how( thats faith) but KNEW HE WOULD THUS GOD TRUSTED ABRAHAM His kingdom on earth d) When Christian transfers debt or forgets debt to avoid Creditors it REFLECTS a LACK of TRUST Breaking of a VOW ( to creditore) Leaning on Self for solution and NOT GOD Walking by SIGHT and not by FAITH ***Lack of Trust in GOD IS SIN~ 6. Bondage Thur Wealth Finanical bondage can also exsist thur the Abundance of MONEY -- those who use $$$ for self satisfaction or hoard it for the elusive rainy day are BOUND UP --the Accumulation of wealth and Possesions can be an Obession that will destroy Family (** if the family is destroyed the CHRUCH is destory and Satan wins) -- What is Job stressing in Job 31:24-25? 24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; -- Where is our confidence to lie?? ** Many Christians fall into the trap and Snare of Satan and convert GODS resources for peace and comfort into something full of PAIN AND SORROW!! 7. The Root of all EVIL -- 1 Tim 6:10 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. God doesnt condemn wealth BUT HE DOES CONDEMN the MISUSE of IT! We will evaulate the different characteristics of the PERILS of MONEY --Some Peril is brought on by too much money Some by too much month at the end of the money --We must develop the a RIGHTEOUS ATTITUDE about every ASPECT of our LIVES// MONEY is NO EXCEPTION! II. Condition of Servitude a) In order to find GODS ABSOULTE about Financial SOLUTIONS we must ASSESS the Problem! -- Too many time we address the SYMPTOM and not the Diease! -- We must HONESTLY TAKE RESPONSIBLITY for our Finicial house //SO we can TAKE the PRESCIBED Medicine and get WELL!!! b) How do you Know if you have the DIEASE? ~ do any of the following SYMPTOMS apply 1. Symptom of OVERDUE BILLS Worry, frustration, Anxiety are produced when a family cannot pay the bills There is a breakdown of Communication~ And Satan wins --- Proverbs gives us an Admonishion Proverb 3:27-28 27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. -- When you have the $$$$$$ Pay the bills ( obligations) --- Dont PUT OFF TALKING to the CREDITORS if NEED BE Let them KNOW When they can expect your Obligation to be meet ~ --Dont JUMP INTO THE EASY PAYMENT Plan --Over due bills are a SYMPTOM of the DIEASE of not HANDLING The MONEY in a GOD HONORING WAY! 2. Symptom of Worry About Investments: This "Worry " may involve not only investments , but also savings and anything else that diminishes OUR FAITH Matt 6:24 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ---- God Condemns _worry to Money, not its possesion Didnt Jesus say the same thing in Luke 9:25 luke 9:25 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 3. Symptom of the Get rich quick Attitude This is not one of application but motivation. In other words , it is not so much what you do as why you do it Is the primary motivation work for gain or profit without effort? a) God establishes 2 promises in Proverbs 28;20 Proverbs 28:20 20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Faithful man = HIs needs will be met and will be blessed Hasty man = He will cut corners and will fall into diverse sin b) In Proverbs 28:22 the one who seeks riches has an evil eye What is GODS assessment of HIM? He will LOVE Mammon rather than GOD ~ There will be most certainly be deceit in GET RICH QUICK Proverb 28:22 22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. 4. Symptom of Laziness; God SPECIFICALLY CONDEMNS the attitude of Laziness and establishes GUIDELINES for us Proverbs 21:25-26 25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. -- Like a drone in the hive the lazy man loves the fruit of labor but detest the effort it takes for the fruit He is full of himself and is selfish -- the Righteous has a strong work ethic and loves work so he can provide HONESTLY God tells us how ot treat those who will not work( difference between will not and cannot 2 Thess 3:10 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. -- In fact we are to put them out of the Fellowship -- It is WORK to KEEP YOU FINANCAIL HOUSE IN ORDER! --If you dont work at it; Lasy about it ; IT BECOMES SIN TO YOU 5. Symptom of Deceitfulness: Deceitfulness refers to lying to others and also not begin ENTIRELY OPEN AND HONEST! * the check is in the mail symptom How unfortanute Society thinks you can be BOTH SUCCESSFUL and Honest! Pro 19:1 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. --Integrity = sound ;pure complete; undivided in charecter Let your YEAS be YEAS and NAYs be NAYS --There are no little white lies in GODS Evaluation! Luke 16:10-12 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? -- If you dont MANAGE YOU FINIANCES HONESTLY ( faithful in least) God will not allow you to HANDLE THE TRUE RICHES OF GOD!!!!!!!!! --- Part of the Qualification for ELders= Ruling house well this includes being HONEST With $$$$$$$$$$$$ b) God makes a promise to those who deal deceitfully Pro 20 17 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. -- AFTERWARD= YOU WILL SUFFER LOSS!!! 6. Symtom of GREEDINESS= An attitude of CONSISTENLY DESIRING ONLY THE BEST or more than is currently owned can eqaute to GREED There is something more IMPORTANT the $$$ and Possesions! Luke 12:15 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 7. Symptom of Covetousness= Desiring that which someone else has// Keepin up with the Joneses 1 Cor. 5:11 tells us to AVOID the Covetous! 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. BUt wait there is more 1. Familes needs un met Becasue of past debts, investments or irresponsiblity the needs of the family may go unmet. Those who give any surplus to any activity while families basic needs are unmet are outside GODS WILL Matt 15:5-6 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. --How does GOD assess the lack of family provision? 1 tim 5:8 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 2. Over commitment to work When we reverse priorites in our lives we suffer Spiritually and Financially! Our basic commitments should be 1. Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 2.Gen 2: 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 3. Ps 127: 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3. Taking RESPONSIBLITY Many people in financial difficulty blame everyone else for the problem! Some adopt the STICK thy head in the sand Theory I dont see it /Ignore it /and it will go away -- If we do this then we are not SUMMITTING to GODS WISDOM On HOW TO PROPERLY MANAGE OUR $$$$$ -- We must have the right Attitude to GODS PLAN of Financail management God wil REWARD THOSE WHO SUMITT HIS PLAN Proverbs 15:16 16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. HOW doyou answer this question Romans 11:34 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? GOD Knows what is best His plan for Health in our FINANCIAL life is PERFERT Lets all look and see if we have any SYMPTOMS of Unamaged FINIANCES Let us SUMIT TO HIS WILL AND PLAN Then can we bring ALL things under Subjection of Him that LOVES US! NEXT time we will DISCUSS How to GET FREE OF SERVITUTE!!!