GOD, HOME AND MONEY

A GOD-ORDAINED HOME LIFE IN A MATERIALISTIC WORLD

Luke 12:15-40 Isaiah 5:8; 1Timothy 6:6-10; Mat.6:24

God allows us to own money and property as stewards of His manifold blessings. But note that the keyword here is stewards who will eventually give account on how we dispensed what was committed into our hands. If we set our love on the blessing of wealth and prosperity then 1 Tim.6:9-10 – the love of money – will set in, spreading its tentacles to all evil. But God wants us to be balanced. We don’t hate wealth, neither do we run after it to the exclusion of biblical principles and the Kingdom of God. It is the will of God to provide for us and our families by providing us with the means of doing so through working. Our main focus is not on the man of our story so to say but to learn from the terrible mistake he made. He was covetous and we should take warning. He thought that he had actualized but we should take warning. Satisfaction with food and raiment is still the base standard (1Tim.6:6-8).

1.    RICH BUT NOT READY

Mat.12:15-21; Isa.5:8; Mat.6:24

This man represents many people on earth today. They are full of covetousness – an inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions. Heaven is not their goal.

In the case of this man, the Lord did not condemn his industry or hard work, which yielded and produced so much crops for him. What was his problem? Covetousness! The Bible describes them as joining house to house and laying field to field till there is no room for anyone else (Isa.5:8), and pronounces woe unto them. Unfortunately a sizable number of Christians are in this group – from a pastor who needed a strong car to run around and preach to his congregations to owner of several private jets! Yet there are people in the Church who cannot afford to pay their children’s school fees or their house rents.

What about those of you who work and work and work but never pay your tithe or support the Church. They forget the command of Jesus (Mat.6:33)

God still warns such people and wants them to repent (Haggai 1:2-10). In extreme cases of covetousness, the man will even forget his family in order to build up his wealth. The man in our story did not think of God. He was not rich towards God. He probably did not help the poor. The rich man in the story of Lazarus did not care about the poor (Luke 16:19-23). He discovered in hell all the things he could have easily done but it was then too late for him. Covetousness can lead to hell fire. Isn’t it ironic that a man who took such great care to prepare for his earthly wealth and comfort turns out to be a fool?

Does God condemn wealth? No. He condemns serving wealth. Mammon is the god of wealth which many people (including some Christians) serve. You cannot serve it and serve God at the same time. The wages of mammon is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Take instruction from the Master – make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness. What does this mean (Luke 16:9)? Consider the unrighteous means by which people acquire wealth by taking advantage of others. Look at the unrighteous desires in the use of wealth for personal gratification and not for the benefit of the Kingdom or the needy. Imagine the corrupting influence of wealth which leads people into unrighteousness and ungodliness. How do you make friends with your wealth? Use your wealth and possession for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. Pay your tithe regularly. Take care of your family. Give your offering regularly. Help the needy in the Church and around you.

2.    LESSON FROM SPARROWS AND LILIES

Luke 12:22-28, 33-34; Mat.6:19-33; Prov.6:6-8

God teaches us lessons with meaner or lesser creation. When you feel lazy God directs you to the ants (Prov.6:6-8). When you get worried God directs you to the sparrows and lilies.

The Master instructs, “Lay not up treasure on earth” because there is no safety in doing that. On earth you have (i) Moths (ii) rust and (iii) thieves. Lay your treasure in heaven. How do you lay treasures in heaven?

(i)                       Sell your possession

(ii)                      Give to the needy

(iii)                    Provide moneybags that do not grow old

(iv)                   Store up treasures in heaven that will not fail

The first century Christians evidently listened to the teachings of Jesus (Acts 2:44-47). Many believers today, instead of selling what they have for the advancement of the work of the Kingdom, they want to acquire more. They want to lay house to house and field to field that they may be alone in the world.

Your moneybag is your heavenly treasure house. How much treasure are you storing there? When you give your tithe and offering, you are storing in that treasure bag. When you give to the needy, when you support the work of the kingdom, you are storing in the moneybag that does not grow old.

And if you are worried for the rainy day, that you will not have enough, the Lord invites you to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. They have no bank account, no physical house, and no job except to sing and make music for the Lord to hear. They are here today and die tomorrow. Their souls are not going to heaven. Yet the Lord makes abundant provision for them. How much more you?

Don’t be like the unbelievers. They run after wealth – what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, where to live, what car to buy, how much in the bank?

Jesus assures us that the Father knows that you have need of these things.

Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added.

3.    READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN

Luke 12:35-48; 1Cor.15:58

The Lord is coming. He wants to find us ready, saved sanctified and fully involved in His service, waiting for His return. The apostle Paul, though a Pharisee, became a tent maker in order to devote his whole time in serving the Lord. A rabbi he set aside all his knowledge and became a disciple of Jesus.

God wants us to be ready. Yes we will study but we must become His disciples. Yes we will work but we should be like tent makers just to provide for daily needs. Yes some of us may become wealthy but that wealth should be ploughed back into the kingdom business. Yes we may marry and have family but all must be subjected to the demands of the Kingdom of God. The best occupation is to abound in the work of the Lord. That labour will never be in vain.