For the Love of Money!
Scripture: (1 Tim 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.
Introduction: In 1928 a group of the
world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago.
The following were present: The president of the largest utility company, The
greatest wheat speculator, The president of the New York Stock Exchange, A
member of the President’s Cabinet, The greatest "bear" in Wall
Street, The president of the Bank of International Settlements, The head of the
world’s greatest monopoly. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth
than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had
been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to
follow their examples. Twenty-five years later, this is what had happened to
these men:
· The president of the largest independent steel
company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed money the last five years of his
life and died broke.
· The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died abroad, insolvent.
· The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term
in Sing Sing Prison.
· The member of the President’s Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison
so he could die at home.
· The greatest "bear" in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed
suicide.
· The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser,
committed suicide.
· The head of the world’s greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed
suicide....
2/3 of
everything that Jesus preached had to do with money. The root of loving money
is greed. Can you think of any biblical
examples of someone who lost their salvation over the love of money or
possessions?
I.
Lot’s wife Genesis 13,19
For the love of money Lot’s wife lost her life and salvation
over the possessions that were left behind in Sodom.
It begins with the choices we make. Lot chose to pitch his tent on the luscious
plain of Jordan. It was well watered
and perfect for raising a large herd of sheep.
The only problem with this piece of real estate was is it had bad
neighbors. It faced the city of
Sodom. Lots tent got closer and closer
to Sodom until he was living there. and sitting in the gate of city. We know the story.
In chapter 18 three angels visit Abraham, one being the
Lord, and tells him that the Lord is about to destroy Sodom and Abraham
intercedes for the wicked city.
In chapter 19 two angels go to Sodom and find our friend
Lot sitting in the gate of the city.
After dinner the men of the city showed their true colors as they came
after these Messengers from God. The angels strike the wicked men with
blindness and order Lot and his family out of the city.
Verse 16 says that Lot lingered so the angel grabbed them by
the hand and led them out of the city and told them not to look back. When they reached Zoar, a small town on the
plain, the destruction of Sodom began and Lot’s wife looked back. Although her body was on the plain her heart
was in Sodom. She had a mournful,
regretful spirit; she began to miss her children and grandchildren. She was thinking about her status in the
community and all the wealth that they left behind. The book Patriarchs and Prophets tells us that if Lot would not
have lingered his wife would have been saved.
Lot’s wife was destroyed because of the condition of her heart toward
possessions.
II.
Achan Joshua 7
For the love of money Achan who stole the Babylon garment,
gold and silver vessels, in Joshua 7 lost his life and salvation.
Joshua led the Israelites over the Jordan and into the
promise land. They marched upon the
fortified city of Jericho. God promised
to deliver the city into their hands.
Everything was to be destroyed and all the Gold and silver was to be
taken into the Lords treasury. Israel defeated
Jericho and went on to Ai.
Ai was less significant, but Joshua didn’t realize that
there was sin in the camp. Verse 5 says
that 36 men died because the sin of one man.
We cannot fight the Lords battle if there is sin in the camp.
Verse 13 the Lord tells Israel “There is an accursed thing in your midst,
O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed
thing from among you.”
What was the accursed thing? Achan had stole the Babylon
garment, gold and silver vessels that were consecrated to the Lord. He stole from God.
Verse 19-21 Achan and his family were stoned that day. All of his possessions including the stolen
garments, gold and silver were burned with him. Not only did he die that day but he lost his salvation over a
little gold and silver
III.
Gehazi 2 Kings 5
For the love of money Gehazi, the servant of Elisha in 2
kings 5 became leopardess over a change of clothes and a few talents of silver.
There was a great commander of Syria named Naaman who had
leprosy. He took captive a young Jewish
girl as a servant who said that there is a prophet in Israel that could heal
him of his leprosy.
Naaman came to Elisha expecting some grand ceremony. Elisha wouldn’t even come out to see him,
rather he sent messenger to tell Naaman to go and dip seven times in the
Jordan.
Verse 11 After being coaxed by one of his
servants he went and dipped seven times in the Jordan and when he came up the
seventh time his skin was restored.
Naaman was so pleased that he wanted to pay Elisha for the
miracle. He had two mules loaded down
with stuff to pay Elisha but he refused and Naaman left. Gehazi one of Elisha’s servants ran after
Naaman.
Verse 22, 23 There is one thing for sure you cant hide anything from a
prophet of God.
Verse 26, 27
Naaman returned to his Syrian home, healed in body and
converted in spirit. Because of
Gehazi’s lie and deception for greed of material gain he was cursed by God and
shunned by men
IV.
The Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:16-22
For the love of money the rich young ruler lost his chance
for salvation and went away sad because he had much wealth and he wasn’t
willing to give it up.
This young man approaches Jesus and ask the question that
many of us has asked “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal
life?”
Jesus response is simple, keep the Commandments.
But I have done that responded the young man but what do I
lack?
Jesus knows our hearts and he knew the heart of this young
man.
Christ didn’t require anything out of this young man but
to follow his own example. Jesus left
His riches and glory. He became poor,
that we through His poverty, might be made rich; and for the sake of these
riches, He requires man to yield earthly wealth, honor, and pleasure.
He knows that while the affections are upon the world,
they will be withdrawn from God. Verse
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Because this mans heart was stayed on earthly things his
chance for salvation.
V.
Judas Matthew 26
For the love of money, for thirty
pieces of silver, Judas lost his
salvation.
It was set up before Jesus sat down and ate the Passover
with his Disciples. Jesus even gave
Judas two chances to repent. The first
was when washed Judas’ feet and the second was when he announced to His
disciples that someone there was going to betray Him.
Judas was still reeling from scenes of rebuke
that Jesus gave him regarding Mary wasting the expensive perfume. Judas thought in his heart that he would get
his revenge by turning Him over to the High Priest.
For thirty pieces silver Judas
lost heaven.
VI.
Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5
For the love of money Ananias and Sapphira lost their
lives and salvation. What happened to
them? They lost their salvation by withholding money from God.
Ananias and Sapphira had made a pledge to give to the Lord
the proceeds from the sale of certain property. The time came when they decided to sell parcel and kept back a
portion for themselves.
Ananis thought that he would take the money down to the
church and give it to the treasurer. It
so happened that Peter was there and confronted him regarding the sale of the
property.
Verse 3, 4
As soon as Anansis heard this he dropped dead. Now three hours passed by and Sapphira began
to wonder where could he be? So she
decided to go down to the church to see what is going on. And there is Peter, he asks her the same
question and because of her lie she too is stricken dead.
It was the greed in the heart that led to the lie that
cost Anania and Sapphria there salvation.
But the hearts of
men become hardened through selfishness, and, like Ananias and Sapphira, they
are tempted to withhold part of the price, while pretending to fulfill God's
requirements. Many spend money lavishly in self-gratification. Men and women
consult their pleasure and gratify their taste, while they bring to God, almost
unwillingly, a stinted offering. They forget that God will one day demand a
strict account of how His goods have been used, and that He will no more accept
the pittance they hand into the treasury than He accepted the offering of
Ananias and Sapphira. {AA 75.2}
Could you imagine what would happen in church today if
people started dropping dead as the collection plate went by, because they
withheld money from God?
Conclusion: True biblical stewardship begins with the condition of the
heart. For the love of money many will
not make it into the kingdom.
(Matt. 6:19-21) “Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and
steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do
not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.
Hymn:
#334 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessings
Hymn:
#634 Come, All Christians, Be Committed
There was a
single mother who had heard a Biblical financial teacher say, “Quit looking at
your job as the source of your income. Look at your job as only one avenue, one
channel the Source, El Shaddai, uses to bring finances into your life. Begin to
teach your children to look to their heavenly Father as their Source, not the
parents.” Her little daughter, one day told her that she wanted a bike, like
all the other children. Her mother, at first was about to reply, “Honey, momma
does not have extra money,” because this was her typical response. However, she
remembered what the teacher said in the seminar, so she told her daughter,
"Let’s ask the Lord for a bike". They prayed together and thanked God
for hearing their prayer. A few days later, the little received a check in the
mail, payable to her personally. On the way to town to cash the check, they
noticed a man placing a bicycle out by the side of the road. The mother stopped
the car and asked the man what he was going to do with that bike. The man
replied that his daughter had quickly outgrown the use of it and he was going
to sell it. The little asked the man how much he wanted and he replied, “For
you, $25.00.” which was exactly the amount of the CHECK the received in the
mail!”
The little grew up not remembering a mother who worked hard to buy a bike, but
thankful for a mother who taught her about her Heavenly Father, who cared about
an eight years old ’s need.