MONEY, Our Biggest Test in Life
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Today we are going to talk about MONEY and what the Bible has to say about it. What we will find is that money is nothing more than a test for God's children. (Luke 15:11) If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? (12) And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? God is testing you and me to see if we can be trusted with worldly wealth before He entrusts us with the true riches of Heaven. If we cannot be trusted with money, which is a temporal thing (compared to eternity), then God will not trust us with the true riches of Heaven. So let's begin our study.
Money is one of the most important commodities we have in our society. It's the key ingredient to pursuing the “American Dream”. We see people working countless hours or having two or three jobs just to live out this fantasy. Jesus said it best when He said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (Matthew 6:24). When you’re married, can you love more than one woman or more than one man? No; your heart is for your spouse and it cannot be divided. If you have feelings of romantic love toward a person other than your spouse you have a divided heart. You will eventually only love one completely and you'll despise the other. Jesus is saying you will either love God and serve Him FULLY or you will love money and all the things of this world with all it brings. You might say “I don’t love money, so God is certainly not talking about me”. That may be true. You may not actually love money itself but what about the things of this world that you're putting before God? (1 John 2:15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Like Jesus said “No one can serve two masters”. If we are serving ourselves, the pleasures and things of this world, then we are not serving God! Simply by the process of elimination we are serving THE DEVIL. Scripture says that Satan is the god of THIS WORLD and that if we love the things of this world, the love of the Father is not in us! "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him".
Instead, Jesus told us not to worry about food, shelter and the things of this world. (Matthew 6:31) "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' (32) "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Jesus says that we should first seek Him and His righteousness and He will take care of us and He will supply our every need.
Think about it from your position as a parent. Wouldn’t you take care of your child’s every need? If your children were seeking you, doing your will and asked you for food, water or shelter wouldn’t you provide it for them? Now if we would do that for our children then wouldn't your Heavenly Father do the same for you? (Matt 7:9) "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? (10) Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him"! Have you ever stopped seeking your own will and sought the Father's will; just depending on Him to take care of you? Wouldn't God supply your every need? Wouldn't God be more pleased with us if we sought to help others according to what His Word says instead of seeking ways to provide for ourselves? (Luke 12:22) Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. (23) Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. (24) Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? (25) And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (26) If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? (27) Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (28) If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? (29) “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. (30) For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. (31) But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. (32) “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (33) Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. (34) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Things and Money Won't Last!
Now if you knew that your local bank was going broke and you knew that on Friday at 5:00 pm it would close its doors for good and that all the money that was on deposit would be lost, what would you do? Would you leave your money in that bank or would you withdraw it? Would you continue to put even more of your hard earned money into that bank or would you find a new bank, a secure bank where you knew your money would be safe? Once you found that safe haven wouldn't you then move all of what you have to safety? This life we live is an analogy of that bank that's closing its doors. Everything you store up in this life and this world will be lost. (Matthew 6:19) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So in this temporal life of ours which is here today and gone tomorrow, like the bank that's closing its doors, why would we keep our treasure stored in the things of this world? Why would we hold so dear to our jobs, our house, our retirement, and our money that will all be gone? Do all these worldly things make us feel secure? If it's all going to be lost anyway, why would we invest any more time and effort in this world which will be gone and lost forever? Just like the bank that's closing its doors; the doors of this life are closing too. (Matthew 25:10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ (12) But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (13) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Eternity is a very, very long time and this life is just a spec in time compared to all of eternity. With this in mind, shouldn’t we be investing and storing up treasure in heaven where it will never be lost? Knowing that nothing temporal in this life will stand, why wouldn’t we start doing all we can to accumulate that treasure in Heaven? Today! Just remember what Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Whatever you hold most dear to you on this earth, is your treasure in this life, that is where your heart is and that's your idol!
The Apostle James gave us a prophecy for today. (James 5:1) Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. (2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. So what treasure have you been laying up in these last days that is spiritually corrupted and moth-eaten? (Mark 4:18) And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, (19) but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. We are beginning to see that money, wealth and the things of this world are not a blessing at all but rather a curse. Money is that test which can easily draw us away from serving the Lord. Money is that test which many times makes us unfruitful.
(1 Timothy 6:6) But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. (7) For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. According to the Bible great gain has nothing to do with money or wealth. Naked you came into this world and naked you will go out!
(Ecclesiastes 5:10) He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. (11) When goods increase, they increase who eat them; so what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes? The more you make the more you spend, "When goods increase, they increase who eat them". In the end you may have a distant memory of all you had in this lifetime but if you're bankrupt in heaven you are truly bankrupt eternally!
(1 John 2:16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Money and the world and all its desires are not of God but of the devil. It's all passing away and it's only he who does the will of God who will abide forever!
(2 Corinthians 4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; (18) while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. All your money and the things you see and think you have are only temporary. Even your outward man is dying while your inward man in Christ (if you're truly following Jesus) is being renewed day by day.
Paul tells us what believers are supposed to do with the money they have. (1 Timothy 6:17) Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. (18) Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (19) storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. You may not think that you are rich in this present world but when you compare yourself to most of the entire world, even the most average American is rich! When you compare yourselves to how the Apostles and God's people lived back when Paul wrote this, you are very blessed and you are very rich. This brings up a question. How are you doing so far with the test God has given you? How are you doing with the money and the time that God has given you?
What the Bible says about Covetousness / Covetous / Covet
There are many warnings throughout the Scriptures about covetousness yet we are hard pressed to find anybody (let alone a Christian) who will admit that they're a covetous person. Are you a covetous person? Do you know any Christians who are covetous?
You'll be surprised when we look at the Greek word for covetous and what its definition really is. Covetous = Greek - pleonektēs which means "desiring more, eager for gain, greediness, fond of money, to long for, desire, lust after". With that definition and our new understanding of the word covetous, we must ask ourselves, "are we desiring more; are we fond of money; do we desire a better living; are we covetous"? (1 Corinthians 5:9) I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; (10) I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. (11) But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. Do you see what Paul is saying? We, as Christians, are not to even associate with so-called "Christians" who are covetous (desiring more)… more money… more riches in this world. God is not telling us to stay away from covetous, unsaved people. He tells us to stay away from "so-called brothers" who are not satisfied with God's provisions for them, desiring more than that which they have been blessed. Those are covetous people.
(2 Timothy 3:1) But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, (4) traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; (5) holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away. Doesn't this describe the times we live in now? Lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasures. Doesn't this describe most Americans today? Sad to say, it sounds a lot like the average church goer today. We hold a form of godliness but are far, far from what the Bible says we are to be. I would say that this describes America and most "Christians" completely. But the BIG question to ask yourself is “Does this describe me?" Is God happy with us?(Jeremiah 5:27) Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; (28) they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. (29) Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?" Is this not covetous America of which God is prophetically speaking too?
(Luke 12:15) And he said unto them, take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possess. What is Jesus saying when He says keep yourself from ALL COVETOUSNESS? It would mean that we are to keep ourselves from desiring more or being eager for gain! This is a hard command to obey in a country as blessed as America. It goes against what we call the "American dream", yet it is a command! "Keep yourselves from all covetousness" i.e. wanting more.
Why are you putting in all those hours at work? What do you think you need so badly that you feel the need to spend more time at work than time with Jesus? We are commanded to stop and seek God and His righteousness. After all, "For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life (Matt 16:26)? What are you exchanging for your eternal life?
(Romans 1:28) And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: (32) who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them. Scripture calls those who are covetous as being filled with unrighteousness and worthy of death!
(Colossians 3:5) Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; (6) for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. Notice how the Bible calls covetousness idolatry in this scripture and in the next. (Ephesians 5:3) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; (4) nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. (5) For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Wow! Are you reading what I’m reading? A COVETOUS MAN IS AN IDOLATER! Wanting more material stuff is a man's idol, his god! And no covetous idolater will go to Heaven! What have you placed ahead of God that has become your idol? Are you still wanting / coveting that “American dream”? Be very careful for what you wish.
(Romans 13:9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Remember that to not covet is one of the Ten Commandments! Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures. Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God (James 4:2-4). So often today's Christians are such friends with the world that covetousness is just a part of everyday life yet we are warned that those who are covetous will not inherit the kingdom of God!
(1Cor 6:10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. No covetous person will inherit the kingdom of God! We can now see why Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mat 19:23,24).
Believers are to be content with what God gives them, putting their time and effort into serving God instead of money. (Hebrews 13:5) Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. Are you content with the things you have or are you continually desiring more? If you have trouble in this area just pray this Scripture to God, "give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30:8,9).
It even seems that what we do as everyday business today is not acceptable according to the Bible. (James 4:13) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." (14) Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (15) Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." (16) But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. What are you confident or boasting about? What things in your heart do you feel secure about? Is it your retirement or bank account? Is it your pension or 401K plan? How about your house and your family? Maybe your kid’s college fund? (Proverbs 27:1) Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. What if you woke up tomorrow morning and all those things you cherished were gone? All that you worked so hard to accumulate all your life was wiped out in and instant? Just gone! How would you feel? Would you be devastated? Would you be crushed? Would you be able to fall back on any valuables that you stored in Heaven? (Luke 12:13) Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." (14) But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" (15) Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." (16) And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. (17) "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' (18) "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. (19) 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' (20) "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' (21) "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God". Where is your treasure stored? Is it all in this world and the things of this life or is your treasure stored with God in the bank of Heaven?
Contentment
Christians are to be content with what they have. (1 Timothy 6:6) But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. (7) For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. (8) If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. (9) But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Are you content in the Lord or do you want more out of life? Do you feel great gain in your godliness or do you want more monetary gain for your bank account or retirement?(Hebrews 13: 5) Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. (6) So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?
God will Take Care of You
As believers in Jesus Christ we must know that He will always take care of us! (Philippians 4:6) In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus…. (11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. (12) I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. (13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me…..(19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Instead of worrying about money and the things of this world, trust in God and seek Him first and He will take care of you. (Matthew 6:31) "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' (32) "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Yes, seek the Lord first and He will always take care of you. (Luke 12:24) Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
Colossians 1:18 says about Jesus "that in all things he might have the preeminence". Does Christ have preeminence in your life? Is He number one in your life? If not, then you need to meditate on the Scriptures provided in this article and simply repent and turn to the Lord. Live for Him and make Jesus #1 in your life.
(Proverbs 28:20) A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. (22) A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. Please evaluate the importance of money in your life and all that motivates you. Remember that money and the things of this world are merely tests for us to see if we can manage the eternal treasures in Heaven. I pray that each of us will pass our ongoing tests.
God bless,
Mark, a servant in the Lord, www.HeavensHelpers.org
Questions/Feedback - email me: mark@heavenshelpers.org
