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Our relationship with MONEY… (3 things)
- 1st – Working for MONEY… vs. 1-2
- BONDSERVANTS count your MASTERS worthy of honor… vs. 1
- BONDSERVANTS – doulos – 127x in NT used to describe a slave – we would say EMPLOYEE…
- MASTERS – despotēs – 10x in NT used to describe a boss – we would say an EMPLOYER…
- An EMPLOYEE is to COUNT (imperative) – hēgeomai – to count / think about / or consider…
- Their EMPLOYER WORTHY of all HONOR – whether they DESERVE it or NOT!
- Why are we COMMANDED to give HONOR to our EMPLOYER – three reasons!
- 1st – Because we are NOT the BOSS… vs. 1
- Ever since Adam men have made a living from the sweat of their brow – Genesis 3:19
- And most have had employer / boss they had to answer to!
- We might think we know better than our BOSS – but we are still the WORKER…
- So even if we do not agree – we need to listen to their instructions – and HONOR / OBEY…
- Do not give our opinion (unless it is asked for) – do not give an attitude…
- Because if they want to – they can fire us – and we will no longer have a job!
- Titus 2:9 – “[Employees] must obey their [employers] and do their best to please them. They must not talk back.” [NLT]
- 2nd – So the name of God / His doctrine are not blasphemed… vs. 1
- As many as are under the YOKE – a harness put on animals to do HARD labor…
- The picture is of a cruel / godless EMPLOYER – who mistreats his EMPLOYEES…
- Even if we have an EMPLOYER who does not know Jesus – is cruel and unfair…
- We are still to HONOR them – so the name of God is not BLASPHEMED!
- There are people who work hard – so long as the BOSS is watching…
- The moment the boss walks away – they assume it is break time till the boss returns…
- People who work like that are a terrible witness for Jesus…
- Other watch and see their hypocrisy – it allows them to BLASPHEME the name of Christ!
- The true test of a character is not what we do when people are watching…
- It is what we do when no one is looking – that is who we really are!
- Work as though it is Jesus who is our boss…
- If Jesus were the one who hired us to work – and was there watching…
- How hard would we work – trying to please THE BOSS with our best effort!
- Christians should be the first ones to show up to work – early…
- They should be the last ones to leave – not staring at the clock…
- And they should work harder than anyone else at their work!
- Because no matter what our work – we should do it like it we were doing it for Jesus!
- Because it might just be our example that leads our BOSS to Christ!
- As many as are under the YOKE – a harness put on animals to do HARD labor…
- 3rd – To benefit believing EMPLOYERS… vs. 2
- Those who have believing EMPLOYERS are NOT to DESPISE them…
- DESPISE (imperative) – to think little or nothing of – because they are BROTHERS…
- There are some who try and take advantage of an EMPLOYER who is a believer…
- Because we are all equal in Jesus – there are not levels in the church!
- Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither [employee or employer], there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Since they are equal to our EMPLOYERS – they feel like they do not have to obey them!
- Rather than work – they take the time to share the Word – while on the clock…
- Or they expect to receive special treatment because they are also a Christians…
- Although we are equal in Christ – we still need to obey / HONOR our EMPLOYER!
- RATHER – all the more – we should SERVE (imperative) them…
- Because the work we do is a BENEFIT to a fellow BELIEVER!
- If we are working for an unbeliever – the money they make is NOT used for the Lord…
- In contrast if we are working for a BELEIVER – the profit from the business is for the Lord!
- So if we are blessed to work for a Christian – work all the harder!
- Because we are on the same TEAM – we are working for the same Lord!
- Those who have believing EMPLOYERS are NOT to DESPISE them…
- 2nd – Worldly view of MONEY… vs. 2-5 (7 points)
- 1st – TEACH and EXHORT these things… vs. 2
- The subject of money is one of the most divisive / difficult issues in the church…
- The world ALWAYS tries to tell us if ONLY we had LOTS of money – we would be happy…
- Even in the church there are those who claim – GODLINESS leads to great WEALTH…
- Leading many believers to NOT understand how to RELATE to MONEY!
- Therefore it is important that we TEACH – didaskō – give Godly instruction and doctrine…
- And EXHORT – parakaleō – come along side and ENCOURAGE each other…
- So we have a PROPER understanding of the PURPOSE of MONEY!
- 2nd – If anyone TEACHES OTHERWISE… vs. 3
- If anyone TEACHES OTHERWISE – heterodidaskaleō – a DIFFERENT kind of doctrine…
- Then they do not CONSENT – draw near to – WHOLESOME / HEALTHY words!
- The world has an UNHEALTHY dependence on MONEY…
- One of the richest men who ever lived – J.D. Rockefeller was asked…
- How much MONEY is enough – his answer – Just a little bit more!
- We have been taught MONEY has the answers – lured in with false hopes and promises…
- But if we seek MONEY – it never seems to be enough – we always want more!
- The only HEALTHY words – are those that come from our LORD Jesus Christ!
- They are THE (one and only) DOCTRINE that is according to GODLINESS!
- John 4:13 – “Whoever drinks of this water [from the world] will thirst again…”
- How many times have we said – if I could only have THIS – I would be happy…
- And when we get what we wanted – happy for a moment – then we want more!
- No matter how many times we drink from the water of the world – thirsty again!
- John 4:14 – “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.”
- We were not created by God to be fulfilled by the things of this world…
- We were created by God to know Him – worship Him – John 17:3
- And only when we use our life for the purpose God intended for it…
- Worshiping and getting to know our Lord – will we find we are satisfied!
- If anyone TEACHES OTHERWISE – heterodidaskaleō – a DIFFERENT kind of doctrine…
- 3rd – TEACH because they are PROUD… vs. 4
- PROUD – typhoō (perfect / passive) – 3x in NT – to be filled with smoke…
- The picture is of someone who is puffed up / arrogant – but with NO substance!
- In PRIDE assuming they do NOT need the Lord – they can do it ourselves…
- In PRIDE forgetting that EVERYTING they have comes from the Lord…
- PROUD because – in the end – they refuse to put their faith in the Lord!
- 4th – PROUD because they KNOWING NOTHING… vs. 4
- KNOWING NOTHING – to understand – from the root word to be established…
- A person is PROUD because they think they know EVERYTHING…
- But they are not ESTABLISHED in the Word of God – so they know NOTHING!
- Romans 1:22 – “Professing to be wise, they became fools.”
- I am amazed by the WISDOM of the world – go to school for 20 years / to get a good job…
- So we can make a lot of money – nice house and car – then retire with a nice income…
- Working hard all our life to try and get all the things we want – then die – foolish!
- The WORLD teaches us to strive after riches – that do not last…
- Instead we should strive for eternal riches that come through living our life for God!
- 5th – Questions caused by being OBSESSED with MONEY… vs. 4
- OBSESSED – only here NT – to be so consumed on something – it becomes a sickness…
- Because they KNOW NOTHING – OBSESSED with QUESTIONS and ARGUE over WORDS…
- Their QUESTIONS and ARGUMENTS bring:
- 1 – ENVY – wanting – not being content with whatever we have!
- The idea we deserve what others have – is rampant in our society…
- If someone else has something – even if we cannot afford it – we need it!
- 2 – STRIFE – 9x in NT – five of those times it is TIED to ENVY – ENVY brings STRIFE!
- If we live in ENVY – we will compete with others to prove we are better…
- Showing our clothes / job / cell phone / etc. are as better than everyone else – STRIFE!
- 3 – REVELINGS (plural) – blasphēmia – STRIFE leads us to curse or abuse the name of God!
- God promises to provide for all of our NEEDS – not necessarily our WANTS…
- When we ENVY – we are saying God has not given us what we NEED…
- ENVY will take our eyes off the Lord – and put them on the world!
- James 3:16 – “Where envy and self–seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
- 4 – EVILS SUSPICIONS (plural) – only here NT – assume something is true without evidence!
- What are we assuming – that we need to have LOTS of MONEY to be HAPPY…
- If the answer truly was MONEY – then we should be able to see examples
- Yet we look to those who have MONEY – and they are NOT content!
- OBSESSED – only here NT – to be so consumed on something – it becomes a sickness…
- 6th – The result of being OBSESSED with MONEY… vs. 5
- 1 – USELESS WRANGLINGS – only here NT – to have useless occupation / empty!
- Our job should NOT be to try to be the one who has the MOST STUFF!
- If we do – we will WASTE all our time working for MONEY – which is EMPTY!
- 2 – CORRUPT MINDS – (perfect / passive) – to have a destroyed and ruined mind!
- This PERFECTLY describes so much of the world today – they are RUINED…
- Their minds have been corrupted by an OBSESSION with MONEY!
- 3 – DESTITUTE of TRUTH – (perfect / passive) – to be ROBBED of the TRUTH!
- As a result of their OBESSION – they have been ROBBED of the TRUTH…
- Life is about a choice where we spend ETERNITY – and because they love MONEY…
- They are ROBBED of the greatest riches – a relationship with Jesus!
- 4 – SUPPOSING GAIN is Godliness (present / active) – assuming wealthy equals Godly!
- There is a movement in Christianity called the Word of Faith…
- Teaching if we only have enough FAITH – and SPEAK it – God has to do what we say…
- This flows into what is called the PROSPERITY Gospel – God wants us to WEALTHY!
- Philippians 3:18-19 – “They are enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life here on earth.”
- The Gospel is NOT about getting rich – a better life here and now…
- If we are looking for temporal rewards in return for our obedience to Christ…
- We might very well be disappointed – God promises us tribulation here – John 16:33
- The rewards for serving Jesus are far greater – they are eternal – it is about heaven!
- 1 – USELESS WRANGLINGS – only here NT – to have useless occupation / empty!
- 7th – From such WITHDRAW … vs. 5
- WITHDRAW – (imperative) – to shun / flee from / depart / stay FAR away…
- We are COMMANDED to have NOTHING to do with those who are OBSESSED with MONEY…
- It is a poison that can easily worm its way into our hearts – and tear us away from Christ!
- Romans 16:17 – “Note [mark] those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and AVOID them…”
- 1st – TEACH and EXHORT these things… vs. 2
Luke 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters… he will hate the one and love the other… You cannot serve God and [money]…”
3rd – The truth about MONEY… vs. 6-10
1st – Godliness with CONTENTMENT… vs. 6
CONTENTMENT – 2x in NT – to be CONTENT with what we have…
Do NOT miss the contrast – those OBSESSED with MONEY – teach wealth is Godliness…
But GREAT GAIN – is living a Godly life – being CONTENT with what we have!
Our circumstances are arranged by God – we are where He wants us…
Yet most of us do not accept what the Lord has given to us – we want more!
Solomon tried everything – looking for happiness – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
But Solomon learned instead it was all vanity – like chasing after the win!
Looking for happiness – answers in MONEY – is chasing the wind…
It is not about chasing something that is hard to catch – nothing there to catch!
There is nothing wrong with having MONEY – the problem is when MONEY has us…
The richest man is not the one with the most MONEY – it is the one who is content…
The poorest man is not the one with the least MONEY – it is the one who wants more!
How can we be CONTENT…
II Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you, that you, always having all [contentment] in all things, may have an abundance for every good work…”
It is by the GRACE of God that we can LEARN to be CONTENT with what He gives us…
And then – no longer OBSESSED with MONEY – we are free to SERVE HIM!
And we find we have GREAT GAIN – eternal rewards – as we ABOUDND with good works!
2nd – CONTENT – because we will take nothing with us… vs. 7
We brought nothing into the world – naked the day we were born…
And they day we die – we CANNOT take anything with us!
Ecclesiastes 5:15 – “People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.”
There is an old saying – he who dies with the most toys wins…
But the truth is – he who dies with the most toys – is just dead!
When we were born – we had nothing – when we die we will bring nothing with us…
So even if we had all the possessions – money in the world – it does not last…
That does not mean we are not to work hard – it means we work hard for God…
Strive after the eternal riches that come through living your life for God!
3rd – CONTENT with food and clothing… vs. 8
We are to be CONTENT with food and clothing (both only here NT) …
There is a BIG difference between NEED and WANT…
We all have a LOT of WATNS in life – but the question is do we NEED it…
Apparently – the ONLY things God says we NEED – are food and clothing!
Pretty much everything else in life appears to fall into the WANT category!
Luke 12:22 – “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on…”
That is not to say the Lord might not BLESS us with some of our WANTS…
John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me… you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done.”
As we ABIDE in Jesus – are in tune to Him – we can ask for anything we WANT and receive it!
But often in life we WANT selfish things – and God does not give them!
James 4:3 – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
4th – CONTENT because those who DESIRE to be rich… vs. 9
The DESIRE for money – (money is not the problem) …
There are a lot of RICH people who are completely sold out for Jesus…
Because they are not living for the money – they are living for the Lord!
But if our main concern in life is making MONEY – we are going to have trouble…
Because we think getting RICH will solve all our problems…
It does not solve problems – it is the SOURCE of our problems!
FALL – empiptō – to fall among robbers…
Same root word used in – Luke 10:30 – good Samaritan fell among thieves…
The word carries the idea of coming upon something unpredictably…
If the Samarian would have known about the thieves – would have gone a different way!
Into TEMPTATION and a SNARE / TRAP…
What is the TEMPTATION / SNARE – our WANTS / LUSTS…
FOOLISH and HURTFUL LUSTS – wants that do not even make sense (foolish) …
DROWN men DESTRUCTION and PERDITION (sin) – wants that sink us – ruin our lives!
If our main concern in life is getting FOOLISH STUFF – we are going to have trouble…
To get the latest toy / best car / prettiest house – all of which are WANTS…
We will get lots of UTANG and – then DROWN in debt trying to pay it back…
We will compromise our MORALS to get an extra PESO – TRAPPED in sin!
All because we thought having MONEY would solve all our problems!
But we did not have to FALL – we KNOW the dangers of DESIRING MONEY!
Hebrews 13:5 – “Do not love money; be satisfied with what you have…”
5th – CONTENT – because the LOVE of MONEY… vs. 10
LOVE of MONEY – Phil-argyros – only here in NT – literally to LOVE silver…
Is the ROOT of ALL EVIL – kakos – the lesser of two NT words for evil (poneros) …
Which is why many translations add the word – kinds (not in the Greek) …
Loving money is not THE EVIL – but it certainly can cause all kinds of EVIL!
Some have STRAYED from the FAITH…
STRAYED (passive) – to lead away from the truth into error…
In GREEDINESS (active) – to stretch in order to get something that is out of reach…
PIERCING with many SORROWS – to impale with consuming grief!
Too many people have walk away from the FAITH – for money!
The problem is people make MONEY their god – instead of Jesus!
We cannot dedicate our lives to MONEY and possessions – and to the Lord…
We waste our life on possessions that do not last – rather than on eternal rewards!
If we desire more MONEY – we are missing the greatest riches of all – Jesus!
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