A Message by Pastor Michael Palmer
Given to
July 25, 2010
Greed’s Antidote
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Luke 12:15 He then told them, “Watch
out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the
abundance of his possessions.”
Jesus equated
your treasure with your loyalty. And, he told you to watch out for greed.
And, as I
already quoted, Colossians 3:5 tells us that greed is idolatry.
Show me where
your money is and I will show you what matters to you.
1 Timothy 6: 17-19 (NKJV) Command those
who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain
riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may
lay hold on eternal life.”
Greed is one
of the most frequently mentioned sins in the Bible.
We, the rich, Are Given Special Instructions…To Set
Your Hope on God…And Be Rich in Works and Giving…To Live a “Real” Life.
1. WE, THE RICH, ARE GIVEN SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS (vs. 17a)
“Instruct those who are rich in the
present age…”
Notice it
says, “those who are rich in the present age.”
You can be rich in this age and not in the next…and a person who
is poor can be rich in the next.
Rich is such
a matter of perspective.
Nobody thinks
they are rich.
But, there
are a lot of people who are rich here in our town, even in our church! Yep, it’s
true.
And, we tend
to resent the rich…they don’t pay their fair share or they earned it all
wrong…so, let’s talk about them today!
If you have
an average income in the
Rich is a
matter of perspective, isn’t it.
Why single
out the rich? Because it is easier for you to get caught up in money troubles.
Average in
the
We, the rich, Are Given Special Instructions…To Set
Your Hope on God…And Be Rich in Works and Giving…To Live a “Real” Life.
2. TO SET YOUR HOPE ON GOD (vs. 17b)
“…not to be arrogant or to set their
hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all
things to enjoy…”
God has given
you stuff to enjoy. The problem is not where you put your “stuff,” it is
your where you put your “hope.” To
be “arrogant” “haughty” “high-minded” = showing yourself to be above others.
This comes from trusting in what you have gained relating to possessions it is
works versus grace!
This is where
the idolatry of greed becomes evident.
The antidote to greed is giving.
“Therefore
consider the members of your earthly body as dead to…greed, which amounts to
idolatry.” Colossians 3:5
We always
create idols. One theologian says that our hearts are “IDOL FACTORIES.” AND,
MONEY VERY QUICKLY BECOMES AN IDOL.
Greed,
accumulation, and spending are idols. Keeping up with the Joneses will wear you
out, but you can’t stop. It is like an idol.
You have to
set your hope on something…God or stuff. That is why it is idolatry.
Matthew 6:24 “You cannot be slaves of
God and of money.”
Too many
people worship the God of stuff…and they must bow down and make sacrifices.
Some will sacrifice their children, their marriage, their happiness, their
health…all at the altar of what they want.
We have
taught our children to tithe. We taught them to give beyond. And, our hope and
prayer is that they model generosity so that greed, and the idolatry it
involves, does not overwhelm them. Children will model what they see in their
parents.
When we put
trust and faith in something other than God, this is idolatry. We put our
loyalty in something other than God. Then, it begins to overwhelm our lives.
We do whatever we can to get what matters.
The Bible
says that the rich should not “set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but
(set their hope) on the living God who richly provides us with all things to
enjoy…”
The same
thing happens to you when you become focused on stuff.
An idol can
easily creep into life and take over. You start thinking about it more and
more. You will sacrifice for it…your marriage, your kids, your spiritual life,
your everything…it overwhelms you. What started out as a lack of trust in your
Provider eventually becomes an idol that is so large it takes over your life.
Now, your
GREED MONSTER may be different. It may be a new car, a new house, a new stereo,
but it can and does take over and you become a slave to your stuff.
We, the
rich, Are Given Special Instructions…To Set Your Hope on God…And Be Rich in
Works and Giving…To Live a “Real” Life.
3. AND BE RICH IN WORKS AND GIVING (vs.
18-19)
“…Instruct them to do good, to be rich
in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a
good foundation for the age to come…”
We are called
to enjoy and employ what we have.
It is fine to
be rich as long as we are rich in good deeds and giving.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t collect for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“He is no
fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot)
YOU CAN’T
TAKE IT WITH YOU, BUT YOU CAN SEND IT AHEAD
“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’” Luke 12:15
How do you do
that?
You have to learn
to develop an open hand.
1. GIVE TO GOD FIRST
Remember, he owns every day of the week, but then he asks you to set
aside one day for Him. And to give it first place in your life. And give to His
work. Give God your “First Fruits.”
2. REMEMBER WHY YOU GIVE- MAKE IT ABOUT THE CROSS- THE
GOSPEL- THE BLOOD OF JESUS
·
The mission
of the local church is the Gospel.
·
The local
church was created by Jesus- Para-church organizations are to come after the
priority of the local church
·
The church’s
mission is both local and global- giving to special global missions efforts
ought to be a part of your giving over and above your tithe to the local
church. Example: Lottie Moon, Rick Via World Reach Ministries, GRBC related
mission trips.
·
When we give,
our plea should be, Lord use this money to “save a life,” “change a life” and
“develop someone else” to go tell- Oh God multiply this for your kingdom.
3. SET ASIDE A PERCENTAGE
God creates this plan that predates the law and Jesus commends it. It is
to give 10% of your income. And, I think it is a good thing. It hurts a little
to tithe…and you should give till it feels good. – get your heart right- then
you will want to give more!
He owns everything you own, but then he calls you to give a portion back
to him.
That portion was set up in the Old Testament and it is called the tithe.
It is interesting; we see the tithe as part of the Jewish law, but it is
actually modeled by Abraham before the law and then Jesus commends the
Pharisees for tithing (and he does not have much good to say about the
Pharisees). So, this is an important principle. God wants you to set apart a
portion for him.
Ten percent is good because it is not something that you can do without
noticing. Too many Christians are tippers. They throw a few dollars in the
offering plate if the service goes like they want it…if the pastor and staff
are doing almost everything to meet their expectations!
4. DEVELOP A PLAN TO GET OUT OF DEBT
·
Follow the
plan!
5. GIVE TO THE POOR, THE HURTING IN YOUR COMMUNITY
·
Remember
especially the widows that have no family.
·
Give to the
GRBC Benevolence Fund
·
Other
ministries that have the Gospel in their D.N.A!
We, the rich, Are Given Special
Instructions…To Set Your Hope on God…And Be Rich in Works and Giving…To Live a
“Real” Life.
4. TO LIVE A “REAL” LIFE- ETERNAL LIFE
“…so that they may take hold of life
that is real.”
What is real?
Not possessions…Eternal life is a different quality of life in the Here
and Now!
Luke 12:15 He then told them, “Watch
out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the
abundance of his possession.”
This is what
life really is. Not in bondage, but in financial freedom and victory.
YOU CAN LIVE
WITH A TIGHT FISTED HAND YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND YOU WILL BE IN PAIN, STRESS, AND
ACHING.
CONCLUSION:
To many of us
are like the “Spinning plates guy” on Ed Sullivan, just trying to keep them all
in the air at the same time. Don’t. Let them crash down and focus on the
important things.
How Do I Live a Real Life?
·
Give it all over to God
·
Remember why you give
·
Give a portion back to Him
·
Get out of debt
·
Give to the poor and hurting
·
Resolve to live a “real life”
with freedom, generosity, and dependence on God
Our real need
is to simply listen to Jesus. Oh Lord God help me trust you and be satisfied
with your provision for my life. Use me, my family, every breath that I take
for You, Your Gospel- to reach and save the lost. Lord work on my stubborn
tightwad spirit. Help me forgive others and simply trust You and You alone.
Teach me to give freely out of love. For You and others. I love You Lord Jesus.
If you are
not sure that you are forgiven and have eternal life, then TODAY is the day to
turn from trusting “self” and receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Come now
and let us help you in that process.