THE LOVE OF MONEY

PROCLAMATION

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to Timothy, his son in the ministry, to provide him with directions and instructions. (1 Timothy 1:2)  In this sixth and final chapter of this first letter to Timothy, Paul continued the discourse which he began in chapter five.  Paul begins by telling Timothy how he should treat slaves and how they should treat their masters. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)  Then he tells him about riches and personal gain and ends with a statement regarding the love of money being the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)  He ends the chapter with a final charge to Timothy telling him basically to keep the faith. (1 Timothy 6:11-21)

 

APPLICATION

There is nothing wrong with money of itself, it is the love of money that is the root of all evil.  Those who covet money will do wrong to family and friends in order to get more of it.  The desire to acquire money will cause people to take advantage of anyone and everyone for their personal gain.  It is the pursuit of ill-gotten gain which is the problem that has led to sinful behavior. (1 Timothy 6:9)  Additionally, those who acquire large sums of money tend to put their faith in their money rather than in God.  Money is just the means to an end, a medium of exchange.  Don’t sell your soul in order to get it.  The greatest personal gain is godliness and contentment. (1 Timothy 6:6)

  

YOUR MONEY SHOULD NOT BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN CHRIST

Proclamation:

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  Mark 10:25 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark who was the nephew of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) and not one of the apostles.  This is part of the gospel as he received it from the apostle Peter.  After recording what Jesus had to say about divorce, (Mark 10:2-12) Mark presents the encounter and the conversation that occurred between Jesus and the young rich man who asked Him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17-25)  Jesus told him to keep the commandments and he said that he had done that since he was a boy. (Mark 10:19-20)  Then Jesus told him that there was one thing that he lacked, and that he should go sell everything that he had, give the proceeds to the poor, and then follow Him.  The young man went away grieved because he was very wealthy. (Mark 10:21-22)  The treasures of this life were more important to him than the treasures in heaven that Jesus promised him. (Mark 10:21)

Application:

This is the only recorded incident in The Bible where someone came to Jesus, The Christ, asking what he must do to be saved and went away disappointed. (Mark 10:22)  There is nothing wrong with being rich and wealthy.  Having a lot of money is not the problem.  The problem is our love for money, (1 Timothy 6:10) the importance that we place on money or possessions, and the fact that we value them more than we value The Lord God. (Exodus 20:3)  We are to put God first in our lives.  If we put Him first, everything else will be taken care of. (Matthew 6:33)  We are not to trust in the riches of this world; we are to trust in The Lord God. (1 Timothy 6:17) 

MONEY CANNOT BUY THE GIFTS OF GOD

Proclamation:

“When Simon saw that The Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability to that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive The Holy Spirit.’  Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’”  Acts 8:18-20 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that on the day that Stephen was stoned to death, a great persecution of believers began in Jerusalem.  Saul began to destroy the church putting believers in prison. (Acts 8:1-3)  The disciples, except for the twelve apostles, scattered throughout Judea and Samaria but they preached the gospel wherever they went. (Acts 8:4-7)  In Samaria a man named Simon, who practiced sorcery, heard the gospel, believed, was baptized, and began to follow Philip wherever he went. (Acts 8:9-13)  When Simon saw that the apostles could lay their hands on people and give them The Holy Spirit, he offered them money to give him that ability.  Peter told him that he had no part in their ministry because his heart was not right. (Acts 8:18-23)

Application:

Simon did not want the ability to heal others, he wanted the power to give others the ability to heal.  This causes his motives to be questioned.  The gifts of God cannot be bought nor earned.  The Lord God gives them to us, or to whomever He chooses, based upon our ability to handle them. (Matthew 25:15)  Unfortunately there are people in the church today who are like Simon, they claim to believe and have been baptized but their heart is not right.  Some people think that they can get whatever they want with money.  These kind of people hurt the church from the inside.  The love of money can control and ruin a person. (1 Timothy 6:10)  Remember, Judas was an insider when he betrayed Jesus, The Christ, for money. (Matthew 27:3)  We need to make sure that our service for The Lord God is not for personal or financial gain, but is for the love of God and for His glory.

WE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS

Proclamation:

"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 (NIV)

Explanation:
These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke as part of the Sermon on the Mount which began in Matthew 5:1 and goes on until 7:29.  As recorded by the Apostle Matthew under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here Jesus taught that loyalty cannot be divided.  One cannot be totally loyal to God and focus on earthly treasures, possessions, or wealth.  According to Bible scholar Thomas Nelson, "Jesus was not condemning money or possessions in and of themselves, but the improper attitude of enslavement towards wealth."

Application:
We can only be a slave to one master at a time.  Attempting to serve two masters will result in one of them being slighted and receiving less than our best effort.  We are either a slave to God or we are a slave to something or someone else.  We cannot walk with The Lord and hold hands with the devil at the same time.  We should be very careful choosing whom we will serve, for there are eternal consequences to the selection.  There is nothing wrong with having money, it is the love of money that gets us in trouble. (1 Timothy 6:10)

GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US

Proclamation:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’"  Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Explanation:

Under the influence and inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God the unknown author of the Book of Hebrews wrote to the scattered believers during their time of persecution.  He told them to be content and happy with that which they have been blessed with.  He also told them not to get caught up in the love of money and worldly possessions.  He said that along with whatever else that they have, they have The Lord God with them, and He will never leave them or forsake them.

Application:

We know that it is not money, but the love of money which is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)  The love of money will cause many people to sin and turn away from God.  Therefore we are advised and encouraged to be content with that which we already have.  The Apostle Paul said "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." (Philippians 4:11)  It is better to have a little and have The Lord with us, than to have plenty of riches and not have The Lord in our life.  God is omni-present, He is every where all at the same time, (Psalms 139:7-10) so He is always with us.  Regardless of how we may feel, or how bad our situation appears, we are never really alone.  The Lord God is always with us and He will never leave us.  This was His promise to the believers of old (Genesis 28:15 and Deuteronomy 31:6) and it is His promise to us today. (Hebrews 13:5)

We Cannot Serve Two Masters

"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 (NIV)

This is part of the sermon on the mount which began in Matthew 5:1 and goes on until 7:29. Here Jesus taught that loyalty cannot be divided. One cannot be totally loyal to God and focus on earthly treasures, possessions, or wealth. According to Thomas Nelson, "Jesus was not condemning money or possessions in and of themselves, but the improper attitude of enslavement towards wealth."

We can only be a slave to one master at a time. Attempting to serve two masters will result in one of them being slighted and receiving less than our best effort. We are either a slave to God or we are a slave to something or someone else. Be very careful choosing whom you will serve, for there are eternal consequences to the selection. There is nothing wrong with having money, it is the love of money that gets us in trouble.