Sermon/Teaching Outline 1. The Bible & Money 2. God s Responsibilities and Our Responsibilities with Money 3. God s Perspective on Work 4.

Transcription

1 Title: A Biblical Understanding of Money and Work Author: Crown Financial Ministries Sermon/Teaching Outline 1. The Bible & Money 2. God s Responsibilities and Our Responsibilities with Money 3. God s Perspective on Work 4. Summary The Bible & Money *************************************************************** Because God cares for us, He gave us guidelines for handling money. The Bible contains more than 2,350 verses dealing with money and possessions. Jesus taught more about money than almost any other subject. The Lord said so much about money and possessions for both spiritual and very practical reasons. i. Spiritual reasons A. How we handle money has a big impact on the intimacy of our relationship with Christ. If you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealthy, who will entrust the true riches to you? (Luke 16:11 NASB) A more intimate relationship with Christ is the true riches. B. Money is a primary competitor with Christ for the lordship of our lives. 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) ii. Practical reasons The Lord knew we needed wisdom in using money. He revealed in Scripture His principles for working, earning, spending, saving, investing, giving, getting out of debt, and teaching children how to handle money. If people have been taught anything about God s ways of handling money, it has usually been about giving. And although giving is very important, the principles of earning and spending have rarely been taught. Therefore, God s people have managed their money from the world s perspective, rather than God s.

2 God s Responsibilities and Our Responsibilities with Money i. God s responsibilities A. God is the owner of everything. The earth is the Lord s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). 1) God owns all the silver and gold. The silver and gold is mine, declares the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:8). 2) God owns the land. The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine (Leviticus 25:23). 3) God owns all the animals. Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills...the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, the world is mine, and all that is in it (Psalm 50:10-12). God created all things. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God owns all things, and He never transferred the ownership of His creation to people. As followers of Christ, we recognise that God owns all our possessions. Jesus said,...any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). B. God is in control Our loving heavenly Father is in ultimate control of every event. The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, (Psalm 135:6). I praise the Most High... He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have You done? (Daniel 4:34-35). It is comforting for those who follow Christ to realise that God uses everything, even different circumstances, for ultimate good. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) This is illustrated in the life of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph told his brothers: Do not be angry with yourself for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...it was not you who sent me here, but God...You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 45:5-8; 50:20). C. God will provide our needs In Genesis 22:14 God is spoken of as Jehovah-Jireh, which means, the Lord will provide. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [meaning food and clothing] will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) God is both predictable and unpredictable in His faithfulness to provide. He is unpredictable in how He will provide. In the Bible, the Lord provided for His people in many different and often unexpected ways.

3 The same Lord who fed manna to the children of Israel during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and who fed 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish, has promised to provide our needs. This is the same Lord who told Elijah, I have ordered the ravens to feed you...the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening. (1 Kings 17:4,6). ii. Our responsibilities with money A. We are stewards of God s possessions A steward is a manager of someone else s possessions. B. We are to be faithful God owns all that we have, and He gives us the responsibility to manage our things faithfully according to the financial principles of Scripture. It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2 NASB). 1) We are to be faithful with all that we have. Not only are we to be faithful stewards of the ten percent tithe that we give but also of the other ninety percent. All we have is the Lord s and we are to manage it in a way that is pleasing to Him. 2) We are to be faithful in the little things. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little also be dishonest with much (Luke 16:10). If we are faithful with small things, God can trust us with greater responsibilities. We must not spend our money in ways that we know would displease Him because this would make us unfaithful stewards. C. When we are faithful, we will benefit in 3 ways. 1) We will grow closer to Jesus Christ. When we are faithful to obey and serve the Lord, we grow in our love for Him. Jesus said Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him (John 14:21). Faithfully applying God s financial principles will help you grow in your love for Christ. 2) We will develop godly character. God uses money to reveal and refine our character. How we handle money is an outside indicator of our true spiritual condition. You can tell a lot about the character of people by examining how they handle money. For example, are they dishonest or honest? Do they gamble or do they give? 3) We will begin to have financial stability. As we apply God s principles to our finances, we will begin to spend more wisely, start saving for the future, and give even more to the work of Christ.

4 Be careful of extreme teachings on wealth and poverty. One extreme is that godliness can only occur in poverty. Money and possessions can be used for good or evil. A number of godly people in Scripture were among the wealthiest people of their day. In the Old Testament the Lord extended the reward of abundance to His people when they were obedient, while the threat of poverty was one of the consequences of disobedience. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 reads, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands...and the Lord your God will bless you. Psalm 35:27 reads, The Lord...delights in the prosperity of His servant. [NASB] We may legitimately pray for prosperity when our relationship with the Lord is healthy and we have a proper perspective of possessions. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be on good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2 [NASB]). The Bible does not say that a godly person must live in poverty. A godly person may have material resources. The opposite extreme is that all Christians who truly have faith will always prosper financially. This extreme is also an error. Study the life of Joseph. He is an example of a faithful person who experienced prosperity and poverty. He was born into a prosperous family, then thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. While Joseph was a slave, his master promoted him to be head of his household. Later he made the righteous decision not to commit adultery with his master s wife. The result? He suffered years in prison for that right decision. But then, in God s timing, he was promoted to Prime Minister of Egypt. The guideline for prosperity is found in Joshua 1:8, Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. This passage offers two requirements for prosperity: meditate on the scriptures and do everything they command. When you do this, you place yourself in a position to be prospered financially. There is no guarantee, however, that God will choose financial prosperity for you. He knows what is best for you and requires that you trust Him for whatever He chooses. Please review this diagram, which contrast the three perspectives: Poverty Steward Prosperity Possessions are: Evil A responsibility A right I work to: Meet only basic Serve Christ Become rich needs Godly people are: Poor Faithful Wealthy Ungodly people are: Wealthy Unfaithful Poor I give: Because I must Because I love God To get My spending is: Fearful and joyless Prayerful and responsible Carefree and consumptive

5 God s perspective on work Over a lifetime, the average person spends 100,000 hours working. Often this work carries some dissatisfaction with it. Understanding scriptural principles that relate to work help you find satisfaction in your work. It will also place you in a position where the Lord can prosper you. 1. God created work for our benefit The first thing God did with Adam was to assign him work. The Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15). The Lord created work for our benefit in the sinless environment of the Garden of Eden. After the Fall, when sin entered the world, work was made more difficult. Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food. (Genesis 3:17-19). 2. God s perspective of work A. Work is necessary. Work is so important that in Exodus 34:21 God gives this command: Six days you shall labour. The Apostle Paul wrote, If a man will not work, he shall not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). B. Work develops character. One of the primary purposes of work is to develop character. While the carpenter is building a house, the house is also building the carpenter. His skill, diligence, manual dexterity and judgement are refined. A job is not just a task designed to earn money; it s also intended to produce godly character in the life of the worker. Diligence hands [a good worker] will rule, but laziness ends slave labour Proverbs 12:24. C. We work for Christ. Scripture reveals that we are actually serving the Lord as we work. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...it is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24). Consider your attitude towards work. If you could see Jesus Christ as your boss, would you try to be more faithful on your job? The most important question you need to answer every day as you begin your work is this: For whom do I work? You work for Christ. 3. God s work responsibilities A. God gives us our job skills. And every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work.. (Exodus 36:1). Because God has given each person unique skills and talents, Scripture does not elevate any occupation above another. A wide variety of jobs are represented in the Bible. David was a shepherd and a king. Luke was a doctor. Lydia was a retailer who sold purple fabric. Daniel was a government worker. Paul was a tentmaker. And finally, the Lord Jesus was a carpenter. B. God gives us our success. Joseph is an example of God helping a person to succeed. The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered...his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in

6 everything he did... (Genesis 39:2-3). We have job responsibilities, but we need to recognize that it is ultimately God who gives us success. C. God controls promotion and advancement. No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt [promote] a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts [promotes] another (Psalm 75:6-7). As much as it may surprise you, people do not control whether you will be promoted. The Lord controls your success and promotions. 4. Our work responsibilities A. We are to work hard. Whatever your hand find to do, do it with all your might (Eccelesiastes 9:10). The precious possession of a man is diligence (Proverbs 12:27 NASB). Scripture, while condemning laziness, encourages diligence and hard work. One who slacks in his work is brother to one who destroys (Proverbs 18:9). Paul s life was an example of hard work. We worked night and day labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you...in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9). B. We are not to overwork. Hard work however, should be balanced by the other priorities of life. If your job demands so much of your time and energy that you neglect your relationship with Christ or your loved ones, then you are working too hard. Exodus 34:21 reads, Six days you shall labour, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. Rest can become an issues of faith. Is the Lord able to make our six days of work more productive than seven days? The Lord instituted weekly rest for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. C. We are to be honest. Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another (Leviticus 19:11). D. We are to honour our employers. Godly people always honour their superiors. 1 Peter 2:18 reads, Slaves, [employees] submit yourself to your masters [employers] with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. E. We are to honour our employers. Do not slander a servant [employee] to his master [employer], or he will curse you Summary Jesus spoke so much about money and possessions because He knew much of our lives would be involved with them. God owns everything and He has entrusted some of His possessions to each of us to manage. He wants us to be wise and faithful stewards by applying the financial principle in His word. He has given us the activity of work to provide for our needs and to develop our character. We should work hard and try to be excellent because we are really working for Christ.