This sermon explores the concept of money as a tool to serve God's purposes, rather than a master to be served, drawing on biblical scripture and a real-life example of a coal mine fire in Centralia, Pennsylvania.
In May 1962, a coal mine fire started in a small town called Centralia, Pennsylvania. It spread to mine tunnels, and because of the high carbon monoxide levels, all the local mines closed. Numerous attempts were made to put the fire out, but the narrow tunnels in multiple directions made it difficult and dangerous to access. So, the fire continued to grow. One newspaper reporter described it like this:
Ultimately, officials decided that further attempts at extinguishing the fire would be futile and that the best course of action would be to buy out the residents and then condemn all the houses and other buildings, thus creating a ghost town. Even today that coal mine fire still rages on, hundreds of feet underground in Centralia. Experts expect it to continue for another hundred years.
By contrast, did you know that the average forest fire only lasts 37 days? So, why is it that the coal mine fire can burn uncontrollably for so long? What has made it nearly impossible to stop? There are a couple of key factors:
Fire has been used as a tool for thousands of years. When it burns in a fireplace, it keeps us warm. On the wick of a candle, fire provides light. It can easily be controlled and used for good. But without the proper safety measures in place, it can cause tremendous amounts of harm.
Fire has been used as a tool for thousands of years. When it burns in a fireplace, it keeps us warm. On the wick of a candle, fire provides light. It can easily be controlled and used for good. But without the proper safety measures in place, it can cause tremendous amounts of harm.
Like fire, money is a dangerous tool. It can be used for good or to cause harm. And like fire, money isn’t evil, or good, but is amoral. And as long as people have been using money, it has been used for both evil and good. But when it’s in our hearts, money becomes incredibly destructive, not only to us, but also to those around us.
Just like the coal mine:
Money becomes dangerous when it’s not controlled and we let it settle into our hearts ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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