Money Matters

"Money Matters"

Matthew 6:19-24

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

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When we start a discussion about money we can sometimes open a Pandora's box of issues especially where Christians are concerned. Two issues must be resolved if we are to handle money rightly.

a. We cannot serve God and Mammon

(Mat 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

b. The love of money is a root of all evil

(1Ti 6:6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Once we understand the importance of these two issues we are ready to consider the following points.

I. It matters to God how we secure money

In this day and age when folks seem able to compartmentalize their lives to a great degree there is the tendency to separate the secular from the spiritual. Folks who do this are under the false impression that somehow God does not care about what they do "on their own time." But, the mistake they make is that all of our time belongs to God. God is just as interested in what you do at work as He is in what you do at worship! How then can we secure our money and do it in a way that pleases God?

a. Work honorably

Leviticus 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

2 Corinthians 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Proverbs 16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

b. Work hard

Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

II. It matters to God how we spend money

Not only does it matter to God how we earn our money but He is concerned about how we spend it too.

Isaiah 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not..."

This verse asks the question, "Why do you spend your money on things that do not satisfy?" Just look at the average American home and you will know the answer to this question. Our homes are filled with things, with "stuff" and we just keep on spending and spending and acquiring and acquiring. We are like the rich farmer who had a great harvest and tore down his barns so he could build bigger barns. We fill up our homes and garages, all our closets, and our attics and when those are all full we build shops and storage buildings. Have you ever noticed how many storage building facilities have been built in the last few years? How should we spend our money?