Survivor’s Series
“How To Survive In the Real World”
Sermon # 5
Financial Survival
“Controlling Your Money Before It Controls You.”
1 Timothy 6:6-12
A frank examination would have to conclude that money is the basis of what the Survivor series is all about. What else would motivate contestants to endure bug bites, possible snake bites and perhaps worst of all back-biting that occurs as a part of filming in the Australian outback. It is the hope held by each of the contestants that he or she will be the ultimate survivor and take home the $1 million prize.
The key to our problems with regard to money, begin with our failure to recognize the Ownership of God. Scripture is clear on what belongs to God. Deuteronomy 10:14 “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. “(NKJV) The Psalmist says, in (24:1) “The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” (NKJV)
Proverbs 30:8-9 “ Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me; (9) Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.” (NKJV)
So what does God expect concerning the believers relationship to money. Today I want to share four principles with you!
I. GOD WANTS YOU TO ACCUMULATE IT CAREFULLY
The teaching of what is called the Prosperity Gospel saturate the airwaves with teachers who advocate that a lifestyle of wealth and opulence is evidence of God’s blessings. This teaching is wrong for two reasons. First, it is ignorant of sound principles of Biblical interpretation. Secondly, it is an attempt to justify the love of money by making it sound spiritual.
Paul warned Timothy about the danger of materialism in 1 Timothy 6:6-12, “Now 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 clothing, with these we shall be content. (9) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (11) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:6-12 (NKJV)
Paul gives Timothy some sound advice concerning materialism. First, he tells him that materialism is Foolish (v. 7) . It is not wise to spend a lifetime accumulating things that we can not really keep. The Godly attitude toward material goods is summed in the word “contentment” (v.8). Paul also tells Timothy that materialism is deceptive (v. 9). Those who live by a desire for the things of this world fall into temptation and a trap.” But it should be noted that Paul says that it is the “love of money” not money itself that is the problem. Paul also reveals to Timothy that materialism is Destructive (v. 10)
II. GOD WANT YOU TO ACQUIRE IT HONESTLY
God is not only concerned with what were have got but also how we got it. In the book of James (5:1-6) the reader is warned that dishonest acts are not forgotten by God! If we charge too much …if we sell a used car and don’t tell about the major repairs it needs…if you cheat on your taxes…if you waste time that you are being paid for.
We have nearly lost the Judeo-Christian work ethic on which this country was founded. Simply put it is, “a days work for a day’s pay.” Work is a biblical principle. Proverbs 28:19 says, “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!” (alt. translation – “he who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty”) (NKJV).
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NKJV) “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV) “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”
Proverbs 13:11
“Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.” (NKJV) “Wealth from get–rich-quick schemes quickly disappears, wealth from hard work grows.” (NLT) In the book of Proverbs we are warned at least six times not to get involved in get-rich-quick schemes.
1. The truth is that kept in balance, work does not hurt your health. Again in Proverbs we are told, (23:4) “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!” The New International Version translates this verse, “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich. Have the wisdom to show restraint.”
“Some of us are workaholics. We work too many hours for all the wrong reasons. It might be that you are working fifty-five or sixty or even more hours every week—plus your commute time. For what reason? Well, some are working too much because getting ahead in the company demands it. Let’s be honest though, it is a sick system that demands employees sacrifice their families and personal health just so that stockholders can get three cents more per share! Some work more than they should because they want more than their fair share of the good things in life—it’s called greed! God wants us to enjoy some of the good things in life, but not to the neglect of our families or our spirit. The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us “as people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away" (Ecclesiastes 5:16)…. What so often happens—and so sadly—is that some people work (and overwork) in order to provide too high a lifestyle. Does it really make sense to work yourself to death to make payments on a larger house than you need, to drive a more luxurious car than you really need—and all the while being away from your family, the ones supposedly you are doing all of it for? God does not bless overwork, and being a workaholic is not a blessing to any one in the long run.” (Bruce Emmert. “A Healthy Attitude Toward Work and Money” Sermon Central)
2. Work is necessary to provide for my family.
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (NKJV)
3. The only right way to wealth is to earn it. Proverbs 16:8 says, “Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.” (NKJV) The New Living Translation puts it this way, “It is better to be poor and godly than rich and dishonest” (NLT)
III. GOD EXPECTS US TO MANAGE IT EFFECTIVELY
The average American saves only 4% of his income. The average European saves 16%. The average Japanese person 25%. Why do we save so little in America.
Perhaps the greatest threat to successful Christian living is debt. If a young couple today is not very carefully they can find themselves in thousands of dollars of debt within the first few years of marriage. Part of the problem seems to be that we want what our parents have and we want it now. The most basic of all financial principles is simply do not spend more than you make. But that becomes increasing harder in our society. Thirty years ago it took an average young person only 4.5 years to reach his fathers income level. Today, it will take the average young person 17 years. (David Holwick. “Money, Money, Money’ #2740)
Proverbs 21:20, “ There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.” (NKJV) The Living Bible puts it this way, “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” In other words the foolish man spends everything he gets.
Some Christians wrongly believe that God forbids Christians from every borrowing mney based on Romans 13:8 which says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, ….” (NKJV) What he literally says here is “let no debt remain outstanding.” We are instructed to meet all our obligations. Although the Bible does not strictly prohibit debt it should also be recognized that neither does it encourage debt. The truth is that debt and be a form of bondage. Proverbs 22:7 says, “ The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.” (NKJV) Debt can put the believer into spiritual bondage to the world. What makes this all the more horrible is that often it is completely unnecessary. Because we are a society that demands instant gratification we are unwilling to wait to get what we want.
IV. GOD EXPECTS YOU TO GIVE IT GENEROUSLY
For people who are characterized by such free-spending in our lives we can get awfully tight when it come time to give some of the back to the Lord’s work. George Barna, the statistician, has written that, “Among adults who attend church regularly (that is at least once a month)…. 37% did not give any money to the church in the past year.” [George Barna. How to Increase Giving In Your Church. (Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 1997) p. 20.] According to Gallup polls in the average church 17% say they tithe but only 3% actually do. 40% will give nothing in a year and yet 91% say they make more money than they ever have in their life.
Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. (25) The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.” (NKJV) The New Living Translation puts this way, “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. (25) The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
You have no doubt heard the expression, “You can’t take it with you.” That is very true but you can send it on ahead. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NKJV)
How do you send it on ahead? How do you store up treasure in heaven? Well I am glad you asked!!
1 Corinthians 16:2
“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” (NKJV) The amount depends on how much the Lord has blessed you with. It is proportional.
Deuteronomy 14:23
“And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.” (NKJV) This passage reveals to us that the purpose of the tithe is simply to teach us to put God first in our lives. God does not need your money. He is wealthy. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He owns all the silver and all the gold. But he wants what money represents in our lives, he wants the preeminent place in our hearts.
He asks for a tithe. The meaning of the word tithe is very simple it means “a tenth.” To tithe means to bring one-tenth or 10% of our income to God. To speak of anything less than that as a tithe is to misunderstand its meaning.
Conclusion
If you try to live without God wealth management principles found in His word you are going to be in trouble.
The starting point for financial freedom is to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Unmanaged financials are only a sign of displaced priorities. Think about your financial situation have you violated any of these principles?
Have your been saving money faithfully?
Have you been making money honestly?
Have you been spending money wisely?
Have you been giving money generously?
All of these are principles of God’s word. To leave out of them is to short-circuit God plan for your life.
