Anyone have to fill up your car this week with gas? Did you find it painful? Anyone top $50? Well, let me ease your pain just a bit. If you think a gallon of gas is expensive, let me put things in perspective.
A Diet Snapple - 16 oz. for $1.29 or $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea - 16 oz. for $1.19 or $9.52 per gallon
Gatorade - 20 oz. for $1.59 or $10.17 per gallon
Brake Fluid, not to drink, but for your car - 12 oz. for $3.15 or $33.60 per gallon
Vick’s Nyquil, or Wesleyan moonshine - 6 oz. for $8.35 or $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol - 4 oz. for $3.85 or $123.20 per gallon
Scope - 1.5 oz. for $0.99 or $84.48 per gallon
And here is a real kicker. . .
Evian water - 9 oz. for $1.49 or $21.19 per gallon?! For water!
I value my job way too much to share the numbers for a latte or frapachino at Starbrucks. But the next time you’re at the pump, be glad your car doesn’t run on espresso, water, Scope, or Nyquil.
It is 62 A.D. The apostle Paul has been imprisoned in Macedonia, or modern day Greece I believe, though my geography leaves something to be desired. As he spends time in prayer and reflection, he takes time to write, or dictate correspondence to one of his interns. A young man that actually came into a saving relationship with Christ during one of Paul’s earlier crusades. Now, this young man has been left in Ephesus to assist a new church there facing some growing pains.
And Paul writes that he hopes to visit soon, but in case he is delayed, there are some things he needs to make sure young Timothy knows and teaches about how the body of Christ should live. What the church should look like, in action and belief. How Christians are to behave like believers.
He addresses a number of things in this letter to Timothy. And among the various items. . .he addresses money. Turn in your Bibles with me to the book of 1 Timothy, chapter 6. Take out your worship folder that includes a message outline on the back, and something to write with as we work through this passage today. I Timothy 6:17 (read through verse 19).
Years ago there was a Chicago radio station that offered $10,000 to the individual who could devise the most outlandish way to get the money. More than 6,000 people responded to the challenge.
The eventual winner was Jay Gwaltney of Zionsville, Indiana. His home state will make perfectly good sense to you after you hear that he consumed an 11-foot birch sapling. Leaves, roots, bark, everything. For the big moment he wore a tuxedo and dined at a table eloquently set with fine china, sterling silverware, candles and a rose vase.
Armed with pruning sheers, the Indiana State University sophomore began chomping - starting from the top of the tree - and working his way down, branch by branch, to the roots. The only extra flavoring he used was some French dressing for a massive birch-leaf salad.
Consuming the tree took him 18 hours over a period of three days. All for $10,000, before taxes we can assume.
How predictable. Paul could have predicated it. Look what he wrote earlier in this letter to Timothy. Chapter 6, verse 9 (read through verse 10).
Now, eating a tree sapling might seem to be foolish, but there are people who would apparently do even more than that to get money! I have shared these numbers before, but it bears repeating today. In their book, The Day America Told the Truth, authors James Patterson and Peter Kim revealed some shocking statistics on how far people in this country would be willing to go for money. When asked what they’d do for $10 million dollars:
(25%) Would abandon their entire family
(23%) Would become prostitutes for a week or more
(16%) Would give up their American citizenship
(16%) Would leave their spouses
(10%) Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free
(7%) Would kill a stranger
(3%) Would put their children up for adoption
As one cynic put it: “everyone has their price.” And as the above survey indicates, some people will sell just about anything to gain financial security. But, certainly not Christians. Christians wouldn’t act like that. Christians wouldn’t have “a price” for which they’d sell themselves, would they? We know how to behave like believers, right?
Not based on what Paul has already seen. "Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (I Timothy 6:10)
What Paul was saying was that already there were some Christians who had walked away from their faith, their relationship with God for financial gain. They traded eternal wealth, for cash. And in the end they would realize what they had lost.
So Paul wants to offer Timothy some advice on how to instruct the new church to live. How they can behave like believers in regards to money. And he offers some practical wisdom and advice to his mentee. But before we look at the advice, I might need to convince us that the advice is for us. Because if you were following along in verse 17 you might be tempted to say, “But pastor, this is for the rich in this present world.”
So let me share with you who the rich in this present world are. As of the latest numbers I could locate, the average annual household income for the entire world, in U.S. dollars, is just over $5,000.00. Let me let that soak in for a moment. Take all the households in the world, and you have an average annual household income of just over $5,000.00.
In the 1800s the average income ratio between the richest nations, and the poorest nations in the world was 3 to 1. For every 3 dollars we had here in the U.S., the poorest nations of the world had 1. By 1950, just one century later, that ratio had grown to 11 to 1. Now for every 11 dollars we have here in the U.S., the poorest nations of the world still only have 1 dollar. And the gap continues to widen.
We may not feel like “the rich” when we compare ourselves to the richest of the rich here in America, but I think God’s perspective might be a bit more global than that.
Listen to how John Wesley preached it in a sermon back in the 1800s. “First, let us consider, what it is to be rich. What does the Apostle mean by this expression? The preceding verse (referring to chapter 6, verse 8 - read) fixes the meaning of that: "Having food and raiment," (literally coverings; for the word includes lodging as well as clothes) "let us be therewith content." "But they that will be rich;" that is, who will have more than these; more than food and coverings. It plainly follows, whatever is more than these is, in the sense of the Apostle, riches; whatever is above the plain necessaries, or at most conveniences, of life. Whoever has sufficient food to eat, and raiment to put on, with a place where to lay his head, and something over, is rich.”
So I think there is global, historical and even Biblical precedent to suggest that when Paul writes, “Command those who are rich in this present age” to believe that he is referring to us.
So what is the command for those of us who are rich? How do we approach our financial situation? When it comes to money, how do we behave like believers?
(Show Video)
Who we are, and what will really make us happy. You have heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” Well, Spike Milligan once said: “All I ask is the chance to prove that money can’t make me happy.” Well, if given the chance, I think Spike would discover that money can’t buy his happiness.
So Paul writes in 1 Timothy (read verse 17).
The first command Paul admonishes Timothy to pass on to the believers is. . .
A. TRUST IN GOD. . .NOT MONEY
Bob and his sweetheart sat on the front porch rocking, when all at once he began to propose to her: "Beverly, I love you more than anything in the world, and I want you to marry me. I don’t have a big estate or a yacht or a Rolls Royce like Johnny Smith, but I promise you I love you with all my heart."
Beverly was quiet for a moment, then she said, "I love you, too -- but tell me more about this Johnny Smith."
We don’t want to put our trust in money. But it is so tempting. It is so easy to think that we can just reach that financial place where life will really be secure.
In the book Money Madness the authors made this observation: “… (when people) devote themselves to money… money seems to eat them away, inside out. Inside they lose their joy and spontaneity and generosity of impulse. Outside, they seem to wither, to become pale and drawn and fragile looking. It is difficult, of course, to decide how much of this is because of the aging process. But certainly not all old men look as ravaged as Howard Hughes did or as desiccated as Mellon or J. Paul Getty. These men all complained of fatigue, sleepless nights and digestive ailments. They all appeared wispy and mummified.”
They all had put their trust in money, not God.
Jeremiah 9:23 & 24 says it like this, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows me, That I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”
In contrast, later in 48:7 the prophet declares in a judgment on Moab, “For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken.” Jeremiah tells them they will lose everything, because their trust is in their own money rather than God.
And make no mistake about two things this morning. First. . .
1. THERE ARE NO FINANCIAL GUARANTEES ON THIS PLANET.
None. Think what you want, believe what you will. Everyone of us could lose our jobs tomorrow. Each one of us are just days away from homelessness, hunger, and poverty. I don’t care what kind of nest egg you have. I don’t care how much money you make. I don’t care what your severance package would be. There is not a scenario you can present me with that I can’t provide an opposite scenario, real and viable, that leaves us with nothing in a very short period of time. There are no financial guarantees on this planet.
If you are putting your trust in money. You are on very shaky ground.
Many of you have heard our story, and I won’t bore you with it again today, but Debbie and I know what it is like to go from owning a home, savings in the bank, household income in excess of $50,000/year (which wasn’t bad in the early 90s), great benefits, new cars, everything that at that point we thought we wanted, to begging for a place to live in just a matter of days. We know what it is like to sit in a court room, and hear a judge declare in front of a room full of strangers, and what feels like the whole world, that you are officially bankrupt.
Put your trust in God, not money, because there are no financial guarantees on this planet anyway, and second. . .
2. EARTHLY CURRENCY CAN NOT BUY YOU ANYTHING ETERNALLY.
Even those that manage to defy the odds, roll the dice, and beat the house here on earth, haven’t bought there way any further in to an eternity with Christ. Not a single step.
Paul knew that there were no financial guarantees on earth. He had lived with financial wealth, and was now writing from prison. He knew money didn’t buy one’s way into eternity. He wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So Paul says, “Those of you who are rich. Don’t be haughty. Don’t let your pride and ego well up within you. Don’t show the world a confidence that is built on such poor footing as earthly wealth. Trust in God. The giver of all good things.”
What’s the answer then? How do we avoid putting our trust in money?
Let’s look again to John Wesley in that sermon on “The Danger of Riches,” “Herein, my brethren, let you that are rich, be even as I am. Do you that possess more than food and raiment ask: "What shall we do? Shall we throw into the sea what God hath given us?" God forbid that you should! It is an excellent talent: It may be employed much to the glory of God. Your way lies plain before your face; if you have courage, walk in it. Having gained, in a right sense, all you can, and saved all you can; in spite of nature, and custom, and worldly prudence, give all you can. I do not say, "Be a good Jew, giving a tenth of all you possess." I do not say, "Be a good Pharisee, giving a fifth of all your substance." I dare not advise you to give half of what you have; no, nor three quarters; but all! Lift up your hearts, and you will see clearly, in what sense this is to be done.”
Wesley’s advice? Paul’s advice? Or should we say, Paul’s admonishment that Timothy should teach and command the people. . .
B. LEARN TO GIVE MONEY AWAY.
Verse 18 (read through verse 19).
Despite his wealth, Mr. Brown had been quite frugal all his life. At long last he passed on and found himself standing at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter greeted him and escorted him to his new home. They walked past many beautiful mansions until finally they arrived at a dilapidated cabin.
In shock, Mr. Brown exclaimed, "Why am I being given with a rundown cabin when all of these others have fine mansions?"
St. Peter responded, "I’m afraid we did the best we could with the money you sent us."
One Sunday, a preacher was speaking on what it would take for the church to grow. He said, "If this church is to advance, it must take up its bed and walk." The congregation said, "Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk."
Encouraged by their response, he went further. "If this church is going to become better, it will have to throw aside its hindrances and run!" The congregation replied, "Let it run, preacher, let it run!"
Now really into his message, he spoke stronger. "If this church really wants to become great, it will have to take up its wings and fly!" "Let it fly, Preacher, let it fly!" the congregation shouted.
The Preacher gets louder. "If this church is going to fly, it will cost money!"
The congregation replied. "Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk."
Seriously, Paul encourages Timothy to tell the people, “Be rich in good works. Be ready to give. Be willing to share. Take those riches that God has blessed you with, and do good.”
I came across a story the other day that was new to me. Did you know that the very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power and wealth. But three years later at the age of 53 he became ill.
His entire body became racked with pain and he lost all the hair on his head. In complete agony, the world’s only billionaire could buy anything he wanted, but he could only digest milk and crackers. An associate wrote, "He could not sleep, would not smile and nothing in life meant anything to him." His personal, highly skilled physicians predicted he would die within a year.
That year passed agonizingly slow. As he approached death he awoke one morning with the vague remembrances of a dream. He could barely recall the dream but knew it had something to do with not being able to take any of his successes with him into the next world. The man who could control the business world suddenly realized he was not in control of his own life. He was left with a choice.
He called his attorneys, accountants, and managers and announced that he wanted to channel his assets to hospitals, research, and mission work. On that day John D. Rockefeller established his foundation. This new direction eventually led to the discovery of penicillin, cures for current strains of malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria. The list of discoveries resulting from his choice is enormous.
But perhaps the most amazing part of Rockefeller’s story is that the moment he began to give back a portion of all that he had earned, his body’s chemistry was altered so significantly that he got better. It looked as if he would die at 53 but he lived to be 98.
I have shared that up to the time of Debbie and I’s complete and utter bankruptcy, I played all kinds of financial games with God. I was stingy. I didn’t tithe. Even when I did write the check, I would make it for the least possible denominator I could. Post taxes. After benefits. Tithing on the net. Then I would even hold the check for sometimes weeks or months until I really felt like giving away the money.
And above and beyond the tithe? Forget about it. No missions giving. No special offering participation. This was my money, and I wasn’t going to let it get away.
Following our bankruptcy, that all changed. Having learned that it wasn’t mine to begin with and how quickly it could be taken away, I learned what it meant to be generous. I learned what it meant to drive a car nearing its 20th birthday so that we could support ministries and efforts. I learned to exchange a $50 cable bill for a set of rabbit ear antenna so that we could help out missionary friends, and single teenage moms. I learned that God gives to me, so that I can give it away.
I haven’t aced it yet. I have a check in my pocket for the Samaritan Fund, while knowing that the A/C compressor at our house is on its last legs, the roof needs to be replaced soon, and most of my wardrobe is made up of free shirts from coaching Upward or running 100 miles at the Y. And there are times when I am tempted to keep a little bit for myself. Times when it can be tough to drop a check like this in the plate.
But I want the treasures that Paul writes about. His words echo those of Jesus. Turn quickly with me to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. Matthew 6:19 (read through verse 21).
Mark Tabb writes about these words in his book, Living with Less, "The Bible shows that all of us have a choice. It isn’t just a choice between God and the Devil or Heaven and Hell. No, this choice is much more subtle. Each day you and I must choose the kind of treasure to which we will devote our lives. Either we will spend our lives filling our attic and garage with a lifetime of collectibles or we will spend our lives laying up treasures in Heaven."
Jesus would later tell the Rich Young Ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21)
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Trust in God, not money. And learn to give it away. That will lead to a foundation for eternity. That will lead to the laying hold of eternal life. That will enable us to behave like believers.
Let’s pray.
