WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT MONEY? Penge Baptist Church 26 th June 2011

Economists! - An economist is someone who doesn ’ t know what he ’ s talking about - and makes you feel it ’ s your fault. - An economist is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. - Economists are people who are too smart for their own good but not smart enough for anyone else ’ s - An economist is someone who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn ’ t happen today.

The World ’ s Economy – Pink Floyd Money, get away, get a job with more pay and you ’ re OK Money, its a gas, grab that cash with both hands and make a stash New car, caviar, four star daydream, think I ’ ll buy me a football team Money, get back, I ’ m all right Jack keep your hands off my stack Money, it ’ s a hit. Don ’ t give me that do goody- good bullshit

I ’ m in the hi-fidelity first class travelling set and I think I need a Lear jet Money, it ’ s a crime; share it fairly but don ’ t take a slice of my pie Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today So if you ask for pay rise it ’ s no surprise that they ’ re giving none away

God ’ s Economy – Jesus and the moneylenders ….he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables (John 2:17)

Why does God care about money? Money and possessions competitors for Jesus as centre of our lives ( “ no one can serve two masters ” Matthew 6:24) Money can actually harm us ( “ the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil ” 1 Tim 6:9-10) God knows that money affects a very large part of our lives:

Jesus ’ parables on money investment (Matthew 13:44-5) savings (Matthew 13:52) debt (Matthew 18:23-35) wages (Matthew 20:1-16) capital and interest (Matthew 25:24-30) money lending (Luke 7:41-3) inheritance (Luke 12:13-15) rich and poor (Luke 16:19-31)

God, money and treasure “ Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ” (Matthew 6:19-23: the Sermon on the Mount)

Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount Earthly money and treasures are truly perishable ( “ moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal ” ) Earthly treasures are a barometer of the spiritual life ( “ where your treasure is, there your heart will be also ” ) We risk being blind to God if we store up worldly treasures ( “ if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness ” )

So what attitude do we need to have? Godly stewards “ One who manages another's property, finances, or other affairs ” Genesis 2:15 “ The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it ”. Aware of who really owns everything: “ the earth is the Lord ’ s and everything in it ” (Psalm 24:1), “ The silver is mine and the gold is mine, ’ declares the Lord Almighty ” (Haggai 2:8)

The Godly Steward Enjoying the good things of life …. ….not (all) called to be poor …. … avoid danger of pride that leads to selfishness: “ You may say to yourself, “ My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. ” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. ” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

The Godly Steward is generous Generous as Christ was “ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Generous to the poor: “ If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ” (1 John 3:17). Generous to God himself: “Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9)

The Godly Steward is wise “ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it ” (Luke 14:28-30) “ a man ’ s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions ” (Luke 12:15) “ the wise man saves for the future but the foolish man spends whatever he gets ” (Proverbs 21:20) (LB)

Wisdom from the CAP Money course "The CAP Money course has revolutionised the way our family handles finances - we now are able to save more money, we have a better handle on where our money is going, and as a result are better stewards of what God has given us" Rev. Simon Cragg, Southborough Lane Baptist Church

The Godly Steward is trustworthy “ Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ” (Luke 16:10-11)

And he or she trusts in God “ my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus ” (Philippians 14:19) “ Keep your lives free of the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said “ Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you ”” (Hebrews13:5)

Godly Stewards of our money! Generous Wise Trustworthy Trusting in God

Conclusion People know the consumer economy does not satisfy …

… we are in a time, like the end-times, where money is a major competitor with God … … do we as Christians conform to the world? … or do we follow God ’ s economy, as Godly Stewards of the resources we are given?

Godly Stewards of our money! Generous Wise Trustworthy Trusting in God