More Money, More Problems! {Heart vs. Habit p.5}

 

“More Money, More Problems! {Heart vs. Habit p.5}

(Final Version)

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning,  9:30am Stream

03/10/24 (2nd Sunday Message)

(Final Version)

 

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{All scriptures are “NIV84” unless stated}

 

Message Title:

More Money, More Problems! {Heart vs. Habit p.5} {Likely won’t start with title}

 

We have been talking about money.

 

Not JUST money, but the change in mindset that God wants us to do.

 

God wants to rewire our mindset about money.

 

Matthew 6:19-21

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

There is a treasure to be focused on.

 

It’s not the treasure of this world.

 

Money is great to have…but it should not be our focus.

 

Money is great to have, but it shouldn’t be our treasure.

 

Matthew 6:21

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

 

Where your treasure is…

 

That’s where your heart is…

 

Also means where your heart is…

 

is determined by what you treasure more.

 

This leads us to ask the question:

 

Where Is Our Real Treasure? God Or Our Money?

 

If we are looking to get our hearts in the right place.

 

we have to examine ourselves.

 

what do we value most?

 

What can we learn from the bible?

 

First the bible talks a LOT about money.

 

it considers the topic to be very important.

 

Why because many of us hold money close to the heart.

 

So let’s look at what the bible says.

 

{Concerning Our Finances}

1.Everything Belongs To The Lord

 

 

Psalm 24:1

1 The earth is the Lords, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

 

The things we work so hard for…

 

The things we think we own.

 

It actually belongs to God.

 

Everything thing in it is his!

 

Our lives, our homes, our MONEY.

 

It belongs to the Lord!

 

 

{Concerning Our Finances}

2.Our Money Is A Way To Honor The Lord!

 

Colossians 1:16

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

 

Giving BACK to God’s kingdom is a way to honor him!

 

We read that it was a tradition in the bible to give a portion of your increase to the Lord.

 

Cain and Abel gave to God from THEIR work.

 

Things they were able to produce.

 

They gave it to the Lord as a form of worship to him.

 

They knew where their help came from.

 

They returned to God…because HE was the real treasure.

 

We are to honor God as well.

 

Proverbs 3:9-10

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

 

This is telling us to keep your focus on God!

 

If You Take Care Of God’s Business, He Will Take Care Of Your Business!

 

Matthew 6:25 talks about the worries of life.

 

Jesus says don’t worry about your life…food…body…clothes.

 

He talks about the birds…they are taken care of.

 

The flowers…they are a testament to God’s beauty.

 

They are taken care of by God.

 

God will take care of you…if you keep him first.

 

{Concerning Our Finances}

3.No Matter How Much You Have, Remember God Is The Source!

 

This is because God deals with each of us individually concerning finances.

 

What he does for one…he might not do exactly for someone else.

 

Parable of the Talents…each got something different.

 

according to his ability.

 

But it ALSO teaches something we should think about related to our mindset.

 

We are blessed regardless.

 

some are blessed more than others.

 

some are blessed in other ways.

 

But in proverbs there is a scripture we have to talk about.

 

Proverbs 30:8-9

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, Who is the Lord? Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

 

These are the sayings of a man named Agur.

 

He is saying that he only wants enough.

 

“God give me my daily bread.”

 

God give me what I need each day.

 

Don’t let me suffer…

 

but don’t let me have crazy abundance either…

 

Verse 9

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, Who is the Lord?

 

This person is saying that you don’t have to be rich…

 

But if God meets your needs each day….

 

  it doesn’t matter how much you have.

 

It’s not about the money…it’s about the God who can supply it.

 

Money Is A Thing, But God Is Everything!

 

God wants to be the one we run after!

 

Many of us pray for RICHES.

 

Not just a financial blessing…

 

  we want RICHES

 

   We know God CAN do it.

 

    and we want him to!

 

“God, give us more money than we know what to do with!”

 

as in excess money will solve all of our problems…

 

Being Rich Comes With Problems Of It’s Own Also!

 

Matthew 19:23-24

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 

 

It is hard for a RICH man to get to heaven.

 

TOO much money creates problems.

 

Why Does Being Rich Create New Problems?

 

The temptation comes that you don’t need God.

 

YOU can solve your own problems.

 

God Wants To Be The One We Rely On!  If You Could Meet All Of Your Own Needs, Where Would God Come In?

 

For those who Do have an abundance…

 

constantly remind yourself that God is your source!

 

NEVER forget God is how you got here.

 

NEVER forget that the reason you have is bigger than you!

 

God didn’t just give it for YOU.

 

  He gave it for you to use to help others!

 

We have to fight the desire of the pursuit of wealth.

 

When you have it…

 

you want more.

 

Ducktales…

 

Scrooge McDuck had so much money he could swim in it!

 

  he was rich and made SURE you knew it!

 

   he would do whatever he could to get MORE of that money!

 

  he would look down on those who didn’t have money.

 

1 Timothy 6:10

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

 

Money will run you away from God if you aren’t careful.

 

Does This Mean God Doesn’t Want Me To Have Money?

 

God never said you couldn’t have it.

 

he’s blessed some with it VERY well.

 

Money isn’t the problem…

 

it’s the mindset that comes with it.

 

It’s the LOVE FOR it!

When we ask…

 

Why are we asking?

 

Just like the talents:

 

What is our capacity to handle it?

 

What is our ability to handle it?

 

This is why Agur said in Proverbs:

 

“God Don’t Give Me More Than My Capacity Can Take”

 

This is why Agur wrote in Proverbs…

 

God just give me what I need.

 

Not more, not less.

 

Why would God make it HARDER for you to get into heaven?

 

Some of us are giving out of habit now.

 

Only give minimally to the kingdom.

 

We’d rather spend our money (which belongs to God)

 

on what WE think is important.

 

This isn’t having a HEART for God.

 

Those With A Heart For God Show Themselves Faithful In All Things!

 

Because there is another scripture:

 

Luke 16:10 (ESV)

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is anothers, who will give you that which is your own?

 

What does being faithful mean?

 

It means we realize that our money doesn’t belong to us.

 

It means to keep our eyes on God rather we have a lot or a little.

 

It means to make sure we don’t take our eyes off God who’s everything…

 

to focus on money…which is just a THING.

 

What is something that drives some people away from the faith?

 

People eager for money.

 

Luke 16:13

13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 

 

You have to choose what you serve.

 

Don’t treat God as a way to get rich.

 

Give To God Because You Love Him, Not Because You Want Him To Give You More!

 

Don’t go to him just because you want something.

 

Also remember that he may not even reward you with money.

 

Money Is Just ONE Of The MANY Ways God Can Bless Us!

 

This is JUST another way to show ourselves faithful to God this year.

 

We may not have all the money we want…

 

but we’re healthy.

 

  we’re loved.

 

  we’re still here.

 

  we have honor with others.

 

  God has sustained us.

 

 

{In Closing:}

 

1.The Lord Wants To Be The Thing We Desire Most

2.He Created All Things For His Glory

3.Honoring The Lord With Our Finances Is A Way To Worship Him!

 

We cannot serve both God and money.

 

When we have offering…

 

this is a chance to PROVE God comes first.

 

you are showing God you are taking care of HIS business.

 

When you take care of his…

 

he will take care of yours.

 

If We Honor God, He Will Honor Us!

If We Are Stingy With God, He Will Be Stingy With Us!

 

 

 

Don’t Get Distracted From The Real Treasure Chasing The Wrong One!

 

 

 

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