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Money – God or Gift – Giving
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 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. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIV)
It says those who want to get rich. They are looking for money to fulfill them.
It is a trap. Money traps you to get into trouble and hard to get out of it.
Am I eager for money ?
Greed, envy, stealing, lust, adultery is a result of the love of money.
Earning money in an unlawful way is very attractive.
It is the little things that get to you.
Our heart for the fellowship exposes our hearts, working on Sundays.
What is pulling me away from God’s kingdom ?
Practicals
Don’t spend more than u have. Excessive desire for more than you need is sin. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7 NIV) You cannot maintain over-expenditure it will catch up with you. Budget and actual does not meet up.
Honor God by spending well. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:34, 35 NIV) John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:7-14 NIV) Take less and give more. Where do i place my hope?
Honor God by guarding against covetousness. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17 NIV) “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 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. (Proverbs 30:7-9 NIV) Whether we will spend wisely? The proof is in my spending.
Audio link – http://www.ctcoc.co.za/?q=node/876
