MONEY - Brothers and Sisters, do Good with the money you earn!!!!!
From Touchpoint:
On the one hand money is neither good nor bad, but simply a neutral medium of exchange. Throughout the Bible we read matter-of-factly about money being earned, borrowed, and spent. On the other hand, money represents wealth, power, and status; as such, it has a tendency to wield extraordinary power over our lives. The Bible also has much to say about the love of money. This is not neutral, but sinful. Jesus goes so far as to identify money as a potential rival to God (Matt 6:24). The Bible consistently teaches that money, like natural resources, material goods, or time itself, is ours to be used for the glory of God, not to take the place of God.
What is a proper perspective towards money?
PSALM 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
MATTHEW 6:24 No one can serve two masters; You cannot serve both God and money.
LUKE 18:22-23 Sell all you have and give the money to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven.
The love of money can get out priorities out of line. We must keep reminding ourselves that God must be first in our lives and that money cannot satisfy our deepest needs.
1 TIMOTHY 6:6-10 ...For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil.
HEBREWS 13:5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you."
PSALM 119:36 Give me an eagerness for Your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money!
Money is not the root of all evil; the love of it is!
PROVERBS 11:28 Trust in your money and down you go!...
ISAIAH 55:2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you Strength?...Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!
Too often we buy things to fill a void or a need in our lives. The Bible points to a way to acquire a deep and lasting happiness that always satisfies.
PROVERBS 19:1 It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest.
MARK 8:36 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?
No amount of money is worth it if it was gained deceptively or dishonestly. Taking advantage of others to make money is stealing. Those who do this lose far more than they could ever gain.
MATTHEW 6:31-33 Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 For I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little...I have learned the secret of living in every situation...
PHILIPPIANS 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches...
The Bible promises that God will supply all of our needs. The problem comes when our definition of "need" is different from God's. The first thing we must do is study God's Word to discover what He says we need for a fulfilling life.
MARK 12:41-44...He called his disciples to Him and said, "I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given..."
PROVERBS 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then He will fill your barns with grain...
MALACHI 3:10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse...If you do," says The LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you..."
LUKE 6:38 If you give, you will receive.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
PROVERBS 21:20...fools spend whatever they get.
PROVERBS 28:19 Hard workers have plenty of food...
MATTHEW 25:14 He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:12 We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:12...and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs.
God urges us to be good stewards in earning, spending, and saving our money. He understands the importance of providing for the needs of our family and the future, But He also expects us to use our money generously to help others.
PSALM 49:6-20...for no one can ever pay enough to live forever...
Material wealth offers much that is good but cannot redeem the soul.
ACTS 2:42-47...And all the believers met together constantly, and shared everything they had...
As believers we must see our wealth as something to be shared in ministry.
Why do we always seem to want to accumulate more?
ECCLESIASTES 10:19 A party gives laughter, and wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!
We tend to think money is the answer to every problem. It is NOT!
MARK 10:17-23...At this, the man's face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions...
We accumulate money because we trust money and wealth to bring us happiness. How much more happy and productive we could be if we set our minds to accumulating treasure in heaven. We must not allow our material possessions to take the place of God
Why don't I ever seem to have enough?
ISAIAH 55:1-2...Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?...
Because we foolishly spend our money on what does not satisfy the soul.
HAGGAI 1:3-6...Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?...
Because we don't manage our wealth according to God's priorities.
LUKE 12:13-21...Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own. A life dedicated to the accumulation of material goods is a life foolishly lived.
If we depend on our wealth to bring security, there will never be enough.
What is your responsibility to the poor?
PROVERBS 19:17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD - and He WILL repay you!
PROVERBS 22:9 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
ISAIAH 58:10 Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day.
MATTHEW 7:12 Do for others what you would like them to do for you.
1 JOHN 3:17 But if one of you has money enough to live well, and sees a brother or sister in need and won't help them - how can God's love be in that person?
Consistently and generously giving away our money might be the most effective way to keep us from loving it. When we see what giving does in the lives of others, needs are met in us that material possessions could never satisfy. This kind of giving measures our Christian love.
Brothers and Sisters, did you know that for as little as $20 - $25 per month (less than your daily cup of coffee) you can feed, clothe, and provide a Christian education to an impoverished third-world child? Remember Jesus' Love for the children! Please contact one of the following organizations today, give back to God, and make a difference in a child's life:
World Vision: 1-800-432-4200
worldvision.org
Compassion International: 1-800-336-7676
ci.org
Christian Foundation For Children and Aging: 1-800-875-6564
e-mail: cfca@sky.net
Mission of Joy (orphans in India)
home.navisoft.com
ChildReach 1-800-556-7981
childreach.org
GlobalCare
globalcare.net
The Salvation Army Child Sponsorship Program
iserv.net
Child Sponsorship - Food for the Hungry: 1-800-248-6437
fh.org
Children International (all religions)
children.org
The Arm's of Jesus Children's Mission
armsofjesus.org
Save the Children
savethechildren.org |
