Lesson 8

KEY TEXT

“For the love of money

is a root of all kinds of

evil, for which some

have strayed from the

faith in their greediness,

and pierced themselves

through with many

sorrows”1 Timothy 6:10

People,” it has been said, “spend money they don’t have, for things they

don’t need, in order to impress people they don’t like.

” How much truth that statement contains is debatable; what isn’t

debatable, however, is that money can have a powerful influence over all

of us. Because personal financial habits comprehensively represent an

individual’s values, money is actually a spiritual matter. No doubt that’s

why the Bible spends a lot of time talking about it.

Also, fame frequently accompanies wealth. Motion picture stars,

outstanding athletes, and national politicians often possess both.

Famous people exercise influence, which is one form of power.

Jesus, however, was not impressed by anyone’s wealth or power.

He simply sought to reach these wealthy people for the same

reason that He tried to reach everyone else: He wanted them to

have the kind of riches that money cannot buy.

BILL GATES

BenefactorMICHAEL JORDAN

Athletes

BRAD PITT- ANGELINA JOLIE

Best paid Actors

Richly Blessed

As fallen human beings, we are subject to jealousy, especially toward those

who have more money than we do (regardless of how much money we

ourselves might have already). The Bible, however, does not unconditionally

disparage wealth or the wealthy. As with so much else in life, problems arise

not from things themselves but from the way in which we relate to them.

WARREN

BUFFETTBILL

GATESCARLOS

SLIM

The richest men of the World ,

according to the FORBES Magazine

1. Biblical advice on wealth.

2. Jesus’ advise on wealth.

3. Jesus and the rich: Nicodemus. The publicans. The rich young

man.

“So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23)

If “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1Ti. 6:10), then can a rich person be also a true Christian?

This week we are studying…

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them… then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for

, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:11-12, 17-18)

“, and You reign over all. In Your

hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For

” (1 Chronicles 29:12-14)

The Bible states that all riches come from God. He gives them away when He believes it is appropriate.

There are many examples of material and spiritual rich people in the Old Testament: Job, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, Daniel, Nehemiah…

On the other hand, Nebuchadnezzar’s story is an example of the consequences of thinking that we earned everything “by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30) and not by God’s grace.

We are stewards. We administer the blessings God gives us.

“but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mark 4:19 NIV)

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:24)

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13)

“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” (Mark10:25)

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, cp. 33, pg. 402)

He had over-reached in trade, had made sharp

bargains, and had not exercised mercy or the

love of God. He had robbed the fatherless and

widow, and defrauded his fellow men, to add

to his increasing stock of worldly possessions.

He might have laid up his treasure in heaven

in bags that wax not old; but through his

covetousness he lost both worlds. Those who

humbly use to the glory of God the means

that He has entrusted to them will receive

their treasure by and by from the Master’s

hand with the benediction: “Well done, good

and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the

joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21”

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15)

Nicodemus rebelled against any suggestion that knowledgeable Israelites like himself should require conversion. Jesus, however, persisted, presenting Nicodemus with the eternal choice between judgment and salvation. Fearing denunciation and ridicule, Nicodemus refused to accept Christ’s invitation. The interview had apparently failed. That spiritual seed, however, lay buried, slowly germinating beneath his heart’s soil.

At the cross, Nicodemus remembered Jesus’ words. He surrendered his heart, position and wealth before his Savior.

He then used his contacts and wealth to support the Church In Jerusalem in hard times. He finally died poor in this world way, but rich in heavenly treasures.

“Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”” (Luke 19:9-10)

The publicans were tax collectors for Rome. They were considered to be sinners. They usually charged more than was necessary just to feather their own nest.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax-collector at Jericho. He also accepted Jesus’ calling. He didn’t quit, but he amended his mistakes and became a truthful publican.

He could be rich in this world and have heavenly treasures at the same time, by God’s grace.

We learn from Zacchaeus’ story that having or lacking riches does not prepare us to go to Heaven; only accepting Christ’s righteousness does.

Matthew quit tax collecting to become one of the 12 apostles.

“Jesus said to him, “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.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:21-22)

“Very few realize the strength of their

love for money until the test is brought to

bear upon them. Many who profess to be

Christ’s followers then show that they

are unprepared for heaven. Their works

testify that they love wealth more than

their neighbor or their God. Like the rich

young man, they inquire the way of life;

but when it is pointed out and the cost

estimated, and they see that the sacrifice

of earthly riches is demanded, they

decide that heaven costs too much. The

greater the treasures laid up on the

earth, the more difficult it is for the

possessor to realize that they are not his

own, but are lent him to be used to God’s

glory”

E.G.W. (Counsels on Stewardship, cp. 30, pg. 150)

“The rich left alone without any effort to save them

become shut up more and more to their own ideas. Their

own train of thoughts and associations lose eternity out

of their reckoning. They grow more proud and selfish,

hardhearted and unimpressible, suspicious that every

one wants to get money, while the poor are envious of the

rich, who need pity rather than to be envied.

E.G.W. (Evangelism, cp. 17, pg. 556)

Bring these all

under the power

of saving truth,

and the work of

the upbuilding of

the kingdom of

God will go

forward with

much greater

success”

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