[0:00] If you have your Bible, would you please open it to the book of 1 Timothy chapter 6.! We're going to begin with this passage here, 1 Timothy chapter 6.
[0:11] ! And then we're going to move into the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But we're going to begin here. And the title of my message this morning is Living in a Material World.
[0:26] Because in this passage, Paul addresses something that all of us deal with from very early on in life. Finances, money, and material possessions.
[0:40] It's just a necessary part of life. It's one that you're faced with. And it's on your mind more than it probably should be. Maybe more than anything else is your money, is your income, is your bills, is your finances.
[0:54] For some, it consumes you. But whether it consumes you or not, it's still on your mind daily, I'm sure. From the beginning, you hand a little child a dollar bill, and they just throw it on the ground because they want the toy.
[1:09] They want something that's shiny and makes noises. And that attracts them, this little piece of paper. And everybody's like, ooh, look, you got $20 from Grandma. And they're like, they want the fun stuff.
[1:21] But once they figure out what that paper is, a few years later, once they find out what they can do with this piece of paper, immediately there's an attraction to it.
[1:34] Immediately, it doesn't take long in life to start to like money and to want to get more of it. And to want to use it for your pleasure. It's normal. It's the way all of us have been brought up.
[1:45] And so, being that it's a necessary part of life, being that we live in a material world, and we always have, we need to, as believers, understand how to operate in this world and how not to allow it to distract us from why we're called, as believers and children of God, or what we're called to.
[2:06] We can quickly get caught in a web of materialism, and it can distract our hearts from what God has told us to do. So, let's read a few verses here in 1 Timothy 6.
[2:18] And I'll read from verse 5. It's, I'm just for sake of time, picking it up right in the middle of a statement. Perverse disputings of men, corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness.
[2:33] And here's what he charges Timothy, from such withdraw thyself. Get away from those people. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
[2:50] And having food and raiment, let us be there with content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
[3:05] For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
[3:16] But thou, O man of God, flee these things. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
[3:29] Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called. Skip ahead to verse 15. No, verse 17.
[3:41] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life.
[4:07] Now, Paul lays down several statements, and I'm just kind of piecemealing some of this together just as introduction. Statements that deal with money, with finances, possessions, or what we might call materialism.
[4:22] He warns to avoid people that emphasize gain. People that equate gain with godliness. They're always consumed with money.
[4:33] They're always talking about net worth, and how much something costs, how much something is worth, how they can obtain and possess this. That's what runs their mind, is finances.
[4:45] Paul is saying, people that think that's a good thing, that that's showing the blessings of God, claiming this is God, say, get away from those people, get far away from them. They're not godly.
[4:56] They think they are. They're confused. They're deceived. We'll see that later. He also calls for Christians to be content. All Christians to be content. Even saying that if you have a godly, spiritual nature, and you're content with where you are in life, that's great gain.
[5:13] He uses the same term that these suppose gain, like wealth. He says the real gain, the real wealth, is if you're a godly, and you're content to be what you are.
[5:25] And so that's what Paul says. That someone content is not going to expend their energy on material. Instead, they'll give themselves to the Lord, and they'll know that he's got their back, and that he's controlling them, he's guiding them.
[5:42] He also talks to people that don't have much, and he tells them not to covet. Just be content. Don't covet. Instead, seek the fruits of righteousness, which yield eternal rewards. Set your mind on those things.
[5:53] Get busy fighting the fight of faith. Don't get distracted in chasing after money. You're going to fall into a pit. You're going to pierce yourself through with many sorrows. You're going to do things you never thought you'd do if you get your eyes on those prizes.
[6:07] And then finally, he describes people that do have much. And he says, If you do have your rich in this world, then be a giver. Be a distributor in the work of God, and in doing so, you'll earn eternal rewards.
[6:21] So I want to look now at some commands or counsels of the Lord Jesus Christ that address these very thoughts, that address the materialistic world that we live in and how we can avoid getting caught up in it and allowing it to get a hold of our hearts and then distract us from what God has called us to be doing right here.
[6:46] You understand that you need money. You need finances. You need income. We understand that. There's nothing wrong with that. You have to have it. But God forbid that our heart desires that more than it desires God, more than it desires the treasures in this book.
[7:05] God forbid that it doesn't get a hold. We're Christians. If you name the name of Christ, if you've been bought by the blood of Christ, you're to be different. You're to have a renewed mind.
[7:17] And the book is supposed to now feed you how you ought to think and how you ought to walk and how you ought to please God. You've got to watch yourself because you've got a carnal nature that loves money and is not content.
[7:31] I quoted it in Sunday school, the eyes of man are never satisfied. And you have that inside of you too. And you might think, well, I'm up in years and I've got everything I need.
[7:43] And yeah, you probably do, but the devil knows how to dangle something in front of you too. So nobody can get away with this one. Let's take a look at some passages.
[7:54] We're going to run you through four passages in the Gospels. Find Matthew chapter 6. And I think many of these passages are pretty familiar to you, but we're going to study what Jesus Christ taught about living in a material world.
[8:14] So you're finding Matthew chapter 6. You're going to recognize a lot of the content in the beginning of the chapter. The Lord Jesus is teaching on praying. He starts by teaching on giving and then on praying.
[8:27] And He teaches on fasting and on all of these things. He teaches that it's between you and God. It's not something that you broadcast publicly for others to know about or hear. And so after all of this, in verse 19 through 21, you recognize these verses.
[8:43] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
[8:59] For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. I think these are probably very familiar words to anybody who's been around the Bible very long. It's a very common thought and commonly promoted and taught that we need to lay up treasure in heaven and to seek those things which are above, the Apostle Paul said.
[9:23] And we notice very quickly the contrast. Laying up treasures on earth. Things that can rust and corrupt and frankly somebody could come and take it.
[9:35] They could just literally come and steal it and it's gone. So contrasting laying things up here or laying them up in heaven. Now that's a very familiar thought there.
[9:45] And we often notice that contrast of where you're laying them up. But we might miss something here or maybe we don't miss it so much but I think it gets kind of highlighted so strongly.
[9:57] Don't lay them up down here. Lay them up up there. That there's something that there's a point to this. There's a purpose for him saying that. And the purpose is verse 21. For where your treasure is, if it's down here or if it's up there, where you lay your treasure, that's where your heart will be.
[10:18] And that is the point of Jesus Christ mentioning these things. God is concerned with where your heart is at. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
[10:33] First thing I want to extract from the Gospels here in the Lord Jesus Christ is that God is concerned where your heart is, what it is fixed upon.
[10:47] Is it on material things down here? Or is it on eternal things with the Lord? A sure way for you and I to keep our hearts upon Him is to just avoid laying up treasure on earth.
[11:00] I didn't say you can't own things or have a house or a car. I don't talk like that at all. But if you avoid putting all your money and all your expenses, all your finances into things down here, well then you can allow your treasures and your thoughts to be up there.
[11:16] I'll explain this. Is it a sin to own a camper, an RV? Would that be a sin? I'd say no. I know some godly Christian men, David Spurgeon and Dr. Samuel Gipp.
[11:31] They own very nice RVs. And they own houses too. And they own RVs and they drive them all the time. And they're never at their churches, because they're always at another one preaching somewhere.
[11:43] But they're bad examples in this. But nevertheless, they own an RV. It's not a sin to own an RV. Is it a sin to own dirt bikes and four-wheelers and expensive guns?
[11:57] Is it a sin to own a luxury car? If somebody pulled in here in a luxury car, would you say, oh my, they have sinned against God because they have that car and drive it.
[12:10] Will we call that a sin? I'd say no. That's not necessarily a sin against the Lord. But when you spend that kind of money on something like that, that is not a necessity to your life, food and raiment, when you spend that amount of money, your heart will naturally attach itself to it.
[12:35] I'll give you an example, a personal one that's just, it's not real. It's never been real. I've never owned a brand new car in my life. Never have, probably never will. And that's okay with me.
[12:46] Not whining for money or for a car. Unless it is my birthday. This just came together. I've never owned a brand new car.
[12:58] And if somehow, my wife and I stumbled into $100,000 and I said, honey, I'm sick of having coolant leaks. I'm sick of having oil drips.
[13:09] I'm sick of having these little issues. We're going to buy a brand new car and it is going to be the best one we can find that we can afford for this money. And we go, let's go pick it out. And it has all, everything we want.
[13:22] And you know what would happen if we did that, we spent that kind of money on something like that? I could justify it and say, hey, I've never owned a car. I've been this. I've raised my kids. And here we are at this stage in life and we deserve it.
[13:33] And the Lord provided for it. Bless me the name. We could justify it. But you know, just spending that money and owning that thing and pulling it into my driver, you know what that would do? I would be thinking about it.
[13:46] I'd be out there wiping it down. I don't wash my car hardly ever, but I'd be washing that one. I'd be putting more time into that one. I'd probably buy a cover for it to keep the sun off of it.
[13:57] I would probably, you kids get away from my car. Don't get near it. Honey, I can't park here. Look, there's only four feet on each side and we're going to have to park across the street where it's safe because my baby, you know why?
[14:11] I'd be consumed. Why would I be so consumed with it? Because I put all that money and investment into it and I put my treasure into it and my heart is naturally going to gravitate toward it and care about it.
[14:24] Same thing with people that invest money. When they invest money in something, they watch it. They worry about it. It stays on their mind. If it does well, they're excited and they're rejoicing. If it tanks and it fails, they're disappointed.
[14:36] They're discouraged. Why? Because their heart is connected to it. And where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Whether it's in some stocks or whether it's in an RV or whether it's in the most beautiful home that you've always wanted for yourself, where your treasure is, what you invest in, what you put your money in.
[14:59] Didn't call it a sin. Never one time is it a particular sin, but where your treasure is there will your heart be also. So while you're living in a material world, God is concerned, number one, He's concerned with where your heart is.
[15:16] Where is your heart? Don't lay up treasures on earth. Lay them up in heaven because where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Turn to Mark chapter 10. Gospel of Mark chapter number 10.
[15:29] Here we're going to be introduced to somebody who had great possessions.
[15:44] Don't necessarily meet a lot of people all the time that have great possessions, but here's a guy that does and he's a good man, a real good man. So let's learn something from this encounter.
[15:55] This is the Lord Jesus Christ teaching us about living in a material world. Mark chapter 10. I'm going to begin reading in verse 17 through 22. When He was gone forth into the way, so Jesus is leaving.
[16:10] He's gone forth. He's leaving town. He gets onto the road that they're walking toward another town. He's with His disciples likely. He was gone forth into the way.
[16:20] There came one running and kneeled to Him and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?
[16:32] There is none good, but one, that is God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honor thy father and mother.
[16:43] And He answered and said unto him, Master, all of these have I observed from my youth. Now watch the response of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 21, Then Jesus beholding Him loved Him and said unto Him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and take up the cross and follow me.
[17:09] And He was sad at that saying and He went away grieved. Why? For He had great possessions. Something we need to understand right away is having great possessions did not corrupt this man.
[17:26] It did not corrupt this man. I don't know if you recall this, but as we studied Exodus, there were so many times it came up, came through the commands of God's concern for His people that they don't defraud one another and that they don't take advantage of others, of widows, of fatherless and situations where some are less fortunate.
[17:45] He was so adamant about that, saying you've got to be upright, you've got to be honest, you've got to have your dealings righteously, you don't get gain and false pretenses.
[17:56] This man has great possessions and he didn't come by it dishonestly. He's a righteous man and he's obeying the law of Moses and he's done it all of his life.
[18:10] And Jesus Christ knew it. And when he saw that this wealthy man, this righteous wealthy man is running after him down the road and falling on his knees in front of him and speaking to him of the state of his eternal soul.
[18:31] Christ loved that. He loved him. This is a great man, a great guy, concerned about spiritual things. He's sincere.
[18:42] He's authentic. He's not a hypocrite like the Pharisees. He's honest. He's righteous. He's honorable. But, he had great possessions and because of those great possessions, he chose not to follow Jesus.
[19:04] Why? Because it was too much to part with. Because those possessions had his heart. And yet, he's a righteous man.
[19:14] He went back to his possessions and he continued to be honest. He continued to be righteous. He continued to honor his father and mother and not commit adultery. He continued to observe the law of God.
[19:28] But he wouldn't follow Jesus. He wouldn't part with his possessions. What are we learning? Secondly, this morning, having possessions is not evidence of worldliness.
[19:40] It's not evidence that your heart is corrupt. It's not evidence that your mind is gone and you're too far given to the world and the devil. Having possessions is not evidence of worldliness.
[19:51] But let me say it stronger like I did before. Your heart will get attached to what you own. It will do it every time. It's yours.
[20:02] You worked for it. You earned it. You invested in it. And now it demands your attention and oftentimes it takes your affection.
[20:13] Now you have to maintain it. Now you have to pay the taxes on it. Now you have to keep someone else from breaking through and stealing it. So you've got to build a fence or now you've got to insure it.
[20:25] And it takes your energy and your thoughts and your heart. And the more you own and the more you possess, the more your heart will be given to those possessions. Or maybe I should say the more those possessions will demand your heart and your attention and your focus and your time.
[20:42] So the Lord Jesus Christ insisted that the man get rid of those possessions then he could follow him. He surely isn't likely to follow Jesus Christ and take up the cross if he's got one hand in his possessions and his financial gain.
[21:00] I am not promoting that you all go sell everything and give it in the offering. This is not that day. That's early in the book of Acts. Not today. But understand that the more you own the more it's going to call your heart.
[21:15] The more your heart will be invested in the things that you possess. It will happen and don't think you're above it or beyond it. You're not. You're not at all. No one is.
[21:26] The more you possess the more your heart will attach to it and the less you can give to Christ. There was a man that told me that he felt like he wanted to go to Bible school.
[21:39] He wanted to go study for the ministry. He felt God called him for the ministry but he didn't go. And years later he felt the same calling was still there and he had this desire to go to the ministry.
[21:49] Go get in the ministry. And he said to me he goes but pastor I have a wife I have children I have a house I have a career how can I possibly go to Bible school now?
[22:02] And he was right. And I said well if God's calling you he can make a way he can make a way. You'll have to trust him you'll have to learn to lean on him and figure out what he wants you to do.
[22:14] But he's absolutely right. All of those things will hold you back just like this man this righteous man that observed the commandments all of his life wants to know about how he can get eternal life.
[22:30] But he couldn't part with the possessions. So we're learning that possessions aren't evidence of ungodliness but they will take your heart. Look at Luke chapter 12 there's another passage here we can learn the lesson from.
[22:45] Luke chapter 12 living in a material world those material possessions the more you have the more your heart will be on them. No one's exempt.
[22:59] Luke chapter 12 I'm just reminded of a woman a man and a woman that bought a beautiful home a big massive beautiful home and they had one daughter and she was already grown and out of the house and when they bought this home it just didn't make sense it just seemed like why?
[23:28] And we were invited over this was years ago invited over for dinner with them and they sat there and just wanted to show us every room in the house and we were just thinking man this is overkill it just it really was a little bit much and you know who are we to judge but they said oh we're going to use this for the Lord we're going to use this for the Lord and we're going to and you know have people over stuff like that okay whatever but down the road what came out more and more was it wasn't used for the Lord it wasn't really the husband didn't want the house at all it was the wife that demanded to have it have it have it and she was just pushing pushing pushing and it ended bad it was a miserable mess but they convinced themselves or at least told everybody this is for the Lord what am I saying I'm saying they got the possession they wanted and it took their heart and it wasn't long before their attendance to church was skimpy to sporadic if any they put themselves in a position and you're going to see here they couldn't hold up their end
[24:33] Luke chapter 12 verse 13 Luke 12 verse 13 and one of the companies said unto him master speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me and he said unto him man who made me a judge or a divider over you and he said unto him take heed unto them now he opens up to the crowd that's around he says take heed listen up beware of covetousness for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth materialistic gain does not make the man it can improve his lifestyle but it will not improve the man if anything if anything more likely than not materialistic gain will corrupt a man it will deceive a man the Lord Jesus Christ warned about the deceitfulness of riches and there are many as Paul said that suppose that gain is godliness they suppose that their gain and their wealth and their possessions is a sign of individual worth as if the more I have the more improved I am and
[25:47] Christ says you better be aware of that attitude because a man's life has nothing to do with the things that he possesses you remember King Solomon he gained everything and you know what he feared what about the guy after me what's he gonna be is he gonna be a wise man or is he gonna be a fool because all of this I'm just gonna give to him and put into his lap what's he gonna do with it it's not gonna make a man he could be a fool and have it all and run the world possessions do not make the man continue reading he now now throws a parable on this in verse 16 through 21 he spake a parable unto them saying the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully and he thought within himself saying what shall I do shall I because I have no room to bestow my goods and he said this will I do I will pull down my barns and build greater and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods and
[26:47] I will say to my soul soul thou has much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry but God said unto him thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee then who shall those things be which thou hast provided so is he verse 21 get this so is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God all the material possessions that a man can accumulate they all stay on this earth they're good for temporary pleasures temporary enjoyment and that's it in the immediate moment today where you sit you can relate to this rich man you can relate to his desire to accumulate some wealth and enjoy it to get yourself some possessions and then sit back and retire you can relate to that thought but the way he thinks according to
[27:53] God is the way a fool thinks thou fool you think that's the way to be just hoard it all up hoard it all up hoard it all up and then I'm just gonna take it easy you're a fool but that's what all the investors are telling me to do that's what the guy comes to the to the company and he we have the meeting with the with the investment and the retirement and he tells us this is what you should do if you do this much now it'll be worth this much later and everybody's like ooh I want that much later so if I I better start doing it better start doing it you know why this is this is why you need a bible because the bible is gonna expose your heart it's gonna expose that you want that too and that you think this way too and it's gonna show you no you better start being concerned about being rich toward God instead of figuring out the way this is gonna work out for you all the way to the end if God's not pleased with your investments and don't think
[28:59] I'm taking shots at you putting some money away don't think I'm trying to wipe that out I'm not but if you think that I'm gonna plan this way and if it's not according to the will of God or if it's you trying to eat drink and be merry and telling your soul what it's gonna do God has a way of just seeing that disappear pretty quickly you know what the Bible says about riches they make themselves wings they fly away they're gone all it takes is something happening to you being stuck in a rehab or in a home and there goes all that money all it takes is a little crash in the stock market and there goes that money and what are you left with so is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God you do what you do with wisdom and prudence with your investments with your money but you be careful that your heart's not there trying to think that this is gonna be you better learn to trust God from the day you are born to the day you hit the grave you walk with God you walk by faith you trust him if you got food and raiment the Bible tells you to be content what are we learning here we're getting ahead of myself we're learning to look beyond this temporary life and it's fleeting pleasures we're learning to look beyond what materialism offers us in this materialistic world and instead by faith plan for a future that offers permanent pleasures plan for a future that offers permanent and eternal riches there's a version of you this morning that would love to give yourself to pleasure would love to obtain as much as you can obtain and enjoy as much as you can enjoy there's a version of you that wants to do that there's another version of you in here this morning that would like to lay up some treasure in heaven that would like to come before the throne of God on judgment day and not be condemned and not be filled with remorse and regret for your carnality there's two sides of you in here this morning the one wants to have it made the other wants to glorify
[31:14] God and knows that the father will reward you richly in the future on judgment day which version of you will be richer which version of you will be happier so is he that layeth up treasure for himself he'll be the fool on judgment day or the one that is rich toward God he'll rejoice and enter into the joy of the Lord now come back to Luke chapter 16 I want to look at one more place here and we're almost finished Luke chapter 16 living in a material world how are we to handle it what are we to do how are we to respond in Luke 16 I want to read six verses starting with verse 10 again this is kind of coming in the middle of a segment in verse 10 Christ says he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much if therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches and if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's who shall give you that which is your own no servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other else he will hold to the one and despise the other ye cannot serve
[32:48] God and mammon and the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him they said unto them ye are they which justify yourselves before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God these men that loved their wealth and their power they were rebuked openly because they're serving the wrong master and if your heart this morning is set upon the unrighteous mammon that is material possessions and gain if your heart is set upon that God cannot trust you with the true riches he cannot trust you with things that are valuable to him and that's not gold and it's not silver I can assure you that it's not earthly possessions that doesn't mean a thing to God but the true riches things that are important to him he can't trust a bandwidth if his heart is set on mammon unrighteous mammon what are we learning here the less you care about materialism
[33:58] Christian the less your heart is on the material possessions of this world the more attention you can have the more attraction you can have towards spiritual things if you can learn to live content you'll be able to give yourself to the work of God and not get distracted with materialism do you know how many men in the ministry are not in the ministry anymore because they got a hold of some money because a big check came in because they started making more money than they ever thought they would because people started supporting they found out hey if I continue down this road I'll get more money you know what happens to that you've seen them it's all over the place the love of money serving the wrong master the less you care about materialism the more you can put your heart on what spiritual and what God would have you do the true riches some Christians they cannot give faithfully to the
[35:00] Lord because they bogged themselves down with material possessions they've got payments to make now they're in debt now they can't tithe but they got the house they've always wanted and that materialism has taken the place of serving God now they're serving mammon not rich toward God according to the Lord that's a mark of a fool some Christians don't faithfully attend God's work and are not faithful to show up to the services and to the work of God because their possessions have their heart because they've spent their money on those RVs or on those motorbikes or on their toys and they say well we bought them and we have them the Lord blessed us with this so when are we going to use it if not on the weekend I remember coming into this church several years ago and there was a bunch of young men and they were all gone on certain
[36:08] Sundays of the year and I didn't really kind of wonder how is it that they're all missing today and then I come to find out that they all got dirt bikes and they're up running around on Sunday morning and they're dirt bikes and I thought how about that you know possession wasn't calling them on Sunday morning to skip church and to go have fun some Christians aren't faithful to attend God's work because they've got possessions and if they can't use them they have to find a way this is what happens some Christians have more than others have and what they have can keep them from giving themselves to God so the less you have it's not a curse consider it less distractions don't consider that you're not blessed of
[37:12] God consider that you have more of your heart that can be on the work of God and the will of God and the word of God and being faithful to his calling might be a blessing it could be for some that financial gain becomes the curse of them it's living in a materialistic world and not everybody handles it right you're a child of God you have the scriptures you need to learn how to handle it right so number one this morning recapping God is concerned with where your heart is that is what your heart is set upon and he's warning you don't lay up treasures!
[37:52] on earth because that's where your heart will be invest in things up there that's where your heart will be God is concerned with where your heart is secondly again stronger your heart will get attached to your material possessions and they can even keep you from following Christ your heart will get attached you can't divorce that that's just the way it is you invest in it your heart in it you can't separate yourself from it thirdly material possessions are not a sign of righteousness or godliness in some cases it's actually evidence of the opposite in some cases material possessions is evidence of carnality of bigger barns of a fool and having an obsession with materialism is a sure way for the
[38:54] Lord to look right past you when he's seeking to use a Christian to bring glory to his son he'll go right past you because your heart's already wrapped up in your little world you've got sucked into materialism what a place what a glorious land that we have that we live in what a glorious privilege to have freedom and to have things at our fingertips to have running water every moment of our day to have electricity to have warm water to have heat and air conditioning to have motored vehicles and I could continue down the list you take that to 80% of the rest of this world and they're just foaming at the mouth to be you because you live in the land of plenty do you think you're not materialistic you think it hasn't gotten in here and gotten in here a little bit could you live without what you have right now if you were picked up and placed over in that other country would you just be completely devastated you think that hasn't gotten in your heart
[40:09] I'm closing with these words of scripture Christian beware of covetousness it's for real and it'll take you down and it'll steal your heart godliness with contentment that's great gain that's a big fat bank account in heaven right there do you want that for where your treasure is there will your heart be also and finally you cannot serve God and mammon you can't do it so may God open our eyes and may God help us to divorce ourselves and to put a check on our carnality and to take serious the scriptures that charge us to set our affections on things above that warn us of the detriment it'll be to allow our hearts to be stuck down here it feels good today but when you stand at the feet of
[41:17] Jesus Christ you will hate yourself for loving to have these things and wanting more of them and just working harder to spend more to have more and none of it get used for his glory you find a way to use it for his glory make sure he gets something out of it then you can be rich toward God you can't serve God and man and Father please bless your word this morning your word is true these words of warning were spoken to a people that loved money and God we are a people that love money you spoke to a people that had much possessions and we are a people that have much possessions and I don't doubt for a minute we are more carnal than you would have us be we're surrounded!
[42:11] It's calling for us our attention and our hearts getting an upgrade having the newest spending money spending money God prick our hearts to consider how we handle our finances to consider how we can lay up treasure in heaven to keep our hearts in heaven and Father forgive us Lord we've allowed the course of this world the lust of our flesh the lust of our eyes to pull us away from your will thank you for the charge of the Bible please renew our minds help us to be in subjection to these truths this morning Lord for somebody who doesn't know what to do or how to handle it give them wisdom give them understanding from your spirit and their own inner man give them light
[43:16] God may we not be confused about what we do and may we give with cheerful hearts to the work of God obediently thank you thank you for giving your only begotten son thank you for nothing back from us thank you for your mercy thank you for your grace God help us not to get caught up in this life in this world help us to love you I want to give you an opportunity some have come to pray if you want to!
[43:55] pray and talk to the Lord do it now do it now I told you at the beginning everybody here is going to have their hands on this throughout your life from early days you learn how to handle money to the day you die you got to make decisions you want to make the right ones don't you I want you to notice that through none of this am I saying I want you to give more to the church I want you to put the church in your will I'm not trying to twist your arm in any way I want you to consider where you're laying up your treasure and where your heart is because of it and if God would have you make some changes then do it before it's too late if somebody in here is about to make a big decision financially you better be checking with God on this before you do anything you better soak it in prayer and be patient and don't rush into anything because this morning might be just for you!
[45:00] so respond to his word as we sing stand and turn your white pen note page 16 page 16