money. You have material prosperity. Is it a blessing or is it a curse?
Well, my prayer is that we will be able to accurately answer that question on an individual
level as we conclude what has turned into a mini-series on thinking biblically about socialism.
We're really going to do a sort of a transition from thinking about socialism to thinking about
money, what the Bible teaches about money today. I want you, if you would, to go ahead and open your
Bible to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6 and just leave it open until we get there
in a few more minutes. But as we go through this message, is your money, your wealth,
your material possessions, your prosperity? Has it been, is it a true blessing? Or has it been,
is it a curse? I want us to begin with a very quick overview of some of the things we've looked at the
last two weeks. And to expedite things, when we come to the section where we've looked at a lot of
different scriptures, I'm not going to show the scripture on the screen again today. I want to
encourage you to look back at the last two weeks. There's notes online. Plus, if you haven't heard
the messages, go back and listen to them because we've been trying to analyze why, how socialism is
contrary to the way God designed life to work in this world. For us to be able to provide for
ourselves and our families and even people who are in need. Let's look quickly. What is socialism?
Here's a definition. Any economic or political system based on government ownership and or control
of important businesses, methods of production, distribution of goods, etc. R.C. Sproul does a good
job putting this together. He says, socialism seeks as its premier goal, the equality of wealth and
equality of ownership within a society. To accomplish this, government must be involved in the redistribution
of wealth. Now, until recently, our nation's leaders have never considered socialism to be a desirable
or workable economic system. Throughout the history of our country, we have not had reputable,
trustworthy leaders who talked about the goodness, the value of socialism, politically or economically.
And there's good reason for that. Look at what Sproul says about the failure of this, these systems.
Virtually every significant effort aimed at improving people's standard of living invented by socialistic
or communistic theories of economics has failed miserably. In his book on ethics, Wayne Grudem has done a lot
of research on communism and socialism and how they failed various countries throughout the 20th century.
This is how he concluded his research. No matter the plan, it is not been and cannot be made to work. Now, you can verify
what both Grudem and Sproul have said here by just looking at what has happened in the last 50 to 100 years around the world.
Look at the Soviet Union. Look at the Soviet Union. Look at Cuba. Look at North Korea. Look at Venezuela.
Their communistic slash socialistic systems brought misery to their people and failure to their economy.
Nothing good, nothing productive came from those systems. I think Cal Thomas provides one of the best reasons why
socialism has never worked anywhere in the world at any time in history. He says,
perhaps the best line I have heard on the subject is from our 30th president, Calvin Coolidge. Don't expect to build up the weak
by pulling down the strong. That's exactly what socialism seeks to do. Build up the financially weak by pulling down the financially strong.
It has never been successful anywhere in the world over history. Now, there are many reasons why socialism has always failed.
But one of the main reasons is because it is contrary to God's design. How he intends human beings to take care of themselves, provide for themselves, their families, and even people in need.
So let's look now, again quickly, how is socialism contrary to God's design? What we're going to look at in these next points,
we've looked at several different passages of Scripture that I want you to go back and look at if you weren't here.
As God created human beings in His image to be stewards or managers of all that He created and owns,
here are some of the ways God has blessed us.
God gives us the privilege and responsibility of having earthly ownership of private property.
It is a part of God's design for you to work and own property.
God gives us the privilege of having earthly stuff.
That's why the Eighth Commandment says, do not steal.
Because what belongs to you, I'm supposed to leave alone.
What belongs to me, you're supposed to leave alone.
Number two, God calls us to take care of His creation and ourselves by working.
Work is a creation ordinance.
It's part of God's good creation before the fall.
God intends for our work to be fruitful or productive.
He wants us to produce something.
He wants us to create value in this world through our labor.
And then number four, God intends for us to enjoy the fruits of faithful labor as a reward.
You reap what you sow.
That's a principle of life.
A lot of times we just talk about it in a negative way.
You reap what you sow in terms of sinful things we do.
But it also applies we reap what we sow when we work productively.
Now, our God-given freedom to own property, to work productively,
to enjoy some of the fruits of our labor,
is the foundation of the economic system called free markets or capitalism.
Now, that word capitalism to a lot of liberals,
socialistic thinking people is a four-letter word.
It's an awful concept.
Socialists consider capitalism or the free market economy
to be a greedy, materialistic system
that allows some people to become wealthy
at the expense of the majority of people remaining poor.
That's not true.
That is not true historically.
It's not true in terms of how it works.
Now, certainly there are people,
there are capitalists.
Maybe some of us in this room at times,
we're greedy and we're materialistic.
It's true that some capitalists take advantage of the system
and take advantage of people.
But as a system,
it is not designed to just reward a few people
at the expense of most people.
There's nothing about a free market system
that prevents anyone
from acquiring wealth
if they'll participate and go about it the right way.
For an example,
I'm just going to use a farmer as an example.
As you think about it,
think of any other business owner
that comes to mind.
A farmer who owns land,
plants a large crop of corn,
and sells it for a considerable profit
does not force anyone
to suffer for his profit.
The truth is just the opposite.
Many people will benefit
from the successful farmer,
builder,
any kind of business person.
Think about how.
This farmer will employ other people
to help him plant,
take care of,
and harvest his crop.
This farmer will buy seed,
fertilizer,
and farm machinery
from other business owners.
And every one of those businesses
that has the seed,
the fertilizer,
and the machinery,
they employ people.
The farmer will produce food
for many,
many people
who do not have the ability
to grow the corn
for themselves.
If the farmer is a faithful Christian,
he'll give a tithe of his income
to his church,
and if his church is faithful,
they'll be about fulfilling
the great commission
that our Lord has given us,
making disciples,
teaching the word of God,
having a positive impact
in the community
through their godly character
and influence.
That's what Jesus called
being salt and light.
Also,
if this faithful farmer,
or if this farmer
is a faithful Christian,
he'll be helping other people
that God brings into his life
that he knows
and sees their need
and has the means to help.
R.C. Sproul does a great job
of pointing out
the advantages
of a free market economy,
even if a wealthy person
is an unbeliever
and greedy
and materialistic.
It's a long,
somewhat long quote.
I'm not going to put it
on the screen.
I want you to listen to this.
Sproul says,
in a free market,
even if a man
is a crass materialist,
avidly pursuing riches
out of greed,
even his greed
can work for the general welfare.
How?
Listen to what Sproul says.
Suppose a man makes
a billion dollars.
What can he do with it?
Well, he can't eat
a billion dollars worth of food.
He may hoard his money
by putting it in the bank.
Well, that just makes
society have a stronger bank
to assist other businesses
and individuals.
A stronger bank helps you
have the loan
to buy or build a house
for an example.
Sproul says,
he can waste his money
on self-gratifying extravagances.
He can buy 10 Rolls Royces,
three Learjets,
and have five plush condominiums
in Florida.
Who benefits?
The automobile industry,
the Learjet people,
and the condominium builders.
It takes people
to build Rolls Royces,
Learjets,
and condominiums.
By his lavish lifestyle,
purchasing things
he does not need,
being a materialist,
he's contributing
to the economy
by buying that stuff.
People work
and build those things.
Sproul says,
the worst thing
that can happen
to a man's money
is to be taxed
heavily
by the government.
Why?
Governments
are not producers.
They produce
no value.
I want you to think.
The farmer,
he takes the land,
the seed,
the fertilizer,
his machinery,
he produces value
in that corn crop.
If you build something,
you take those
raw materials,
you build a house
or whatever.
We've got a lot
of teachers
in our church.
You are investing
your time,
talents,
and efforts
in students.
You are helping them
learn to read,
to write,
to think,
to do math,
to become productive
members of society.
You are adding value
to the lives
of those students
every day
as a teacher.
Look around this room.
every person here,
no matter what
your work was
or is right now,
unless you work
for the government,
you provide value.
You provide something
of value
through your efforts.
Sproul says,
to be sure,
government redistributes
money,
but a terrible waste
of administrative overhead.
Government-controlled
economics,
like socialism
and communism,
are notoriously
less efficient
in raising
national standards
of living
than is the free market
of voluntary exchange
of goods
and services.
there is no
example
of socialism
or communism
raising the standards
of living
for the people
under those systems.
Sproul concludes,
Christians must work
for a free market
regulated by
just laws.
In our last two studies,
the last two weeks,
and to this point
today,
I have done
my best,
I have tried
to make it clear
that socialism
is not
just another
political
or economic system
that's being
talked about,
promoted,
proposed
today
by some politicians.
Socialism
is
an
immoral
unethical,
unbiblical
system
that helps
no one
and hurts
many.
Therefore,
Sproul is right.
Christians must
work for
a free market
regulated
by
just laws.
that is the way
God intended
life to work
in this world
with people
working,
producing,
and enjoying
the fruits
of their labor
justly
according to
the other
things that the
Bible teaches
about ethical
conduct
and the way
we treat people
and do business.
Now,
we cannot
be faithful
to Scripture
and stop
here
just thinking
about what
we've looked at
so far
about money
and material
possessions.
The Bible
is real
clear.
It is
clear
that money
and material
prosperity
can be
a blessing,
a reward
for faithful
work
and faithful
production.
But here's
where we've
got to be
real honest
and spend
some time.
The Bible's
main emphasis
concerning money
and material
prosperity
is to warn
us,
God's people,
of its dangers.
Money
and material
prosperity
are powerful
sources of
temptation
to sin
against God
and other
people.
So let's look
now at one
more question
today.
How can
money and
material
prosperity
be temptations
to sin?
Now look
at 1 Timothy
chapter 6.
Let's begin
in verse 6.
But godliness
with contentment
is great gain.
For we brought
nothing into
the world
and we cannot
take anything
out of the world.
But if we have
food and clothing
with these
we will be content.
But those
who desire
to be rich
fall into
temptation,
into a snare,
into many
senseless
and harmful
desires
that plunge
people into
ruin and
destruction.
For the love
of money
is a root
of all kinds
of evils.
It is through
this craving
that some
have wandered
away from
the faith
and pierced
themselves
with many
pangs,
many griefs,
many miseries.
Here's what
I want us to
look at now.
Wealth
can become
an obsession.
It does
become an
obsession
for some
people.
Some people
can become
so obsessed
with getting
more that
they never
reach a point
where they
have enough.
Paul stresses
the importance
of two
character qualities
that we need
to develop
and demonstrate
that will
help us
avoid becoming
obsessed
with money
or material
possessions.
It's in
verse 6.
He says,
but godliness
with contentment
is great gain.
Two character
qualities that
will help us
guard against
becoming
obsessed
with wealth,
godliness,
and contentment.
In his book,
The Practice
of Godliness,
Jerry Bridges
describes godliness
like this,
devotion to God
which results
in a life
that is pleasing
to him.
A godly person
is devoted
to God
in the sense
that they
have a true
desire,
heartfelt desire
to know God,
to love him,
to enjoy
a real
relationship
with him,
to serve him,
and to
please him.
That kind
of devotion
will cause
us more
than anything
to want to
know and do
God's will.
to want to
live our lives
in a way
that's going
to bring
a smile
to his face.
God will
truly be
first in our
lives,
not money
and not
stuff.
Now the next
one is
very important
as well.
Paul says
that godliness
will need a
great gain
when it is
accompanied
by contentment.
Chuck Swindoll
describes contentment
as an attitude
of satisfaction
and peace
within
regardless
of circumstances.
Paul described
his contentment
in the book
of Philippians
chapter 4.
He'd learned
to be content
when he had
plenty.
He'd learned
to be content
when he had
not enough.
When he was
in want
and when he
was having
plenty,
he was content
with the
circumstances
which he
found himself.
Now,
contentment
doesn't mean
that we blindly
accept whatever
is going on
in our lives
or in the
lives of people
around us
if there's
something we
can do to
change it,
to make it
better.
Being content
never means
that you
don't make
changes.
You just
sort of
go with the
flow.
Here in
verse 6,
Paul is
talking
specifically
about being
content
not to
be rich.
being content
to the point
that you
don't pursue
wealth
as your
ultimate goal
in life.
Now,
one reason
why we need
to focus
more on
being godly
with contentment
instead of
pursuing wealth
is because
wealth is not
going to last.
You know
that.
Wealth is
not eternal
and Paul
basically says
in verse 7,
you can't
take it with
you.
Look at
him.
For we
brought
nothing
into the
world
and we
cannot
take
anything
out of
the world.
Here's a
sobering
thought,
maybe
depressing
thought.
Has it
ever crossed
your mind
that the
day you
die,
everything
you own,
your money,
your land,
your possessions
will no
longer be
yours?
The day
you die
and because
of the
probate
and all
the kind
of stuff
I know
that happens
after death
but sometime
after you
die,
somebody
else is
going to
take
possession
of your
money,
your
possessions,
your
land.
And you
know,
we think
about some
things like
that.
One of my
hobbies is
making my
yard look
good.
I love
green,
neat
grass.
Somebody
may get
my house
and let
it grow
up and
that breaks
my heart
right now to
think about
all that
work going
down the
drain.
Not really.
I won't
care after
I'm dead.
But just
think,
all the
things that
we concern
ourselves with
about,
I'm talking
about being
obsessed,
just consumed
with money
and making
more,
with our
stuff acquiring
more.
Today's going
to come when
it's all
going to be
gone.
Isn't it
really foolish
for us to
be obsessed
with the
things of
this world?
It's important
that we care.
It's important
that we care
and work
and be
productive
and enjoy
the fruits
of our
labor.
It's like
we've been
talking about.
That matters
to God.
But we
cannot be
obsessed
with working
and producing
and having
more and more
fruit from
our labor.
Our real
obsession
should be
with developing
the godliness
and contentment
that Paul
describes at
the first of
this section
that we've
looked at.
Our real
obsession
should be
not only
that we
develop
godliness
and contentment
but teach
those we
have influence
over to be
godly and
content.
You know,
on the day
of judgment
and throughout
eternity,
that will be
all we care
about.
Now,
I'll never
think about
zoysia grass
in my yard
from the day
of judgment
on.
But I
will
be
totally
consumed
with
my relationship
with God,
being with
him,
pleasing
him
on that day
and for
all eternity.
If that's
what we
all will
wind up
doing,
if we're
going to be
obsessed with
anything,
shouldn't our
obsession be
with knowing
and loving
and drawing
closer to
and pleasing
God now?
You know,
pursuing wealth
for the sake
of becoming
rich is the
first step
of a downward
spiral to
ruin.
I want you
to look at it
in verse 9.
But those
who desire
to be rich
fall into
temptation.
I want you
to say,
that is clear,
that is just
what it says.
If God
blesses your
work and
productivity
to the point
that you
become wealthy,
even a
billionaire,
thank him,
be wise
in how you
manage it
and enjoy it.
but it is
sinfully
wrong
to truly
just
desire,
be obsessed
with becoming
wealthy.
And it'll
lead to your
downfall,
mine too.
But those
who desire
to be rich,
he writes,
fall into
temptation,
into a snare,
into many
senseless and
harmful desires
that plunge
people into
ruin and
destruction.
Paul is
warning us
of the
sinful and
dangerous
desire
to be rich
for the
sake of
living a
selfish,
materialistic
life of
wealth and
privilege.
marriage.
There is
no,
there is
nothing
commendable
about
desires
to become
a billionaire
or even
a millionaire
for the
sake of
just having
it
and not
having to
work,
just being
a bum.
Paul
is
condemning
by
warning
the
person
who
is
determined
to
get
rich
at
any
cost.
That's
what we're
talking
about.
Such a
person
makes
obtaining
wealth
their
ultimate
priority
and goal
in life.
Again,
don't feel
guilty if
you are
rich or
become rich
by working
and being
productive,
doing something
useful with
your life
that God's
called you
to do.
Just thank
him for
it.
But guard
against the
temptation
to just
want more
and more
just for the
sake of
your own
selfish
desires.
Let's look
at how Paul
describes this
downward spiral
to ruin
that desiring
to be rich
will cause.
Number one,
pursuing wealth
will expose us
to greater
temptation.
That's what we
looked at.
But those who
desire to be rich
fall into
temptation.
People who
make wealth
their goal
are tempted
to make
all kinds
of unhealthy
risks.
They'll risk
their health.
They'll risk
their marriage.
They'll risk
their relationship
with their
children.
They'll risk
the money
that they do
have.
What I'm
talking about,
a person who
is obsessed
with just,
I'm going
to be rich.
They're going
to do whatever
it takes
to be that.
They're going
to ignore
their relationship
with God.
They're going
to ignore
their spouse,
their children.
They're going
to be less
than wise
in using
their money.
They'll be
too risky.
It gets
worse.
Many people
get so focused
on making
money that
they give
in to the
temptations to
compromise
their integrity,
their
honesty,
their
truthfulness.
They'll lie
for a dollar.
They'll deceive
to make
money.
They'll be
less than
Christ-like
in the way
they treat
people and
do business
with people
so they can
come out
on top
in their
financial
transactions.
If you'll
lie to make
money,
you'll lie
about anything.
If you're
dishonest when
it comes to
your finances,
you're
dishonest
about
anything
because it's
a matter
of the
heart.
It's a
matter of
our
character.
It means
money is
our God.
We've
sold out.
Many
people
end up
only
concerned
about their
wealth
and they
have no
real interest
in anyone
or anything
including a
relationship
with God.
that's
outside of
that pursuit
of wealth.
So let's
just pause
here and ask
ourselves a
question.
What are
you most
concerned about
right now?
What most
occupies your
thinking when
you're riding
down the road?
When you're
outside just
cutting grass,
just sort of
letting your mind
wonder.
what most
occupies your
mind?
Your wealth?
Growing it?
Keeping it?
Or your
relationship with
God?
Growing in your
relationship with
Him?
Enjoying a
relationship with
Him?
number two,
pursuing wealth
changes our
desires,
but those who
desire to be
rich fall into
temptation,
into a snare,
into many
senseless and
harmful desires
that plunge
people into ruin
and destruction.
If we become
obsessed with
wealth, if we
just pursue
wealth for its
sake, here's
what will
change.
We'll put more
value on
things than
people.
We don't want
to mention
that, we don't
want to admit
that, but our
actions will show
it.
We're more
concerned about
things than we
are about people.
We'll put more
emphasis on the
things of this
world and little
to no emphasis
on the eternal
things of God.
You can tell
where your
emphasis is right
now by just
looking at what
do you do with
your time, your
talents, how do
you spend your
treasures?
Where is the
focus?
Where is the
emphasis?
That tells you a
lot about where
your desires are.
The end result of
this downward
spiral is this,
pursuing wealth
causes ruin and
destruction.
One more time,
verse 9, but
those who desire to
be rich fall into
temptation, into a
snare, into many
senseless and
harmful desires that
plunge people into
ruin and destruction.
Money is like a
drug, and to
blindly seek it is
an addiction.
Like all
addictions, the
more you have, the
more you want.
You never get
enough.
You know, it may be
that Paul uses these
two terms to point
to the ruin of our
lives here on earth
and the destruction
of our lives in
hell.
Let's not kid
ourselves by thinking
that we can pursue
both God and money.
It's an impossibility
because Jesus said it
was.
Look at this.
No one can serve
two masters.
For either he'll hate
the one and love the
other, or he'll be
devoted to the one and
despise the other.
You cannot serve God
and money.
Paul reinforces this
warning about the
danger of money by
referring to what was
probably a well-known
proverb in his day.
Verse 10, look at
this.
For the love of money is
the root of all kinds of
evils.
It is through this
craving that some have
wandered away from the
faith and pierced
themselves with many
pains.
Now note what this
verse does not say.
This may be, this is
one of the most
misquoted verses in
the Bible.
It does not say money
is the root of all
evil.
Money is not the root
of all evil.
In fact, money is not
the problem here.
It's the love of money.
That is sinful.
The love of money is not
the root of all evil.
It's just one of them.
It is a root of all
kinds of evil.
Again, I want to make
it clear.
Money can be a blessing
from God.
Money is not evil.
It is just a medium of
exchange.
Everybody has to have it.
It is a good.
It is worthwhile.
It is a blessing from
God a lot of times.
And we can use our money
in a lot of different
ways that will please
God.
We can serve Him.
We can serve Him with it.
The problem comes when we
think too highly of money
and allow it to control us
instead of us controlling
it.
Now I want you to note,
Paul says that this had
happened in the church
at Ephesus.
That's where Timothy is.
This is Paul's letter to
Timothy.
He is serving the church,
leading the church at
Ephesus.
And Paul says there are
some there who had
wandered away from the
faith.
There are Christians,
or professing Christians
anyway, church members,
who had forsaken their
relationship with God and
their commitment to the
truth of God's Word.
And by doing so, they'd
hurt themselves more than
anyone else.
Look at it.
And pierced themselves with
many pains or many griefs.
Let me ask you one more
time.
Money and material
prosperity.
It can be a blessing or it
can be a curse.
What is it for you?
You know, if our focus,
if our real obsession,
our true heartfelt desire is
to know, love, serve, and
please God, and be a
faithful steward of all that
He entrusts to our care,
money-wise, prosperity-wise,
the money and material
prosperity is a blessing.
Don't feel guilty.
If God has blessed you
tremendously, don't feel
guilty.
If you've had the right
motives, you've gone about
it the right way in
acquiring what you have,
enjoy it.
Realize you're a steward of
God.
God holds you responsible.
Be wise with it.
Please Him.
Honor Him with it.
But don't feel guilty.
It can be a blessing.
But if our real focus,
heartfelt desire is on the
money and the material
prosperity, and pursuing it
is the goal and joy of our
lives, the money and prosperity
is a curse.
It very well may lead to your
ruin in some way in this life.
But most assuredly, it'll lead to
your destruction of the day of
judgment unless you repent.
So, what is the nature right now of
your money and your material
prosperity?
Is it a blessing or is it a
curse?
Let's pray together.
Father, show us the truth.
show us the real answer to that
question.
And Father, help us to be honest.
Help us to admit if we are
obsessed with money and material
possessions and acquiring more.
And if it is, help us, dear God, to
see that it's wrong, it's sinful.
It does not please you and
ultimately it'll ruin us.
So, help us to repent of it and
seek your forgiveness.
Help us to rearrange our
priorities.
Help us to make you the object of
our strongest heartfelt desire.
But Father, where it is a
blessing, help that person to just
say thank you to you.
And seek to be faithful to use it
as you direct without guilt.
Father, if there are people in
this room who do not know you
because they do not have a
relationship with Jesus, help them
to understand that regardless of
their attitude toward money, they
are separated from you by their sin,
their selfishness, their self-centeredness.
Help them, dear God, to truly turn from
that, repent of that.
And to put their faith in Jesus as
their Savior and Lord.
Help them, dear God, to make a total
commitment of themselves to you right now
to live in life your way.
Lord, show us what we need to do.
And now it's just an attitude of prayer.
Listen to the Lord and respond to him
as he speaks to us.
you