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Sunday, February 26, 2011 am & pm                 The Christian and Money Index

THE DANGERS OF MATERIALISM

In Mark 10:17-22 we read the account of a successful young ruler who came to Jesus with the all-important question, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”  Jesus began by mentioning many of the commandments of the Law that was still in effect.  He addressed laws dealing with man’s relationship to man (as opposed to the ones dealing with his relationship with God).  The man responded that he had done these things from the time of his youth.  But then we read, “Then Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  And come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’” Sadly we read in vs. 22 that the ruler went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.   When we see this account, we are immediately made aware of the tragedy of this man who would put his possessions ahead of service to God.   BUT, is his plight really that far from us?  If we were to honestly examine our lives, what we do if we faced the same challenge from our Lord?  If He told us, “You are doing many things well, but I want you to go and sell EVERYTHING that you have and give it away.”  How many of us would obey Him?  The reality is that we know the Lord is not physically here and He will NOT make such an inquiry directly of us.  For some, that might be a big relief, at least for the moment.  BUT I want to challenge us to HONESTLY examine our material status.  Not so much, how much we have, but WHAT are we doing with it? AND would we really be willing to walk away from all of it if we had to?

Today we are going to begin an ongoing examination of what the Bible says about the Christian and his money.   Throughout the year we will present a number of lessons dealing with this subject, many of them the 4^th Sunday evening of the month. 

I believe this is an important topic because money is a part of our lives and we live in a VERY materialistic society that is heavily influenced by things.  In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “No one 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.” (Eph. Mine)  In this text we find that to serve God REQUIRES that we properly manage our resources.  And while I suspect that all of us would heartily say ‘Amen’ to the importance of this, are we brutally honest about our possessions?  Do they have a greater hold on our lives than we care to admit?  Is there any part of our lives where money in some way detracts from our service to God?  If so, we need to give careful heed to what God’s word has to say about money.

According to Crown Financial Ministries[1] there are some 2350 verses listed that deal with money in various forms.  While many of them are only indirectly related to finances and money (i.e. principles of life which would involve the proper handling of money, such as parents teaching their children responsibility), they DO present the truth that the Bible has VERY MUCH to say about money.  Another resource, Provident Planning[2]  lists 1196 verses which are more DIRECTLY associated with various categories of our finances (contentment, work, giving, prosperity, debt, prudence & legal).

The point is, with the Bible addressing the subject of money in such detail, it is something we NEED to think about.  In fact, I am convinced it has a direct bearing on our salvation, which is why I want to take some time to study this subject and present a number of lessons dealing with the Christian and his money.  Subjects include: Understanding our place before God, stewardship, giving, debt, taxes, sharing with others, contentment, work, savings, evil uses and sins associated with money, and other areas.  In the course of these lessons we will also find that there are many parables of Jesus that deal with this subject as does the wisdom literature of Solomon.

As we approach this subject, we’re not going to spend time talking about how to invest your money or how to get rich.  I’m not going to recommend some financial program or tell you where to shop.  But we are going to look at what God’s word has to say about the subjects we mentioned earlier with a view toward being totally pleasing to Him.

Today, we want to start with the subject of materialism. In this lesson we want to identify what materialism is, examine some passages that deal with materialism directly, notice some of the dangers of materialism and briefly discuss what we need to do to overcome materialism.

I.                    What is Materialism?

a.        Defined – there are actually 2 definitions

                                                   i.      A worldview, “the philosophical theory that regards matter and its motions as constituting the universe, and all phenomena, including those of mind, as due to material agencies.”

                                                  ii.      ”Preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.”
www.Dictionary.com , Random House Dictionary, Inc. 2012

b.       Described in 2 Tim. 3:1-5 - the “list of selfishness” - we find “perilous times” described.  Though written nearly 2000 years ago, it is as if Paul were walking down the street of some of our major cities today or watching the commercials during the Superbowl.  Among the attributes mentioned we find, “lovers of themselves, lovers of money… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”, etc.

c.        We live in a prosperous nation where many of our poor receive monthly benefits greater than the average income of most of the world (and they continually complain about it).   For many, the idea of cutting back means that we modify where we eat out, where we shop, cut back on cable and what we do with our spare time.  NOTE: that I am not saying this to diminish the plight of the poor or that some are genuinely hurting, but rather to note that we truly are abundantly blessed as a nation. 

                                                   i.      It is seen in our homes in the styles of our furnishings, our immense entertainment centers, climate control, the variety food we eat & clothing we wear.

                                                  ii.      It is seen in the cars we drive – how new is it, how luxurious is it, etc.

                                                iii.      It is seen in the activities we participate in.  How much do we spend on hobbies in a given year?

                                                iv.      It is seen in our churches:

1.       In the fancy building equipped with the latest and greatest gadgets.

2.       The programs that are offered often with an emphasis on material things, etc. 

3.       It is preached from many pulpits as what God wants for you (i.e. the health and wealth gospel) AND in what subjects are avoided for fear of driving away “donors” and prospective members.

4.       It is seen in the favoritism shown for the successful and materially prosperous.  IF the rich, young ruler (cf. Mark 10) were to walk into our assembly desiring membership, what would we require of him?  Would be see his wealth as an asset for what we want OR as a hindrance in his life?

5.       Consider for a moment what Jesus did both at the beginning and end of His ministry upon this earth – John 2:13-17 records Him in Jerusalem during the Passover.  Seeing the merchandizing taking place, Jesus made a whip and drove out the animals and overturned the money tables.  He then rebuked them for making the house of God into “a house of merchandise.”  Then in Matt. 21:12-13, after entering the city of Jerusalem to be betrayed, He did the same thing this time saying, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’, but you have made it a den of thieves.’”  We learn from these accounts how God feels about turning His place of worship into merchandizing.  Yet, how many so-called churches today engage in merchandizing of all sorts?  Is it not rank materialism present in what is supposed to be the Lord’s church?

                                                  v.      It is seen one our media in all forms. From television to radio to movies, etc. there is a massive appeal for material things.

                                                vi.      It is seen in our shopping centers and grocery stores.  It is seen in the selection in our restaurants and the fine details we demand in virtually every aspect of life. 

                                               vii.      Materialism is all around us and it is having an influence in our lives, perhaps in ways we are not even aware of.  And its influence can easily draw us away from God if we are not careful.

d.       Passages dealing with materialism

                                                   i.      Materialism was the downfall of many as recorded in scripture.

1.       In Numbers 22, we are introduced to a prophet of God named Balaam.  He was a corrupt and materialistic prophet.  Israel was in the wilderness when Balak, king of Moab commissioned Balaam to curse Israel.  Per God’s instructions he was not able to do so.  However, Balaam found a way around God’s instructions to bless Israel which resulted in many Israelites dying and eventually Balaam would be killed.  He did what he did because of greed.  Jude 11 describes false teachers as following in his footsteps by running “greedily in the error of Balaam for profit.” 2 Peter 2:15 says he “loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

2.       Joshua 7 records the sin of Achan, who saw treasure in Jericho that belonged to God and took it.  It resulted in God turning His back on the people and the loss of about 36 lives.  When he was found out, it also resulted in the destruction of him and his family – which shows how serious God is about respecting His will, even over material possession.

3.       David, who as king was blessed with great wealth, lusted after Bathsheba which led to a number of serious sins and even criminal activity.  When confronted by Nathan for sins, David was told, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?” (2 Sam. 12:7-9)  With all the possession David had, it wasn’t enough and led to one of the most tragic events recorded in scripture.

4.       2 Kings 5 records the healing of the leprosy of Naaman, the Syrian commander. When Naaman returns to offer generous gifts to Elisha, the prophet refused to receive anything (“as the Lord lives” – 5:16).  But Gehazi, servant of Elisha, with deceit went and accepted a gift from Naaman.  As a result, Gehazi was struck with the leprosy Naaman had been cleansed of – Gehazi and his descendants.

5.       Deuteronomy 17:16-17 is part of the instructions Israel was given when they set a king over them.  They were told that he was to be one of their land and then we read, “But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”
Solomon, the son of David, as he reigned in Jerusalem violated this law and as a result it turned his heart from God so that he lost favor with Him as recorded in 1 Kings 11.  Here was king, blessed with wisdom and favor from God, who let things drive him away.  When you read the book of Ecclesiastes you find his miserable search for meaning in life through material possessions.  In the end he realized the futility of such things (Eccl. 12:13-14).

6.       In Acts 5, we find Ananias and Saphira, who were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit about how much they sold a piece of land for.  The VERY FIRST SIN recorded in the history of the church involved materialism.

7.       And do not forget Judas Iscariot, who for 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14-15), the price of a slave, betrayed his Lord and with regret he went out and hanged himself.

                                                  ii.      Luke 12:15 warns us, “Beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

                                                iii.      In the Parable of the sower (Luke 8:7,14) –  the seed that fell among thorns is described as the heart which “cares, riches and pleasures of life” chocked out the word so that it brought no fruit to maturity.

                                                iv.      1 John 2:15-1, we read, “Do not love the world or the things that are in the world…”

                                                  v.      1 Tim. 6:10 – the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  It is worthy of note that Paul did NOT say, money is evil, but rather the “love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil.

                                                vi.      Matt. 6:24 – You CANNOT serve God and mammon”.

And thus we can see that materialism is something that Bible warns us against, both by example and precept.  It is dangerous and can lead us away from God. 

As I conclude, I want it to be understood that having things is not wrong in and of itself.  Nor is it a sin to be wealthy. It is not what or how much we have, but how we use it and the influence it has in our lives that we are examining.  There is much more to say about this and we will, starting this evening when we will examine some ways that materialism is a danger and by noting some things we need to do to avoid it.  Please join us this evening as we continue our study.

Sunday, February 26, 2012 pm

 II.                    Dangers of Materialism

a.        We need to beware that materialism is a danger.  Because of the affluence of our society, we need to be careful not to become desensitized to the impact possessions can have in our lives.  So with that in mind I would like to mention a few dangers associated with materialism.

b.       It distorts our spiritual perspective – it is not uncommon for money and things to cause man to reevaluate what God expects of him.   Usually, because of prosperity, one’s reasoning draws him further away from God.

                                                   i.      Like the rich, young ruler of Matt. 19:16-22, we reason to ourselves that God will be pleased with us because do give him some of MOST of our lives.  How many of us have that “one thing” that stands in our way of total obedience? 

                                                  ii.      Some people get upset at what they perceive as continual “negative” preaching which is constantly condemning wrong behavior.  Such an attitude is borne of materialism – someone who has this world’s goods and does NOT want to let go of them.

                                                iii.      In Rev. 3:17-18, to the church at Laodicea, we read that their lukewarm attitude (the worst of the seven churches in God’s eyes) was a result of their wealth.  “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”

                                                iv.       Idolatry was the downfall of both Israel and Judah.  One example is the prophet Jeremiah who in Jer. 2:11-13, noted Israel’s idolatrous rejection.  They had put their trust in worldly possessions and pushed out God.  Jeremiah described them as having forsaken God and hewn for themselves, “broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

                                                  v.      Do we have any idols we ought to be concerned about?

c.        It blinds us to the curses of wealth –

                                                   i.      Let it be understood that money and things are not wrong within themselves.  In fact, we need money to live and God tells us to earn it!  There are some who misinterpret 1 Tim. 6:10 to say that money is the root of all evil.  It DOESN’T say that!  It is the sinful attitude toward money that promotes evil.

                                                  ii.      Nevertheless, let us not be so blind as to think that wealth is virtuous.   More often than not, wealth brings a curse.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-15 describes a number of problems the rich man faces.

                                                iii.      In Ezek. 28:4-5 we read, “With your wisdom and your understanding you have gained riches for yourself, and gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches.”  That is NOT a compliment!

                                                iv.      Hos. 13:6 says, “When they had pasture, they were filled; they were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.”

                                                  v.      And do NOT forget the words of our Lord Jesus who said in Matt. 19:23-26,(having spoken and been rejected by the rich, young ruler), “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, 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.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”   In short, if you are wealthy, you need God’s help getting to heaven!

d.       It can cause unhappiness and anxiety –

                                                   i.      Often associated with wealth is worry about what we have.   We are concerned that someone else is going to take it and there are PLENTY who will!

                                                  ii.      But it has been proven that wealth will NOT bring true happiness.  We hear so often of celebrities, who had it all from a worldly standpoint who kill themselves by suicide, alcohol, drugs or other foolish behavior.

                                                iii.      One reason is because it is NEVER enough!  Have you ever heard someone say, ‘If only I had …! (fill in the blank).  Those who achieve that almost inevitably move the bar higher.

                                                iv.      Prov. 30:15 says, “The leech has two daughters: give and give.”

                                                  v.      The book of Ecclesiastes is actually a tragedy.  Over and over, the writer speaks of the vanities (emptiness) of life.  He basically says that things cannot make you happy!

                                                vi.      Philippians 4:6 tells us to be anxious for nothing.  Jesus in Matt. 6:25-34 addressed the futility of worrying about things of this life.  The things you can change, DO IT! But the things you cannot change – accept it.  Why worry?

e.       It obscures many of the best things in life, which are free –

                                                   i.      When we are at ease with the things of this life, it becomes more difficult to see that the future holds something much better for us.  We may even compare spiritual promises with our material prosperity – to a fault!

                                                  ii.      But the truth is – the best things – God’s grace, salvation, the love of brethren, true faith, hope in heaven, etc. cannot be bought at ANY price!  They are free for the taking and available to all.  Material things CANNOT buy them! 
The rich young ruler heard that lesson.

                                                iii.      Acts 8:20, Peter speaking to Simon rebuked him for thinking that the power of God could be purchased with money.

                                                iv.      Sometimes, materialism gets in their way.  Who wants to give up their life of ease? 

f.        It spawns independence and self-sufficiency –

                                                   i.      So other affluence turns one away from God.  That is why I am convinced Jesus said it was night unto impossible for a rich man to enter heaven.  Those who have this world’s goods see no real need for God.

                                                  ii.      Prov. 30:8 says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

                                                iii.      In his farewell address to Israel, Moses recounted God’s blessings and how they had (and would) treat Him.  Deut. 32:15 says, “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, and grew thick, You are obese!  Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” (Jeshurun was a name for Israel).

g.       It leads to pride and elitism –

                                                   i.      Arrogance often comes with wealth and power.  WE have the tendency to look down upon those of “lower stature.”

                                                  ii.      Isn’t that what James addressed in Jas. 2:1-10?  And it was within THE CHURCH!

                                                iii.      Was that not a part of the arrogant attitude of the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:17?

                                                iv.      1 Tim. 6:17 commands the rich to not be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God.

                                                  v.      Sometimes unintentional, but we do find ourselves just a little arrogant with what we have?  Do we show off with our cars, houses, things, etc?  Do we ever find ourselves trying to “one up” on the neighbors?

h.       It promotes injustice and exploitation –

                                                   i.      Often the rich have the power to manipulate and oppress the poor and they do. 

                                                  ii.      It was one of the causes of Israel’s condemnation – Isaiah 10:1-3 says “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?”

                                                iii.      It was also cause for the fall of Judah by Babylon: “As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich. They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend. Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord. ‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’” (Jer. 5:27-28)

                                                iv.      Consider Acts 16:16 where there was a slave girl that was demon possessed.  Her owners were angered because Paul had cast out the demon.  The girl was made well, but their source of profit was gone.  They were angry and had Paul and Silas cast in prison (16:19-24).

                                                  v.      Jesus even spoke of the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites who would receive greater condemnation because they devoured widows houses.  (Matt. 23:14)

                                                vi.      Many of the sin industries today will exploit humans for a profit – pornography, drugs, alcohol, tabloids, tobacco, etc.

i.         It fosters immorality

                                                   i.      There is much sinful activity that is spurned by wealth.  If you don’t believe it take a drive to Las Vegas and look at what the gambling industry has built in that city.  Massive empires of immorality, whether it be gambling, pornography, Hollywood, drinking, drugs, prostitution and many other such illicit activities are so prosperous because people have the money to spend on such things.

                                                  ii.      That is not to say that sinful attitudes of the heart, such as lust and greed, would not exist if we were in an impoverished nation, but wealth enables such industries to thrive.

                                                iii.      Would not 1 Tim. 6:10 fit into this category? (“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

                                                iv.      While it is not the ideal reason, there are many people who are not caught up in many sins because they simply cannot afford it.

j.         It can cause deterioration of the family –

                                                   i.      In America, many homes are in trouble for many reasons (as we have been studying).

                                                  ii.      One of the causes of such problems is that we become preoccupied with the things we have – game consoles, televisions with 100s of channels, dvds, music, internet, etc.   Sometimes the family gets so wrapped up in these things that God is squeezed out of the picture AND we don’t spend time together!

k.        IT distracts us from our main purpose  –

                                                   i.      Why are we here?  The simple answer is, to prepare to die.  In reality our life is not about what we accomplish here, but where we will spend eternity.  And we know that the two ARE related to one another.

                                                  ii.      At the conclusion of his quest to find the “meaning of life” by the pursuit of things material, Solomon’s answer was “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”
 (Eccl. 12:13-14)

                                                iii.      Those who have this worlds goods have no reason to think about what awaits us when this life is over.  They are comfortable and enjoying their things too much to think about anything else.  That IS why it is difficult for a rich person to make it to heaven.  The typical rich person thinks too much about his stuff.

                                                iv.      What prompted Paul to be willing to depart and be with the Lord? (Phil. 1:21-23)  It was because he had given up all the materialism which stood in his way.  In Phil. 3:7-11 he tells us he gave up everything freely and willingly to gain Christ.

III.                  Dealing with Materialism

a.        Honestly examine what you have – examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5)

b.       You must seek first the kingdom of God – Matt. 6:33.  What are you willing to forsake for the kingdom of heaven’s sake?  Remember, You CANNOT serve God and money at the same time.

c.        You must realize the temporary nature of things and the disappointment they ultimately bring – 2 Pet. 3:10 tells us that the elements will melt with fervent heat. 
Jesus told us to not lay up treasures on earth – Matt. 6:19.

d.       Realize who it all belongs to – God.  1 Cor. 6:19-20 –we belong to God!
We are but stewards.

e.       You must learn to be content with what you have – Heb. 13:5, 1 Tim. 6:6, Phil. 4:11

f.         Seek to use your material prosperity, whatever it might be, for the cause of God.  Gal. 6:10, Jas. 1:27, 2:14-17.  Give generously, share with others, act wisely! 
NOTE: Learn to use your resources instead of letting them use you.

g.        In coming lessons, we will address each of these things in great detail.

And thus we can see the dangers of materialism.  While we ought to take these warnings seriously, as we have noted, there is nothing inherently sinful in being wealthy (or inherently virtuous in being poor).  It is the grasp that material possessions can have on our lives that is our matter of concern.  The challenge is to use whatever we have been blessed with for His glory RATHER than letting what we have use us.  Jesus told us to lay for ourselves treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19), which are not the materialistic kind.  Later he would say, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26) 

As we study what God’s word has to say about money, may we use wisdom to examine ourselves to ensure that we are using this worlds possessions, that He has loaned to us, as wise stewards, instead of as fools.