Be prepared to be challenged on your view of money and the accumulation of wealth! An excellent by John D. Martin. If you prefer to read this sermon, you can also download the PDF below.
Download this sermon in PDF form below.
Bible Study
Consider how our view of wealth is quite different from God’s. Here are some bible passages for you to read and reflect on. At the end, please listen to the audio sermon, “Jesus and the 401k”.
Laying up for ourselves, or rich toward God?
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
The New King James Version. (1982). (Lk 12:16–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Riches = Pleasure, or Corrosion?
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
The New King James Version. (1982). (Jas 5:1–6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Does it really matter what I do with my money?
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 18:18–24). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Your treasure will take your heart!
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 6:19–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
How to lay up treasures in heaven.
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 4:32–37). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Is wealth a blessing or a curse?
According to the above verses, it depends on what we do with it. We have believed that to save it up will bring us ease and pleasure. It is quite opposite. It will be our destruction!
Book Recommendation – Through The Eye of a Needle.
A number of years ago, I read Roger Hertzler’s book, Through the Eye of A Needle. This is another thought provoking and well written book on the doctrine of “non-accumulation”.
Hertzler’s message isn’t to just about giving away your money, but rather to use it for serving others. Here is an audio sermon by Hertzler as well as his book in PDF below.
For a paperback book, see the link below.
Jesus and the 401K By Roger Hertzler
May God give you wisdom as you prayerfully consider this matter of what to do with your money. Will you give all to follow him? Or, like the rich ruler, walk away from this teaching.
Raymond
Recommended Reading:
Through the Eye of a Needle by Roger Hertzler
