Kingdom Citizens
Kingdom Students • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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We think about it a lot. We day dream of having it and how we will get it. This thing effects our plans for what we will study or if we can study at all. Wars are waged over it, lives are lost pursuing it, families split over it. That right, today we are going to talk about a subject that Jesus spoke about more than any other topic. Money.
Now this is a subject that we absolutely cannot overlook in our lives as kingdom citizens. Some of you are just now reaching the age where you can get your first job and some of you are working full time jobs now. But regardless of where we are, we all think about how to approach the subject of money. Well, thankfully the Bible doesn’t leave us in the dark there. As a matter of fact, according to Jason Allen, “sixteen of Christ’s thirty-eight parables reference our handling of earthly treasure. In the Gospels, one out of every ten verses when Jesus is speaking addresses money” (Being a Christian, Ch. 6). So, today we are going to look through some key passages of the Bible in hopes of us finding a godly understanding of this subject. And as we look there, we will find first of all that:
Money is a gift, so glorify the giver.
Money is a gift, so glorify the giver.
In one of his songs, Timothy Brindle speaks about the sinfulness of our hearts as he says that God gives us good gifts and we turn those gifts into god’s themselves. What he means is that God is the giver of all things, yet in our sinful hearts, we are tempted to take these blessing and place them upon the throne of our hearts and minds. They become our idols, our fake gods.
Well, if we don’t have a kingdom oriented view of money, we can end up treating money as an idol which is what we see all around us. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Paul says,
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It isn’t that money itself is evil, but that we can take this perfectly find and good thing and turn it into something evil. So, how are we to view money? Well, we are to see it as a gift from God that makes us glorify Him for it.
In Matthew 6:26-33, Jesus says,
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
How does God clothe us primarily? Through us working jobs, saving money, and buying them. It’s the same thing with food and housing. Money is the primary way that God blesses us with these things. Now, what we shouldn’t do when we receive our checks isn’t to sit back and think, “Yep, I worked hard for this, I deserve this.” Rather, we should look to Heaven and thank God for it. Yes, you worked for it, but He gave you the job, the health, and the ability to work in the first place. Therefore, it is by God’s grace that you’ve earned anything at all. What is your attitude when it comes to money? Is it the number one thing on your mind? Is it your primary concern? Does it control the plans that you have for your future? Is it what you find your bragging rights in? Or does it leave you worrying in bed at night? If so, it may be your idol. Matt 16:26
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Money does not satisfy, it magnifies.
Money does not satisfy, it magnifies.
When I was in high school, I got in a car wreck that totaled my car. A few days later, I accidentally broke my phone. For the next several months, I just kept thinking that if I only had a car and if I only had a phone against I’d be totally happy. Well, I ended up being able to get a car and a phone. But guess what, I wasn’t satisfied. As a matter of fact, I barely found myself satisfied at all and ended up finding myself wanting a nicer phone almost immediately. The thing about money is that it will not satisfy us, but it certainly works in magnify the discontentment in us.
1 Timothy 6:6 says,
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Are you content in Christ? This is the position of Paul all throughout his suffering. In one of his prison letters he said, in Philippians 4:11
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
Why was Paul so content in the middle of his suffering? How could he be happy? He didn’t have money, he didn’t have freedom, he didn’t even have personal privacy. But he found his contentment in Christ as he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Are you content with Jesus? Is He your hearts desire? Do you love Him or do you find yourself in love with the little things all around you? This is something I personally hate about myself. That I don’t love Him more and that I keep finding myself distracted by worthless little things.
Dr. Jason Allen, the president of the college I attend, wrote,
“The reality is, discontentment is like a leaking basin that can never be filled regardless of how much water you put into it. Conversely, contentment is like an artesian well, never running dry regardless of how much you take out.”
Paul David Tripp has a quote that pairs well with that. He said,
“Love of money is really about contentment. Love of money is about humility. Love of money is about identity. Love of money is about worship that really roots at deep issues. Maybe the most subtle of the indications of love of money is an ongoing, chronic discontentment in me that, no matter what I have, I am still not content.”
I am reminded of one of my best friends Dad’s when I think of this issue. This man was a faithful deacon, Sunday school teacher, and leader of his home and influential in the local church. However, over the last ten years he has become extraordinarily wealthy in his work, which is not a bad thing at all. The issue is that all of that wealth has resulted in him growing increasingly more worldly.
Guys, I hope all of you become wealthy and successful so that you can influence others for Christ and give for the growth of the gospel. But if your success means that you turn your back on Jesus, I hope you fail in your goals.
However, I pray that you might view finances as an opportunity. Which leads us to our next point, which is:
Every dollar loans itself as an opportunity to glorify God
Every dollar loans itself as an opportunity to glorify God
Every athlete knows that in the middle of adversity is where they have the choice to either give up or decide to use this as a chance to grow. Well, there are chances to benefit or to do something purposeful all around us, even in the little things. And that’s no different when it comes to money. You see, in the Old Testament we find that God demanding a ten percent tithe of all the goods of the people of Israel and while we still encourage ten percent as a rule of giving today, we need to be careful that we don’t think of money as simply ten percent goes to God and the rest is all mine. In reality, God owns all of it, and He has trusted us to handle it for His glory. Paul gives us an idea of how we should view this in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 as he writes,
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
So, can you be a blessing with your money? This looks like grabbing a friend or stranger a cup of coffee, it looks like giving money to a person in need, it looks like supporting a godly missionary. And when it comes to you just getting away for a bit and sitting in a coffee shop alone, you can stop and think, “Wow, God has blessed me so much. I’m not going hungry, I don’t have needs, and He’s granted me an opportunity to sit, relax and enjoy this.” This is godly thinking concerning our money. 1 Cor. 10:31
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Biblical Principles for Finance
Biblical Principles for Finance
We are to work honestly for what we have.
We are to work honestly for what we have.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
We are to wisely plan with our money.
We are to wisely plan with our money.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
My great grandpa always said, “When it comes to money, make sure you pay yourself first.”
We are to give willingly.
We are to give willingly.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.