Sermon Tone Analysis

MONEY MADNESS: A MINDSET TOWARDS THE MASTER'S MONEY

                                                               1 TIMOTHY 6:10

 

 

A DEVOUT LIFE DOES BRING WEALTH, BUT IT'S THE RICH SIMPLICITY OF BEING YOURSELF BEFORE GOD.

SINCE WE ENTERED THE WORLD PENNILESS AND WILL LEAVE IT PENNILESS, IF WE HAVE BREAD ON THE TABLE AND SHOES ON OUR FEET, THAT'S ENOUGH.

BUT IF IT'S ONLY MONEY THESE LEADERS ARE AFTER, THEY'LL SELF-DESTRUCT IN NO TIME.

LUST FOR MONEY BRINGS TROUBLE AND NOTHING BUT TROUBLE.

GOING DOWN THAT PATH, SOME LOSE THEIR FOOTING IN THE FAITH COMPLETELY AND LIVE TO REGRET IT BITTERLY  EVER AFTER.

INTRO:

 

1.

WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING HAVE IN COMMON?

SEASHELLS, BEADS, STONE DISKS, CATTLE.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY THESES HAVE BEEN USED AS MONEY;

MONEY:

2. MONEY IS A COMMODITY ACCEPTED BY THE GENERAL CONSENT OF A CULTURE AS A MEDIUM FOR ECONOMIC EXCHANGE.

MONEY EXPRESSES PRICE AND VALUE; CIRCULATES FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND COUNTRY TO COUNTRY; IT IS THE PRINCIPLE BAROMETER OF WEALTH.

3.

MONEY IS THE ONLY COMPLETELY LIQUID ASSET, READILY TRANSFERABLE TO GOOD OR SERVICES...READY  PURCHASING POWER.

MONEY WILL BUY:

 

A BED BUT NOT SLEEP

BOOKS BUT NOT BRAINS

FOOD  BUT NOT APPETITE

FINERY BUT NOT BEAUTY

A HOUSE BUT NOT A HOME

MEDICINE BUT NOT HEALTH

LUXURIES BUT NOT CULTURE & CLASS

AMUSEMENT BUT NOT HAPPINESS

SEX BUT NOT LOVE

DRUGS BUT NOT JOY

ALCOHOL BUT NOT THE SPIRIT

VACATION BUT NOT REST

EDUCATION BUT NOT WISDOM

WATCH BUT NOT TIME

PERKS & BENEFITS BUT NOT BLESSINGS

POWER BUT NOT PEACE

A CRUCIFIX BUT NOT A SAVIOUR

A CHURCH BUT NOW HEAVEN

MONEY CAN'T BUY JESUS CHRIST OR THE THINGS OF GOD.

MONEY IS, IN AND OF ITSELF A NEUTRAL MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE BUT WE HAVE A ATTACHED A WIDE VARIETY OF MEANING TO IT.  IT REPRESENTS POWER, PRESTIGUE, SECURITY.

IT IS THE MEANING WE ATTACH TO MONEY THAT "SUCK US IN" TO COVETOUSNESS AND SELFISHNESS.

SOLOMON WROTE, "WHOEVER LOVES MONEY NEVER HAS ENOUGH; WHOEVER LOVES WEALTH IS NEVER SATISFIED WITH HIS INCOME."

ECCL.

5:10.

IN PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY, HE SETS UP THE CONTRAST BETWEEN BEING CONTENT AND THE TRAP THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE EAGER TO GET RICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO AND THE MANY TRICKY TEMPTUOUS TRAPS ONE CALL TUMBLE INTO... 

 

2.

HISTORY OF MONEY;

 

BARTER SYSTEM WAS MODE OF EXCHANGE; SHEEPS, GOATS, BIRDS, GRAIN, OIL AND WINE WERE VALUED GOODS AS WELL AS PRECIOUS METALS.

THE FIRST MENTION OF MONEY IS MADE IN REFERENCE TO ABRAHAM AS RESTITUTION OF 1000 PIECES OF SILVER WAS MADE FOR THE WRONG GOING OF SARAH.

ABRAHAM ALSO PURCHASED THE FAMILY BURIAL PLOT FROM EPHRON TH HITTLE FOR 400 PIECES OF SILVER; JOSEPH PLACED BUNDLES OF MONEY IN THE BAGS OF HIS BROTHES AS THEY CAME FOR FOOD TO SURVIVE FAMINE; JOB IS DESCRIBES AS THE WEALTHIEST MAN IN THE LAND OF UZ BECAUE OF HIS DIVERSE LIVESTOCK.

THE EARLIEST STANDARD OF MEASURE IS UNKNOWN HOWEVER, MONEY USUSALLY FELL INTO THREE CATAGORIES, THE PRICE FOR LAND; PROPHETIC INJUNCTION AGAINST CORRUPTION AND OBLIGATION TO THE TEMPLE-TEMPLE TAX.

UNITS OF MEASURE WERE NUMEROUS AND DIVERSE; IN THE NT INCLUDED THE DENARIUS, THE SHEKEL, THE LEPTON (THE SMALLEST UNIT-MITE) AND THE TALENT.

THERE WERE SO MANY FORMS AND CURRENCY THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE MONEYCHANGERS, WHO FOR A FEE OF BETWEEN 4-8% WOULD EXCHANGE YOUR MONEY FOR THE CURRENCY OF THE CITY...EVERY NOW AND THEN GETTING AN EXTRA "CUT " FOR THEMSELVES.

EXPL:  PASTORAL EPISTLES WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN 62 AND 64.

TIMOTHY TRAVELED WITH PAUL THROUGHOUT MOST OF HIS SENCOND AND THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEYS.

HE SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME PAUL'S PROTOEGE AS PAUL SPEAKS FINGURATIEL OF HIMSELF AS TIMOTHY'S FATHER (PHIL.

2:22) AND TIMOTHY AS HIS "SON" (1:2,18; 2TIM 1:2, 2:1).

PAUL CHARACTERIZES TIMOTHY AS HAVING A "SPIRIT OF FEAR" AND EXHORTS HIM NOT TO LET ANYONE DESPISE HIM ON ACCOUNT OF HIS YOUTH (4:12), NOT TO NGLLECT THE SPIRITUAL GIFT WHICH HE HAS (4:14), AND NOT TO BVE ASHAMED TO SPEAK OUT BOLDLY FOR THE GOSPEL (2TIM.

1:8).

PAUL INSTRUCTED TIMOTHY IN CARE FOR CHURCH AT EPHESUS WHILE HE WNT ON TO MACEDONIA, CHARGING HIM IN MINSITRY (1:3, 18) AND TO WARM HIM OF FALSE TEACHINGS (1:3-7; 4:1-8; 6:3-5, 20-21) AND TO SUPERVISE THE MINISTRY OF THE GROWING CHURCH, ABOUT 8YRS AFTER PAUL'S 3YR STAY.

CONTEXT OF PASSAGE IS IN REGARDS TO FALSE TEACHERS; DRIVE FORCE FUELING FALSE TEACHERS IS GREED, GAIN; AND PICKS UP ON THE MONEY THEME FROM 4:1-5 ...CONTRASTING FALSE TEACHING AGAIST GODLINESS.

THIS PORTION OF THE LETTER HAS BEEN CALLED THE TREASTISE ON CONTENTMENT.

DECLARES INDEPENDENCE ON MATERIAL AFFLUENCE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THOSE WITH THE DRIVING DESIRE FOR DOLLARS.

6:9 - TALKS OF THOSES WHO WANT TO BECOME RICH AND SPEAKS OF ONE'S DESIRE AND ATTITUDE.

"BUT PEOPLE WHO WANT OT GET RICH ARE TEMPTED AND GET CAUAGHT IN THE DEVIL'S TRAP.

THEY ARE OVERCOME BY FOLLISH AND HARMFUL CRAVINGS, WHICH PULL THEM DOWN TO CMPLETE AND FINAL DESRUCTION."

 

6:10 - THIS SAYING WAS WELL KNOWN IN BOTH JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH WORKS; " THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE MOTHER-CITY OF ALL EVIL."

IT IS  A PROVERB THAT SUBSTANTIAES WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN IN  V.

9, THAT IS THE WILL TO BE RICH CAUSES ON TO FALL INTO MANY DESIRES.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT "THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF EVIL." ..BUT ONE OF MANY SOURCES OF EVIL.

"FOR PEOPLE WHO CRAVE MONEY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE EXPERIENCE ALL KINDS OF TROUBLES OR ..ARE LED TO COMMIT ALL SORTS OF SINS."

THE DEVIL HAS A BAG OF TRICKS TO TEMPT ALL PEOPLE.

POINTING BACK TO CHRIST WE SHOUD NOTE THAT

 

            JESUS TALKED MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN MANY SUBJECTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SALVATION.

CONSIDER THE MANY PARABLE JESUS TOLD-THE *RICH FOOL, THE PRODIGAL'S SON, THE WIDOW'S MITES, THE PEARL OF PRICELESS MEASURE, THE TEN TALENTS, THE LOST COIN, THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD, THE SHREWED MANAGER, AND THE RICH MAN & LAZARUS.*

* *

  JESUS PAID THE TEMPLE TAX, CLEANED THE TEMPLE OF THE MONEY CHANGERS, TAUGHT US TO "RENDER TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESARS", WENT TO THE HEART OF THE "RICH YOUNG RULES" CONCERN; HE COMMISSIONED THE DISCIPLES NOT TO CARRY AND MONEY WHILE TEACHING THAT IF GOD WILL CARE FOR THE BIRDS OF THE FIELD...HE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU.

AND WE CAN'T FORGET THAT IT IS "EASIER FOR THE CAMEL TO PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE, THAN FOR THE RICH TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. . .

AND THE POOR WE WILL HAVE WITH US ALWAYS.

I.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

 

  1.

MONEY MADNESS: MEDIA MANIPULATION - MENTALITY FUEL BY THE MANIPULATOR OF MADISON AVENUE.

ILLEGAL AND LEGAL CON-GAMES, #, LOTTERY, POOLS...FOSTER THE "SOMETHING FOR NOTHING SENSATION!"

GOTTA HAVE IT MATERIALISTIC PHILOSOPHY, PILLAGES OUR INNER CITIES, STATES AND GOVERNMENT...FUELED DAILY BY THE MATERIALISTIC MASSAGE OF THE MEDIA.  

  2.

MONEY MADNESS: MEGA-MANIA MATERIALISM - PROBLEM IS NOT THE MONEY, BUT THE LOVE OF MONEY...THE INORDINATE AFFECTION OF METAL, GEMS AND PAPER...BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON THAT WHICH IS OF....  LOVE OF MONEY FOSTERS THE LOVE OF ME, FOR IT TRANSLATES INTO POWER AND POSITION.

MIX UP OF PRIORITIES DUE TO A WORLD SYSTEM THAT IS ROOTED IN ECONOMIC INJUSTICE.

II.

HOW PREVALENT IS THE PROBLEM?

 

  1.

MONEY-MADNESS: SATURATED SOCIETY: SOCIO, POLITICAL;

            CUTS ACROSS ALL LINES;        CLASS: BLUE COLLAR, WHITE COLLAR, NO            COLLAR; CRIME STATS UP...NICHOLAS BEESON BROUGHT DOWN THE            FINANCIAL EMPIRE -             BARNES. 

 

  2.

MONEY-MADNESS: SEEPAGE INTO SAINTS.

CHURCH SERVICE ~/TITHES         AND OFFERINGS.

WE ARE A LONG WAY OFF FROM BEING LIKE THE PEOPLE IN *MOSES* DAY IN EX.36...THE PEOPLE BRING MUCH MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR THE SERVICE OF THE WORK WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED US TO DO."  MOSES GAVE THE COMMAND..."AND THE PEOPLE WERE RESTRAINED FROM BRINGING."

WE ARE MORE LIKE FESTIVE PEOPLE OF *HAGGAI*'S DAY WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM THE EXILE ONLY TO TURN A DEAF HEAR THE CALL TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE.

"IS IT TIME FOR  YOUR YOURSELVES TO DWELL IN YOUR PANELED HOUSES, AND THIS TEMPLE LIE IN RUINS?

"CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!"           

 

            WE ARE MORE LIKE THE PEOPLE OF* MALACHI'S* DAY, DISILLUSIONED,

DISCOURAGED AND DOUBTING, NOT IN HARMONY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE GLORIOUS PROMISES OF GOD...MALACHI ASK THE QUESTION "WILL A MAN ROB GOD?".

III.

POTENTIAL CURES FOR THE PROBLEM?

 

            1.

REDISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES.

2.

RESTITUTION FOR PAST WRONGS.

IV.

HOW CAN CHRISTIANS OVERCOME & UNDERSTAND MONEY MADNESS?

 

           1.

REPENT OF WORLDLINESS.

2.

REDRESS MINDSET WITH THE WORD.

PROP: LOVE FOR THE LORD IS THE ROOT OF UNLIMITED RICHES.

TS:   CHRISTIANS CAN OVERCOME MONEY-MADNESS MINDSET BY EMBRACING                     POINTS THE COMMON SENSE OF 1 TIM.