It Really Is (almost) All About Money
Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 21 June 2009 09:00
Key Point: Spiritual Transformation changes our perspective on finances!
Luke 3:7-14
7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
The first step in connecting with God is repentance.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
- Matthew 6:19-21: (19)“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
John gives us 4 specifics on how real spiritual transformation will change our perspectives on finances!
1. It causes us to share with the poor. (v.11)
- 1 John 3:17: If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
2. It drives us toward more ethical business practices. (vv. 12-13)
- Story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10
3. It means we will refuse to use the power that is ours for unethical gain (v.14a)
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9: (6)In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. (7)For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, (8)nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. (9)We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
4. It allows us to be content with what we have. (v. 14b)
- 1 Timothy 6:6-10: (6)But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7)For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (8)But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (9)People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (10)For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.