Elements City Church
Jesus had much to say about money. It’s like he knew that this subject would compete for our hearts devotion like none other and he wanted to remind us that we cannot serve 2 masters. So the Scriptures have some wisdom for us as it comes to relating and interacting with money. This wisdom we must return too again and again, because it’s counter cultural to what swirls around us. When it comes to resources, the Bible is less concerned about how much you possess and more concerned about how much what you have possesses you.
Money can stir excitement. It can also stir anguish. We all have a ‘way of thinking’ as it comes to money. We each have a way we interact and navigate handling it. We learn from our growing up years and the influences of those around us and the influence of culture upon us.
Jesus actually spoke about money and our view about money - more than he spoke about heaven, hell, and marriage combined.
= Why you might ask?
He knew a secret: he knew how obsessed humanity can become about money. How much pull it would have within our hearts and he wanted to lead people with life-giving words about the things that matter most.
Matthew 6:24 NLT
Jesus is speaking to a reality for us all – no matter your status, gender, race: there’s a competition for your allegiance, attention and affection. God loves you (He’s All In for you). Money will continually whisper to you to seek it more than God. It is this inescapable tug-a-war tension and it will last all your life! We each must continually choose: God or money? Who will we give our hearts too most – who will we allow to have the authoritative pull within our lives…which will we give our ultimate focus & attention?
Matthew 25:14-19 NIV
The master entrusted his resources to his servants. To be entrusted with something means that someone trusts you with something. In our case, God has entrusted us with our skills, talents, resources, money and possessions here on earth – to leverage them, use them, invest them.
We may not have equal amounts, but we all have equally been entrusted!
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1 (NLT)
God ultimately is the OWNER of all things. We’re to be his managers and steward the resources we've been entrusted.
WE ARE MANAGERS NOT OWNERS
...as a manager of God’s resources, I’m called to be a steward of it, using what’s been entrusted to me & using it well for myself & others.
= another mental $hift:
*we must USE money, not let it USE us.
1 Timothy 6:10 NLT
Money itself is not the problem. God is not anti-money. He knows that having money to take care of your needs is both a necessity and a blessing.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE LOVE OF MONEY
When it comes to finances, the Scriptures are less concerned about how much money you possess and more concerned about how much what you have possesses you.
MONEY WHISPERS A LOT OF PROMISES
BUT MONEY CAN’T ULTIMATELY DELIVER WHAT IT PROMISES.
IT CANNOT GUARANTEED HAPPINESS.
Money cannot deliver everlasting Peace or Security.
Money ISN’T Divine, isn’t Eternal, isn’t all-Knowing or all-Powerful.
MONEY CANNOT deliver what only God can!
God doesn’t want us to put more faith in money than we do in Him.
Another Biblical Mental $hift is: Cultivating Contentment
Cultivate contentment in a culture that says: “always crave more”. We must learn to enjoy what we have in a world that is continually reminding us of all the things we don’t have.
** the verse right before Apostle Paul tell us about the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil – he says this:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction." -1 Timothy 6:6-9
CONTENTMENT IS A LEARNED SKILL
Our culture doesn’t celebrate contentment – it celebrates consumption, accumulation and the pursuit of MORE. The Apostle Paul says that he's learned the secret of contentment. (see Philippians 4:12-13).
Contentment isn't something you're born with. It's something that, with God's help, can be learned. That's good news - because that means we can all learn to cultivate contentment.
As long as we confuse our self-worth with our net-worth, we're going to be always chasing that next dollar & miss out on experiencing contentment.
We ALL need to continue to know the difference between a NEED and a WANT.
another Mental $hift:
*get intentional about GROWING YOUR GRATITUDE
Friends: get a graduate degree in GRATITUDE within a culture that promotes kindergarten impulses of never being satisfied & a toddler mindset of "Mine, Mine, Mine" as it comes to acquisition and possession of material things.
Cultivate Contentment – enjoy what I have.
Grow Gratitude – thankful for ALL I’ve been given.
Gratitude is a powerful thing. It changes our hearts from coveting the next thing to enjoying what's right in front of us. It drains the energy out of greed and gives new vitality and joy to what's at hand. Growing Gratitude is being intentional about growing a heart of gratefulness.
Entitlement says, “I don’t have what I deserve!”
Gratitude says, “I have what I don’t deserve!”
"Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic."
-John Henry Jowett
= GRATITUDE is fuel for an active and growing faith with Jesus.
THIS WEEK:
Invite you this week to TAKE 10 MINUTES: write a thank you note to Jesus (on paper or a note on your phone). Open your awareness to his presence, goodness and activity in your life – in the past and currently. Get specific as you jot down all that comes to mind that you are grateful for.
Grow your gratitude!
NEED PRAYER?
Some of our prayer team and pastors are available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.
IF YOU'RE NEW:
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room. If you're new, we'd love to meet you and we have a small gift for you! We also want invite you back with us next Sunday at 5pm.