We have reviewed what wealth is in God’s terms. Now we will examine why one should accumulate wealth. Accumulation here means more than storing away. Accumulation refers to making, using, and spending money
Money can yield comfort and convenience, and it can provide a means for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But money can also become the object of devotion, and idolatry. Love of money can separate families, spoil children, destroy friendships, and breed dishonesty.
God has provided another ministry for the Christian – a ministry of giving. Once a Christian accepts giving as a ministry, a whole new area of God’s Word becomes clear.
“ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
If you have the ability to make money, you must have the ability to share money.
“ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:18)
Many people think that to give is gracious but to receive is wrong. Clearly, in order to give money one must be able to make money. Accept that principle and ingrain it in your personality – making money can be a part of your ministry. You may have other ministries as well, but many committed Christians are gifted in the ministry of making and giving money to the Lords work.
“ But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as providing through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.” ( 2 Corinthians 8:7-8)
Before we go any further list various motives for making and storing money from both the worlds and God’s perspective.
Why People Accumulate Money
Just as many people allow others to set their goals, they also allow a friend or acquaintance to talk them into financial schemes. They will commit time and money to efforts they know little or nothing about and neglect more important functions.
Should others advise us on how to make money?
Proverbs 15:22 - Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
a. God advises we:
b. Why?
Proverbs 14:15 - The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
a. A simple man is described as?
b. A prudent man?
Do you see the range of Gods will?
Seek Counsel -----> YOU <------- Weigh all Advice
As we discussed earlier in our lessons this is sometimes called covetousness or greed. Today we label it “social pressure.” How does God view this motive?
Psalms 73:2-3 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Slipping from God’s path is cause by what?
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consistent not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
God warns us to beware of?
Why?
Have you ever kept a good relationship with someone you envied or with someone who envied what you have?
Why?
Have you purposely tried to make other envious of you?
Why?
Can you see the range of Gods will in these actions?
No. You cant because God doesn’t allow this motive for Christians.
Have you ever known someone who was pursuing or being pursued by the money game? Everybody becomes a pawn, friends, and family, fellow Christians.
It is unfortunate that we help promote this attitude by elevating winners. It will grow so out of control that eventually it will become a no holds barred Contest.
One of the characteristics of this is the inability to accept a loss.
Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
The above verse describes this type of individual as?
What is the range of God’s will?
Why?
This is a particularly disastrous motive because most of us feed this weakness.
Those that accumulate for this reason do so that others may feed their ego.
These are the people that tend only to attend the important events and associate with only the right people. They purchase esteem from everyone, including their family. They never give unless it is recognized and never share unless it is to promote themselves.
1 Timothy 6:17 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride leads to?
A haughty spirit leads to?
What is the Range?
Money is neither good nor bad, moral or immoral, it is the use of it, the pattern of your life, and your prospective that count.
Those that accumulate because of the love for money, wouldn’t part with it for anything not even esteem. There lives are characterized by hoarding and abasement. They possess thousand or millions of dollars yet are devastated even at the loss of only a few.
Have you ever known someone who was in love with money? Could his life be summarized with the words greed and bitterness?
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
What is the root of all evils?
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
This verse contains two principles what are they?
What word is used to describe these attitudes?
What do you think is God’s will?
Many people feel that they need to accumulate wealth for protection. Apparently they don’t believe that God can supply their needs, so try accumulate hoards of wealth. At first the goal is a few thousand dollars, just to protect against future uncertainties. But allowed to expand, the amount is inconsequential; there will never be enough protection. Again, for there is nothing wrong with planning and saving God’s way. But anyone who hoards for protection does not believe that God is true to his word. In our society protection is promoted as all-important. We are bombarded by the “need” for enormous amounts of life insurance, health insurance, disability, liability, etc. How many of those plans reflect any aspect of God’s word?
Psalms 50:14-15 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
God says in our day of trouble?
His promise is?
Ecclesiastes 5:13 - There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
What is the evil described?
This obsession with protection takes away something that God would have us live by, that very reason we are saved – Faith and trust in God.
What is God’s will?