In our attempt to portray the PERSON and WORK of JESUS CHRIST, let’s
delve into his TEACHING MINISTRY,
focusing on the gospel message that many deem to be the greatest of all, The Sermon
on the Mount. (Matthew, chapters 5-7) Today we will examine Christ’s teachings on Possessions and Money.
The central theme of His message is that we should never obsess or worry over
financial issues because, as children of God, we are sure recipients of divine
care.
This is an urgent message that contradicts the essential element of
contemporary thinking, our mad (and maddening) quest for more and more.
The message of Jesus is summarized in three scripture verses:
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Our treasure, i.e. the thing we value most,
ultimately becomes the thing we seek most.
As such, it dominates our time and drains our talent, stripping us of ‘the
mother lode’ of treasures, which is an authentic and intimate relationship with
GOD. Therefore, Jesus insists, “you cannot serve God and mammon
[riches]. His statement rests on a wisdom analogy, that it is
fundamentally impossible to serve two masters. The inevitable result is
favoring one or the other with greater love and/or loyalty. This is the
underlying reason for Christ’s admonition to the twelve: “Assuredly, I say to
you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew
19:23)
The contemporary church views Christ’s forgoing assertion with some
degree of skepticism since so many have sold out to an Americanized version of The Gospel that
exalts prosperity and property over relationship and righteousness. Prayerfully
hear this: Riches are not evil,
in and of themselves. However, the intent of our hearts can be.
Some years ago at the West Coast Azusa Conference, I heard Pastor Benny Hinn
teaching on this subject, and he made a statement I shall never forget: “If the
gospel that we are preaching is only true in America, and if it is not true in
the poorest of third world nations, then it is not the gospel at all.” Amen! This does not imply that Christ does
not desire to bless His people. However, the implication that divine
blessing is solely designed to transform us into poster children of wealth is both unbiblical and absurd. Wealth is never intended by Christ to be an
end, in and of itself. Rather, He intends that we become conduits and channels of blessing for
the liberation of lost souls, i.e. the building of the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, while we certainly must be responsible providers for our
families, we should never become overly anxious about food, clothing, shelter,
or financial security. Why? Because, according to Jesus, life is
“more than food and the body more than clothing.” According to Jesus,
such matters become the principle focus of non-believers. Since our
“heavenly Father knows that [we] need all these things,” it is incumbent upon
us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added.” (Matthew 6:25-34)
As a result, during the first phase of Christ’s evangelical
commission, He issued a curious set of directives:
Mark 6:7-9 (NKJV)
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send
them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the
journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money
belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
From today’s vantage point of prosperity seeking, this command not
only seems unreasonable, but patently ridiculous. Nevertheless, Christ’s
intention was obvious: We must
always depend on Him.
I have no desire to magnify myself, but I will share a personal
testimony. In 2010, my wife and I relocated
to The Republic of South Africa to serve as resident missionaries. Various pastors and churches gave quite
generously to undergird our efforts.
However, we actually left home by
faith, having insufficient funds to sustain ourselves in Africa while
keeping everything economically intact at home.
But oh, how we love and depend upon JEHOVAH-JIREH! For during that time, we were able to
minister and sow (tangibly and generously) into the lives of others, while at
the same time, we were fully financially sustained due to our trust in God.
Indeed, HE miraculously supplied ALL of our need. (Philippians
4:19) Our monthly mortgage on our Connecticut
home, our car note, and various other financial obligations were never late, as
all of our living expenses in Africa were handled in a timely and complete
manner. His blessings came from
unexpected places. For example, a non-Christian
physician of mine (an adherent of Buddhism) contacted us via email to request ‘how’
she could send a sizable donation to support our mission efforts. Wow! This
was one of several instances in which THE LORD miraculously sustained us. Belinda and I often reflect on those blessing
interventions; and, we are eternally grateful.
To be sure, the promise and provision of CHRIST are steadfast and
sure. When we seek first the Kingdom of
God, all other things are added unto us.
Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all
else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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