Why must we not love money?
Yes, we may have lots of money, but we must not love money!
1. About 35 years ago, someone called to ask: Can we Christian pray to become rich?
I said yes! My logic is this: God created this world. We are His children. The world belongs to us!
2. Apostle John warned us: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
This is the problem! According to statistic, when people have money they need a lot more money!
3. Ecc.5;10--> Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
4. Jesus said: No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other.
Or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and money. Matt.6:24
To many people, Sunday is an important day for making money!
Sunday is the Lord’s day.
As a child of God we must not stop worship God on Sunday! He.10:25
It is reality! If we love money, we can’t serve God on Sunday!
5. 1 Tim.6:10--> For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil;
which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6. a story for illustration! Luke 12:15-21
Jesus said to them: take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness;
for a man’s life consists not in abundance of the things which he possesses.
7. And he told them a parable: The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to store my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I store my grain and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years;
relax, eat, drink, be merry. Luke 12:16-19
8. There are lots of me, myself and I in this story! All he thinks about is himself!
But God said unto him: you foolish man, this night your soul is required of you!
And the things which you prepared, whose shall they be? Luke 12:20
9. There is another story! Matt.19:16
A man came to Jesus and asked: Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? Matt.19:16
Jesus said: If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.19:17 He said: I have kept all the commandments.
What do I still lack? Matt.19:20
(This is a rich man’s problem in the world! What do I still lack? Why ask this question!)
Jesus said: If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come follow me. Matt. 19:21
10. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had great wealth! Lk.19:22
11. Then Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for aa camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
12. Love of money Ananias and his wife lied to the Holy Spirit and died! Acts 5:1-10
13. Love money made Judas betrayed Jesus! Jn.12:1-6
Conclusion:
1. The book of Ecclesiastes is about-->The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Ecc.1:1-2
2. Except this one in chapter 5 verses 19 and 20-->
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--
this is a gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life;
because God answers him in the joy of his heart.
3. Here is the forever motor for all children of God for all time: Heb.13:5
Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for the Lord had said,
I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.
(May God bless you always!)