CALVARY
IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
EXPOSITORY BIBLE STUDY
FOCUS: NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR KINGDOM
LIVING
TOPIC: YOU MUST NOT SERVE MONEY (MAMMON) –
(Part 1)
TEXT: Matt 6:19-21, 24
INTRODUCTION
As
part of the way of life in the kingdom of God, our Lord Jesus Christ gave clear
definite instructions to his disciples and to those of us afar off who believe
in him and follow him. Anyone
Who desires to please God and stand the storms
of life must pay close attention to these sayings. Disregarding them will only
make a man to become a fool at the end.
As
you go through this study therefore, we plead with you to be sober and receive
with meekness the engrafted word of God. May the Lord grant you understanding
in Jesus’ Name, Amen?
Let
us consider proper the instruction of not
serving money.
1. DISCUSS
WHAT YOU UNDERSTANDING BY MONEY.
Matt.
6:19, 21, 24; Prov.102,22;Mk 4:19;Eccl.7:12;Eccl.10:19; Prov.27:24;Isa.55:1;1Tim.6:10.
Money
is a man-made acceptable way of storing treasures and wealth here on earth.
Therefore it is regarded as a treasure. It naturally gives an impression of
being able to do all things and can thus easily enslave a man and capture his
loyalty. Yet it is clear that there are many things money cannot do.
Read
Eccl.10:19
from different versions:
KJV: “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry but money
answers everything.”
NIV: “A feast is made for laughter and wine makes life merry, but
money is the answer for everything.”
GNB: “Feasting makes you happy and
wine cheers you up, but you can’t have either without money.”
That
scripture does not say ‘money is the answer for everything in life.’ Money is
the answer only for making a feast and buying wine, it has no answer for many
things we need in life. Yet when money comes, it normally comes with a kind of
pseudo-relief and false confidence as if you can now get everything you need
with it. This is a deceit which the bible righty, calls ‘the deceitfulness of
riches.” (matt. 13:22). If others are deceived by it, you must not.
Money cannot buy peace of mind’ it
cannot buy sleep. It cannot buy you life. It only deceives. It has a limit to
which it can help and that, only by the grace of God. Without money.
For
example, the salvation of your soul, righteousness in life, divine revelation
of God’s word, the power of the Holy Spirit, etc. cannot be bought with money
(Isa.55:1-3, Rev.3:17-18) you must enlarge
your understanding and refuse to be
deceived by the fake power the money carries ad offers.
There
is a god, the power behind money. He is the prince of this world who is no
other than Satan, the devil. Silver and gold belong to God. Money is one of
those things that God normally gives his people to enjoy. God made it for man;
he did not make man for it. But when it is given an undue power and regard, the
devil works through it to deceive. Money is a kind of master and it enslaves. It
entices men to long for it and deceitfully steals their hearts and affections
from God. Thus, men may be religious and even ‘born again’ while the love of
money has captured their hearts. They pursue money and give God a second place
in their lives. By longing to have money, many have wandered away from God in
their faith and devotion to God, their choice of where to serve God, what kind
of ministry to embark upon, etc.
To
allow money and material possession priority of attention and devotion in your
life is to be an idolater. Money must not be your master. The love of money is
the toot of every evil. It does not make any man rich. As money increases, so
also the mouths that will consume it increase. It will grow wings and fly away
and leave you poor and empty on the day of reckoning.
With
all its pseudo power and flamboyance, money is temporary, not eternal. It is
only the blessing of the Lord that makes a man rich without any sorrow added to
it. That is the right thing to pursue. All other things that you need
(including money) shall be added to you.
CALVARY
IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
EXPOSITORY BIBLE STUDY
FOCUS: NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR KINGDOM
LIVING
TOPIC: YOU MUST NOT SERVE MONEY (MAMMON) (Part 2)
TEXT: Matt 6:19-21, 24
2. IN
WHAT WAYS DO WE ALLOW MONEY TO REPLACE GOD IN OUR LIVES
Matt.6:19,
21, 24,25, 31:Eccl.5:10-12.
When you attach
importance to money and it becomes a treasure to you, it conveniently competes
with God in your life. When you store money here on earth as a treasure and you
are not rich towards God money is gradually becoming your master.
Trying to satisfy the
desire of the flesh by allowing the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life take root in your life is a sure way of allowing money to
creep into the position God occupies in your life. Thinking and worrying about
what you do not have, depending less on God
and more on money, giving money and the search
For money the priority of your attention and
time etc. are all signs that money and material things are beginning to replace
God in your life. It normally creeps in crafty and stealthily with passion.
Watch out! Is your
search for money not beginning to creep into the space for your ‘quiet time’
with God is the desire to have and buy whatever appeals to you not pushing you
to pursue money at the expense of his will for your life? Does your crave for
money and material possession not wake you up early and keep you late at night?
Sometimes money may
come with the deception that if you pursue it a little more, you can have
something with which to serve God, as if it is your money that God is looking
for! Watch out
This matter demands
prayerfulness so as not to enter into its grip. The love of money is the root
of every evil, and the life of a man does not depend on the abundance of the
things he possesses.
3. GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHAT MONEY CANNOT DO
FOR US
Matt.6:27; Eph.2:8-9; Mk10:23; Acts8:18-20;
Prov.11:4; Eccl5:10-12(Gnb): Heb.10:8
You
will discover from these scriptures that there are many things money cannot do
for us in this life and these are things we often need very much. Money cannot
increase our height or physical stature in life. Riches do no good on the Day
of Judgment. It cannot buy us the kingdom of or our salvation. There is no gift
of God that money can buy. It cannot buy you sleep but can actually remove
sleep from your eyes.
Money has no ability to gives peace
and lasting satisfaction in life. Therefore, if only in his world we have hope,
we are of all men most miserable.
CALVARY
IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
EXPOSITORY BIBLE STUDY
FOCUS: NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR KINGDOM
LIVING
TOPIC: YOU MUST NOT SERVE MONEY (MAMMON) (Part 3)
TEXT: Matt 6:19-21, 24
4. HOW
CAN WE OVERCOME MONEY IN ORDER TO SERVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, MIND, AND STRENGTH?
1Jn. 5:4;
Matt. 6:24; PS23:6; PROV.23:4; Heb.11:26;
Matt. 6:25-33; 1Jn. 2:15-17; 1Tim. 6:6- 8;
1Cor.15:33.
Money
is a strong god that does not really releases its captives. In order to
overcome it and be free from its grip, the first thing is not to be
unbelieving. Be a believer in the kindness and faithfulness of God. The Lord is
not wicked. He knows all our needs and is willing to lavish his possessions on
all those who focus their lives and love on him.
Look
deeply into your heart. What do you give high value to? What do you treasure
most? Whatever you are willing to lose other things for, is your treasure. If
you discover that you push your communion and walk with God away in order to
you need to cry to God for help because money will soon disappoint you.
God’s
plan is that if we focus our lives on knowing the Lord and following him as our
shepherd, then surely, goodness and mercy shall follow us not for one year nor
five, but all the days of our lives. If we pursue God, money and the good
things of life will pursue us. But if we reverse the order and pursue riches,
them money will turn and run from us.
Even
if those who do not know the lord do this, we must not. When Solomon asked for
wisdom, God did not only give him wisdom but riches and honour in addition,
because he asked for the right thing/
Let
the lord be your pursuit. Even if things look difficult at first, God will
prove himself faithful.
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