Week 1 of God, Money and You: The Dimensions of Money

Series Overview

February 4 - March 18, 2007
During this seven week series Pastor taught about having the right attitude towards finances. There were testimonies from members sharing how their lives have been changed by these Biblical principles.

The Dimensions of Money

Brief Message Overview: Have you ever noticed the mysterious power that money possesses? Money seems to have the power to foster greed, fear, lust, pride, selfishness, self-centeredness, and almost every other vice known to mankind. Listen as Pastor Ron teaches about the different dimensions of money.

Notes for The Dimensions of Money

Have you ever noticed the mysterious power that money possesses? Money seems to have the power to foster greed, fear, lust, pride, selfishness, self-centeredness, and almost every other vice known to mankind.

Apostle Paul: “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

A root = the core sustainer of life for all plants. If the main root of my life is the love of money, than my whole life will be tainted.

Money has the power to open a Pandora’s box of wickedness in our life. People will do almost anything for money. They will lie, cheat their family, and will steal, rob, and even kill for money.

Money has the power to shape the way we feel about ourselves, our life, our family, our future, and especially about our relationship with God.

Indy Star: 11.26.06
Money is the root of Anti-social Behavior: “A team of psychologists has discovered why money can’t buy happiness. Pictures of dollar bills, fantasies of wealth and even wads of Monopoly money arouse feelings of self-sufficiency that result in selfish and often anti-social behavior, according to the study published in the journal Science. ‘The mere presence of money changes people,’ said Kathleen Vohs, a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota. ‘Money makes it possible for people to achieve their goals without asking for help, thus making them self-reliant to the exclusion of needing other people. In short, money changes people’s motivations.’”

Beginning today, and for the next 7 weeks, we are going to turn our focus on God, Money and You. Together we will be examining ungodly attitudes towards money that we all have to wrestle with. We will also be looking into a biblical mentality towards money.

Here’s what I know for sure. Everyone of us have to get the issue of money right if we expect to live a victorious Christian life.

I will go so far to say it is impossible to become all that God intends for us to become if we don’t settle this issue. I want God’s best for me & for you!

1. Money Has A Demonic Dimension To It

What would drive a person to sell their body? Why would someone risk prison time by selling illegal drugs; drugs that sometimes kill and usually destroys other people? What is it that drives people to cheat at business, rip off their family members, and lie on their taxes? In a word M.O.N.E.Y.

Where does this inordinate desire and passion for money come from? Its a demonic stronghold that every Christian has to come face to face with.

Jesus put it this way – Matthew 6:24.

Jesus taught there were only two master-Gods. The Lord was one master-God and mammon was the other master-god.

“Mammon” = a Syrian god of money and materialism. People bowed down to this false god. They worshipped it. They prayed for its success in their life. In short, it was a demonic stronghold and it held its sway over people.

When Jesus spoke of the god-mammon, they all knew what He was talking about.

Matthew Henry: “God says, “My son, give me your heart.” Mammon says, “No, give it me.” God says, “Be content with such things as you have.” Mammon says, “Grasp for everything you can.” God says, “Defraud not, never lie, be honest and just in all your dealings.” Mammon says “Cheat thine own Father, if you can gain by it.” God says, “Be generous.” Mammon says, “Hold to what you have. Giving undoes everything you’re trying to build.” God says, “Be careful for nothing.” Mammon says, “Be careful for every thing.” God says, “Keep holy thy sabbath-day.” Mammon says, “Make use of that day as well as any other for more money.” Thus the commands of God and Mammon are at odds, so that we cannot serve both. Let us not then falter between God and Baal, but choose you this day whom you will serve, and then abide by your choice.”

Jesus painted the picture as an either/or proposition. We either love God or we love money. There can be NO in between. We can’t love money a little bit and love God a little bit. With God IT’S ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL.

We will either be sold out completely to one or to the other, and every one of us have to decide which way it’s going to be in our life.

The Word is clear: 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.”
Paul said essentially the same thing in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

2. Money Has A Spiritual Dimension To It

In this parable Jesus tells us about 3 men who were entrusted with money and then God basically stood back to see how they would handle the money that He deposited into their care.

This story teaches us that God cares about the money we have, because it actually is His money to begin with – Luke 19:11-27.

When we stand before God He will ask us, “how did you spend the time that I gave you on earth? How did you spend the talents that I invested in you? How did you spend the money that I gave you?”

Next week we’ll discover the 4 basic things we can do with our money: 1-earn it honestly 2-spend it wisely 3-give it generously 4-invest it carefully

Here’s what I KNOW. Money is every bit as spiritual as any other part of my life, and it is God’s money ALL TOGETHER!

There’s an interesting passage in Deuteronomy 8:17-19 that gives us a biblical perspective on where our money comes from: “if you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth…you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth , that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”

There’s a song Nathan/Erik wrote that captures this concept so well: “Take my life, take all of me, take everything, it’s all for You. Take my dreams, take all my fears, take everything, it’s all for You, it’s all for You, it’s all for You. Jesus, I surrender. Jesus, I am Yours. Take everything I am and make me new oh Lord I pray, until all I have is all of You.”

3. Tithing Is The Strongest Antidote That Exist Against the god-Mammon

Why is that? Because tithing is a weekly reminder of who is in charge of our finances: whether it will be Almighty God or the mammon-god.

Every time we earn any money, we should immediately take out the first 10% and declare to God and to ourselves that money is NOT going to be our master, but it’s going to be our servant.

During this important series we’re going to drill down into the true nature of tithing and regain a fresh perspective for all of us on why tithing is so important and so very effective.

I will be sharing some powerful testimonies of tithing that will inspire you.

I am 24 years old and I came to the U.S. 5 years ago. It is not easy to start a life in a new country when the culture and language are different and you are illegal. A friend told me about tithing; I will never forget the date and the place where such a miraculous conversation took place, as it changed my life forever. I remember that at that time I was working long hours in valet parking, almost 7 days a week. Every day when I came home I would do the math and put aside in an envelope 10% of what I earned that very day. At the end of the month I tithed joyfully because I hadn’t spent the money and I was able to tithe. Nothing changed physically at that point, I had the same job, no legal status yet, little knowledge of English, but mentally and spiritually wonderful changes were starting to happen, which turned into miracles later on. One of my wishes was to have a better job, with excellent pay and a better schedule. I soon received a job with a great salary and a shorter work week. My immigration status is in process at the present, and God even sent a wonderful woman into my life. Tithing is not a myth. Tithing is a life style in which God is always placed first, so that God can place you first.