1 tim.6:17-19

HANDLING MONEY

1 Tim.6:17-19

Introduction

We hear about the stock market – its ups & downs.

The rising & falling of oil prices,Vegetables & Household products

etc.

Whenever we talk about money in the church, it is always in the context of an appeal.

Its is either – starving people in need or some building project.

We are conditioned to give only when something appeals to us.

Today’s passage contains some of the greatest teaching on the use and abuse money.

Paul gives us some guidelines on how to be responsible with what we possess.

Sometime ago a group thieves broke into a department store.

But they did not steal anything. All they did was switch price tags.RM 300 products now cost RM 2.00RM 5.00 products cost RM 100.

1. BE HUMBLE –v.17Paul advises Timothy to “keep

instructing” not just “tell” about the matter.

Why?Materialism is so deceitful that we

need to be constantly warned.

Think for awhile.Have we also put more value on the

things of the world rather than on the things of eternity?

We need to be constantly reminded against materialism.

We always think the early church was made up of poor people.

But there were also wealthy members.

A person may be rich here but poor in the age to come.

E.g. The rich man & Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31.

Earthly wealth brings a sense of achievement and success.

It also brings power and privilege.Rich people face temptations that

poor do not face – pride.Deut. 8:17-18 – A reminder from

God.Our possession ought to humble and

motivate us to praise and glorify God.

2 Cor. 10:12 – We are not to measure ourselves.

1 Cor. 4:7 – Not to boast about what we have.

We pride on our race, of our face, of our place and of our lace.

Paul says it is pride misplaced.Our only pride is pride of grace.God gives us the power to earn.There is no basis for pride.

2. TRUST IN GOD – NOT IN GOLD.

Our trust must be on God – v.17.In the parable of the rich farmer –

Luke 12:13-21 – the farmer thought his wealth equaled his security.

He put his trust on what he had accumulated.

God called him a fool.

Is our hope on God or on our possessions?

Prov.23:5 – is the advice of Solomon – wealth flies away.

Life is uncertainOne day a fairy visited a man.Told him to make a wish.Man asked for a next year’s

newspaper.

Checked the financial page.“ Wow, I am worth RM15 million. He moved to the obituary page.He had died two days earlier.Riches are uncertain because they

constantly change.Matt.6:19 – A warning.Only God does not change.

John 10:10 – Jesus wants to have life more abundantly.

Ps. 16:11 – God’s presence is full of joy.

Ps.37:4 – Gives us our heart desires.Christian life a life of joy and

enjoyment.

3.ENJOY WHAT GOD GIVES TO YOU.

God is rich.Psalm 50:10 – He owns the cattle on

a thousand hills.Psalm 24:1-2 – All of the world is the

Lord’s.What God gives us, he wants us to

enjoy.

2nd – We are to be generous and ready to share.The Bible teaches us proportionate

giving.Giving a generous portion of your

income.The base percentage is 10%.Eph. 4:28 – Listen to Paul’s advice.

4.EMPLOY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

1st – We are to do good. (Rich in good works.)

We are to minister to the needs of people: Helping, Loving and Caring.

Deliver more help to the poor and contribute more for evangelism.

By sharing with others, we are laying up treasure in heaven.

Jesus said the same – Matt. 6:19-21.Are you laying up treasure in heaven

and building for eternity?

ConclusionWe are accountable to God to

manage faithfully and effectively all that He has given us.

He wants us to humbly use and enjoy what we have.

Trust Him – not this world.Be rich in good works.

Be ready and willing to share generously with others.

Lay up treasure in heaven.Are you experiencing this life that

God offers?