Celebrated Sins: Materialism

By JP

Text & notes from Celebrated Sins: Materialism on March 1, 2011...

1 Timothy 6:3-19...

3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about wor...ds that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I. Corruption of Materialism

a. Corrupted Doctrine –

2 Tim 4:3...

3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

b. Corrupted Contentment

• We should be content with Food and Clothing. “I don’t need that”

Philippians 4:11-13...

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

c. Corrupted Desires

Ecclesiastes 5:10...

10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

• When we get money we call it a “blessing” I think it is more appropriate to call it “test”

• Slavery 200 years ago. …this is our Slavery…this is where we radically miss it.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

We were made incomplete…we can try and complete ourselves with temporary things…or we can invest in that which is eternal...

II. Desire Eternal Things

Should NOT make our home here. Control: Luke 12 Bigger Barns (you came in with nothing, you will leave with nothing)

1. Rarity (only Ruler vs. 15)

2. Permanence (Immortal vs. 16)

3. Usefulness (He offers Salvation through Christ, Eternity)

4. Salvation is not your ticket into heaven, it is your ticket to hold this life loosely.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

III. Invest in Eternal Things

a. YOU are RICH

i. GLOBALRICHLIST.com

1. Min. wage $7.25 (12%)

2. $30,000 (7%)

3. $50,000 top 1% of the wealthiest people in the world

ii. What do you hope in? …ANSWER: What do you invest in?

iii. If we are Rich, the bible says something about us.

• Luke 18 Rich Young Ruler (Porch Goer)

iv. Luke 19 Zaccheaus

• Not because he gave stuff away…because he understood Christ was all that matters.

v. If money ever becomes a problem, give it away.

1 John 3:17...

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

vi. Materialism Gets/Generosity Gives

vii. Anything that you own, that you cannot give away, owns you.

Matthew 13:44...

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Philippians 3:7-8...

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Meet your needs, but before you meet your desires, make sure someone around you doesn’t have needs you can meet.

Matt 6:19-20...

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Challenge: Month of March: “I don’t need that” …don’t buy anything that you don’t need. But invest those desires is in the Kingdom.

People will ask me from time to time, “Do you feel safe?” I know what they mean and that it comes from a concern for our well-being which I appreciate, but I also want to say, “Why did no one ask me that when I lived in Plano? Was I safe there? Safe from materialism? Safe from the financially smart, morally conservative self-serving life that we so easily substitute for radical pursuit of the gospel? If I am in danger here, it cannot be any greater than what I just came from.” Although I think it goes without saying, I am going to say it anyway…. that I am not suggesting that you cannot live for Jesus if you live in a nice neighborhood or a nice house- whatever the measure of that is. I am only saying that this world is full of many kinds of danger and brokenness, some of which we find threatening and some of which we are alarmingly comfortable with. Moving here has been part of God waking us up to both dangers with which we have become comfortable and commands of the gospel to which we have become numb. So I am grateful. Grateful that God is teaching me more and more how to let go of my plans and my ideas and my assumptions and letting me experience, instead, the joy of simply following Him. There has been more of that needed than I would have liked to believe about myself. And the more I hold onto Christ the greater my awareness that there is more of the world to let go of… and it is life-giving.

If you are holding on to that which doesn’t matter, you are not holding on to that which does. If you are investing in that which doesn’t matter, then you didn’t invest generously in that which does.