Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV)
Last week I focused on the phrase take your stand against the devil's schemes.
I listed three common schemes of the devil found in the parable of the sower and the seed in Mark 4.
Last week I discussed the first scheme "the worries of this life." Today, I will discuss the "deceitfulness of wealth."
- The worries of this life.
- The deceitfulness of wealth.
- The desires for other things.
Money is necessary in life, but it is a means to an end, it should never be the goal. Money is a tool to serve God's purpose.
Money is not evil as some Christians believe, rather "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." You can commit that sin without a dime in your pocket.
What does Jesus mean by the term "deceitfulness of riches?"
According to dictionary.com to deceive is "to give a false impression." It also means "to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid." Deception involves the deliberate misrepresentation of the truth.
The serpent deceived Eve. He caused her to believe what was not true. He caused her to believe that eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would profit her. But, no one ever profits in disobedience to the command of God.
The "deceitfulness of riches" occurs when your belief about money is contrary to the Word of God. Here are some misrepresentations about money.
Some of the most miserable people on this planet possess wealth. Money is not the key to life. Money is a tool to serve God's purpose.
- The possession of money signifies success.
- The possession of money brings security.
- The possession of money brings peace.
- The possession of money brings joy and contentment.
God wants to bless his people with abundance. He wants you to possess an abundant supply. (See Philippians 4:19, Deuteronomy 8:18, II Corinthians 9:8-11, Proverbs 10:22, III John 2, Malachi 3:10-12, Psalm 35:27, Psalm 112:3) However, he does not want money to have you. Your heart must be set on God, not wealth.
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 cannot serve God and Money." (Matthew 6:24 NIV)
Make a decision! Make certain that your heart is set on God, and not on the deceitfulness of riches.
In Mark 10:17-31, Jesus told the story of a rich young ruler, who came to him to inquire about eternal life. Jesus asked the ruler about the commandments. The young man declared that he had kept them all since his youth. But, Jesus saw his heart. Jesus saw that this young man trusted in his wealth. So, Jesus said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21 NIV)
The young man departed from Jesus with sadness. Jesus touched on the true condition of his heart. This young man loved his wealth more than he loved God. He was deceived by his riches.
Let's examine this command from Jesus to this young man in the light of the Word of God. Jesus offered this young man the following rewards for his obedience.
And, there is more. If this young man had obeyed Jesus, he would have put himself in the position to receive up to one hundred times as much as Jesus asked him to give up for the sake of the gospel.
- Eternal life.
- Riches in heaven.
- The opportunity to follow Jesus.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30 NIV)
The goal should never be to give in order to get. However, God has established laws of sowing and reaping. We reap what we sow, and God expects us to reap. Look at the following Scriptures.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38 NIV)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (II Corinthians 9:6 NIV)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (II Corinthians 9:11-12 NIV)
Money is not evil, but the love of money produces all kinds of evil. God wants the church to walk in the abundance of his riches, however, God will will work diligently to free you from the love of money and from the deceitfulness of riches.
Many years ago I heard a preacher liken walking with God to walking on a road with a ditch on either side. The goal is to walk down the middle of the road in perfect harmony with the truth of the Word of God. However, believers tend to fall into the ditches on the sides of the road.
God desires for his children to be blessed abundantly in the financial realm, and to use those finances as a tool to serve his purpose. To me that is is the will of God according to the Word of God. That is balanced Christian living.
However, some believers will fall into the ditch of desiring money too much. 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. 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 Timothy 6:9-10 NIV)
Other Christians will fall into the ditch on the other side of the road by embracing poverty and lack as a spiritual quality. They react to those believers described in the passage above, by going overboard in the other direction.
God doesn't want you in the ditch regarding any Biblical truth. Walk in the light of God's Word. Love God, not money! Seek first the kingdom of God. Be willing to give anything you possess for the sake of the kingdom of God. Also, be willing to receive the abundance of God's blessing in your life, so that you can use wealth as a tool to serve God's purpose.
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. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 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. (I Timothy 6:17-19 NIV)
Serve God and make money your servant, as you serve God's purpose in this generation.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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