JANUARY 23, 2011 “LEARNING TO BE CONTENT”

I TIMOTHY 6:3-16
JANUARY 23, 2011

“LEARNING TO BE CONTENT”

 We are living in interesting times! The technological advances that I read and observe often leave me bewildered. I observe smart phones and I must admit that I do not even know how to answer one when it rings. I read this week of a new car that can be made invisible, this is not something for the military but a car one can buy if one has the money. I was excited a few months ago to buy a new computer console for the church. Within a few hours I realized that my old printer and several of my software programs would not operate on my new system. And of course all of this did not come cheap. The same thing happened at home as we had to upgrade in order to use Skype, which we received as a present, so we can see our daughters online. None of this is a problem, if one has unlimited money, which few of us have. We have to be wise in how we manage our money.
We are also living in troubled economic times, where many are struggling to keep their heads above water. Foreclosures and repossessions have become commonplace. Even those blessed with being retired have not been immune to the changing economic realities, as savings and investments have dwindled and shrank at an alarming rate. It might be time for the Church (all those who believe in Jesus Christ) to turn to God’s Word for help and guidance. The scriptures have much to say about handling our finances, especially with our attitudes and desires.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV) “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.” We must learn to put God first and then we will find the joy that we have been promised. The question arises then how are we to live as God requires. God does provide us with principles that we should follow if we desire to enjoy life as God intended. I have made a handout of scripture references I’ve found to be helpful on how to handle money. From these scriptures and others I have come up with four principles.
The first principle is a warning about the dangers of being rich. Most of us are probably thinking well that leaves me out. But consider this information taken from a pamphlet from Crown Financial Ministries: if you made more than $1,500.00 last year you made more money than 75% of the people in this world. We may not want to believe it, but most everyone in the United States is wealthy from a third world perspective. Also consider if God considers us wealthy. This does not mean that we are without debt. It means that our standard of living is way more than the vast majority of people in this world. Now hear again from I Timothy 6:17-19 (CEV) “Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. This will lay a solid foundation for the future so that they will know what true life is like.” Jesus warned that it was harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus also warned in the parable of the Sower in Luke 8:14 (NIV) “¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” There is nothing wrong in being rich. But we must not let our riches and possessions become our main goal in life. We are in Christ and He must be first if we want to have peace, joy and contentment. If one does not feel they are content, and then consider that just possibly the Holy Spirit is seeking to get our attention. Proverbs 23:4-5 (NIV) “⁴ Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. ⁵ Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” We must seek to be like the Apostle Paul who said, “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.”The second principle is to eliminate as much debt that we can. Why is God concerned about debt? Proverbs 22:7 (NIV) “⁷ The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:26-27 (NIV) “²⁶ Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; ²⁷ if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.” Debt becomes a burden and someone else has a stranglehold upon us. Most businesses do not care if you lose your job, or if you had to go to the hospital. They want to be paid. Money issue’s has always been one of the problems that bring strife and turmoil to a marriage. Crown Financial Ministries in their research state that 90% of people in our culture buy things we can not afford. We let our desires out weigh our common sense. Credit cards can be a useful tool only if we pay it off each month. Otherwise the interest rates will suck you into a downward spiral. If you can’t pay it off each month then cut them up. Being completely out of debt will for most people be a lifetime goal. The bottom line at this point, is to not get any deeper into debt. We must learn new habits, which leads into the next principle.
The third principle is to save money little by little. Proverbs 13:11 (NIV) “¹¹ Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” In 2006 the average American saved a negative 1.5% of their income (lower than the Great Depression). It means that the average American went in the hole even deeper. This next statistic boggles my mind. Ninety-seven % of those whose age is 65 have less than $600.00 in their checking account. We must learn to save for a rainy day. When we allow our desires to be manipulated by our culture which says we must have “things” to be happy we are allowing Satan to steal our joy which can be found only in Jesus Christ. God will provide for our needs as promised in Philippians 4:19. Also in Matthew 6:33 “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (food, clothes, shelter) will be given to you as well.” In Proverbs 10:24, “What the righteous desire will be granted.” God looks after his children who do what is right.
The fourth principle is to honor God by tithing. Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV) “⁸ "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Research indicates that less than 5% of those who identify themselves as Christians tithe. A tithe is ten%. If you have never tithed then start out by giving a percentage of your income and then gradually increase it. The reality is that until we decide to put God first in this area we will not ever be freed from the tyranny of money.
God desires to bless His children. Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) “²¹ He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” May we pray to our Father and offer all of our money and assets to Him and ask for His help. Everything belongs to Him, anyway. We must control our desires and start to whittle down the debts we owe. Make a budget and seek to live by it. Begin by saving a certain amount of money each paycheck. Then honor God with your tithes and offerings and our Father will bless us.

Let us pray.
　

“THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY” JANUARY 9, 2011

I TIMOTHY 5:1-8

“THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY”

 Halloween is a favorite holiday for most children. They enjoy dressing up and pretending to be someone they’re not. In recent years I’ve also observed more adults choosing to dress up and wear masks. It is unlawful in North Carolina for an adult over the age of sixteen to wear a mask or anything that conceals your identity in public. Yet as we are all aware countless number of people put on masks every day and pretends to be a jovial, warm, caring and loving person in public while actually being completely different at home with their family. At home they do not wear a mask. Christians are called to be the same person at home as we are in public. Today I want us to take a look into how Christians are to relate to one another and especially in our family relationships.

Our primary relationship is the one with our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ and chooses to follow Christ, scripture indicates that our sins are forgiven and we are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Each of us is able to make a new start with Christ yet too many believers fail to read and understand the instruction manual. When Jesus becomes our Lord we are called (expected) to live a life of obedience to Christ. In John 14:23-24 (NIV) “²³ Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” For many people the focus of one’s life does not change, even after accepting Jesus. Once we choose to accept Christ we are to daily yield to Christ. Our life is no longer to be about: me, myself, and I.

Jesus was clear about our priorities. Matthew 6:33 (NIV) “³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What part of seek first are we not hearing. Paul spoke about the attitude we are to incorporate into our life. Philippians 2:3-7 (NIV) “³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” We need to tell ourselves every day, throughout the day: Life is not about me. A life of joy will be ours as we learn more and more that we are to put others first. Remember what Jesus said in the upper room when he washed the feet of the disciples. John 13:14-17 (NIV) “¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Until we have a right relationship with our Lord our other relationships will be out of whack, off center.

As mentioned earlier the relationship we have with our families must reflect the same love we have for Christ. And if Christ is not first then we will not love our families as we should. In Ephesians believers are called in Ephesians 5:21 (NIV) “²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The next verse is the most quoted verse in the bible by non-Christians and Christians alike. So much focus is on verse 22 that most fail to understand the context that every believer is subject to Christ and we are called to subject ourselves to one another. Paul has just finished telling Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we will live wisely. We are called to work for the good of the other person. This is most especially true in marriages.

The husband is called to be the head of the relationship with the wife. Remember both are called to put Christ first and to work for the best of the other. Being the head has the meaning of being responsible for another. It does not mean being a dictator. It never gives the right to abuse anyone. Paul defines being the head as having the responsibility to love, to give of your self, and to nurture. Both the husband and the wife are to give up their “rights” for the other. It is a mutual submission.

Parents are to nurture and discipline their children. Yet notice the warning to dads. Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) “⁴ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” The family unit has always been at the center of our relationship with God. The fifth commandment to honor our father and mother is the first commandment with a blessing attached. I will be blunt here. Christian parents in the United States have for the most part become lazy and have failed in nurturing and instructing our children in following Christ. We have failed to teach them even the basics of what to believe. It is the responsibility of the parents to educate in matters of faith. We would rather schools or the local churches do it for us. We all must do better.

When one looks for a scriptural definition of the family you will rarely find the family as being a father, mother, and children. For the most part the word family is defined as the extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. The New Testament widens the definition of family to include the church, the body of believers. 1 Timothy 5:1-8 (NIV) “¹ Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” One of the difficulties in every church is that they are filled with imperfect people. Satan delights in getting members of churches to devour one another. Yet, praise God, there is forgiveness and always another opportunity to love one another. God brings us together not because we are all alike but because He wants us to learn love, patience, endurance, and even long suffering from one another.

It is clear that God expects families to look after and help their extended family. God expects us to honor our parents by seeing to their welfare as they age. We can not close our eyes as to the needs of our own families and expect God to bless us. As Americans we are too self-centered. This does not mean it will be easy. But to do nothing is to reveal just how shallow our faith has become. The warning is severe. ^“7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” There may be times when we may wonder why God is not blessing us: as an individual, as a family, and as a church. The answer may be because we have closed our eyes to the needs surrounding us. It is not the place of the government to provide for our own families.

My brothers and sisters, we have a responsibility to first love Christ and to love one another. May we open our eyes of faith and be so filled with the love of Christ that our love will spill over into every relationship beginning with our families.

Let us pray.