Money, Possessions and Income

“Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” Lk 14:33

Unless otherwise indicated, bible quotes are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Money is a Competing Master

Money is a Competing Master

• “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 both God and Money." (Mt 6:24)

• “…others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the message; 19

but the concerns of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the message, making it unfruitful." (Mk 4:18-19)

Outline

A. Possessions

B. Income and Necessities

C. Transitioning to God as Provider

A. POSSESSIONS

Jesus’ Teachings on Giving Up Everything 1993

• “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” Lk 14:33

• Peter and the disciples said “we have left everything to follow you” Mt 19:27—boats and nets, houses, family, fields

• “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Lk 12:33-34

• A rich young man asked Jesus what he should do to gain eternal life; Jesus told him to keep certain commandments and “If you want to be complete, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” Mt 19:21

“Giving Up Everything”

• A general teaching (not just for the rich young man)

• Says “give up”, not just “be willing to give up”.

• All his disciples of 30 AD gave up everything.

• Necessary in order to be a disciple.(Disciple = follow Jesus and learn and apply his teachings;all blessings conditional upon this).

1993: Giving Up Everything

• Did it for its own sake, but usually God gets people to give up everything for a purpose, eg Teena YWAM, us 2001

• Gave away savings (no house)

• Sold or gave away most possessions

• Unexpected emotional pangs

• Luampa building project

• Baptised in Holy Spirit when ~95% complete

• Still had job and income

Why do we need to give up our possessions?

• Then we will see God’s generous provision Mk 10:30 100-fold

• Learn to trust God instead; our heart is where our treasure is Mt 6:21

• Makes us free to respond to God’s call, because our stuff and lifestyle no longer hold us back. Lk 14:15-33 excuses for declining banquet, giving up everything

• Dependent on God’s support – safeguard against ventures God doesn’t want (my observation).

?

God is Generous

“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

• Car 2006; Mersey car, 2011

• Laptop 1993; given 2001

• Ring given 2006, given back; ring lost and found, ring given

• House Graham 1993, Teena 1998; many lovely free or cheap homes – locum, Bribie Island, friends overseas, 68C, Kaiteriteri bach

Questions Interlude

• Any new or useful concepts?

• Do you know people who have done this? How did it work out for them?

• Can you foresee any difficulties with Jesus’ approach?

B. INCOME AND NECESSITIES

Income and Necessities

“You cannot serve both God and Money. 25Therefore I tell you, do not concern yourself about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. … (talked about how God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, even though they don’t work)… 31 So do not concern yourself, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the nations run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not concern yourself about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Mt 6:24-34

merimnaō = concern oneself with, take care of; Suggests focussing care and attention and effort.

Division of Responsibilities

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Mt 6:33

What am I responsible for?

What is God responsible for?

Division of Responsibilities in Mt 6:24-34

My responsibility:

“Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness”

Do the things Jesus said are necessary to enter the KingdomDo the righteous things God asks me to doFirst = do it before anything else

God’s responsibility:

“all these things will be given to you as well”

Provide my food, clothes and necessities of life

merimnaō

merimnaō = concern oneself with, take care of; Suggests focussing care, attention and effort.

eg “An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife.” 1 Cor 7:32-33 NIV

eg “…so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” 1 Cor 12:25 NIV

eg “I have no one else like [Timothy], who takes a genuine interest in your welfare” Phil 2:20

(I think the NIV rendering it “worry” in Mt 6:24-34 is a poor translation because it weakens the meaning of the passage; worry means excessive concern, suggesting that normal or moderate concern over food and clothes is fine with God.)

2001: No Income

• Led into court case

• No job, no income, no house, no furniture, $2000 in bank

• Reduced expenditure, simplified lifestyle

• Last $4 after 6 mo but confident of Mt 6:33

• “Crunch” day and offer of small job

• Ends met in various small ways; never lacked for basics

• 2002: Other side claimed court costs $44,000; ordered $11,000

• Ad for locum work next day; 3x previous pay rate

• Provided for us ever since, with 9-10 mo/year free

• “The oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land” 1 Ki 17:14

• Resulted in vastly better lifestyle

2001: No Income

• 2 min DVD clip 1:26-3:00

2012: Current Position

• Provides through locum work

• Short, flexible, 9-10 mo/year free for God

• Not tested again for last 10 years

• Don’t earn more than necessary; no saving

• Don’t embark on projects unless led by God

• Spend money only on:– Essentials (minimum)– giving to others in need (generously)– seeking God (generously)– projects God has asked us to do (generously), or – when specifically told to by the Holy Spirit

• Rich and varied lifestyle! Travel, meet people, do all sorts of activities, plenty of time with family

C. MAKING THE TRANSITION TO GOD AS PROVIDER

God

Workplace

timeenergyservice40+ h/wk

moneynecessitiesluxuriespossessionssavingssecurity

God

timeenergyserviceas led(varied)

necessitiesuseful itemsblessingssecurity

Own choice of work and spending

Work and spend only as God directs

Workplace

timeenergyservice40+ h/wk

moneynecessitiesluxuriespossessionssavingssecurity

God

timeenergyserviceas led(varied)

necessitiesuseful itemsblessingssecurity

Give away possessions and savings

Lose regular income

Bankruptcy & starvation imminent

The transition from the

world’s system to God’s system can be HARD

Why Some People Fail to Make the Transition

• Don’t know that Jesus taught this• Think a normal regular job & possessions is God’s provision• Don’t see how it could ever work• Too attached to possessions to part with them all• Feel too insecure to give up earning/income• Unwilling to simplify lifestyle and lower expectations• Problems/sins in other areas block God’s voice• Pursue ventures God doesn’t want, so Mt 6:33 doesn’t apply• Lose their nerve and take worldly solution (beg, borrow, go

back to work etc) before God provides loss of confidence.• Think “living by faith” means soliciting giving from others• Can’t throw off the fear that God might let them down

God often saves in the

12th hour

Did God save Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from:• Having to serve a pagan king?• Being commanded to bow down?• Being denounced?• Being arrested?• Being condemned to death?• Being thrown into the fire?• Being killed by the fire?

At what point would I have thought that God had let me down?

Listen to the Holy Spirit

• Does the Holy Spirit want to say anything to me about possessions and income?

HS

Discussion

• Did the Holy Spirit say anything to me?

• Was there anything new or useful in the topic?

• Do I have any queries or sticking points in my mind?

• Have I ever given up everything? How did it work out?

• Would I be willing to give up all my possessions at some stage in the future?

• Do you know of anyone who has served God without any foreseeable income? How did it work out?