Abusing possessions or money

A week ago I talked about abuse of power. Today’s topic is about abusing possessions or money. What do you know about money? People like the Australian dollar, because it is durable plastic, impossible to copy, incredible and washable. The value, I hope it will improve. We live in a fallen world, even our dollar has fallen. Every normal human being likes to have money. It will help you buy things.

Do you think it is spiritual to talk about money? Howard Dayton made a study in the New Testament about Jesus and Finance. He said Jesus talked a great deal about money: 16 of the 38 parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels 10 verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith. But more than 2,000 verses on money and possession.

Money or possessions to a large degree have a connection to our spirituality.

Let us learn a few things about money. I must say at the outset that there is nothing wrong about earning a lot of money. There is nothing wrong to have great property and possessions. It is your attitude towards money. That is what Paul said to Timothy “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Money is neutral. Possessions are ok as long as possessions do not possess you.

Eccl 5:10 says, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.” (NKJV)

(MSG) “the one who loves money is never satisfied with money, Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More smoke.

(NLT) says “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness.”

I read somewhere: “people are funny; they spend money they don’t have, to buy things they don’t need, to impress folks they don’t like.” (Speakers sourcebook)

I know of some people who like gambling in the Casinos; the more they win, the more they want to win. When they lose, the more their desire increases to get their money back. The tragedy is, most often they are the loser, the Casino always wins. That is a curse! Many homes have been broken because of gambling. I know of some people who are members of famous organizations. Most of them are there to establish social connections, but also for business. The fact remains whether they are just a factory worker an ordinary employee or may be a rich man, it seems they want more money. The more money you have, the more you want. If God is not in the picture one is never satisfied with silver or money.

All of these, of course apply to those who have no idea of stewardship. How about Christians? When money or any possession is surrendered to God it becomes a ‘trust.’ A trust which is owned by God. You may have the title of the land, your name is in the certificate, but really it belongs to God. Everything returns to God, “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” We are not meant to be proprietors, but trustees of God’s money or possessions. God is the OWNER of everything on the surface of the earth; and you and I are just OWERS.

When we give back His tithes and our offerings we are expressing our gratitude. Giving is from the place of a thankful heart for what He has given to us. Everything we have is a gift of God’s grace. All by grace and by grace alone! May God change our perspective about material possessions.