#1653 0325 12P

            Money has always been a major issue with people because without it, not much is accomplished.  As a believer, we need scriptural guidelines on how to earn money, how to use it, how to spend it, and what to do with the excess.  What God’s Word says to do with the money we have and use on earth, is the issue.

            A trusting faith in God promises an eternal inheritance with Jesus Christ.  The apostle wrote Romans 8:17 ”Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”  The true believer is a rightful beneficiary of all that God owns.

            Jesus said Matthew 6:24, "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.”   No one can have the love for money in their heart, and have true love for God at the same time.  It is one or the other—”Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

            Jesus told the young ruler that if he kept his treasure on earth, he would not be with Him in Heaven.  The man had kept the Ten Commandments, and he wanted to know if there was anything else.  At this point, Jesus revealed a serious omission.  Matthew 19:21 "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

            The man trusted in his financial assets, and to prove that he loved God with all his heart, soul, and mind, he would have to transfer his trust on earthly possessions, to the living God in Heaven.  Selling and then giving the proceeds to the poor puts the money in heaven’s bank.

            Matthew 19:23-25 “When [the man] heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.  Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  [a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom].  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’"

            Living by faith seems totally out of touch with most people and professing Christians.  They thought it impossible then and Satan says you cannot live like that today.  Matthew 19:25-26 “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’  Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”  Only the Holy Spirit can inspire faith is us so we can trust God like that for money.

            Simon said Matthew 19:27, "We have left everything to follow you!  What then will there be for us?"  Jesus replied 29 “Everyone who has left [forsaken] houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields—[or has given up Social Security checks, unemployment compensation, government welfare, inheritance money, company pensions, lottery winnings, and any other laid-up financial assets], for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

            If we will leave it, God will supply it—but this time in a scriptural way—by faith in Him.  All stored-up financial assets must be eliminated, because no one can serve two masters.  When there are no financial resources between us and God, we can claim many times as much as we have given away to obey the Word of God.

            What we do with money after expenses are paid is the issue.  Rent, utility bills, and other financial obligations are paid first because that money belongs to them.  All bill money must be put aside for that purpose and not used for anything else.  The rent money is only under our control to pass on to the owner.  Food money may be needed—but it is not owed.  The bills are paid first and the food purchased second.  God will supply the food when we obey His Word.

            The world is preoccupied with how to get money, how to increase income, or how to save for the future.  Trusting God each day, for the financial needs of that day, is an unacceptable plan to most.  There is insurance coverage on everything today, because no one wants to be sued.  All insurance is in opposition to Bible teaching, because every aspect of insurance is against trusting God in faith.  Insurance money protects an individual from financial loss, so it replaces God as our Protector and Supplier.

            Money in a savings’ account eliminates trust on God.  If a financial need arises and we have money in a savings’ account, we go to the bank—but if money is needed and we have no-thing saved up, we go to the Lord.  When there is no money aside, we are forced to trust God.  The entire message of the Bible is to transfer our trust from human things to divine sources.  Our prayer, ”Give us this day our daily bread.”

            In the wilderness, the Israelites had to depend on God, because they had no other options.  The woman of Zarephath had to trust God, because there were no other supplies.  When she gave away her one-day supply, God provided a many-day supply and more.

            The believer, who gives away stored-up money, is promised a multiple blessing now and Heaven later—no one would pass up that deal, if they believed it!  The financial plans of the world are unreliable, but God’s plans are absolutely reliable.  He never changes Malachi 3:6 so His money plan cannot fail.

            Salvation is by grace through faith and trust on God, so we cannot trust in anything else.  Some think they have a scriptural right to use Social Security money since it was their earnings, but accepting the money, eliminates faith in God—putting eternal life at risk.  Anything given up for the Lord is promised back in this life—and Heaven is included.

            Accepting inheritance money is the same as accepting insurance money or welfare—it is the same violation of our trust on God.  Such policies eliminate the need to have faith in God.  All inheritance money should go to the poor because God says to give it to charity.  Satan makes it easy to put our trust on, and our faith in, some thing, or some person other than God—a company bonus, a prescription drug, or an insurance policy, because he wants to dissolve our faith in God and destroy our soul in Hell.

            Labor unions are inspired by Satan, so everything they do, and every plan they offer, is against Bible teaching.  Unions force businesses to increase employee wages or benefits, and will use violence if their demands are not met.  Anyone who condones their wicked ways will have to answer for their wrong decisions on judgment day.

            The financial plan of God is understood only by the spiritual mind—that is why Jesus said Luke 18:27 “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”  It would take real faith to believe God and trust Him.  Jesus told a story involving direct communication with the afterlife.  The rich man was actually in Hell.  God does not want anyone to go there, but everyone to repent and trust Him in faith—not only for money, but for everything.

            To enter Heaven, the rich man, Lazarus, or anyone, would have to commit their life to God and place a believing faith in the Atonement of Christ.  This includes trusting God for healing without drugs or prescriptions; trusting God for daily financial needs without laid-up financial resources; and trusting God for all other faith issues.  We are to eliminate all laid-up money and transfer that trust to God alone. 

            Lazarus trusted God, but the rich man did not.  Both men had passed away as the story opens.  Luke 16:22-24 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”

            The rich man recognizes Abraham, but Abraham had to reply “Remember, my child, that you had all your good things during your lifetime, and that Lazarus in like manner had his bad things.”  The rich man never learned to trust God.  “But, now and here, [Lazarus] is receiving consolation and you are in agony [tormented].”

            Lazarus had learned to trust God on earth, so is now in peace in Heaven.  The rich man did not trust God on earth, because he had laid-up assets in possessions, so he is suffering the worst fate possible in Hell.  26 “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

            Hell is an actual place of eternal torture; but there is an escape—believe God and trust in faith on the One He sent.  The rich man’s brothers needed to be warned, so Abraham said 30, "‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'  ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'”  The rich man did not listen, so his brothers would not either.  God’s Word is ample warning for anyone—if they want to know.  31 "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

            The rich man has suffered in Hell from that day to this, and is no closer to the end than when he began.  It is too horrible to even think about—suffering for millions of years and never reaching an end—ever!  The solution is so simple—if the rich man, or anyone, will take God at His Word and trust on the Atonement of Christ, they will not go there—God promises!  1 John 5:13 ”These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may [continue to] believe on the name of the Son of God.”

            The story is about a man who was not trusting God for money, so he was not able to trust him for eternal life either.  Continuing to trust on the Blood sacrifice of Jesus—for health, healing, protection, provisions, wisdom, money, and everything else involving faith—while we are living here on earth—is a salvation issue.

            Money matters are vital issues involving faith—that is why Jesus promised Matthew 19:29 ”And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”