Sunday Sermon March 5th 2006 (Materialism)

If George Washington never told a lie, why is his picture on a bill that isn’t even worth a dollar?
As little Jimmy’s uncle was about to leave after a visit, he placed a crisp new dollar bill in his nephew’s hand, saying, “Be careful how you spend this, Jimmy. You know the old proverb, a fool and his money are soon parted.” To this the lad replied, I’ll remember what you said, Uncle Bill. But thanks anyway for parting with it!
When it comes to money and how we treat it in the church often times you can’t win. If you run after money you are materialistic. If you don’t get it you’re a loser. If you get it and keep it you are a miser. If you don’t try to get it, you lack ambition. If you get it and spend it, you are a spendthrift. If you still have it after a lifetime of work, you are a fool who never got any fun out of life. If you died with no money then you are someone who did not care for your family. Face it you can’t win.
A man’s treatment of money is the most decisive test of his character how he makes it and how he spends it.
Matthew 6:19-24
The Problem is materialism. Materialism = devotion to material wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values.
The world’s most successful door to door salesman was interviewed about what made him a success. He said it is all in the approach. When I approach a door and the lady of the house answers I say, “Madam, let me show you a little item your neighbors said you couldn’t afford…”
What Jesus says is where your treasure is there your heart will be also. The heart always follows what it treasures. What is most important to you is where your heart will go.
Materialism is enticing, but not satisfying. Mick Jaggar said it well when he crooned “I can’t get no satisfaction.”
Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth—except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!”
1 Timothy 6:9-11, “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”
Hebrews 13:5, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you”
The deadly part of materialism is that we are being controlled by something usually inanimate. Jesus is not against material possessions, but He is against you being controlled by material possessions. He is against the sum of your life, being measured by what you have.
Steps to deal with materialism
1.) Confess: Admit you have been materialistic. Then deal with it. Invite God to be the controlling influence of your life.
How do I know if I have been materialistic? Ask yourself what fills your dreams? What controls your financial decisions, faith for financial facts? How much do you give away? Is there any possession you are not willing to part with? Getting the picture? Confess it deal with it repent and invite God in to be the controlling influence in your life.
2.) To overcome materialism become generous.
Generosity is the one sure cure for materialism. Generosity shows that God has freedom to be in charge of your financial life. Generosity says anything at anytime can be given back to God because He gave it to me first.
Generosity for the Christian starts with tithing. George Barna states that only 1 of 8 of those who call themselves born-again believers tithe. On average he says born-again believers give an average of 2.5% of their income. The percentage of income Christians give has been declining for over 30 years. And dollar for dollar, people gave more in the great depression than today.
Any wonder why materialism has run amuck? God says, “prove out your trust in Me through the faithful giving of your tithe.” You overcome materialism by placing God first in your finances through tithes and generosity.
3.) Set a plan. A plan for increased generosity in your life.
A plan for managing your finances, rather than your finances managing you. And hold a regular check up in your financial life with God. God am I being materialistic? God is there something in my life I am holding too tightly?
One way they trap monkeys for the zoo is to place a shining metallic object in a long-necked jar tied to a tree. As monkeys swing through the trees, their eyes catch the reflection of the sun on the shining object. They reach into the jar grab the item easily enough, but when they try to bring their closed fists through the narrow openings, they can’t make it. To gain freedom, all the monkeys need to do is to let go of the worthless object. Instead, the monkeys sit by the jar holding onto the object until their captors arrive.
Perhaps there is something in your hand that is keeping from freedom. It is time to let it go. Don’t allow an inanimate object to be in the living, loving God of all Creation’s place in your life.