Your Money or Your Life?

By Rev. Kevin L. Taylor
September 9, 2001

I. A Case of Unmistaken Identity

A. Text: Matthew 19:16-22

B. This man had three worldly things going for him:

1. Matthew declares that he was young.
2. Luke declares that he was a ruler.
3. Both Gospels declare that he was rich.

C. These three things are of great importance in the world: youth, wealth and authority. It’s what our society is obsessed about, these three.

D. The sad thing is that this young man was not willing to give up any of these for the gift of eternal life.

E. Let’s talk in more detail about money as it is important that God has promised wealth to the believer.

II. Money Talks

A. Let’s talk about money; riches; wealth.

B. God promises wealth to the spiritually healthy.

C. Deuteronomy 8:18 declares that we must remember the Lord, God, because it is He that gives us the power to get wealth! Why would He do that? Because of the remainder of that verse which declares that He gives us the power to get wealth in order to establish His covenant.

D. Ecclesiastes 5:19 promises that every one that God gives riches and wealth to should rejoice in Him, as this is a gift from God!

E. You may ask, "then why would Jesus ask the rich young ruler to give away all that he had in order to follow Him, if riches come from God?"

F. The answer is two-fold. First of all, this young man had not yet committed his life to Christ. Therefore, the riches he had obtained up to that point were not from God. Rather he obtained those riches through wordly gain.

G. Secondly, he did not have those riches...those riches had him!

H. The Word of God warns of riches that control us rather than us controlling them. Remember, money is not the root of all evil, the love of money is! There’s nothing wrong with money. What is wrong is, us and how we deal with money! (I Timothy 6:10)

I. Ecclesiastes 10:19 declares that, "money answereth all things!"

III. Scriptural Warnings Against the Love of Money

A. Loving Money Causes One to Forget His Love for God!

Deuteronomy 8:10-14, “When thou has eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when they herds and thy flocks multiply and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God...”

B. Loving Money Causes Greed!

(a) Greed speaks of covetousness. When one is greedy, he can never appreciate what he already has. One must always learn to be grateful for what he already has in order to receive more.

(b) Psalm 62:10, “...if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

(c) Where do your affections lie? Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

(d) “Seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Luke 12:31

C. Loving Money Endangers Ones Integrity

Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” (NIV) The KJV states, that those who seek to get rich quick will not be innocent. If your goal is get rich, get rich, get rich, then your focus is on wealth and riches, not on God. And you are asking for trouble.

D. Loving Money Will Hinder Your Entrance Into the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus promised that it is harder for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23). He did not say it was impossible, he said it was harder.

E. Loving Money Will Result in Spiritual Barrenness in One’s Life

Jesus spoke of sowing seed and how that if we attempt to sow the Word in our life among thorns then, as Mark 4:19 declares, “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

F. Loving Money Will Subject You to Powerful Temptations

I Timothy 6:6-12, "...godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

G. So, the love of money and the love of wealth are doomed for destruction. But, God still allows us to receive wealth as long as He is our God and the wealth is not!