WHAT TO DO WITH MONEY: THE RIGHT THINGS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What To Do With Money
a) What can you do with money? Well the first thing that comes to mind is that you can buy stuff with it. You can buy food, clothing, shelter, fuel, transport, medicine, education, tools, entertainment, a rose bush for your garden, a ring for your betrothed. If you've got enough money, you can buy a skyscraper, an airplane or your own pacific island. However, that's not what this is all about. We are looking more deeply at what we can do with money.
2. The Right Things
a) Do earn it
i) There are four ways to get money. You can earn it, steal it, be given it, or find it. The most honorable of these is to earn it, "performing with your own hands what is good" (Ephesians 4:28) Many people look for ways to get money without working for it or having legitimate entitlement to it.
b) Do forgo it
i) Lots of people are out there going for money, but a surprising number are actually forgoing it. They work hard for no money. These include mothers at home, community volunteers, and those who privately teach, advise, and encourage others without charge. Many preachers also work very hard, often for little or no monetary reward. Paul was one of these (1 Corinthians 9:12-18). If the good folk who do so much voluntary work suddenly quit and demanded pay for their time and labor, our society would collapse. It does not hurt us to do some work without monetary reward.
c) Do render it
i) "Render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's due," said Jesus (Luke 20:25). Paul says, "Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due, revenue to whom revenue is due" (Romans 13:7). The Christian who is trying to avoid paying his bills and taxes, is no Christian at all. "Rendering to all what is due" can include dues which may not be demanded with legal notices. For example, rendering to one's parents what is due them in their old age (l Timothy 5:4).
d) Do share it
i) Jesus said, "Make friends for yourselves with the mammon of unrighteousness" (Luke 16:9). Money should be considered "something to share with one who has need" (Ephesians 4:28).
e) Do offer it
i) Of course every lesson on money has to end with an exhortation to give generously to the Lord, doesn't it? The church does not take up collections because it is greedy. It does so because the Lord commands it (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The motive is need, not greed. With regard to "tithes and contributions" the Bible asks, "Will a man rob God?" (Malachi 3:8-9). Paul reminds us that "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The End ...
1. What To Do With Moneya) What can you do with money? Well the first thing that comes to mind is that you can buy stuff with it. You can buy food, clothing, shelter, fuel, transport, medicine, education, tools, entertainment, a rose bush for your garden, a ring for your betrothed. If you've got enough money, you can buy a skyscraper, an airplane or your own pacific island. However, that's not what this is all about. We are looking more deeply at what we can do with money.
2. The Right Things
a) Do earn it
i) There are four ways to get money. You can earn it, steal it, be given it, or find it. The most honorable of these is to earn it, "performing with your own hands what is good" (Ephesians 4:28) Many people look for ways to get money without working for it or having legitimate entitlement to it.
b) Do forgo it
i) Lots of people are out there going for money, but a surprising number are actually forgoing it. They work hard for no money. These include mothers at home, community volunteers, and those who privately teach, advise, and encourage others without charge. Many preachers also work very hard, often for little or no monetary reward. Paul was one of these (1 Corinthians 9:12-18). If the good folk who do so much voluntary work suddenly quit and demanded pay for their time and labor, our society would collapse. It does not hurt us to do some work without monetary reward.
c) Do render it
i) "Render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's due," said Jesus (Luke 20:25). Paul says, "Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due, revenue to whom revenue is due" (Romans 13:7). The Christian who is trying to avoid paying his bills and taxes, is no Christian at all. "Rendering to all what is due" can include dues which may not be demanded with legal notices. For example, rendering to one's parents what is due them in their old age (l Timothy 5:4).
d) Do share it
i) Jesus said, "Make friends for yourselves with the mammon of unrighteousness" (Luke 16:9). Money should be considered "something to share with one who has need" (Ephesians 4:28).
e) Do offer it
i) Of course every lesson on money has to end with an exhortation to give generously to the Lord, doesn't it? The church does not take up collections because it is greedy. It does so because the Lord commands it (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The motive is need, not greed. With regard to "tithes and contributions" the Bible asks, "Will a man rob God?" (Malachi 3:8-9). Paul reminds us that "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
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