LESSON 5

TRUE WEALTH IS ONLY IN JESUS

MATERIALISM:

NOT GIVING TO GOD FIRST IN THIS LIFE

II PETER 3

We will be hiking the great passages describing MONEY, POSSESSIONS AND ETERNITY.

1. OWNERSHIP: Giving to God All in this Life

2. STEWARDSHIP: Giving to God His in this Life

3. MATERIALISM: GIVING TO GOD FIRST IN THIS LIFE

4. CONTENTMENT: Giving to God A Place in this Life

As a believer the Bible has given me an insider’s knowledge. There is the coming of an eventual major upheaval in the worldwide social and economic situation. All the currency of the world-its money, possessions, fashions, and whims-will be worthless at our death or Christ’s return, both of which are imminent. This should utterly change our investment strategy.

For you and me to expend the most precious time and energies we have building up more and more wealth and possessions is foolish. In face of the inevitable future storing vast sums of money for some future day is equivalent to rushing out to hoard Confederate money on the day before Sherman took the South.

To place all our hope of the future life we have on Earth in money, despite our awareness of it worthlessness, is to betray a basic ignorance or unbelief in the Scriptures.

Kingdom currency, backed by the eternal treasury, is the only medium of exchange recognized by the Son of God, whose government will last forever.

The currency of His Kingdom is our present faithful service and sacrificial use of our resources for Him. The payoff in eternity will be “a sure foundation,” consisting of treasures beyond our wildest dreams.

Greed is demonstrated in POSSESSIVENESS (selfishness WITH WHAT WE HAVE) and COVETOUSNESS (longing for what we don’t have). Remember coveting is like idolatry just as hate amounts to murder in

I John 3:15

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that

no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

and lust amounts.

to adultery in Mat 5:28.

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust

after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Please join me in II Peter 3

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both

which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before

by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles

 of the Lord and Saviour:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,

 walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the

heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;

 but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1. MATERIALISM CLOUDS OUR MINDS – KEEP ALERT: This should

Encourage a Godly Life; Live Christ-like v. 10-11 2 Peter 3:10-18 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,

the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up

11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness

2. MATERIALISM CLUTTERS OUR LIVES – BUILD FIREPROOF: This should Discourage Materialism and encourage us to Live expectantly 2 Peter 3:12-13

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

3. MATERIALISM CLOUDS OUR EYES – LOOK UP: This should Develop an Expectant Life; Live Purely 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

4. MATERIALISM CLOUDS OUR BIBLES – STUDY THE BOOK: This should help us to Guard our heart and encourage us to Live maturely

 2 Peter 3:17

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

5. MATERIALISM CLOUDS OUR WILLS – OBEY JESUS: This should

encourage us to Grow Spiritually and to Live Growingly 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

The man of pseudo-faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a

company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day. A. W. Tozer

A STUDY OF THE SEVEN KEYS TO PROTECT CONTENTMENT FROM

I TIMOTHY 6:

1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them,

because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things

teach and exhort.

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and

strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil

surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of

the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw

thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we

can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 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.

10 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.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 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.

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all

 things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate

witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable,

until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and

only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no

man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see:

to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,

 nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us

richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to

distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against

the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding

 profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely

so called:

21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace

be with thee. Amen. (The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.)

1. Remember things are only temporary v.7.

2. Only seek necessities; wait for the rest v.8.

3. Avoid a consuming desire for prosperity v.9-10.

4. Flee materialism v.11.

5. Cling to eternal life v.12-16.

6. Fix your hope on God v.17.

7. Give until it hurts v.18.

JACOB: GIVEN TO THE LORD

To be a Christian is to surrender oneself to Jesus Christ, repenting of sin, believing on Him, and beginning to follow Him as one’s Master. It continues here because Jesus calls us to a life of discipleship, which means serving Him as Lord

of our entire life. It ends here because Christians must persevere in their original calling to the very end. Some years ago I heard a prominent member of a board of directors of an organization say, “To be a good board member you should be able to give one of three things: time, talent, or wealth.” That is good worldly

wisdom. But a Christian will do better. A Christian will give everything he or she is or has to Jesus Christ.

Right here is why so many believers know so little about the grace of giving.

They know the gospel. They believe it. But they have not really given themselves to God, at least wholeheartedly. They are like Jacob when he stood on the banks of the Jabbok on the edge of Esau’s territory. Twenty years earlier he had cheated his brother out of his father Isaac’s blessing. Esau had threatened to kill him, and he had been forced to flee across the desert to live with his uncle Laban. As the twenty years passed, he gradually forgot about

Esau’s threats. But when he finally left Laban to return home and was getting close to where Esau lived, he began to remember Esau and became very afraid.

What if Esau had not forgotten? What if he was still determined to kill him?

When Jacob got to the edge of Esau’s territory, he decided to send a servant ahead of him to tell Esau he was coming and get a feeling for how he would most likely be received. The servant came back with the report, “Esau … is coming to

meet you, and four hundred men are with him” (Gen. 32:6). To Jacob this was a vast army, and he could only assume the worst. He had to believe that Esau was going to attack him and his small band of servants. So he divided his company into two parts, saying, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape” (v. .

Ah, but what if he was in the group Esau attacked? As Jacob thought it over he decided that something more drastic was necessary. He decided to appease Esau with gifts. He took two hundred female goats and sent them ahead of him

across the barren terrain toward Esau and his approaching army. He put a servant in charge of the goats and gave him these instructions: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is

coming behind us”‘ (vv. 17-18).

After he had sent the servant with the female goats, Jacob sent another servant with twenty male goats, giving him the same instructions. He said to himself, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead” (v. 20). After that he sent: female camels with their young, followed By Forty Cows, ten Bulls, twenty

Female Donkeys, and ten male donkeys. Each of these groups of animals was tended by a servant who was to tell Esau that the animals were a present from Jacob to him. It was a hilarious picture; all the possessions of Jacob strung out across the desert in-groups moving toward Esau.

He went even further. After he had dispatched the animals, he sent his family ahead, choosing Leah, the least favored wife, to go first together with her children, then Rachel, the favored wife, with her children. And there at last, with his family and possessions sent ahead of him across the desert toward Esau, was Jacob. He was standing on the edge of the Jabbok, all alone and trembling.

I suppose that if he had known the hymn Christians sing, he might have sung, “I surrender all … all the goats, all the sheep, all the

camels, all the cows, all the bulls, all the donkeys, even my wives and children.”

But he had not surrendered himself. The text says, “So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp” (v. 21).

That night the angel of God came and wrestled with him and brought him to the point of personal surrender. Maybe the angel needs to wrestle with you.

• You have been stingy in your support of the Lord’s work, giving only as much as you felt compelled to give.

• When the Lord pressed the claims of His work upon you, you responded by giving up a few goats.

• When he pressed you further you gave him a few sheep, then camels, then cows.

• You sang, “I surrender all the donkeys.” You were even willing to give your wife or husband or children.

• But you have never surrendered yourself. If you have not done that, you need to do it. You need to do it now. There is no substitute for giving yourself to the Lord. You will never know the joy of the grace of giving (or any other grace) until you do.