March 10, 2024
Rich Toward God
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
“A black hole is a dense, compact object whose gravitational pull is so strong that – within a certain distance of it – nothing can escape, not even light” – Science.nasa.gov
Money can be a black hole that sucks us in and doesn’t let our light out.
Luke 12:13-14 NIV
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
Luke 12:15 NIV
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Jesus is really concerned that we live our lives for eternity more than now.
1 Timothy 6:6 NIV
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:7 NIV
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
1 Timothy 6:8 NIV
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:9 NIV
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:10 NIV
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Money can actually lead to an eternity separated from Christ.
Luke 12:16-21 NIV
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
How do we guard our hearts against the gravitational power of money?
2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Generous giving is the antidote to greed.
2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
God has blessed us so that we can have our needs met and meet other’s needs!
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.