Matt. 6:19-24 NLT - ¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

²² “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. ²³ But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

Rev. 13:16-17 NLT - ¹⁶ He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. ¹⁷ And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. 

1 Tim. 6:6-10 NLT - ⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. ⁷ After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. ⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. ⁹ But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Pray like this:

“Dear God, forgive me for being selfish, prideful and covetous. Please forgive me for listening to the unholy spirit of mammon. Lord, I ask You to break that spirit off of me, my family and my descendants. Help me, from this day forward, to be a generous person that partners with You to advance the kingdom of God.” 

Big Idea:

What people think: Jesus or the church just want my money.

The truth: Jesus doesn’t want your money, He wants your heart. 

1. It’s not about the money, it's about the heart.

Mark 12:41-44 NLT - ⁴¹ Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. ⁴³ Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. ⁴⁴ For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

2. Jesus doesn’t ask for my money, He asks for my Surrender.

Luke 18:18-23 NLT - ¹⁸ Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. ²⁰ But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.” ²¹ The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” ²² When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²³ But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

1 Tim. 6:17 NLT - ¹⁷ Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment

3. Giving is not a Burden, It’s a Blessing.

Acts 20:35 NLT – And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Tim. 6:18-19 NLT - ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Attitudes Toward Wealth

• Gratitude

• Contentment

• Generosity

Luke 12:15 NLT - Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

4. God Gave First.

Heb. 13:5 NIV - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

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