Mastering Mammon

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A Tale of Two Masters

Matthew 6:24 KJV 1900
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Money is not evil. Money is no more evil that food, sleep or sex. Each of these things can be sources of blessing, or if and when used incorrectly can be sources of great evil.
Food is good, but beware your enjoyment does not turn to gluttony. Rest is wonderful, but beware of slothfulness. Sex is a wonderful blessing with marriage, but beware sexual immorality.
Money can and has been used by God and God’s people for wonderful things. Money can be a gift from God.
Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV 1900
18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Why would God give us strengths, talents and opportunities to gain wealth, if wealth were an evil thing? No, there is no inherit evil in money at all.
But like all things that are given to us by God, it does require careful stewardship. Anything that God gives us is buta gift that belings toi God, yet is ours to enjoy.
Parents are stewards of their children. Leaders are stewards of their ministry. Christians are stewards of the Gospel.
Whatever God gives you, that you are a steward of.
God has given you the ability to get wealth. That wealth requires careful stewardship.

The Danger of Mammon

If you are unfaithful in your management of money, then all sorts of terrible evil comes to you.
1 Timothy 6:10 KJV 1900
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.
Stabbed many times. With money you will get stabbed. Stabbed in the heart by people you love. Stabbed in the back by people you trusted. Stabbed in the neck by people who want it.
You see, the danger is that people begin to make the fatal mistake of trusting in the money.
1 Timothy 6:17 KJV 1900
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;
Because one you trust in it, well then you serve it. It becomes your Idol. Thats why coveting (which is the love of money) is simply called Idolatry.
Ephesians 5:5 KJV 1900
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Examples of Mammons Minions

balaam
Deuteronomy 23:4 KJV 1900
4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
Achan
Joshua 7:20–21 KJV 1900
20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:1–10 KJV 1900
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Judas Iscariot
Matthew 26:14–16 KJV 1900
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
What do all these people have in n common? They served money.

How to Get money?

Well before i can tell you the biblical means of acquiring wealth let me tell you what the bible says about the wrong way to get money.

1: Theft

Exodus 20:15 KJV 1900
15 Thou shalt not steal.

2: Socialism or communism.

Proverbs 1:10–15 KJV 1900
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; And whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; Let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:
Also Socialism is al about coveting your neighbour. You want what your neighbour has.
Exodus 20:17 KJV 1900
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

3: Fraud

Leviticus 19:13 KJV 1900
13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

4: Gambeling

Matthew 16:26 KJV 1900
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
So what, according to the bible is the only legitimate way to obtain wealth?

1: The free market of trade aka capitalism.

Were people are free to sell and buy and trade without any governmental or corporate restrictions.
1 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

2: Inheritance

Proverbs 13:22 KJV 1900
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

3: A Gift freely given

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 KJV 1900
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

What do we spend our hard earned money on?

Money earned is free to be spent, but i will just say this: Because God gave you your money, and you are stewards of it, money must be used in a God honouring way.
Let mew give you some tips:

1: For the Work of God’s kingdom.

Galatians 6:6 KJV 1900
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Galatians 6:6 NLT
6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
Proverbs 3:9–10 KJV 1900
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Malachi 3:8 KJV 1900
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
You are, biblically required to honor God by bringing your first fruits to the place where you fellowship.

2: The Support of your Family

1 Timothy 5:8 KJV 1900
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
This is the primary motive NOT to set on your backside and do nothing, especially for a man. This verse is directed at the man, who is to be the provider for his family.
Now i know we live in a sexist world where men are almost entirely excluded from job opportunities, especially white and colord men. but i dont care if you only bring in R5 but your wife brings in R5million, you have a responsibility to bring in that R5.

3: Benefiting the poor and needy.

Galatians 6:10 KJV 1900
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Charity is not a command it is an opportunity. An opportunity to bless others through your blessing.
Luke 6:38 KJV 1900
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Bottom Line: Money in the hand is a blessing. Money in the heart is a curse.
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