Christ's greatest challenger.

From a line-up of potential challengers to the Lord Jesus who would you choose as #1? Lucifer, Fame, Power, Sex and Money all are strong claimants. However, Jesus named just one of them as His greatest threat for the allegiance of individuals.

In Matthew 6:24 it is revealed as ‘Wealth’ (NRSV)! ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’

Christ’s words leave no wriggle room. History, Scripture and today’s media highlight the power, attraction and destructive power Mammon has over individuals, religious groups and corporations. When Mammon is life’s focal point it turns into a spiritual python whose embrace squeezes a person’s moral and life to death. As the Lord put it, Mammon will cause its devotee to despise God which takes him or her into hating God and His word.  Jesus also rankled the Pharisees with straight talking and parables about money Luke 12:13-21. 16:1-14. The first conflict in the fledgling church was due to Mammon’s embrace. Ananias and Sapphira tried to prove Christ’s words an empty threat and they became a tombstone testimony that what Jesus said is true (Acts5)!

Paul’s advice to Timothy which was to be passed onto those financially well off contained a warning and a challenge. 1 Timothy 6:10 is an unchanging truth ‘The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.’ The word for ‘eagerness’ is a picture of a person grasping after more and more of Mammon even though it is destroying health, family, friendships and faith. Prosperity preachers are breeding ‘pythons’ in their own lives and those who accept their teaching. The result is a wandering away and pierced with many pains!

There is a control mechanism presented in Scripture by which the Spirit of God uses to protect the life of a devoted disciple. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 uses such words as ‘set your hopes on God’, ‘Do good, [be] generous and ready to share’. The end result is ‘the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of life that really is life.’ I wonder if Paul was motivated to expand on what he had said in Acts 20:35 to the Ephesian elders, ‘The Lord Jesus…said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”’

The sorrow seen Mammon power dictating life’s priorities, relationships and friendships is deep and lasting. Friends cut asunder when a lottery is won but not shared. Testimonies shatters and churches wrecked because the collection was siphoned. How many relationships destroyed in bitter battles over dispersal of money from a deceased estate! The list can go on and on. Those countries whose leaders amass large amounts of money whilst their people starve and beg for help. Such leaders and others need to think on Matthew 16:26: ‘What will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?’ An eternity of regret awaits. What is the good of having the largest bank balance when you are under a tombstone?

Jesus summed up His teaching on this matter with “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness…” It is this personal priority and accepting the cross of discipleship and stewardship will ‘Wealth’ be a servant not a god. The cross slays the ‘python’! A heart set on God’s kingdom keeps the heart focused.  It is better to be the widow of the two mites (Luke 21:2) unsung, unknown by any but Jesus than rich, religious and ruled by Mammon. To the rich whose focus in God’s rule and bear their cross, their wealth becomes a good work to meet the needy, suffering and afflicted. It is these acts of grace which honour to Christ, receive His commendation and become part of their treasure in Heaven!

Ray Hawkins March 19 2017.

Bible Fools#2. Rich, Self-centred and Senseless

The musical group ‘Abba’ sang it. Untold millions want it. ‘Money, Money, Money.’ That song could well be the anthem of the soul. It certainly must be for Prosperity teachers, Mafia cartels and other unscrupulous people. The Head of the Christian Church, Jesus, had a lot to say about money. He didn’t dispute the need for it but He certainly showed the human heart’s fascination addiction and corruption to it

In the Parable of the rich farmer (Luke 12:16-21) Jesus put things about riches in perspective. The unnamed farmer (therefore it could apply to any of us.) had just reaped an abundant crop. His elation and bank account seemed to take over his senses. His eyes saw ‘gold’ and more of it so he planned to build bigger storage sheds and to enjoy the party life.

One major crisis would ruin all his selfish plans. In the parable God called him a fool, the word means senseless one. Why? Because that very night the farmer became a death statistic! There are however, other reasons I believe behind why Jesus portrayed the farmer as senseless. I would simply like to list them.

1. In Israel under the covenant arrangements the nation, therefore the individual, occupied the land as tenants. No other piece of ground and nation has been earmarked by the Lord God. In Joel 2:18 (and elsewhere) the Land is called ‘His (God’s) land’. Therefore the farmer was a tenant and therefore should have considered his obligation to the owner. He had a duty to offer ten percent (the agreed sum) back to God. It never seemed to enter the farmer’s mind. There’s a lesson in there surely for us to heed.

2. This newly rich man could only think about more storage for more produce. Then he could party more and be self indulgent. However one of the principles of God’s word was not to forget the poor and needy. From out of his abundance others’ needs could be satisfied. The Bible is saturated with such injunctions and commands. The farmer wasn’t interested. His navel’s passions occupied his mind. God was offended again. ‘Who cares’, may well have been the man’s attitude.

3. He must have had a sense of good health and young enough not to be concerned about death. Diagnostic services weren’t anywhere as good as ours in his day but even in our time death still can strike unawares. Rich he was but he wasn’t lord of his life. Senseless he was, although a good farmer and business man, for he had no time or place for God and God’s commands. Now this unnamed ‘tycoon’ of Israel would stand accountable before the Lord God Almighty.

Money is an honourable servant. It is however, a heartless and voracious tyrant when it rules the heart and drives the will. It makes people senseless to goodness, integrity the needs of others. It also kills the sense of accountability to God. We all need to remember those things. It is also worthwhile to understand there isn’t any prize at the end of time for being the richest person in the graveyard.

Jesus urged His hearers to seek first the Kingdom of God. Only then will Money or ‘Mammon’ be tamed. The Bible uses the term ‘filthy Lucre in reference to money. Why? Not because of the material from which it is made but by what it breeds in the soul. Only a heart and mind with higher motives, a sense of discipline and integrity will prevent money and its offspring from polluting one’s life. The Lord also called people to build up treasure in heaven, not simply to focus on the earthly realm. Money has no hope of being transferred from one’s bank account into Heaven’s vault. It has to be transformed into Heaven’s currency by meeting the needs of others and honouring the Name of the Lord Jesus.

The Scriptures uphold the Lord Jesus’ teaching which will make you wise regarding life and Truth. He has no pleasure in seeing men and women wearing for all eternity the description ‘Senseless’.

Corruption's Curse

I was going into a shop in Newcastle some years ago. Next door was a pub. As I went into the shop I noticed a man trying to talk a pretty young woman into joining him in the hotel. I hoped she refused. After a short time purchasing some gifts I was again on the street. The same man was there talking to another woman. She was not very much older the the previous one I'd seen but very weather worn, dishevelled and uncouth. Before my eyes it seemed as if I had seen the years of a woman compressed into minutes. A type of before and after on the theme of corruption’s devastation!

In the case above the destroying power was alcohol. The young imagine they can handle the effects, the atmosphere and the company. The future history of the many is a corrupted body and an addicted soul. Ultimately the result is a wasted life. Sure, the Lord Jesus can rescue such people. He can not return the wasted years, money or health. To me the case of the two women was a story about corruption's curse regardless of its source.

Across the globe well meaning men and women are calling for Justice on behalf of the exploited and abused. Nations, especially those with a Christian influence rise up to offer aid to victims of Nature’s ferocity. What do we ultimately discover? Some ‘vultures’ in positions of power siphon off material, goods and money for their own use. They don’t show any compassion for their own country men, women or children. Years of corruption had hardened their hearts. In reality it made them traitors to humanity. The idol they worship has turned them into fiends not friends of their countrymen.

The idol of the corrupt has many names. I wonder if they even realise they are devotees to such a spiritual identity. Jesus called it Mammon or money. (Matthew 6:24) This foul fiend is the greatest rival to the person and claims of Jesus Christ. Why? In part because its appeal is to selfish security rather than faith in Christ’s grace.It is the appeal of 'now' rather than accountability 'tomorrow'. Yet money and materialism are so fickle. A global financial crisis or tsunami can so easily destroy such gain. Death has no ‘pockets’ for a corpse’s spirit to take things beyond the grave.

In a parable of a rich man Jesus said he was a ‘fool’. Why? Because the man had amassed wealth but was poverty stricken towards the Lord God. The man was a fool because at the heights of his success he was to die. He had no treasure in heaven, no faith in a Saviour, no authority to be accepted into heaven. (Luke 12:13-21. 16:19-31)

Lest Christians think they are immune to this idol’s corrupting influence the bible offers strong warnings. ‘The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.’ (1 Timothy 6:10)

Idolatry’s corruptive power is best combated and controlled by obedient devotion to Jesus Christ. The quote ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ is true whether or not a person is a Christian. Why? Because by such behaviour you are the master of mammon, not its slave. In giving you bless others and experience responses money cannot buy. In so doing men, women and children will honour your name. For Christians however there is an even higher motive. No, it isn’t to win favour with God. It is an opportunity to honour Him by stewardship of resources to others in Jesus Name. In doing that mammon crumbles into powerlessness in our lives.

The corrupt who prey on others may gain the whole world but at what cost. To be a lost soul cut off from the presence of God forever. Corruption will impede justice and truth but will ultimately be self destroying. The best defence against mammon’s corrupting disguises is personal righteousness flowing from a relationship with the righteous Christ Jesus.

The bible promises a time to come wherein the world will be governed by righteousness, justice and truth. To enjoy it then with Christ Jesus requires us to practices it now.