A blank cheque from God (2 Chronicles 1 :1-12)

Introduction:

Just imagine that as we came this morning, the president of the republic, had just sent a cheque to Mount Zion Boko with no amount. We just need to fill the amount and we can collect anywhere because there are resources for that. That is what is called a blank cheque. It is like saying name any amount and it will be yours.

I have always been very careful when I have to sign blank cheques. Because what it means is that, the person with the cheque can collect any sum of money from my account just by filling it. I have signed blank cheques ones in a Credit union, but I made sure that we signed an agreement on how and when they can use the blank cheques.

Another thing worth noting is that the cheque can only be collected if there are funds in my account. If there is nothing in the account, you cannot collect anything. If we heard the president signed a blank cheque for us we would be happy because we are sure there is provision in the bank for that cheque, but if a poor farmer gives you a blank cheque you will surely ask questions whether there is money in the account for it. But today we are talking about a blank cheque from God. The one who owns all the cattle in the hills, the silver and gold. How will it sound to you if He gives you a blank cheque?

God has a blank cheque for us Christians. He did it in the life of King Solomon and He has promised us today. He is God, He never changes, He remains the same. The same mighty provider of old is the mighty provider for today.

But How can we receive God’s blank cheque?

1-    You have to please God v1

To please God you must live a Holy life because God is Holy. Heb 12:14. God was with Solomon, that is why His kingdom was strengthen and God magnified him exceedingly. God made Solomon Great because He pleased God.

But it had not yet come to the point of explosion. God had not yet given him a blank cheque to fill. You may be thinking that you have already reached. But let me tell you that when God will touch you, what you use to think were blessings will be incomparable with what you receive from God. He lifts us from Glory to Glory every time as we trust in Him more.

No one can give more than God! For one thing: while we were yet sinners He died for us.

2-    You have to give in such a way as to touch the heart of God V2

The Bible says Solomon gathered the Judges, the governors, the captains, the chief of the fathers in all their categories to give an offering to the Lord. This man new the love of God and so was responding to the love that was poured upon Him.

How I wish, people will gather in groups like that in this church to make a love offering to the Lord this harvest thanksgiving. Farmers of Mt Zion Boko, Teachers of Mt Zion Boko, Security officers of Mt Zion Boko, Women of virtue, men of valour, Zealous youths and Heads of families.

The other time we were planning for the harvest thanks giving, I said our prayer cells will have their own day for harvest thanks giving and some of us frowned at me.

But this is the kind of giving that touches God’s heart. It shows how grateful we are to God. Solomon brought thousands of burn offerings to God.

If this morning I came here and found out that there were thousands of birds and thousands of buckets of food: harvested plantains, cassava, water melon etc for thanks giving to God. How pleased will God be? Such a giving can only come out of love not from pressure; not from manipulation but people who know where they come from. People who know where they are compared to where they were. If you can realize the love of God; how it was lavished upon us who believe, taking us from enemies, rebellious people to be called children of God today; members of God’s house hold.

Two weeks ago I shared with you how men give generously to their would-be wife. A man will be willing to give to the father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and then empty his pocket for his would-be-wife when he visit them. He may return home by foot because he even emptied up to his transport fare. But if you ask him why, he’ll reply “It’s love!” He will not tell you he is sacrificing neither will he tell you he has been forced or that he fills bad. No! He will tell you with Joy that he gave all that because he loves the would-be wife. This is the kind of love God wants us to exercise when we come to give Him thanks giving. Not sacrificial but graciously.

A pastor shared with us a story of a woman who harvested corn from her farm and packed them in groups of 10. One of the group was having only big grains of corn and she took another group and added to this group of big grains, then carried them to God for her harvest. That is grace giving!! That was not tithe but grace giving. Some of us spend our time using mathematics to see what we give to God. Who can justly calculate this 10%? Many of the Christians today give their 1% and call it 10% not just because they do not know how to calculate but because they want to remain in the old way giving rather than moving to the New way as the New testament teaches us.

Some years ago a poor widow who had surely nothing to eat, perhaps she left that morning and only managed to dry clean her only loin with no oil in the house, no vegetables in the house and rushed to the temple for worship. She did not go to the temple to worship God because she was blessed with much but just that she had her life to live. That was enough. When she realized how good God is to her in giving her life, in giving her salvation despite her poverty, she untie her loin and dropped her last two little coins in the basket giving her 100% . The Lord of harvest was there watching! Even though rich people were giving lots of money into the basket, The Lord who sees the heart was standing beside. He look at this woman and used her for discipleship lesson. He told his disciples to learn from this woman. “Look, this woman has given more than any other person in this place” (Lk 21:1-4) She gave her all and her heart was lifted with joy. She was not forced but out of Joy she gave gracefully.

But what happens when we give gracefully to God?

3-    God responds because we cannot out give God V7

God asked Solomon in his dream that same night, “Ask what I shall give you”. Just tell me what I should give you, and all will be yours. The God who owns all the thousand cows on the mountains, He who owns everything in the Universe including you and your property. You are just a care taker.

God gave Solomon a blank cheque to write on. I do not know what you would have written if you were in his shoes. Some of us would have asked God to kill all our enemies. Others will want to have the kind of clothes others have. Hey women!!!!!

Abraham was called God’s friend because he gave even the only child God gave him at his old age. Last week muslims were celebrating the feast of the ram but I wonder if they really exercise what Abraham did. This man, at 100 yrs was given the lone child and not long the same giver ask him; Abraham take that child who is so dear to you, the only son you have whom you have been expecting since and give him as a sacrifice to me. The Bible says nothing and I’m sure Abraham did not tell his wife about the request. He took Isaac and wood to the hill. I can see the child asking Dad, we have the wood, we have the knife but where is the ram? Abraham says; son, God will provide! There at the hill he takes the sons hands and tie, and the son tells him Dad, tie my legs well so that I will not shake when you cut my throat.

Is some one understanding? Some 2000 yrs ago the son of man did the same on the cross of calvary for you and for me. The Father said I love these people whom I created with my own hands but they sinned. I want to sacrifice you for their sins and the son willingly went to the cross to give us life. The Bible says He was humble and He humbled himself even unto death. All these because he loves you and me. Do you understand why you should be grateful? What can you give to God that will pay what he did for your life?

Abraham did not pay for any Ram for sacrifice. When he carried his knife up to kill his son because He knew the God He was serving, the voice came from heaven. Do not lay your hand on the child Abraham, look beside you there is a Ram for your sacrifice. The angel of God told him, now I know that you fear God Gen 22:12. The second time the angel gave him the word of God in Gen 22:16-18. Because you have done this to me, in blessing, I will bless you, in multiplying I will multiply you… Abraham gave his dearest thing to God and God gave him a blank cheque.

4-    God still gives blank cheques John 14:14;  2 Chr1:V 11-12

If you ask anything in the name of Jesus, He says he will do it for you. But there is a condition. He was saying this to his followers. To people who have accepted Him as Lord and savior and who are doing his will. The first thing is to be transformed, and as a Christian love God with all your heart because God first loved us. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave…” If you are a true child of God, you will love Him and you will give for his ministry and missions happily not grudgingly.

You will not be waiting for people to create opportunities for you to give but you will find opportunities to show love because of what God has done in your life. You will give like the poor widow who emptied her all. You will not rely on your mathematical formula of what percentage do I have to give, but you will give graciously.

Then when you shall ask God, He will give you everything you ask. You see Solomon did not ask God for money but God gave him wealth. He asked for God to empower him so that he can serve his people. Out of wisdom, God gave him wealth. He did not ask for God to kill his enemies. Do you ask God to bless you so that you can be a blessing? Or you ask God so that you can compare with others? Have you given your life to Christ? If not, you have not yet reached the point to give in a way that will touch God’s heart because it starts by giving yourself to God through Christ. Then you can be expecting a blank cheque from the one who owns everything in the universe. The goodnews is that you still have an opportunity now that you are living. Hurry now that is day because the night is soon coming when you will have no chance. You can only touch Gods heart if you first give your life to Christ. I do not want you to give your offering in the basket if you have not yet accepted Christ in your life. It is of no use receiving your money. It will do no change in your life. I want you to bow down your head and think about your relationship with God. Ask him to forgive you, recognize how sinful you are, ask Jesus to come into your life. Tell somebody about what you have just done. Christ will bring you liberty in everything even in your giving! Shalom!

Characters of a true church (Christian) :Ephesians (4:1-6)

INTRODUCTION

You will be wondering why I choose the topic the character of a true Christian on a Pastor’s love Sunday like this. But I believe that a true Christian will know all that it takes to love. A true Christian will show unity amongst brethren and this can only come out of love. And you cannot say you want to celebrate pastor’s love Sunday if you do not know what it means to love. You’ll agree with me that “If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?” 1Cor 9:11.

I believe you will show your love to the pastor today if you were truly blessed by his stay with us. Someone said to me like a baby that pastors do not need to be paid because they are working for God. Vs 14 of 1Cor 9 says “Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel” The same thing is said in Gal 6:6-10; That God is not mocked. You’ll reap what you sow. It is not because the pastors seek or look for your gifts, it is because they want the fruits that increases for your account Philippians 4:17 reminds us of that.

And finally your last reminder is that “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching”1Tim 5:17

NOW I TAKE YOU TO THE CHRACTERS OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN (TRUE CHURCH)

I know a man who was called in a village fund raising ceremony in Yaounde some years ago. He was called “The president of the Youth Association”! The man changed again and pronounced it in French; then asked the people to clap for the president as he was coming. This man adjusted his tie before getting up, searched for some heavy banks notes. He did not prepare to give that much but he had to change his mind just the way he was addressed. Then he moved majestically to the table and deposited his gift. This was announced and heavy claps rendered to him. This man was me!!!

I wanted to walk worthy of the calling with which I was called. The president cannot give chicken change for fund raising! In the same way Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called. The Spirit says the same to us today!

a. We were called to be "fellow citizens with the saints and members

      of the household of God" - Ep 2:19

   b. We were called to be "a holy temple in the Lord", "a habitation of

      God in the Spirit" - Ep 2:21-22

   c. We were called to "make known the manifold wisdom of God" - Ep

      3:10

What then is the character of a true church? I’m not talking of the building here. I am talking about you, about me. You are the holy temple in the Lord, the habitation of God in the Spirit. That is what the Bible says.

Some of us have different characters at home just as in the assembly.

I am asking about your character at work,

Your character in the assembly,

Your character when you are beside the pastor,

Your character when you are far away from the pastor,

Your character when you are at home, That is the church I am asking of. That church where the senior pastor is the man and the woman the administrative secretary!!!! Men, is your walk worthy of your calling? Woman is your walk worthy of your calling?

Let’s look at the characters:

I. THE "ATTITUDES" FOR MAINTAINING UNITY (1-3)

   A. LOWLINESS...

      1. This word means:

         a. To have a humble opinion of one's self

         b. A deep sense of one's (moral) littleness

         c. Modesty, humility, lowliness of mind

      2. This virtue is necessary in order to properly value others around you - cf. Php 2:3-4

      3. Without this virtue, members in the body begin trying to be the "head" of the body, a role reserved only for Christ

The more highly you think of yourself the more quickly you will think you should be served. "Who do they think they are to keep me waiting like this!"

   B. GENTLENESS...

      1. This word can be translated as mildness, meekness

      2. It is not a quality of weakness, but of power under control

         a. Moses was a meek man (Num 12:3), but capable of great strength and boldness

         b. Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart" (Mt 11:29), but we see where He drove the money changers out of the temple

      3. Thus it is being gentle, even when there is the potential for being harsh, but gentleness is more conducive for maintaining unity

   C. LONG-SUFFERING...

      1. The idea here is one of patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

      2. When the body consists of members who are not perfect, and often sin against each other, maintaining unity is not possible unless they are willing to endure each other's imperfections. Long-suffering is “staying a little longer in the pain”. That is patience. That is long-suffering.

   D. BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE...

      1. Similar to longsuffering, "bearing" means to sustain, to bear, to endure

      2. What makes such "longsuffering" and "forbearance" possible is another virtue:  "love"

      3. As Paul wrote in his chapter on love:  "love suffers long...is not provoked" - 1Co 13:4-5

      4. Love holds all these virtues together - cf. Col 3:12-14

Perfect people don't need to be endured or forgiven (Colossians 3:13). But we do. So Paul’s counsel here is not how perfect people can live together in unity, but how real, imperfect Mount Zion Baptists can maintain the unity of the Spirit, namely, by enduring each other in love.

I. WITHOUT LOVE ALL I SAY IS INEFFECTIVE
II. WITHOUT LOVE ALL I KNOW IS INCOMPLETE
III. WITHOUT LOVE ALL I BELIEVE IS INSUFFICIENT
IV. WITHOUT LOVE ALL I GIVE IS INSIGNIFICANT
V. WITHOUT LOVE ALL I ACCOMPLISH IS INADEQUATE

   E. Peace maker...

      1. You should be the kind whom people in the quarter call a peacemaker

     2. If around you people call you a trouble maker, then you have missed the walk because Christ is our peace and the one who makes peace Eph 2:14-16

How can you keep on caring about a person who doesn't like you? Or a person who likes music you don't like? Or a person who opposes you and wants to frustrate your dreams? How do you maintain the unity of the Spirit with them instead of becoming hostile and cold? Paul's answer: be lowly in spirit so that you can patiently endure their differences and their sins.

Why should we maintain unity in the body of Christ? Does it matter?

II. THE "BASIS" OF UNITY (4-6)

   A. ONE BODY...

      1. This refers to the body of Christ, the church - Ep 1:22-23

      2. Of course, Paul speaks here of the church in the "universal" sense

         a. The "body" of saved believers throughout the world

         b. Of which Christ is the "head", and "savior of the body" -   Ep 5:23

      3. While there may be many "local" churches (congregations), there is only ONE "universal" church, with ONE "head" - Jesus Christ!

   B. ONE SPIRIT...

      1. This would be the Holy Spirit

      2. Who has already been described in this epistle...

         a. As "the Holy Spirit of promise" - Ep 1:13

         b. As "the guarantee of our inheritance" - Ep 1:14

         c. By Whom both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father -  Ep 2:18

         d. In Whom God habitates those who are being built a "holy temple" - Ep 2:21-22

         e. By Whom the "mystery of Christ" was revealed to the apostles and prophets - Ep 3:5

         f. Through Whom God strengthens with might the inner man -  Ep 3:16

         g. As the One whose "unity" is to be maintained in the bond of  peace - Ep 4:3

   C. ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING...

      1. For Paul, this pertains primarily to "the resurrection of the dead" - Ac 23:6; 24:15; Ro 8:23-24; cf. 1Co 15:19-23; Php

         3:10-11,20-21

      2. Which necessarily includes such concepts of "salvation" (1 Th 5:8) and "eternal life" (Tit 1:2; 3:7)

   D. ONE LORD...

      1. This refers to Jesus, of course - 1Co 8:5-6

      2. Whom God has made "both Lord and Christ" - Ac 2:36

   E. ONE FAITH...

      1. This the body of truth, "the faith", which Jude says was "once  for all delivered to the saints" - Jude 3

      2. It is that "pattern of sound words" that Paul taught Timothy  (2Ti 1:13), and which he was to commit to faithful men (2

         Tit 2:2)

      3. We find this "pattern of sound words" in the pages of the New  Testament, which contains that which all Christians must believe

   F. ONE BAPTISM...

      1. This is the baptism...

         a. Commanded by Jesus - Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16

         b. Preached and commanded by His apostles - Ac 2:38; 10:48

         c. By which those who submit to are added to the Lord's body, the church - Ac 2:42,47

      2. I.e., the baptism in which a penitent believer is immersed in water for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit  - Ac 2:38; 10:47-48

   G. ONE GOD AND FATHER...

      1. The Father, Who together with the Son and Holy Spirit, makes up  the "Godhead"

      2. Note that Paul emphasizes both:

         a. His personality ("Father of all")

         b. His transcendence and omnipresence ("who is above all, and  through all, and in you all")

[These constitute "the unity of the Spirit" that as Christians we must be so diligent to keep "in the bond of peace".  Not one of these is "non-essential"!  E.g., just as crucial as maintaining who the "One Lord" is, so we must be steadfast in holding to the "One Baptism"!

CONCLUSION

1. As Christians, we are called to unity in the body of Christ…

   a. Displaying all the attitudes we have seen today

   b. Without which we are not walking worthy of the calling

   c. Christians are called to peace and be peace makers. Not the ones who will say “heh! I will tell her that she has touched the tail of a lion”  ...else Christ's work on the cross will be in vain! - cf. Ep 2:16

2. Here on earth we want to be worthy of what people call us to be. What more of God’s calling? If you want to be president as they call you. Do you know how much it is to be called a child of God? "Be worthy of the calling with which you were called" - Ep 4:1

   a. We were called to be "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" - Ep 2:19

   b. We were called to be "a holy temple in the Lord", "a habitation of  God in the Spirit" - Ep 2:21-22

   c. We were called to "make known the manifold wisdom of God" - Ep 3:10

Are you doing all you can as a member of the body of Christ to "walk together in unity", and by so doing walk in manner worthy of our calling? Some people have not yet reached the point where they can be called the children of God. They do not yet have a call and so are worthless. If Christ has not yet done anything in your life by the grace and power of the cross, then you are worthless despite all what men may call here on earth.

But there is goodnews for you today because the same Christ is the Lord who is sited at the right hand of God the father interceding for us. He just want you to take a commitment with Him. He can forgive your sins only if you will repent and accept Him as your Lord. Before we pray, I want you to think of your life at work, with friends, at home, in the market, in the farm. Are you walking worthy of your calling?

Mastering Your Money

Matthew 6:19-24

Many ,Cameroonians are more cynical today than ever before. We don’t trust politicians or the economy and many are suspicious of the church. I realize that our topic this morning may create additional cynicism for some of you. One of the raps that churches have today is that they’re always asking for money.

Since I know what I’m up against when tackling the topic of money in church, I hope to persuade you that it’s important to hear what the Bible has to say. You see, according to Jesus, money is a spiritual issue. And, since it’s a spiritual issue, we need to address it for at least three reasons.

1. The Bible has more to say about money than almost any other subject.

2. Giving will help us get to where we’re going as a church.

3. There are incredible benefits to giving.

The topic of money is both personal and theological.

1. Poverty Theology. This imbalanced view teaches that we should have a disdain for possessions. Some who hold this position would say that it’s wrong to have excess money and things.

2. Prosperity Theology. This teaching wrongly assumes that prosperity is the reward of the righteous. This cause and effect relationship implies that if God is happy with you, He will bless you financially. If He’s not pleased with you, you won’t be blessed with possessions.

[Oh, I’m sorry. I just forgot something. My sister and brother-in-law are here today and we wanted to take them out for lunch. This is really embarrassing. I don’t have any money on me. Could someone give me 1000 Fcfa? Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.]

3. Proper Theology. The proper way to view our possessions is that they are a trust given by God that we are responsible to manage. Everything belongs to Him and we are to serve as stewards whether we are blessed with a lot or with a little. Now, I can tell that many of you are wondering why someone would just pop out of their seats and hand me 1000Fcfa. Do you know why he did it? It’s because it wasn’t his money. It was mine. I gave it to him before the service.He was simply returning it to me.

That’s exactly what we do when we practice the joy of biblical stewardship ­ we give back to God that which is His in the first place. Friends, we’ve never given God one thing. When we make an offering or a tithe, we’re giving what He already owns. We’ve spoken about this last Sunday.

Jesus realizes that most people struggle with managing money -- that’s why He devoted much of His teaching to this critical area of life. He dealt with money matters because money matters.

Sermon on the mount

While Jesus taught on many different topics, his most famous message is called the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7. I’m sure there were some cynics who were listening to Jesus that day. They probably wondered who this new teacher was. They were impressed with His insight and His practical teaching. He covered many of the subjects of life: how to treat others, how to forgive, how to handle lust, how to handle worry, the importance of keeping your word, and the difference between true and false prayer.

Eventually he came to the subject of money. That really shouldn’t surprise us because money is a big part of what life is all about. Many people work for money, many live for money, we think about money, we wish we had more, and worry that we don’t have enough. Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 6:19-24. In this passage, Jesus challenges us with the question, “Where is your treasure?”He helps us find the answer by giving four tests.

1. The Durability Test. The first test is found in verses 19-20 and asks the question, “How long will it last?” Verse 19 is a negative command: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Verse 20 is the positive: “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”

The first word that leaps out at us in these verses is the word “treasures.” Jesus did not say, “money” because while everyone does not have a lot of cash, we all have things that we treasure. Our treasure may be a home, a car, a computer, our clothes, or even a position that we hold or seek after. While Jesus is not saying that it is wrong to have treasures, He is telling us that our focus should be on laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth.

The first life-skill that Jesus wants us to develop is to stop living just for today. This command is in the present tense. It literally means to “stop storing up.” We’re to stop doing something that by nature we’ve been doing for most of our lives.

That doesn’t mean that we can’t have material possessions, or own property, or save for the future. The key lies in the little phrase, “for yourselves.” Jesus is forbidding the selfish, self-centered accumulating of goods as the major end of life.

If you try to store your wealth, the moths will find it, or rust will consume it. If you try to hide it for yourself, thieves can steal it. Jesus is saying that earthly wealth is very insecure. It either decays over time, or it disappears altogether.

Job 27:16, 20 provides a vivid description of this process: “Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay…he lays down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.”

Earthly treasures are fleeting and futile but heavenly treasures are secure. 1 Peter 1:4: “And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you.” Treasures that we send on ahead are mothproof, rustproof, and burglarproof. Verse 20: “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

The issue is not whether we will store up wealth. That’s a given. The only question is where we will do our banking. Since earthly treasures are unstable and insecure, Jesus challenges us to make long-term investments that are permanent and guaranteed. Deposits made in the First National Bank of Heaven will not decay or disappear. They are protected  and insured by God Himself.

That leads to a question: How do we make deposits on earth that yield dividends in heaven? Let me answer that in just one sentence: You store up treasures in heaven by investing your money in that which lasts for eternity. I know of two things that will last forever:

The Word of God
People

Friends, everything else will decay or disappear. Cars, boats, homes, clothes, jobs, salaries, vacations, books, and buildings will all pass away. They wear out, rust out, blow up, or fall apart. Nothing that is material lasts forever. That’s the way God set it up. 1 John 2:17: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” I love what Jim Eliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

2. Heart Test. The second test asks the question, “Where are you investing your time and money?” and is found in verse 21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

To put it plainly, Jesus is saying that your heart follows your money. That’s not the way most of us think. We tend to think our money follows our heart -- if our heart is right, we will spend our money wisely. That’s not the way it works because your heart always follows your treasure.

Whatever you invest your time and money in will become very important to you. Too many of us spend all that we have on the things of this world and then we wonder why we have trouble concentrating on the things of God. Our problem is that we’ve invested everything down here and hardly anything up there! Our money has kept our heart tied to the earth. You’ll never be able to get your heart focused on heaven as long as your attention is on material things.

3. The Mind Test. The third test asks the question, “Where is your focus?” and is found in verses 22-23: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

The eye is a symbol for the mind. Jesus is saying that there are only two possible ways to look at things. If our minds focus only on things down here, we’ll be full of darkness. The natural eye focuses on our physical existence but the spiritual eye locks into what really matters. When money becomes our #1 obsession, it can put blinders on our eyes and ruin our spiritual life. If our thoughts are filled with how we can deposit treasures in heaven, our bodies will be full of light.

4. The Master Test. The fourth and final test focuses on our will and asks the question: “Whom do you serve?” Let’s look at verse 24: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

The word Jesus uses here for money is the word, “Mammon,” which is a proper noun, or a name. Jesus viewed Money as a rival for preeminence. Attachment to money leads to a detachment from God. The Bible is absolutely clear about the venomous nature of money. It fights for supremacy in our lives and it has many of the characteristics of deity. It promises security, freedom and power.

To love God requires service and even sacrifice. This type of allegiance cannot be rendered to two parties. Whatever we devote ourselves to becomes our God. The tension that many of us experience when we try to love both God and money will sooner or later begin to show where our real loyalty lies. Only one master will win out.

Money is not just a neutral medium of exchange, but a “power” with a life of its own which seeks to control, and even consume us. The goal of this Money Master is total domination of your value system, without you even being aware of it.

If you’re serving the Money Master, Jesus says you will be unable to fully serve God.He doesn’t say, “you better not” or “it would be unwise to serve both,” He says, “you cannot serve both God and money.” As such, how we handle our money has a lot to do with how serious we are about obeying God. His words are unsettling. If you love money, you will end up hating God. If you are devoted to the pursuit of possessions and the making of money, you will find yourself despising the things of God.

I suspect that most of you do not want to hate God. In fact, you’re here because you want to learn how you can get to know Him better. Let me put it right on the table. You will never be able to fully love God if you are in love with money and all that money can buy.
We’ve all heard the expression “Money Talks. Or Na money di talk” Have you ever listened to what it says?

“You hold me in your hand and call me yours. Yet may I not as well call you mine? See how easily I rule you? To gain me, you would all but die. I am invaluable as rain, essential as water. Yet I do not hold the power of life -- I am futile without the stamp of your desire. I go nowhere unless you send me. My power is terrific. Handle me carefully and wisely, lest you become my servant, rather than I yours.” As someone has said, “Money is a wonderful servant, but a lousy master.”

4 Tests Illustrated

When Jesus was asked a question about a money matter, He told a story that illustrates how easy it is to fail these four tests. Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 12. Let’s start by looking at verse 15: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”



Jesus then tells a parable to show us what can happen if we take a short-term approach to life: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 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 all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”

Did you notice how many times this man uses the words, “me”, “myself” and “I”? I counted them: 12 times in 3 verses! His greed is unchecked. Do you see the deception? He was storing up treasures on earth with no long-terminvestment strategy for the next life. Notice what happens next in verse 20: “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?”

Our society values people who make much money on this earth. God, however, has a different view of this man. Because he was laying up treasures for himself on earth, and had made no eternal investments, God calls him a fool. When he dies, all his possessions and his shiny new barns will disappear and be given to someone else. He failed the durability test, the heart test, the mind test, and the master test.

Jesus concludes this parable with an application for eachof us in verse 21: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Are you storing up things only for yourself? Are you just focused on this world? If so, you’re in trouble. If I’m not rich toward God, God says that I’m a fool.

Friends, let me encourage you to take this four-part test on a regular basis.

1. The Durability Test. How long will my things last? Are they temporary or will they last forever in heaven?

2. The Heart Test. Where am I investing my time and money? What excites me the most, earth or heaven? Which place makes my heart beat faster?

3. The Mind Test. Where do I focus my goals? Am I committed to materialism or spirituality? Do I operate according to God’s priorities, or my own?

4. The Master Test. Is Jesus my master or is something, or someone, else? Will I serve money on earth and allow it to be my god, or will I serve God in heaven with my treasures, which are really His in the first place?

A rich man died and went to heaven. As he went through the Pearly Gates, Peter came to greet him and said, “Welcome to heaven. Let me show you where you’ll be staying.”

That suited the rich man just fine, because as he looked around, he saw mansions stretching out in every direction. They were beautiful! They appeared to be constructed of gold and silver and precious gems.

As Peter and the rich man began to walk along the streets of gold, they came to an ornate home. As they paused to gaze at it, the rich man said, “Who gets to stay here?” Saint Peter replied, “That’s for your janitor. He was a godly man who loved Jesus and served Him all his life. This is his reward.”

They continued to stroll past other mansions, until they stopped in front of an extremely large one that seemed to be made of emeralds and rubies. The rich man asked Peter, “Is this mine?” Peter answered, “No, this one belongs to your maid. On the little bit of money you paid her, she raised six children and gave to her church every week.”

They continued to walk and came to a different section of homes. Only these houses weren’t as nice. As they walked up a small hill, they stopped in front of a shack made of tar paper and used sheet metal. The front door was cut out of an old refrigerator box. It was held together with bailing wire and twine.

After pausing for a moment, the rich man asked, “And whose is that?” Peter responded, “Why, it’s yours!” The rich man couldn’t believe it. There must be some mistake. Peter bowed his head and said, “No, there’s been no mistake -- we did the best with what you sent ahead!”