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THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM                        Lecture 12.

                         THE LAW OF TREASURE
INTRODUCTION.

"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God , and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you." MATTHEW 6:33

Scripture. Matthew 6:19-23

The area of finances seems like such a "carnal" area and yet it
certainly is one of the major problems that can come between a
man and a woman who are seeking to serve God together. Jesus
placed a high priority on the right use of money in His
teachings, considering the fact that two-thirds of all His
parables deal with the subject of the right use of money.

1. What are the major financial problems that can destroy.

Problem: This ambition can rob us of time and energy that we can
be spending with our family.
A. Fathers try to hold two jobs, 'moonlight' in the evenings, or
work extensive overtime depriving their families of any quality
time.
B. Mothers are under pressure to go out of the home to get a job
to supply additional income to fulfil desires.

Solution: 1 Tim 6:6 'Godliness with contentment is great gain.'
God does want us to accumulate riches, but not material riches.
Ask yourself - am I accumulation things because:
a. Others have influences or pressured me to do it?
b. I envy the lifestyle of those around me?
c. I enjoy the sheer challenge of it?
d. It makes me feel bigger in the eyes of others?
e. I fear the future?

All of these are wrong reasons. God wants us to place our
confidence in Him and learn to be content with what we have
(Heb. 13:5).

Often excess debts are incurred because of:
     a. Over-indulgence - do we spend a great deal on the
        luxuries of life that have no lasting value, such as
        eating out often, expensive entertainment, extravagant
        hobbies, sporting goods, etc? (Prov. 21:17).
     b. Impulsive buying - do we buy things in a time of
        emotional stirring, with the money in our hands not
        taking into account already committed funds?
     c. Shaky investments - do we lose money on 'get rich quick'
        investments that rarely pay off? (Prov. 28:20-22).
     d. Slothfulness - do we have difficulty working hard
        therefore we do not excel in our work and we are always
        seeking expensive luxuries that will eliminate work?
        (Prov. 21:25-26).
     e. Greediness - are we greedy in always desiring more that
        we have and always (almost boastfully) insisting on the
        best of everything? (Luke 12:15).
     f. Covetousness - are we covetous of what we see others
        have, whether it be by watching our neighbour, our
        television, catalogues, other advertising? (Ps 73:2-3).
     g. Materialistic love - do we feel that our love for our
        family must be proven by an extravagant bestowal of
        material things (i.e. Christmas, birthdays, etc.) not
        realising that love is demonstrated in a life of
        loyalty and commitment.
     h. Unwise purchases - do we buy because of sales pressure on
        low monthly payments without evaluating the total
        purchase (i.e. encyclopedias, picture, cookware,etc.)?
     i. Wrong use of credit - do we use credit cards instead of
        money when they should be used primarily for convenience?

Solution: Determine to live within your means (Luke 3:14).
Evaluate all future purchases.

2. What are some positive steps to financial freedom?

A. Realise God is the Lord of your finances and possessions.
a. He owns them (Deut 10:14, Ps 24:1).
b. He holds you accountable for them (I Cor 4:1-2, Luke 16:11-12,
Rom 14:12).
c. He is our provider (Deut 8:17-18, Eccl. 5:19).

B. Adopt God's value system in your finances.
a. Be sure you are putting God first through tithes and offerings
(Mal. 3:10, Prov 3:9-10).
b. Be sure your priority is on spiritual, permanent and eternal
(Matt 6:33), things.

C. Believe God to supply what you need.
a. Through diligent labor (Prov 10:4-6, 13:11, 12:14).
b. Through answered prayer (Phil 4:16, Heb 11:6, James 4:2).

3. HOW DOES GOD FEEL ABOUT WEALTH?
Wealth is a neutral term. It can be used in a positive way and a
negative way. There is no particular virtue in God's eyes in a
life of poverty nor is there any stigma attached to wealth. It is
not our possession of money or lack of possession of money that
determines our relationship to God, it is our attitude that does.
God is first of all concerned with our attitude.

NOTE: With the rich fool, God did not objet to his wealth, only
his use of it (Luke 12:16-20).

4. DOES GOD DESIRE HIS PEOPLE TO PROSPER?         Yes!

     A. God not only desires that His people prosper, but He
     promises that they WILL prosper (Psalm 1:3, 122:6).
     B. True wisdom that comes to the people of God will produce
     riches and honour (Proverbs 3:16-17, 8:18).
     C.    God has always desired blessing for His people (Deut.
     38:1-14), BUT, all of God's blessings are based on various
     conditions which include:.

     1)   Obedience to God (Deut. 28:15-68; 19:9; Joshua 1:6-8; 3
          John 2).
     2)   Placing God first (Matt. 6:33; 11 Chron. 31:21).
     3)   Diligence with what God has given you (Prov. 21:5;
          24:30-31).

5.   HOW DOES GOD WANT US TO HANDLE FINANCIAL PROSPERITY?

     God wants us to use every talent and possession that He has
     given to us for the glory of God and the extension of the
     Kingdom of God.  Therefore the most valuable thing that we
     could do with the things He has given to us is to use them
     to make spiritual investments (Matt. 25:14-30)

     A.   We are to give to the poor (Prov. 22:9; Luke 12:33)
     B.   We are to give to needy members of the Body of Christ
          (2 Cor. 8:14; 1 John 3:17-18; James 2:15-16).
     C.   We are to share with other family members (1,Tim. 5:8;
          Matt..15:5-6).
     D.   We are at times to open ' our hands to the unsaved
          Matt. 5:42; Luke 16:9-12).
     E.   We are to give to the ministry (1 Tim. 5:17-18).

     This does not mean, however, that we are not to be
     discriminating in our giving (2 Thess. 3:10-15).  There are
     many people that God may be correcting through the means of
     financial problems.  For a well meaning Christian to in-
     terfere at this point may take the pressure off that God
     wants there to bring them to Him or to strengthen them.  We
     must be careful in all of our giving to seek the mind of the
     Lord.

6.   WHAT BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING WILL HELP US KEEP A PROPER
     BALANCE IN THIS AREA OF WEALTH?

     A.   Everything that we have comes from God and belongs to
          Him (Gen. 39:3)
     B.   True riches are not material but spiritual (Prov. 22:4)
     C.   The whole of the material world system is passing away
          (2 Pet. 3:10-11)
     D.   True satisfaction comes from being God-like (Psalm
          17:15).
     E.   The greatest wealth is the Lord's blessing (Prov.
          10:22).
     F.   We are not to seek riches, but should be seeking the
          kingdom. (Luke 12:31-34).
     G.   When we give to the poor, we lend to the Lord and the
          Lord is a debtor to no man (Ps. 19:17; Luke 6:38)

     Paul said: "I know both how to be  abased,  and  I  know
     how  to  abound:  every- where and in all things I am
     instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound
     and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ
     which strengtheneth me." (Phil. 4:12-13)

7.   Jesus paints three pictures from the great sources of wealth

1.   Moths can destroy - verses 19-20

     For a man in the east his wealth often consisted in fine and
     elaborate clothes.  Achan was tempted and sinned in taking
     the Babylonish garment (JOSH. 7:21).  Gehazi, the servant of
     Elisha chased after Namaan the leper (whom Elisha had helped
     as a prophet of God) . It was for some forbidden profit.  He
     asked for a talent of silver and two changes of raiment (2
     KINGS 5:22).

2.   Then he speaks of the rust that can destroy - verses 19-20.

     He encourages men to avoid the things that rust can destroy.
     This word "rust" literally means "an eating away".  Nowhere
     else is it used to mean rust.. Possibly Jesus was referring
     to the man whose wealth consisted in the corn and grain that
     he has stored away in his great barns.

3.   Then we are encouraged to avoid the treasures which thieves
     can steal by digging through - verse 20.

     The words used to dig through has reference to the way the
     houses were built in Palestine.  Many were made of nothing
     stronger than baked clay; and burglars did in effect gain an
     entry by literally digging through the wall.

8.   The treasures and pleasures of them were not very permanent.

1.   A man is a fool who find his treasure and pleasure in
     material things.  They only offer diminishing returns,

2.   Things which can be eroded away is a poor investment.  A man
     should invest in things that time is powerless to erode.

3.   A wise investment is not in something which can be stolen.
     The best investment is not in things which are dependent
     upon the chances and changes of life.

     THE RIGHT VISION - MATT. 6:22,23

     The eye is regarded as the window of the soul.  The window
     needs to be clear.  If it is discoloured, light cannot get
     through properly.  Jesus is wanting us to be transparent.

     Single = this is translated elsewhere "generous".  So it is
     the generous eye Jesus is commanding.

     Evil = niggardly or grudging.  Hence Proverbs 23:6 - "Eat
     not the bread of him that hath an evil eye,,.

     "Don't be the guest of a man who grudges every bite you eat.

     Proverbs 28:22 says, "He that hath an evil eye lusteth after
     riches." That is to say, "The grudging and ungenerous man is
     always out for what he can get."

     Jesus is therefore saying, "There is nothing like generosity
     for giving you a clear and undistorted view of life and of
     people; and there is nothing like the grudging and
     ungenerous spirit for distorting your view of life and
     people.."