The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his101/insp59.arj/INSP59.TXT

Text File | 1988-11-19 | 17KB | 319 lines

                 THE MONEY TREE

All people in the world eat the fruit that trees produce. Some people today
eat from the trees of this world while a few others eat from the tree of
eternal life. Which do you eat of? Which do you bow down to?  Which tree do
you find to be the most exciting and life-giving?

If you have money, this tract applies to you.  If you wish that you had more
money, this tract applies to you. If you enjoy money, then this tract has
something to say to you. If you claim to be a Christian, then do this while
you read this:

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do
you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course you fail the
test?", 2 Corinthians 13:5

Those of you who do not claim to know God take notice of what you are about to
read, for all that you read will happen to you. You will know the future after
reading this little tract.

God says in James 5:1-3 to those of you who like to make money ,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is
coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you
and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days".

God says that all that money you are earning will "eat your flesh like fire"!
That its "corrosion" will burn you for all eternity.  God tells you today to
start "weeping" and "wailing" because of the "misery that is coming upon you"!

               "BUT I AM NOT RICH"

Before you start saying, "I am not rich", remember that God's definition of
rich is: keeping anything for yourself. If you are enjoying the comforts of
this world then Jesus says, "woe to you". If you are well fed in this world,
then, "woe to you". If you, that is, self, is well off, then Jesus says, "woe
to you". Don't believe me? Then let us read Luke 6:24-25: "But woe to you who
are rich, for you have already received your comfort.  Woe to you who are well
fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn
and weep."

Jesus says that these words apply to "anyone who stores up things for himself,
but is not rich toward God",  Luke 12:21.

Woe to you who enjoy the trips, fishing, careers, TV, fun, cars, homes, and
lifestyles of today. Woe to you! If the things, money and fun time do not
benefit the Lord, then woe to you.

            WHO DO YOU REALLY SERVE?

Remember that little test that scripture said Christians should take to see if
they are in the faith or not? Well, let us take a test now. Let us find out
which god (God) you are bowing down to and serving today. Is it the real God,
or the false god of this world? For there are two gods you can choose to
serve.  Right now you are serving one or the other.  Whether or not you claim
to be a Christian, we, by the authority of the Holy Spirit, (John 20:23), ask
you, "What god are you serving?".  For Jesus says:

"You cannot serve both God and Money." - Matthew 6:24

              CIRCLE "YES" OR "NO"

To find out which god you serve, circle the correct answer that applies to
you. Remember that God is your witness, so be honest by asking God what is
true about you. Read Jeremiah 17:9 before you take this test.

1.  Do you ever buy anything because it is on sale?                YES  NO

2.  Do you ever purchase something because you have a coupon?      YES  NO

3.  Did you ever take another job because it paid more?            YES  NO

4.  Is there anything you want to buy?                             YES  NO

5.  Do you get upset or ruffled when you don't get your
    money's worth?                                                 YES  NO

6.  Do you read the newspaper to see what people have on sale?     YES  NO

7.  Do you make sure your bills are paid before you give what
    the Lord has told you to give to the church?                   YES  NO

8.  Is all your money being used for ministry purposes?            YES  NO

9.  Do you look forward to payday?                                 YES  NO

10. Do you look forward to the weekend when you
    can rest and take it easy?                                     YES  NO

11. Have you ever delayed obeying the call of the Lord because
    you did not have the funds to complete it?                     YES  NO

12. Have you ever given to a ministry because of what they
    were giving away?                                              YES  NO

Total "YES's":
(The ultimate question is coming.) If you circled more than one "yes", you're
still serving money. You may have failed the test of faith already.

How sad it is that God's people have not yet learned:

"...remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to
give than to receive'". Acts 20:35

How few Christians can be found who know this to be a joy! With all the
buying, selling and doing in the church it is obvious that the children of God
have failed to receive the most basic of blessings in Christ.

               DISCIPLES OF JESUS

You see, when followers of Jesus view money, they hate and despise it! They
ignore and trample all over it! They refuse to listen to it`s call to save,
plan and gain. For Jesus said that if you are going to follow Him people must
see within you a "hatred" and "despising" of money. Is that what the world
sees? Is this the image the church portrays?

"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."  Matthew 6:24

How many so-called Christians and Christian churches are really serving money!
They bow down to its voice and to its call every day and feel no guilt. These
are the very ones who will find this tract to be repulsive.


When you follow Jesus, you buy what His Spirit tells you to, whether it is on
sale or not.  And a disciple of Jesus never dreams of retiring. Disciples of
Jesus are never excited about their cars, houses, fun or security plans.
NEVER! Our joy comes from heaven and has nothing, repeat nothing, to do with
the pleasures of this world.

                  WHAT GREED IS

Some will, in the impurity of their own hearts say, "this sounds too narrow".
We do not apologize for the message. For Jesus said it is a "narrow road" and
that "few" find it. Still, some will complain that this makes everyone they
know look greedy. So what!

What does that tell you about the sin of the church? If that be the case,
then, "love always rejoices with the truth", (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). They are
greedy whether they claim to know Jesus or not. This places their claim to
salvation in deep question.

"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man
is an idolater-has ANY inheritance in the kingdom of  Christ and God."
Ephesians 5:5

                THE TEST QUESTION

So let us take the test to see if you are "greedy" and have no inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ. The all important question is: Do you desire any thing
else in this world? For greed to God is defined as this: "But if we have food
and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:8. Any desire beyond
clothing (one set of clothes) and daily food is greed according to God. This
applies to all those Christian items you buy (Bibles, tapes, bumper stickers,
retreats). Oh, let the Holy Spirit search your heart! Let God tell you that
you are clean-don't assume it!

Some will out of sinful and warped spirit say, "You're saying we shouldn't own
anything!".  Well, of course we are saying you shouldn't own anything. In your
heart and life you must come to know it is the Lord who owns everything. He
tells you what to buy, sell or give away. Be careful here, because almost
everyone says they know everything comes from the Lord. You must hear the Holy
Spirit`s voice tell you your sin, and not some worthless tract. If you will
let the Holy Spirit reveal your sin of greed and bowing down to the god of
money, then, and only then, will you have power to claim 1 Corinthians
7:30-31:

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on... those who
buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of
the world, as if not engrossed in them."

Paul is saying all this so that they will catch the point that they must come
to hear what the Spirit has to say on an hourly basis about what they do, say,
buy, sell and use, (read 1 Corinthians 7:35).

          EYES ARE THE LAMP OF THE BODY

What are your eyes on? Are they on the needs of Jesus Christ, (Philippians
2:21)? Do you labor at your job for one purpose only? That purpose being so
that you will always have something to give to others, (Ephesians 4:28, Have
you been stealing from the Lord?) Are your eyes always looking for ways to
serve and give away? Are your eyes always looking to the joys of this world?
Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God show you just where your eyes are.
Self-righteousness will get you nowhere with the Lord and those full of His
Spirit.

If our eyes are drawn to the advertisements of the world or to the slick
publications of the church, our eyes are in the wrong place. If we obey the
call of the world because of a free give away, or give to a cause because of
what the church is selling to encourage us, our eyes are in the wrong place.
If we justify any buying in the name of the Lord, but have not heard the voice
of God, don't be so foolish as to think God is answering your prayers, (James
4:3). We are serving money and are out of step with the Holy Spirit.

"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! No one can serve two masters..."   Matthew 6:22-24

For those of you who are taking this tract lightly let us remind you that God
will not pour out any blessings upon you till you see your sin.

Jesus says: "If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who
will trust you with true riches?"    Luke 16:11

If you have not counted it a joy to give away material things... if you have
not been honest on your time card at work... if you have not rejoiced in not
getting your moneys worth... if you are enticed by the things of this world...
if you desire more than clothing and food... if you are not blessing Jesus
(others) with all you have then Jesus is saying he will not give you "true
riches". The true riches of salvation, grace, mercy, peace and rest will not
be yours... not now, nor in the future.  Wake up to what the Word of God is
saying!

                  YOU AND MONEY

All this boils down to you and God. How you let God use money through you and
how close the love for money is to your heart is what this tract is all about.
If you need to repent, then do it now. Write us and we will send you some
information to get you started on finding the joy of "godly sorrow", (2
Corinthians 7:10).

We will send you a tape entitled, "Freedom from Money", (yes it is free).
Don't let yourself become a Judas or a Ananias and Sapphira, (Acts 5). Find
the greatest joy a man can find.  Leave all and come follow Jesus.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you
the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for
yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be
exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also."
                                -Luke 12:32-34

Notice Jesus said, "little flock", for indeed "little" is the size of those
who have learned the joy and power that comes from "hating" money!! Blessed
are they. How many shocked Christians there will be when they are thrown into
the lake of sulfur and burning fire along with those who have never called
themselves "Christians" but served money. God reveals that those who follow
money, whether you claim to be a Christian or not, will receive the same fate
as Babylon the Great. God pleads with all people to come out of her so that
they will not experience her fall.

"Then I heard another voice from heaven say: 'Come out of her, my people, so
that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her
plagues... She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges
her. When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared
her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: 'Woe! Woe, O great
city, O Babylon, city of power!  In one hour your doom has come!" The
merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their
cargoes any more - cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine
linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles
of every kind made of ivory, costly  wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of
cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh andfrankincense, of wine and olive oil,
of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies
and souls of men."   Revelation 18

Is it not true that since so many Christians refuse to "come out of her" that
the "bodies and souls" of men are wasting away in sin? Let us repent quickly
of bowing down to the money tree!

Plead with God to teach us how to be trustworthy with worldly wealth before it
is too late!

In a time when a "prosperity" doctrine is worshiped in the church... when
greed is called good... when churches applaud their paying off of bank notes,
their large ministries... when selling must be done for cause... when those
who sell the most candy bars are rewarded for their efforts... when lack of
knowledge on how to hate money is causing many Christians with noble hearts to
stumble and miss blessings, we ask that you write to us so that we may bless
you with what God has blessed us with. If you do repent than begin by living
Galatians 6:6.

"He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops
and under every spreading tree."   -2 Kings 16:4

Our deepest prayer is that you will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, stop
bowing down under the "spreading" money "tree". The Lord be with your Spirit.
May God bless you by allowing you the privilege of being crucified with Christ
toward money.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which
the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."    Galatians 6:14

Remember the warning and encouragement given to to us in the letter of 1 John:

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him."   1 John 2:15


If our eyes are drawn to the advertisements of the world or to the slick
publications of the church, our eyes are in the wrong place. If we obey the
call of the world because of a free give away, or give to a cause because of
what the church is selling to encourage us, our eyes are in the wrong place.
If we justify any buying in the name of the Lord, but have not heard the voice
of God, don't be so foolish as to think God is answering your prayers, (James
4:3). We are serving money and are out of step with the Holy Spirit.

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