How do we measure Materialism

1
How do we measure Materialism?
Size of ones House?
Wealth?
Is/is not a Christian?
Donations to Charity?
Quantity of Possessions?
2
Where is the Line that Separates Materialism from
Righteousness?
3
A Biblical Definition of Materialism

• The worries of the world, and the deceitfulness
  of riches, and the desires for other things enter
  in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
  (Mark 419)

4
Possessions are tools for our purpose of service.

• We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
  for good works, which God prepared beforehand so
  that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 210)

5
How Do I Avoid Materialism?

• I must use whatever possessions I have to serve
  and bear fruit in the Kingdom.

6
Is My Sunday Contribution a legitimate measure of
Materialism?

• How do I decide what I give to the Lord?
• Pay my bills then offer some of the remainder?
• Do I always give the same amount, regardless of
  income?
• If I do not have much money, do I use that as a
  reason not to give?

7
How much should I give to the Lord?

• Since there is no fixed amount given in the New
  Testament, we must ask a different question.

8
How Does God Want Me to Give?

• We must find this answer in the Bible.

9
Every Christian Must Give.

• 1 Corinthians 161 2
• Now concerning the collection for the saints, as
  I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you
  also. On the first day of every week each one of
  you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper,
  so that no collections be made when I come.

10
Every Christian Must Give.

• On the first day of every week
• each one of you is to put aside and save
• as he may prosper. (Requires righteous
  judgment)

11
Example What is the Spirit Teaching?

• Genesis 43 5
• Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit
  of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of
  the firstlings of his flock and of their fat
  portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and
  for his offering but for Cain and for his
  offering He had no regard.

12
Abels First Priority was God

• Genesis 43 5
• Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit
  of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of
  the firstlings of his flock and of their fat
  portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and
  for his offering but for Cain and for his
  offering He had no regard.

13
Abel Offered a True Sacrifice

• Hebrews 114
• By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice
  than Cain, through which he obtained the
  testimony that he was righteous, God testifying
  about his gifts, and through faith, though he is
  dead, he still speaks.
• We sacrifice only when we offer something
  important or valuable.

14
God is Always the First Priority

• Matthew 625, 33
• For this reason I say to you, do not be worried
  about your life, as to what you will eat or what
  you will drink nor for your body, as to what you
  will put on. Is not life more than food, and the
  body more than clothing?
• But seek first His kingdom and His
  righteousness, and all these things will be added
  to you.

15
Example What is the Spirit Teaching?

• Exodus 354 5, 29
• Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons
  of Israel, saying, Take from among you a
  contribution to the Lord whoever is of a willing
  heart, let him bring it as the Lords
  contribution gold, silver, and bronze
• all the men and women, whose heart moved them to
  bring material for all the work, which the Lord
  had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a
  freewill offering to the Lord.

16
They offered their best, in abundance

• Exodus 365 7
• The skillful men said to Moses, "The people are
  bringing much more than enough for the
  construction work which the Lord commanded us to
  perform."
• So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was
  circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no
  man or woman any longer perform work for the
  contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people
  were restrained from bringing any more. For the
  material they had was sufficient and more than
  enough for all the work, to perform it.

17
How Does God Want Me to Give?

• 2 Corinthians 96 7
• Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also
  reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will
  also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as
  he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or
  under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

18
The Lord does not measure our contribution. He
measures our sacrifice.

• Mark 1241 44
• Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and many
  rich people were putting in large sums. A poor
  widow came and put in two small copper coins,
  amounting to a cent.
• Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them,
  "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more
  than all the contributors to the treasury for
  they all put in out of their surplus, but she,
  out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she
  had to live on."

19
The Macedonian christians sacrificed, though they
had little.

• 2 Corinthians 81 3
• Brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace
  of God which has been given in the churches of
  Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction
  their abundance of joy and their deep poverty
  overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
• For I testify that according to their ability,
  and beyond their ability, they gave of their own
  accord.

20
Why Must I Give (Sacrifice) to God?

• Our use of the Material determines our
  Inheritance of the Spiritual
• He who is faithful in a very little thing is
  faithful also in much and he who is unrighteous
  in a very little thing is unrighteous also in
  much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in
  the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust
  the true riches to you? (Luke 1610-11)

21
Why Must I Give (Sacrifice) to God?

• God commands it.
• 1 Corinthians 16
• To support Gospel work and the needs of brethren.
• There are important benefits.
• 2 Corinthians 98 14

22
The Benefits of Financial Giving

• 2 Corinthians 98 14
• God is able to make all grace abound to you, so
  that always having all sufficiency in everything,
  you may have an abundance for every good deed as
  it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO
  THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.
• Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread
  for food will supply and multiply your seed for
  sowing and increase the harvest of your
  righteousness you will be enriched in everything
  for all liberality, which through us is producing
  thanksgiving to God.

23
The Benefits of Financial Giving

• 2 Corinthians 98 14
• For the ministry of this service is not only
  fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is
  also overflowing through many thanksgivings to
  God. Because of the proof given by this ministry,
  they will glorify God for your obedience to your
  confession of the gospel of Christ and for the
  liberality of your contribution to them and to
  all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf,
  yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of
  God in you.

24
The Spiritual Benefits of Financial Sacrifice

• A generous sacrifice yields abundant grace from
  God (8), increases our harvest of righteousness
  (10) and causes us to be enriched in everything
  (11).
• This liberality of our love serves others (12),
  brings thanksgiving and glory to God (12 13)
  and stimulates others love and prayer for us
  (14).

25
Why Must I Give (Sacrifice) to God?

• God commands it.
• 1 Corinthians 16
• To support Gospel work and the needs of brethren.
• There are important benefits.
• 2 Corinthians 98 14
• God measures faithful sacrifice, and will reward
  it.

26
Do I Give As God Expects Me to Give?

• Do I Sacrifice as God expects me to Sacrifice?