Sermon Theme
Yamba is a beautiful seaside fishing village on the northern NSW coast a few hours sth of border Holds a special place in my family’s life – we holidayed there for 15yrs consecutively
A while ago Yamba became BIG NEWS nationally. One individual won $30 million jackpot in lotto No one knew who it was – and the little township was full of speculation and gossip
This raises a few questions…
- ‘Is it wrong for a person saved in Christ to want to be rich and have lots of material things?’
- ‘Living on a dream’ – how we would live if dreams came true – especially the dream of material wealth?
Honest questions from those who feel the struggle to want to worship God but sense the tension of being in the world but in Christ, not of it. “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always; Thou and Thou only the First in my heart; Sovereign of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.” (Be Thou my Vision)
Sermon outline
- LIVING ON A DREAM
- THE NIGHTMARE OF RICHES
- LIVING THE PLEASANT DREAM
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Sermon Outline
Readings
Matthew 6:19–24 (NIV84)
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
23But 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!
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.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 (NIV84)
3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Text
Ecclesiastes 5:8–20 (NIV84)
8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
11As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?
12The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.
13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.
15Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
16This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?
17All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
18Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.
19Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.
20He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
