Sermons

Hebrews 13:1-6 Passing the test of Christian love (pt. 3)

This morning I want to talk about what the Word of God wants us to talk about. 

• This morning our topic is money.
• I have been asked a handful of times over the years to open up a sermon series on money. “Stewardship.” 
• I have not felt compelled to do something like this because my eye is always on the exposition.
• I just preach the next verse.
• In this morning’s case, this is exactly what I am doing.
• Preaching the next verse means preaching on money.

In the genius of and providence of God, we are brought to this topic, a topic we are all focused on anyway. 

• The shelter in place mandates has caused some of you to lose your jobs.
• Some are furloughed waiting to return but still living with real levels of uncertainty.
• This happening to some means it could happen to anyone us.
• My brother pastors outside of Atlanta ministering to Delta pilots.
• No one is flying, so jobs are on hold.
• Fuel not being burned means our economy has halted. Still, our economy promises to reopen. 

The Lord allowing this pandemic has basically brought the fore two primary issues.  Our mortality.  Our money. 

• Death tolls and our 401-K’s.
• Mandates to protect each other from an aggressive, invisible virus.
• Mandates for returning to business.
• Both topics have caused me, like you, to take inventory.
• What do I need to do to make sure my family is taken care of.
• I have taken the time to count my money.

More than social status (class system), money for the moment informs people in a variety of financial circumstances, where they may be in terms of personal comfort. 

• Perhaps even your means of survival.
• If you are comfortable with where you are financially, then your sleep is better, your health is better, your overall temperament is better.
• If you are not, then the opposite is true.

Our text this morning is appropriate to the present dynamics. 

• This is not a sermon on giving more money.
• It is really not even about giving money at all.
• This is another test of Christian love.

Verse 1 calls for “brotherly love” to “continue” (v. 1). 

• Loving mission, loving those mistreated, loving marriage, and not loving money.
• The same word for “love” being philew love.
• Do not have an “affection” for money.
• A “money-lover” (v. 5).  

 “Are you a money-lover or are you content?”  What exactly does this look like?

1. Mission
2. Mistreated
3. Marriage
4. Money

These last two categories it is no mistake that lust and immorality are coupled with greed throughout the Epistles:

^ESV  Ephesians 5:3 But ^asexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^bmust not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.⁴ Let there be ^ano filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^bwhich are out of place, but instead ^clet there be thanksgiving.⁵ For you may be sure of this, that ^aeveryone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^bthat is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 

^ESV  Colossians 3:5 ^aPut to death therefore ^bwhat is earthly in you:^{1 c}sexual immorality, impurity, ^dpassion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^ewhich is idolatry. 

Contentment cuts through these sins which are both bound up in greed.

1. What does it mean to be a money-lover? (v. 5a)

      a. Money is not the sin

The Bible talks a lot about money but it is important to establish upfront that money is evil in and of itself. 

Earning money is for four primary motivations.

          i. Provision

There are wealthy people in the Bible.  Abraham and Job are examples of godly men who were wealthy. 

The Bible commands the believer to provide. 

• He who does not provide for his own is worse than an infidel (an unbeliever).
• The bible says that if you don’t work than you don’t eat.
• The Lord promises to provide for you and he calls the believer to work and not be lazy.
• We are to earn money to take care of the needs of our loved ones.
• The focus is on the immediate family.
• I believe the extended family too – parents.

          ii. Submission

We are to submit to governing authorities. 

• Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.
• The assumption is that we are going to be honest with what we owe.
• That we will be submissive to what God’s institution asks.

Romans 13:1-8. 

• We are citizens of two kingdoms, two worlds.
• We are not called to beat the system but to except and to support the system.

          iii. Worship

Finally, giving is worship or is an offering. 

• God provides for all of our needs and in turn, we show our attitude of dependence.
• Giving is to be done with regularity.
• The early church gave on the first day of the week.
• Giving is to be done cheerfully and sacrificially.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 says the Macedonian church gave out of its poverty. 

• The relief offering was given by the church in Antioch back to the suffering church due to persecution.
  • Collection for Jerusalem church.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Romans 15:14-32 

• Philippians 4:11ff speaks of our giving as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God’s nostrils.

          iv. Faith

God provides for our needs. 

• The widow’s mite was an act of faith (Luke 21:1-4).
• Jesus teaches from his sermon on the mount for believers to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).
• The promise of giving where Jesus teaches to give and it shall be given to you pressed down shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38).

Giving is grace-giving.  We give by faith according to what he has given to us 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.

     b. Loving money is a sin

Achan’s love of money cost Israel a defeat at Ai, the lives of at least thirty-six of his fellow countrymen, his own life, and the lives of his family and flocks (Joshua 7:1, 5, 25) and example of greed.  [MacArthur]

It is no mistake that Judas Iscariot, the treasurer, was angry at Mary for wasting the anointing oil on Christ. 

• All of this money could have been given to the poor.
• This rebuke was hypocritical. Judas sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. 
• Money in and of itself is not evil.
• Many people are gifted to earn and manage money.
• Jesus rebuked the man who did not invest for a profit.
• Wise stewardship is lauded in the Bible.

It is when someone puts their trust in money that it becomes harmful. 

• Jesus’ parable of storing up barns when someone’s soul is required of them.
• Moth and rust can destroy our treasure.

Our treasure reveals where our heart is. 

• The elder is not supposed to “love” money (1 Tim. 3).
• Proverbs 23:5 says that money will sprout wings and fly away.

Trusting in our money for what money cannot give is greed. 

• Worshipping mammon instead of worshipping God.

1 Timothy 6:10ff gives the strongest rebuke and warning of money. 

• We underestimate the power of money.
• Remember Jesus’ challenge of the rich young ruler who was challenged with the dividing line to either follow Christ or follow money (Mark 10:17-27).
• Jesus exposed this man’s false trust.
• The question, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Mark 10:23-27 is Jesus’ parable about how difficult it is for a man to get into heaven.  Impossible.   

[Spurgeon] It is not possible to satisfy the greedy.  If God gave them one whole world to themselves they would cry for another; and if it were possible for them to possess heaven as they now are, they would feel themselves in hell, because others were in heaven too, for their greed is such that they must have everything or else they have nothing. 

When John D. Rockefeller was a young man, a friend reportedly asked him how much money he wanted.  “A million dollars,” he replied.  After he had earned a million dollars, the friend asked him again how much money he wanted.  The answer this time was, “Another million.” 

John D. Rockefeller was at one time the richest man in the world, but when someone asked how much money was enough he famously replied, “Just a little bit more.” 

2. What solves the sin of money-loving? (vv. 5b-6)

The context of Hebrews is a good place to begin. 

Hebrews 10:34 says the church was being robbed and persecuted. 

• They had had their money stolen because of their testimony for Christ.
• The question is simply this.
• Some Christians, I dare say many, are tempted or are deeply ensnared in a sinful love even “lust” for money.

So, “What dislodges a Christian’s love for money?” 

One thing.  A promise.  “Be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

This promise, when applied by the Holy Spirit’s illumination, becomes the sufficient crowbar to dislodge the idol wedged deeply inside your heart. 

This is a promise of promise because it is both deeply personal and absolutely transcendent.  This promise is repeated over and over in Scripture. 

^ESV  Genesis 28:15 Behold, ^aI am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and ^bwill bring you back to this land. For I will ^cnot leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

 

^ESV  Deuteronomy 31:6-8 ^aBe strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, ^bfor it is the LORD your God who goes with you. ^cHe will not leave you or forsake you.” ⁷ Then ^aMoses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ^x“Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.⁸ It is the LORD ^awho goes before you. He will be with you; ^yhe will not leave you or forsake you. ^dDo not fear or be dismayed.”

 

^ESV  Joshua 1:5-9 ^aNo man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just ^bas I was with Moses, so ^cI will be with you. ^dI will not leave you or forsake you. ^{6 a}Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.⁷ Only be strong and ^avery courageous, being careful to do according to all the law ^bthat Moses my servant commanded you. ^cDo not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success¹ wherever you go.

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but ^ayou shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.⁹ Have I not commanded you? ^aBe strong and courageous. ^bDo not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 

 

^ESV  1 Chronicles 28:20 Then David said to Solomon his son, ^a“Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

 

^ESV  Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, ^a“All authority ^bin heaven and on earth has been given to me. ^{19 a}Go therefore and ^bmake disciples of ^call nations, ^abaptizing them ^fin^{1 d}the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰ teaching them ^ato observe all that ^bI have commanded you. And behold, ^cI am with you always, to ^dthe end of the age.”) 

 

^ESV  Psalm 73:25 ^aWhom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 

 

^ESV  Galatians 2:20 I have been ^acrucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives ^bin me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, ^cwho loved me and ^dgave himself for me. 

 

^ESV  Colossians 1:27 ^aTo them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are ^bthe riches of the glory of ^zthis mystery, which is Christ in you, ^ethe hope of glory. 

 

^ESV  Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, ^ab“For your sake ^bwe are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than ^aconquerors through ^bhim who loved us.³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Seizing this promise yields boldness and confidence. 

 

• The author quoting Psalm 118:6 with supporting verses Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 56:4 and 11.

 

^ESV  Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, ^a“The Lord is my helper; ^bI will not fear; what can man do to me?”