Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

PASTOR'S PENS 2008

October 5, 2008 “Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshiped.”          Calvin Coolidge As I watched the first Presidential debate on September 26th, I was amused by the irony. While the candidates told the American people that we have economic problems, taxes are too high, people are suffering – at that very moment Miller Park was sold out for the game between the Brewers and the Cubs – 41,000 fans. Last weekend nearly $90 million was spent on the top ten movies. If you go to nearly any restaurant at meal time, there will always be a crowd there. A few weeks ago I had to go to the mall on a Saturday. It was difficult to find a parking space. The mall was packed with shoppers.                 This past Monday USA Today reported that 33% of Americans think that we are now in a Depression. A Depression is when people don’t have a job, housing or even food. While there are some folk in our country that are truly hurting, that’s not the case for the vast majority. It’s not so much a lack of money. It’s a perspective.                 Money is something all of us struggle with. For some it’s a lack of money. For others it’s the desire for money. For some it’s the wrong use of money. For some it’s the poor investment of money. Jesus’ message from 2000 years ago is still timely today. In the Sermon on the Mount He warned us about this struggle with money, “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). a) Most of us suffer from problems associated with handling money. Sylvester Stallone was asked what effect money had on his life. Stallone said, “Money does not bring peace of mind. Actually it brings more problems. Everything is magnified one hundred thousand times. That’s not to complain. But once you make a fortune, you’d think it would be all green lights and blue skies. But that’s not true. As a matter of fact it brings out some of the most vile characteristics that you can imagine.”                  Money has a powerful affect on people. Oftentimes the impact can be negative. The Bible instructs us that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (I Tim. 6:10). It was the love of money that caused Judas to betray Jesus. It was money and insecurity that drove the looting in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.                                 b) Our perspective on money can lower the quality of our lives. Someone has described this situation well: Money can buy a bed but it cannot buy sleep.  Money can buy amusements but it cannot buy happiness.  Money can buy companions but it cannot buy friends.  Money can buy books but it cannot buy brains.  Money can buy a house but it cannot buy a home. Money can buy medicine but it cannot buy health. Money can buy flattery but it cannot buy respect. 64% of all couples argue over money issues. It’s estimated that money issues are the #1 cause for all divorces.                 c) God wants us to handle money from a right perspective. If your perspective of money is out of whack, you’ll limp through life. Jesus said "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20). So what are you investing in...eternity or today? When you get eternity right other aspects of your life will fall into place!                 Archaeologists discovered a woman’s corpse outside the ancient city of Pompeii, where many people died when a volcano exploded. The evidence surrounding this woman was interesting. Apparently, she had been fleeing from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Overtaken by the molten lava, she died in the hot ashes. Her corpse revealed hands that were clutched around jewels. The jewels had survived but the woman had not. The same is true today. Death will overtake all of us and strip us of our earthly wealth.                 d) God wants us to handle money with a right purpose. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus states the purpose of life, to live for “the kingdom of God.” That includes how we handle the money God entrusts to us. Our first and greatest priority in life should be to know Jesus and serve Him with all of our being. We should serve Him with our money, our time and our hearts.                 For most of us, it’s really not an issue of not having enough money; it’s a matter of priorities. Every single thing we have has been given to us from God. We can waste it by spending it all on this world or we can invest it in His Kingdom and eternity. One choice brings satisfaction, peace and fulfillment, the other brings frustration and discontent. Which choice will you make?