Message Date: June 2, 2024

Money Talks, Part 1—“Treasures and Thrones”

Victory Life Church, Durant — Sunday, June 2, 2024

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV) 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV) 24 “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.

We are going to take the upcoming weeks to talk about money, everybody’s favorite topic. We’re going to challenge our hearts, our perspectives, our mindsets, and our habits over the coming weeks. If we are followers of Jesus, it is important that every part of our lives, our financial life included, comes under his authority and Lordship. We are being transformed by Jesus, and the transformation of our money is directly included.

Message Introduction

Why are we going to talk about this? Why does this matter so much? Isn’t money just a natural thing and isn’t Scripture giving us spiritual things? Well, actually money is far more important to God and our discipleship to Jesus than we may think.

From a Scriptural point of view, you may think money is one of the most important issues addressed in the pages of Scripture. There are twice as many verses in the Bible (as a whole) devoted to money (approximately 2,350) than to faith and prayer combined. Randy Alcorn asserts that fifteen percent (15%) of Jesus’ recorded words are about money. Even a conservative estimation of Jesus’ total words (2,041 verses) in the New Testament has ten percent (10%, or 204 verses) of them addressing finances and materialism. Out of Jesus’ 39 parables, 11 of them (almost 1/3) deal with finances and money directly.

Lest you think that when the Scriptures refer to “the rich” it is speaking to just the super-wealthy in the world today, they’re not. They’re speaking to you. In reference to Biblical standards and global standards, chances are you are rich. What Americans think constitutes being “rich,” according Charles Schwab’s 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, is having a net worth of approximately $2.2 million. However, the reality is that in recent data from the Federal Reserve, it reveals the average American household is a millionaire with a net worth of $1.06 million. Based on the October report from the Federal Reserve, the median net worth of U.S. households overall is $192,900.

You may say, “Well that’s not me either. I have nowhere near that amount to my name.” Well, let’s look further. The definition of wealth changes depending on what time in history and what part of the world we’re dealing with. The current global poverty line, the bottom ten percent of the world’s population economically (over 700 million people), are living on between $1.90 and $2.15 per day. In America, the poverty line is set at those who have an income of about $15,000 annually. For a family of 4, that goes up to about $31,000 annually. Yes, there are some among us that still fall under that line, but even so, being below poverty line in 21st Century America does not recuse us from what the Scriptures say about money.

Addressing money in accordance to Scripture could save marriages and families. About 40-45% of marriages end in divorce (not 50% anymore), and money is one of the leading causes. It’s estimated that financial problems contribute to 20-40% of all divorces. That means that for every 10 marriages that end in divorce, four of them are because of money. In a 2012 Academic study published by the Family Relations journal, researchers examined data from over 4,500 couples related to what they argue about – including children, money, in-laws, and spending time together – and then looked at which of those couples were divorced four to five years later. According to the study, financial disagreements were the strongest disagreement types to predict divorce. In a recent poll conducted by DivorceMagazine.com, the leading cause of divorce was found to be financial issues. The publisher is quoted saying “During the divorce, the two most contentious issues are usually finances and children – in that order.”

And when it comes to the average American spending habits, it’s not a very positive outlook. (Sorry to those globally listening, watching, or reading. I do not have the data for how these things translate globally.) 77% of Americans are in debt. That means that less than one fourth of American adults are debt free. The average debt per U.S. adult is $66,772, and average debt per household is $179,850. The total consumer debt for Americans is $17.5 Trillion (with a “t”). The average household in America is in credit card debt of $19,865, with the total credit card debt in America totals to $1.13 trillion. The typical household in the U.S. has nearly $36,357 in car debt. We can complain about the spending habits of the U.S. government and the massive debt we are accumulating as a country, which currently sets over $34.6 trillion. And we should work towards solving this issue (which some in our church are actively serving to curb this and get us back on track with our national spending habits). However, what we see in our government is simply an expression of a reality in our culture: we spend more than we make. Simply put, the average American lacks knowledge, wisdom, and discipline when it comes to our money.

And following Jesus includes our financial life. Jesus doesn’t just include a few random mentions about money, a significant portion of everything he said directly addresses it. Of all the things the Savior of the world could talk about, he thinks money is important enough to talk about quite a bit. If we claim to follow Jesus, if we have surrendered our lives to Jesus, we surrendered all of it to him, including our money.

Money Languages

As a way to connect money to our discipleship to Jesus and our citizenship in the Kingdom of God, we can look at different ways we relate to money. There are a few different money languages, how we relate to money, we each have based on certain personalities types. This may be an over-simplification, but it is helpful to see ourselves and our close relationships in these languages and our differences between each other.

Driver – Money means success. Money protects against the fear of incompetence; the more money they have, the more successful they feel.

Amiable – Money means love. Relationships and people are the focus of their financial desires. Money means the ability to express affection and love.

Analytical – Money means security. Money to this person wards off chaos and problems. They are generally well-structured and well-planned.

Expressive – Money means respect. Money to this person purchases the respect and admiration of others.

Matthew 6:20–21 (ESV) 20 “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

With these different relationships to money, we must recognize the temptations each one faces with our hearts and where our treasure gets placed. Our hearts follow our treasure. Where we place our treasure, our hearts move in the direction of.

“Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.” ~ Billy Graham

By examining these simple (even overly-simplified) money languages, we should be able to evaluate where our hearts are moving by looking at where our treasure is getting placed.

Driver – Money means success.

The Driver views money as a means to achieve goals and measure success. Having and earning money protects the Driver against a fear of incompetence or lacking confidence in their lives. To a Driver, typically the more money they have, the more successful they feel. Drivers are typically focused on earning and saving.

If money has become an idol to a Driver, and the treasure being used simply for success, then the Driver’s heart will be given completely over to succeeding, sometimes at great cost. Drivers will often become overworked, impatient, and stressed in the pursuit of money, and in some cases, Drivers may look to money to find their self-esteem. By having money, the Driver can easily be tempted to become proud and flaunt there success to others.

But if a Driver lives surrendered to the kingdom, then they become driven to see the Kingdom of God successful, being very generous to and invested in the church, important causes, and ministry organizations.

Amiable – Money means love.

The Amiable sees money as a way to create security and stability in their relationships. Relationships and people are the focus of their financial desires. Money means the ability to express affection and love. The lack of money means losing the ability to express affection and love. They often prioritize saving and spending on things that enhance family and social bonds.

If money has become an idol to a Amiable, then treasure is often being used to purchase love from others. The Amiable’s heart will obsess over people’s acceptance of them. Amiables whose heart is in the wrong place can be very insecure of how people accept them or not, and even use money as a way to manipulate people’s love for them.

But if an Amiable lives surrendered to the kingdom, then they become incredibly kind and generous, even exceedingly so. Even though they can be impulsive, an Amiable who is attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit will be prompt in their obedience to give generously where they are led. The Amiable will be very compassionate to other people’s struggles and quick to give toward worthy causes and legitimate needs.

Analytical – Money means security.

To the Analytical, money wards off chaos and problems. This perspective involves viewing money through a lens of analysis and caution. The Analytical are often well-structured and well-planned. Analyticals are detail-oriented and prefer to make well-informed financial decisions, often emphasizing budgeting and financial planning.

If money has become an idol to an Analytical, then their treasure will be hoarded because of fear of an unknown. Analyticals may sound wise in their analysis and caution, but it can be a mask to hide a fearful stinginess. Treasure is a way to be secure to an Analytical (often they come from insecure poverty in the past), and their god has become their savings, keeping them safe from an insecure future. An Analytical can be insensitive to the needs of others and the prompting of God.

But if an Analytical lives surrendered to the kingdom, they can utilize their treasure very wisely, having the ability, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, to be wise stewards and generous over a long period of time. Analyticals will have the ability to wisely invest resources into good churches and ministries that are doing the work of God’s Kingdom.

Expressive – Money means respect.

Those that are Expressive see money as a way to enjoy life and create experiences. Money to the Expressive is a way of purchasing the respect and admiration of others. Money provides the basis for acceptance and relationship with desirable people. They are often spontaneous with their spending and value the joy and experiences that money can provide.

If money has become an idol to an Expressive, they will utilize their treasure to look acceptable to people they admire and want acceptance from. Expressives can be superficial and their financial success be a show, even accumulating massive debt in order to purchase things for the appearance of success. Because Expressives want to enjoy life and create experiences, they may be tempted to use money like a sedative, similar to others use drugs and alcohol, spending their money chasing a feeling they get from experiences.

But if an Expressive lives surrendered to the kingdom, they treasure can be leveraged alongside their creativity and optimism to see the church and ministry organizations be financially successful. Because they network well with others, they can often be the ones to cast a compelling vision of God’s kingdom to help raise money for worthy Kingdom causes. Expressives can be very generous to people in need, and keep the community of Christ inspired to be generous to one another.

Gods and Masters

Matthew 6:24 (ESV) “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”

Jesus here in the Sermon on the Mount, establishing what life in the kingdom looks like, not just in the future kingdom, but living in and from that kingdom in the here and now, says that you cannot serve both God and money. You can have both God and money, but you cannot serve both.

There is a throne in each of our lives, the lordship to whom we have surrendered our lives under the submission to, and it is only big enough for one. Jesus may sit on that throne. Money may be on that throne. But both cannot occupy that throne at the same time.

Matthew 6:24b (NKJV) “You cannot serve God and mammon.”

When Jesus named money “Mammon,” he personified money as a false god to portray its danger. Money, in and of itself, is neither good nor evil. It is simply a tool for exchange. Mammon, when money gets personified and deified, is a god-substitute, a false messiah.

“Once we allow money to have lordship over our lives, it becomes Money with a capital M, a god that jealously dethrones all else.” ~ Randy Alcorn

Money as an entity has an allure of making promises of a better life and better future. And yes, having money can do this, which is much better than not having it. However, money, maybe above all other things, has a way of shifting from being a tool in our hands, a servant doing our bidding, to a god in our lives, lording over us, dominating our attention, desires, and energy.

“Shopping is now the number one leisure activity in America, usurping the place previously held by religion. Amazon.com is the new temple. The Visa statement is the new altar. Double-clicking is the new liturgy. Lifestyle bloggers are the priests and priestesses. Money is the new god. There’s a reason the only other god Jesus ever called out by name was Mammon—the god of money – because it’s a bad god and a lousy religion.” ~ John Mark Comer

Because money easily takes on a life of its own and becomes a god and a master, it is important we are vigilant we maintain the right relationship with it. Jesus gives us the right way to relate to money within his Kingdom. Among the many things he says about it, which we will look at a few of them in the coming weeks, the context gives us the essential way to relate to money within the Kingdom of God and as a follower of Jesus.

Our hearts will follow our treasure. Therefore, we can direct our hearts through the directing of our money. If we want our hearts to be directed toward God and his Kingdom, then we put our money there, putting our “money where our mouth is,” as it were. It takes attentive vigilance to evaluate our heart, and we do so by looking at where our money is going. If we are to ensure money does not become a a god or a master, we must commit to “lay up treasures in heaven,” and thus ensure our hearts remain in God’s kingdom.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

A set of questions to gauge where your treasure and heart is:

“What do we value most? What would we hate to lose? What do our thoughts turn to most frequently when we are free to think of what we will? And finally, what affords us the greatest pleasure?” ~ A.W. Tozer

Conclusion

Getting a Biblical perspective and habit, transforming our character and money, could save marriages, salvage families, change futures, ensure legacies, and could transform the community and the world, all for the glory of the King and his Kingdom.

“Jesus Christ said more about money than about any other single thing because, when it comes to a man’s real nature, money is of first importance. Money is an exact index to a man’s true character. All through Scripture there is an intimate correlation between the development of a man’s character and how he handles money.” ~ Richard Halverson

Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Extra Information on Money Languages

Driver – Money means success.

Strengths:

Goal-Oriented: Drivers are focused on achieving financial goals and are often highly motivated, leading to successful financial planning and wealth accumulation.
- Disciplined: They tend to have a disciplined approach to saving and investing, which helps in building a secure financial future.
- Proactive: Drivers take initiative in managing their finances, seeking opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Confident: Their confidence in financial decision-making can lead to well-informed and timely investments.

Weaknesses:

Risk of Overworking: The intense focus on financial goals can lead to workaholism and neglect of personal well-being and relationships.
- Stress: The pressure to constantly achieve and maintain financial success can result in high levels of stress and anxiety.
- Impatience: Drivers may become impatient with slower financial growth, leading to potentially risky investments.
- Neglect of Non-Financial Goals: The emphasis on financial success might cause them to overlook other important life aspects, such as leisure and personal development.

Amiable – Money means love.

Strengths:

Relationship-Oriented: Amiables prioritize relationships over money, fostering strong personal connections and support networks.
- Generous: Their willingness to share and help others can create a positive impact on their communities and social circles.
- Low Stress: Amiables tend to experience less financial stress due to their relaxed attitude toward money.
- Cooperative: They are likely to be cooperative and collaborative in financial planning, valuing the input and perspectives of others.

Weaknesses:

Lack of Focus: Amiables might lack a clear financial plan, leading to potential difficulties in achieving long-term financial goals.
- Over-Generosity: Their generosity can sometimes result in financial strain if they overextend their resources to help others.
- Conflict Avoidance: Avoiding financial conflicts can prevent them from addressing important financial issues and making necessary decisions.
- Dependence: They may become overly reliant on others for financial support and decision-making.

Analytical – Money means security.

Strengths:

Detailed Planning: Analyticals excel at creating detailed financial plans and budgets, ensuring thoroughness and accuracy.
- Informed Decisions: Their meticulous nature leads to well-researched and informed financial decisions.
- Risk Management: Analyticals are skilled at assessing and managing financial risks, minimizing potential losses.
- Efficiency: Their systematic approach enhances financial efficiency and long-term stability.

Weaknesses:

Paralysis by Analysis: The tendency to overanalyze can lead to indecision and missed opportunities.
- Inflexibility: Analyticals may struggle with adapting to unexpected financial changes or taking risks.
- Time-Consuming: Their thorough approach can be time-consuming, potentially delaying important financial actions.
- Over-Cautiousness: Excessive caution might limit their ability to capitalize on profitable opportunities.

Expressive – Money means respect.

Strengths:

Optimistic: Expressives have an optimistic outlook on financial possibilities, which can lead to innovative ideas and opportunities.
- Social Networking: Their social nature helps them build valuable networks and connections that can benefit their financial situation.
- Creativity: They often come up with creative solutions to financial challenges and opportunities.
- Motivational: Their enthusiasm and positive attitude can inspire others and drive collective financial efforts.

Weaknesses:

Impulsiveness: Expressives may make impulsive financial decisions without thorough consideration, leading to potential losses.
- Lack of Discipline: Their relaxed attitude toward money can result in poor budgeting and financial management.
- Over-Optimism: Excessive optimism might lead them to underestimate risks and overestimate returns.
- Short-Term Focus: They may prioritize immediate gratification over long-term financial stability, affecting future security.

Howard Dayton of Compass — Finances God’s Way; https://compassfinancialministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2350-Verses-Catalog.pdf

Randy Alcorn, , Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003), pg. 3-4

Jesus and Materialism: https://www.evidenceunseen.com/theology/practical-theology/jesus-and-materialism/

Gene A. Getz, A Biblical Theology of Material Possessions (Chicago: Moody Press, 1990), pg. 65-66

“Are You Rich? Here’s What Americans Think You Need To Be Considered Wealthy”, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rich-heres-americans-think-considered-182847861.html

“If The Average American Household Is A Millionaire With A Net Worth Of $1.06 Million, Why Do People Feel So Broke?” https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/23/12/36078165/if-the-average-american-household-is-a-millionaire-with-a-net-worth-of-1-06-m?

Global Poverty Line: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-poverty-line-faq ($1.90 / day in 2015) See also https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview#1 ($2.15 / day in 2023) In 2022, a total of 712 million people globally were living in extreme poverty, an increase of 23 million people compared to 2019.

From the Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation: Poverty Guidelines — https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

“What Percent of Marriages End in Divorce Because of Money?” https://www.thejimenezlawfirm.com/what-percent-of-marriages-end-in-divorce-because-of-money/

Family Relations journal (v. 61, No. 4, Oct. 2012), “Examining the Relationship Between Financial Issues and Divorce,” (2012) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2012.00715.x; Researchers Jeffrey Dew, Sonya Britt, and Sandra Huston looked at data for 4,574 couples as part of the U.S.-based “National Survey of Families and Households”.

Dan Couvrette, publisher of Divorce Magazine, cited in an article published by the CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®), https://institutedfa.com/leading-causes-divorce/

“Average American Debt” (Dave Ramsey): https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/average-american-debt

The United States national debt is currently at $34,606,167,915,025, as of this message. Sourced from: https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-debt/

Billy Graham, as cited in Hans Finzel, The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), 104.

See also Luke 16:13, the only other time Jesus used “mammon” to describe money.

Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003), pg. 105-106

Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003), pg. 19

John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, (WaterBrook, 2019), pg. 180-181

A.W. Tozer, “The Transmutation of Wealth,” Born After Midnight (Harrisburg, Pa.: Christian Publications, 1959), pg. 107

Richard Halverson, the chaplain of the U. S. Senate from February 2, 1981 – March 11, 1995; cited in Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003), pg. 3