Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. The trouble with money is you can't live without it, and to some extent, many couples can't live with it.
So what do you do? Having a game plan for money management is critical if couples are to avert the damage done by squabbling over funds. Today, more on the deceitfulness of riches. From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Win with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Pastor, now it's almost impossible for most people to buy a first house.
Your teaching today will be crucial. Couples will make tough choices on how to use money which is losing its value. You know, Dave, I want to speak about this very sensitively, because the way in which you have described the situation is spot on. Many young couples simply cannot buy their first home, and so we are in a period of transition.
I do need to emphasize that this happens, of course, all over the world where there is a great deal more poverty than we experience here in this country. But at the same time, oftentimes couples can't afford something because they are not using their money wisely. And so I can't make all these decisions for the couples, of course. They have to work that out in the presence of God. But what they have to do is to agree on unity.
Disagreements, yes, but they have to be unified moving forward. And that's why I pray so much that these messages will be a blessing and a help as couples move toward that kind of unity. For a gift of any amount, we're making these messages available in written book form. Here's what you can do to receive them.
You go to RTWOffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. Now I know I said that very quickly. That's why I'm going to be giving you that contact info again at the end of this message. Meanwhile, let us listen. But the love of money is a root of many different kinds of evils. And what you need to do is to slay that beast of covetousness that is coiled in the human heart like a snake wanting to choke you.
Here's the thing. When you love money, what you'll discover is money will speak louder to you than God. And furthermore, you will be content not with godliness. That's not what will delight you.
As Paul explains later, it's not what will turn you on. What will really delight you is a big paycheck. That's where your mind will be. That's where your heart will be. That's where your schemes will be. And so the second principle of contentment.
Third, faith. Now notice as we turn the page in our Bibles in verse 17, it says these words, as for the rich in this present age. Now, Paul is no longer talking about those who simply desire to be rich. He's talking about those who are rich. By the way, what comes to mind when you read that phrase as for the rich in this present age? I immediately think of people who have more money than I do.
Is that what you do too? You think, well, you know, I may have hundreds or I may have a few thousand, but we think of those who are millionaires. Oh, that's who Paul is talking to. Oh my friend, if you are employed, if you have food on the table, clothes, you live in a decent place, you're rich. I'm rich in comparison to the kinds of situations that Paul was writing to.
So don't wiggle out. Now, if you're here today and you don't have a job and you are trying to wonder whether or not you can pay your bills, then maybe this doesn't, this phrase doesn't apply to you, but the principle still does. But let's include all of ourselves in this. Let those who are rich in this present age charge them not to be haughty. Why would a rich man be haughty? Because a rich man says, I don't need you. I don't need to go to church. I don't need your fellowship because after all, I'm totally independent.
I'm a self-made man, right? So teach them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches. Why didn't God ever show us the uncertainty of riches during the stock market crash and God loves to do that because there are always those who say, well, you know, it'll always be there and now maybe it won't be there.
The uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy your hope in God. Now this is huge. You know the name George Mueller. He lived in the 18 hundreds. He was a contemporary of DL Moody. Mueller had about eight or nine orphanages in Bristol, England.
You can read about this even on the internet if you don't want to read his biography, even though the biography is great. And what he did is he supplied all this money without mentioning money to anybody. All that he did is pray. Now some people think that that's what we should do, but actually I need to tell you that there's nothing wrong with outlining needs as we shall do.
Not today, but we will do that to this congregation to inform you as to where we are and why we need your help. But Mueller did that and he said he did it and he, and he fed them. I mean, there are so many stories of where the kids sit down at the table and there's nothing to eat and there's a knock on the door and somebody is bringing a cart of groceries. It is one miracle after another after another. But he said he did it to prove that God can be trusted to three different groups. First of all, there were young people who didn't know that they could trust God. Secondly, he said there were business people and those business people thought that they had to cheat in order to live and what he needed to do is to try to show them, no, you don't because God's able. And then he says there were old people who feared that in their old age and in those days there was no social security.
There were no old folks, homes or retirement centers as there are today that they feared that somehow their needs would not be met. And Mueller said he wanted to demonstrate that God can be trusted. What does this principle mean to you? If I were to take a poll for those of you who are going through times of financial hardship, you'd probably tell me, pastor, I pray about it all the time and I believe you. I'm going to ask you to take a step beyond that. Instead of praying about it, just simply give it to God. Transfer the burden from your heart. Give it to God. And just say, God, I can't handle this. It's not a matter of prayer anymore because prayer is sometimes so easy to give in unbelief and you're just praying because you're not believing anything when it comes to transferring it and committing it.
That becomes a different story. And why is it that God gives us the uncertainty of riches so that we might stop trusting riches and hope in God? I must hurry. Next principle is generosity. Generosity. Verse 18, they are to do good, to be rich in good works. Now there's a way that all of us can be rich.
To be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. You know, I hope you never get over the Bible. It is an unbelievable book.
I just read this and I say, my, what a book. Couple of reasons. First of all, notice this, that when it comes to giving, the first reason to give is not so that Moody church can keep its lights on so that we can pay salaries so that we can fund missionaries. That's not the first reason to give. The Bible nowhere is critical of investments. It is very critical of bad investments, but whether you're talking about Jesus or Paul, they're repeatedly talking about money and good investments. A good investment is one that number one has security.
It is absolutely secure. It is not subject to the stock market and number two, it is a high rate of return. Those are the only investments that the Bible approves and Paul is approving it here. He says, what you must do is to be rich in good works and then to give, to share so that you might store up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future so that they would take hold of that which is life indeed and the future has to do with heaven and that's what Jesus said that if you give, he says, put your money in heaven where moth and rust does not corrupt, where thieves cannot break through and steal and you've made a very wise investment. Why?
It is totally secure. It has a high rate of interest and you know what? You are doing this for yourself. Self interest should be definitely the reason why we give. I can imagine that when we take an offering or we explain the needs of Moody church, there's some people who say, Oh, there they go again. That's all the church wants is money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money. Listen, if you have that attitude, I have a couple of things to say to you just between you and me. Nobody else needs to listen to this. Number one, keep your money.
That's number one. We don't want it and God doesn't need it. Number two, why don't you repent of the fact that you do not understand that you are not giving it to us. You are storing up for yourself a treasure and a foundation.
Notice this is what the text says. This is what amazes me about the Bible. Look at here that they might store up treasure for themselves. We are giving you the opportunity of making a wise investment for yourself so that you might meet your money again in eternity and then again, I marvel at the Bible.
Look at this. You know, what does money promise? Oh, if you've got lots of money, boy, then for sure you're going to have life.
You can have homes all over the world. That's what money promises. Notice Paul says that if you give, you'll lay up for yourself a treasure of that which is truly life. You'll lay up a treasure of godliness and an investment in heaven that is truly life. Well, there's another principle, but I'm going to have to give that to you some other time because I want to get to this business of marriages and time goes by so rapidly, so quickly.
Let me move to the end. You remember that passage of scripture that was read to us today and it says, what more shall I say? You remember Eric read that from Hebrews 11. There was a young preacher who began with that and said, what more shall I say?
And someone in the back row said, try a man. So I'm always a little concerned when that scripture is read. Oh, marriages. Number one, and these are all L's.
They're all L's so that you can remember them. Let's go over them quickly. Number one, listen to each other. Listen to each other. What happens in arguments is nobody listens. Immediately the other spouse is there to correct, to judge, to improve on what is being said.
And that's a disaster. You listen to each other. There's nothing that you can do for your spouse to give her or him more respect than to simply hear him out totally without even thinking of how you're going to respond or how quickly you're going to respond to just let them speak, speak, speak, speak, speak, and listen not only to the words, but also to their hearts. Gentlemen, listen to your wives. You may not agree with them, but you have to hear them.
Wives, listen to your husband totally. And when one is finished, you don't answer right away. You go for a cup of tea and then you come back and you discuss it rationally.
You remember the verse of scripture that you should have on your refrigerator from the book of Proverbs 26 verse 10 that says where there is no wood, the fire goes out. Another story. Listen.
Now a marriage counselor who knows a lot more about this than I do, and I don't know, I'm just quoting and when somebody has counseled couples for years, I always listened to what they have to say. He says that he has observed that in conflict, women are generally critical and men are lazy. I don't know. I'm just quoting somebody else here.
Nothing to do with it. I'm just, just reporting. Listen to each other. Number two, we must hurry. In the process of listening, learn.
That's number two. Learn. There are so many good books out there about spending plans. Get with a couple that has wisdom.
Talk to our pastor of families who's got books on budgets and learn from the past. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from where you are going and, and learn and learn and learn how important that is. And if you don't have employment, I have a full time job for you right now. And the full time job is to full time look for employment.
And I know that this is easy for me to say, but don't look only in your field. Be willing to do something else. I admire a man whom I know who is very, very highly qualified and he is working at Juul stacking groceries.
I admire that and so does God. This is a very difficult time economically. Talk to our people.
We have a reemployment committee here at Moody Church and our desire is to be able to help you in terms of employment. I don't know all the things that we can do, but we can do whatever we can to help you during this very difficult time. But sit down and make a spending plan that the two of you can agree on. Come to some kind of agreement regarding finances so that instead of finances being the thing that drives you apart, let the financial issue be that which brings you together. You know, the Bible says in Proverbs 14 23 it says those who work hard profit, but mere talk only leads to poverty. That's Proverbs 14 23. All kinds of Proverbs speak to this issue of money.
Be teachable under this learn experience. Number three, lean. Lean means that now you lean on God. Do you think that God abandons you when things get difficult? Do you think that God says, well, you know, you're in this mess and I'm just going to leave you there.
Well, he may leave you there to teach you some lessons, but if you are a teachable person, God knows that also. And God is there to help us in our need. He's there to help us as a church and as individuals. Our trust is in God and we lean hard on him and men, husbands. It's your responsibility to pray with your wives and to give all these matters to God and to take God's promises and hang onto them. And if you're looking for another verse to put on your refrigerator, how about second Chronicles 16 verse nine.
This will bless your soul. The scripture says that the Lord's eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth seeking those whose hearts are perfect toward him that he might greatly fend for them. That he might be strong on behalf of those whose hearts are set on him. Of course, this is a time of distress for the world. It's a time of distress and our eyes need to be set on God. Finally, I want to say a word to those of us who have employment. What is our responsibility during a time of difficult financial times?
Our responsibility is to help. A woman in prayer meeting prayed the other day and it was so beautiful. She said, Lord, you spoke not only to Elijah but you also spoke to the raven to bring him food. And when the Lord needed some money, he not only spoke to Peter but he spoke to the fish in whose mouth the coin was that they needed.
So God speaks to those who do not have and he also speaks to those who have. I have to tell you that throughout the years, my wife and I have been able to give gifts of money to a lot of different people who have financial needs and it's so wonderful to do it. You don't get a tax credit for it but the fact that you know about it and God knows about it, it is so freeing and so liberating to bless others.
It really is. And we need to have our eyes and our ears open and see whether or not God is leading into our lives those whom we can bless and those whom we can help. And I know that you've done the same and you've experienced the same joy of giving. Whatever you do, don't die with a lot of money. Give it away before you die. My philosophy is I want to do my giving while I'm living so I'm knowing where it's going. And what you must do is don't give your kids a lot.
Whatever you do, you'll destroy them. If they're needy, give them enough. You know, a woman in prayer meeting just this past Wednesday, she looked up at me with a big smile. She says, Pastor Lutzer, if I die, half of my money is going to Moody Bible Institute and half is going to Moody Church. Well, might she smile, by the way?
Moody Bible Institute training missionaries, Moody Church sending missionaries all over the world, helping here in the great city of Chicago, building families. She is in heaven today. I mean, she isn't in heaven yet but she's laying a foundation for the future. I think our, I think our technical crew will want to cut out that phrase. Okay. She is laying up for herself. Let me get back to the word of God here.
Storing up treasure for herself, a good foundation for the future that she may lay hold of that, which is truly life. All right. It came out all right. Let me ask you something.
You claim to be a Christian. Are you generous? Very quickly visualize a man who has a huge estate. He has absolutely everything and in this estate he has a servant who is evil. The servant steals from him. The servant is critical of him. The servant hurts others. He's an evil servant, but the man also has a son whom he greatly loves. He is wildly in love with his son and he says to his son, son, I have chosen to love that evil servant with the very same love with which I love you.
But in order for me to forgive that servant so that we can have fellowship together, you are going to have to die and you're going to have to bear the sin and the evil of that servant. That's the gospel. And the Bible says that God loves us even as he loves Christ.
I'm not making it up. It's there in John 17. That was love them even as those love me. And God says, God says, that's how much I love you and that's what I paid to redeem you. Can you accept a redemption like that? A forgiveness like that and then be stingy? I don't think so.
I don't think so. God says that what he wants to do is to have us lay it all before him and to work things out in such a way that in this business of money there might be harmony and peace in our homes, whether we have much or little for his glory. And by the way, some of you who are listening, you've maybe never trusted Christ as savior. You've never trusted that son. The Bible says he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all. How shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
I recommend Jesus to you today is the one who can reconcile you to God, forgive your sin, make you a child of the king, and then you are also in the mainstream of his eternal blessing. You know, even as I listened to these words, what comes to my mind is the memory of my parents. They were relatively poor, but they saved their money and they gave a great deal of it away. Back in the days when 10 or $20 was a lot of money, they were sending that money to Christian ministries. And when they died, I just told someone recently, they didn't leave much money at all behind. And of course, in doing that, they really blessed us. I think of the many people who die, who leave so much money for their children that it really ruins their children.
So we have to think biblically about money. And I think that the message that you have just listened to helps toward that end. Actually, we're making all of these messages available in written book form.
The title is The Marriage Puzzle. If you don't need these messages, you most assuredly know someone who does. I hope that you have a pen or pencil handy because I'm going to be giving you some contact info. Here's what you can do. Go to rtwoffer.com. That's rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. I don't need to emphasize that our marriages are in trouble. And what God wants us to do is to be able to work through our differences, to bring him glory, even in tough times. You can write to us at Running to Win, 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60614. Next time, the damage addictions do in a marriage and how to be rid of their influence. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.
