FINANCIAL HONESTY
1. WAYS OF UNGODLY GAIN....
A.
being lazy and relying on welfare. 1 Tim 5;8 But if anyone does not provide for hisown, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is
worse than an unbeliever.
1. This hurts our self esteem.. Prov 19;15 ¶ Laziness casts one into a deep
sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.
2. laziness is not to be pitied.. Matt 25;26
"But his lord answered and said tohim, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have
not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
B. Robbing and stealing.. Prov 1;10-19 ¶ My son, if sinners entice you, Do not
consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us
lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like
Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of
precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14 Cast in your
lot among us, Let us all have one purse" - 15 My son, do not walk in the way
with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And
they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight
of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for
their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes
away the life of its owners.
1. Obviously taking by force is wrong,- trickery is wrong, - taking things
that are not ours, - not working for your pay, - not paying your creditors, -
C. Gambling.
1. Gambling gives the illusion of gain.. 1tim 6;10 For 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.
a. violates good stewardship, 1 cor 4;2 Moreover it is required in stewards that
one be found faithful.
b. harms our neighbors, friends and self
D. Fleecing the flock.. 1 Tim 6;5. useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and
destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From
such withdraw yourself.
1. making merchandise of the brethren. 1 Pet 5;2. Shepherd the flock of God which
is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for
dishonest gain but eagerly;
2. using religion as a gimmick. Mat 21;12.
¶ Then Jesus went into the temple ofGod and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned
the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
II. GODLY WAYS TO MAKE A LIVING
A.
Providing labor.. Gen 2;15-16 and 3;17-19 Then the LORD God took the man andput him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.16 ¶ And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
¶ Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and
have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat
of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days
of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall
eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till
you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to
dust you shall return."
1. This describes most of us. Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc. you, I..
B. Providing a product or service, as Lydia.. Acts 16;14.
Now a certain woman namedLydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who
worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
C. Inheritance ¶ "If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and
they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the
firstborn son is of her who is unloved,16 "then it shall be, on the day he
bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status
on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true
firstborn.
1. We cannot depend on an inheritance, but it is honorable
a. We must show good stewardship with it
D. Providing out of love. Acts 11;29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability,
determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
1.Individual acts of kindness. Gal 6;10.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let usdo good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
III. OUR APPLICATION
A. If we are able, we are to work. Eph 4;28. Let him who stole steal no longer, but
rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have
something to give him who has need.
1. Working, helping others will give us self esteem
2. If a person will not work they are not acting as a Christian should
2 Thess 3;10. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this:
If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
a. our young people need to be taught to work, today this is a problem as
children have nothing to do.. When I was growing up kids had to work, at least
some..
b. When we are looking for a job we need to choose it carefully.. training tends to
increase pay..
B. Have the right attitude toward work.. Col 3;22-25. Bondservants, obey in all
things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-
pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it
heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will
receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who
does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
1. It is our service to God.. Eph 6;5-8 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are
your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of
heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as
bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill
doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good
anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave
or free.
a, We work for our families and God
2. We must do our best.. Prov 22;29.
¶ Do you see a man who excels in his work?He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
C. Be Honest in all our dealings and work. Prov 20;7. ¶ The righteous man walks in
his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
1. stand by your work. Prov 22;1. ¶ A good name is to be chosen rather than great
riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2. Pay a fair wage. Duet 24;14-15 ¶ "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is
poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in
your land within your gates. 15 "Each day you shall give him his wages, and
not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest
he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you.
3. Seek a fair profit, But, remember.. Prov 16;18. ¶ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 ¶ Better to be of a humble spirit with the
lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
One thing we need to do and that is to learn from other peoples mistakes as we do
not have time to make all of them ourselves..