The Most Insignificant Thing
E.A. Johnston emphasizes that money is insignificant compared to the eternal value of souls and urges believers to prioritize gospel evangelism over earthly wealth.
In this topical sermon, E.A. Johnston challenges believers to reconsider their financial priorities by highlighting the eternal insignificance of money. He contrasts earthly wealth with the eternal value of souls and calls Christians to be faithful stewards by investing in evangelism. Johnston warns against the modern, self-centered focus on debt repayment and urges a God-centered perspective that values eternity above all.
Full Transcript
Money is the most insignificant thing in light of eternity. You can't take it with you. It matters little there, how much you had of it here, other than bragging rights and creature comforts for yourself.
My Bible tells me that the streets of heaven are paved with gold. What we place so much value in here, we will walk on there. I repeat, the most insignificant thing in light of eternity is money.
If our lives here on earth were occupied with the accumulation of money in this world, how impoverished we will be in eternity, because we are not rich toward God. The most significant thing in the world and in eternity is the worth of a soul. If our money is not deployed in the work of evangelism to reach the lost and perishing, then we are poor stewards of what God has entrusted to us.
Somewhere down the road of modern Christian thought, we bought into the man-centered philosophy that the most important thing we can do with our money is to get out of debt. How selfish, how self-centered. The most important thing we can do with our money is the spread of the gospel.
Who cares if your mini-mansion is paid off while sinners perish into a burning hell? When we die and appear before the bar of God, we will see then what we thought in life were the most significant things, in reality were the most insignificant, and the things of eternal worth that we felt weren't worth our money and our time will shame us in light of that eternity.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Insignificance of Money
- Money cannot be taken into eternity
- Earthly wealth is temporary and trivial
- Heaven’s streets are paved with gold, showing a reversal of values
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II. The True Value of a Soul
- Eternal worth surpasses material wealth
- Being rich toward God is what matters
- Evangelism is the proper use of money
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III. The Danger of Self-Centered Financial Priorities
- Modern focus on debt repayment is selfish
- Ignoring the lost leads to eternal poverty
- God’s judgment will reveal true priorities
Key Quotes
“The most insignificant thing in light of eternity is money.” — E.A. Johnston
“If our money is not deployed in the work of evangelism to reach the lost and perishing, then we are poor stewards of what God has entrusted to us.” — E.A. Johnston
“When we die and appear before the bar of God, we will see then what we thought in life were the most significant things, in reality were the most insignificant.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Evaluate your financial priorities in light of eternity and invest in gospel work.
- Avoid selfish financial goals that neglect the needs of the lost.
- Remember that earthly wealth is temporary and focus on being rich toward God.