The Love of Money - Part 6

He observed how, not how much. And he said, he called his disciples and said, I want to teach you something. And learn it.

He calls his disciples today and tells them, I want you to learn something. This woman, this widow, has put in more than all that is in that box. Because they gave out of their abundance.

But she gave sacrificially. So that's the second thing Jesus taught. And thirdly, Jesus taught that we must give wisely.

Luke chapter 12 and verse 42. We read Jesus saying, Who then is that faithful and wise steward? You see, we are stewards. That means the money is not ours.

It's God's. There's a verse in 1 Corinthians 10, 26 which says, Everything on earth belongs to God. That includes what's in your bank account.

It belongs to God. He's allowed you to use it for a short period. I'm a steward.

And this money that God's given me, I have to be not only faithful, but wise. That means when I give to God's work or anything, I've got to make sure where it is going. Is it being properly spent? See, I live in India where there are lots and lots of Christian organizations that keep sending letters to the United States and other countries saying, We're doing a work here and give us money for this.

Give us money for this Bible school. We're starting this orphanage, etc., etc., etc. I found in India, I'll tell you, I live there.

Bible schools and orphanages are the biggest rackets, business rackets in Christendom in India. In case you didn't know. I live there and I know I've lived there for 67 years.

I've traveled the length and breadth of India and I know what's going on. And here I find so many people who have given secretly, who have given sacrificially, who have given faithfully from the West, but not wisely. Without thinking.

They give, believing all these reports, which they read and all these photographs. Well, please listen today. Who is that wise steward? Who recognizes I must not only give secretly, sacrificially, faithfully, but wisely.

I must be wise in where I give. There's a curse on those who give to the rich. I must give where there is a need.

And I want to say to you, it takes a little more effort to be wise in giving. And because we are lazy to make that effort, we just give to ease our conscience. That's not the way to give.

We must make a little more effort to be wise in our giving. I want to say this in conclusion. See, I lived in India and we've also done work in India for 30 years in many of our churches.

And because of all that we saw, that bad name that was being brought to Christ through Christianity in a country where 98% are non-Christian, and where people say, Hey, we know what you fellas are, why you fellas are Christians. Because you want money. And you fellas can never... Your Christianity came from the West.

And we say, no, it came from heaven. No, it comes from the West. You can't live without this money from the West.

You can't live without this support from the West. And I say, we're going to prove to you that we can do that. And that's what we did for 30 years.

We want to demonstrate that we don't have the right begging letters here and there to serve the Lord. It's so important, my dear brothers and sisters. By all means, support God's work.

But be wise. Make sure it's going where it's being used for the glory of God. Where it's being used for the spread of the true gospel.

Where people are being led to Christ. And not where people are lining their pockets. Don't give to people who are already rich.

But give to the poor. That's what Jesus taught. In conclusion, in 1 Timothy 6 we read, 1 Timothy chapter 6, and verse 7. We brought nothing into this world, and therefore we take nothing out.

But during this period, we came, all of us were born without even a stitch of clothing. We brought nothing. And when we go, we won't be able to take one cent out of this world.

But during this period, 70, 80, 90 years, God gives you money. You know why? To test you. When that rich man's barns overflowed with the crops, little did he know, that God was testing him, with the abundance that he got.

See, what's he going to do with it? The other, he said, Oh, I can build a bigger house now. I can do this, I can do that, all for myself. But there was another man, who multiplied his 1 mina into 10 minas, and he thought, boy, I can give something to God here.

I can give something to my master. Do you know that when God gives you more than you need, he's testing you? You didn't know it. Usually you don't know it until the test is over.

And, he was testing you throughout your 70, 80, 90 years on earth, to see what you'd do, with this, with these little gifts he gave you, like money, time, friendships, everything God gives. What are you going to do with it? Are you only going to think of yourself? Then, you need to be saved. You need to be saved from your self-centeredness.

Jesus came to save you from that self-centeredness, which is the root of all sin. You need to be not only forgiven, but saved. And so, what shall I say? What Jesus said, no more laziness, work hard, earn all that you can, for the glory of God.

No more wastage, save all that you can. And no more selfishness, give, as God has prospered you. Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, it's easy to understand these truths in our minds, and probably most of us who are clever here have understood, but I pray that you'll help us to apply this in our daily life. Only you can save us from the love of money. Help us, Lord, each one, to yield ourselves to you, so that you can save us, make our lives fruitful for the glory of God.

We pray in Jesus' name.