TEACHING

Daryl Wood

(Daryl is a fivefold teacher on the Kingdomquest Apostolic Team.)

MANHATTAN ISLAND PURCHASED FOR MERE TRINKETS

Had there been printed media on that day in 1625, this fact probably would have headlined periodicals throughout the New York City region and beyond. Peter Minuit, governor of the settlement then referred to as New Amsterdam, bought Manhattan from a group of local Native Americans for about $24 worth of beads. Now, with nearly 400 years of history in our rear view mirror, the inequity of the transaction is glaringly self-evident. But at the time the natives were so bedazzled by the cheap, colorful glass that they were willing to forfeit their very inheritance in order to secure wealth’s counterfeit.

What a rip-off. Yet it pales in comparison to a hoodwinking with far more sinister and lasting implications. This time, instead of an isolated event, the trading madness is pandemic, and on a global scale.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? DO NOT BE DECEIVED. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9,10)."

This sobering promise targets some particular groups. The list is obviously not intended to be all-inclusive; plenty who don’t fit into any of these aforementioned categories won’t inherit the kingdom of God either. Still, the language in these verses plainly identifies the fact that those who practice sin–and the sins mentioned here, in specific–will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Most of these classifications, such as "thief", "drunkard", "homosexual", "adulterer", etc., appear to be concretely recognizable. What about covetousness? It seems more ambiguous. Maybe this is because it is so interwoven into the fabric of society here in the United States that I’ve become desensitized. Do I recognize a covetous man when I bump into one? In the previous chapter (1 Cor. 5:11-13), Paul says that saints are not even to eat with any "so-called brother" who is covetous. This is important, because it is a limiting condition for fellowship. We are required to judge those who say that they are on the Lord’s team.

Perhaps though, a much better query is, "Do I recognize covetousness if and when it surfaces within my own life?" My very destiny may well hinge on an honest assessment of this question.

By what criteria is covetousness identifiable? Does one’s bank ledger or his list of assets answer this question? Certainly these contribute some helpful information. Still, Abraham and Job were men of considerable wealth; there is no indication that they were covetous. In fact, the testimony of the scriptures would point to the opposite. Conversely, there are people cooking over sticks and living in cardboard boxes who are eaten up with greed. What one possesses does not define whether or not he is covetous. The telltale issue is what possesses him.

The rich young ruler was instructed to first go, sell all that he had, give to the poor, and then come, take up his cross, and follow Jesus (Mark 10-17-22). There are those who view this command to "sell all that he had" as universal. Actually, it was and is case-specific. This man’s life revolved around his possessions. The only way that he could ever be free was to smash his sacred idol by a full-scale liquidation of his belongings. There are those to whom this applies today. They will always have a gnawing awareness that they are coming up short of God’s grace unless and until they abandon their earthly treasure. They are trying to worship the Lord while worshiping money at the same time, and Jesus declared this to be an impossibility (Luke 16:13). Their only remedy is a full and complete break with the god that binds them. They have to go from the god of money before they can ever come to Jesus Christ.

For another individual with a different kind of baggage, Jesus would have framed a different response. Therefore the instruction to "sell all" didn’t/doesn’t apply to everyone, or else it would have been the consistent biblical directive.

The popular misquotation, "Money is the root of all evil," is explicitly false. While the love of money equates to idolatry and opens the door to many other snares, money itself is neither evil nor good, in a moral sense. Used properly it is a powerful tool for the promotion of God’s purposes as well as a great benefit to its possessors.

"The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it (Prov. 10:22)."

"And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day (Deut 8:18)." The Hebrew word "koach" is here translated "power" in many Bible versions, but it has an alternate meaning, "wealth". In a real sense, the Lord empowers us with material provision through giving us the "wealth to get wealth". Practically, this is accomplished as we labor, then give in faith to support the work of His ministry, and He multiplies back to us the seed to sow even more.

"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God (2 Cor. 9:10, 11)."

Unfortunately, a popular practice in many ministries today has been to exploit the truth of this principle in order to manipulate giving. By promising all contributors a hefty return on their offerings, some leaders entice the naive and faithless to view giving as a "heavenly investment strategy" that will make them wealthy–and quick! With greed as their motivation, God does not prosper those donors under this pretense. Those who seem to "prosper" don’t truly experience God’s favor upon their increase (i.e., there is sorrow attached to it in one form or another). Consequently, the contributors–not to mention the recipients with a "hireling" mentality–fail to receive what God intended. Worse yet, a critically valid precept, which should be properly utilized for great good in advancing the kingdom of God, becomes corrupted. As a result, some who are vigilant and discerning of such trickery become offended, and close their minds and hearts to the notion of giving generously to any ministry–even the most fruitful and pure.

It is a common misconception that financial giving, even if it is imprudent, will reap a monetary increase for the "seed sower". The scriptures warn otherwise:

"He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty (Prov. 22:16)."

To sow into ministries that evidence covetousness only reinforces that which the Lord is out to destroy. The cycle of greed which stimulates both giver and receiver in these instances becomes reinforced. While God may have winked at these practices in days past, largely due to the ignorance of its participants, the day is rapidly approaching when He will not.

While instructing His followers on the sober realities of persecution, one from the crowd interrupted Jesus one day.

" . . . ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But He said to him, ‘Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?’ And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses (Luke 12:13-15)."

Paul’s word to the rich was this:

"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim. 6:17-19)."

It takes considerable grace to handle wealth properly, and extraordinary grace when that wealth comes rapidly.

"Two things I request of you. (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches–feed me with the food You prescribe for me, lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God (Prov. 30:7-9)."

The mere possession of wealth need not be a stumbling block, if one counts that wealth primarily as a vehicle for the expansion of the kingdom of God. On the other hand, one of the clearest indicators of covetousness is a lack of contentment. Without contentment one is consumed with a drive to acquire. One of the obvious fruits of this is "living beyond one’s means" through the abuse of credit. Instead of leaving an inheritance to one’s descendants (Prov. 13:22) such a practice actually steals from the next generations.

‘Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we will be content (1 Tim. 6:6-8)."

Being satisfied with the material essentials is a place of freedom; anything less than this is bondage. Indeed, a sweet contentment accompanies and sustains those who find their satisfaction in the Lord, while covetousness is its antithesis. For all that Abraham possessed materially, God was his shield and his exceedingly great reward. Abraham walked in a trusting relationship with YHWH Jireh, the Lord his Provider, and worshiped Him, instead of bowing before His provision. That is why Abraham needed neither thread nor sandal strap from the king of Sodom, and refused the wealth that this man offered him, lest God be robbed of the glory (Gen. 14:21-24). It is also why the luscious plain of the Jordan was not an enticement to strife when it came time to part ways with Lot (Gen. 13). Abraham was equally satisfied to take the less attractive Canaan and let his nephew choose what appeared to be the better land, although hindsight shows that Abraham got the greater blessing here also.

"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 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. But you, O man of God, flee these things . . . (1 Tim. 6:9-11a)." The region of Sodom proved to be just such a place of temptation and entrapment for Lot, though God mercifully helped him to flee by sending a pair of angels to practically drag him out of that cesspool.

Contentment comes as we serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things with which He has blessed us. (See Deut. 28:47, 48.) By reflecting on His graciousness towards us and thanking Him for all of His goodness, our hearts are insulated from the canker of grumbling and discontentment. Gratitude wards off the enemy, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. In short, we settle into a heavenly perspective, whereby we walk in deep and genuine appreciation for the half-full glass, rather than scowling because we don’t have more.

Through His perspective we also recognize that we don’t just owe Him 10%, we owe Him all. As surely as He held back nothing in securing for us an avenue for relationship with Him, He deserves the same from us in return. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ involves nothing less than this!

"So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions (Luke 14:33)."

Grasping this realization concerning the cost of discipleship is not "hitting a home run", it’s merely "getting to first base". It’s a starting point for growth in grace.

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches (Luke 16:10, 11)?"

Money and the toys that it can buy are very small things. Material wealth comprises the least among things to be valued, and yet our faithfulness in this arena of financial stewardship becomes the proving ground through which the Lord determines the degree to which we can be trusted with that which matters most–the true riches, which are spiritual.

"And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own (v. 12)?"

Do I "own" things, or has God merely made me a caretaker over some of that which is His?

"No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (v.13)."

The grand illusion in America is that we can have it both ways. Perhaps no verse in the Bible is more thoroughly rejected by the Western religious community that claims faith in Christ, than this verse!

"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light (v. 8)."

The sons of this world are credited for being internally consistent in their values–shrewd, at least in this issue of finance. They say that their money is theirs, and they live like they believe it. Jesus would that those who call themselves His sons would be every bit as consistent.

"And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings (v. 9)."

The unjust servant in this parable was commended by Jesus, not because of his dishonesty, but because he recognized that money (which belonged to someone else) could be leveraged to his advantage by using it with a view toward a future reward. In the same way, we should steward God’s resources that He has placed under our trust in such a way that they reap eternal benefits–for His kingdom, for others, and even for ourselves. This is "shrewd" management of finances.

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

Temporal treasure depreciates; eternal treasure appreciates.

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (v. 24-33)."

So many people spend the better part of their lives worrying about acquiring and maintaining the "finer things in life", while that which is life indeed is ignored, and falls by the wayside. Jesus said to not even worry about the physical necessities, much less the luxuries! By truly seeking His kingdom and His righteousness above everything else, we release Him to bless us with what we need, and so much more.

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:32-34)."

I wonder . . . have we traded, or will we trade Manhattan Island (i.e., our inheritance) for a few handfuls of glittering glass?