A BIBLICAL PORTRAIT OF MARRIAGE

Session 8

MONEY: Control Money Through Covetousness or Contentment

Introduction

Illustration: A couple was discussion how to use money wisely. But the
wife gets into buying new clothes whereas the husband gets into paying the old
bills. The wife wants the new clothes and used the credit cards but the husband
said, no.

The lack of money is often blamed for many arguments in marriage, but
the love of money is usually the real culprit. When the discipline of contentment
is learned, money problems can be brought under control.

-One reason for relationship split is because of the problem of money.

Money divides, creates conflict, and hurts. Spouses play the game of tug of war.
“Let’s spend it here, the other says no, let’s use it here.”

-Couples get into trouble by forcing themselves in prison.

-Family appears to be in good shape because of things in the house like
cars, home appliances and others but actually preparing their own problem in the
future.

Ogden Nash says, “Some debts are fun when you are acquiring them, but none
are fun when you set about retiring them.”

Ku Hubbard (Cartoon) says, “The safest way to double your money is to fold it
over once, and put it back in your wallet.”

I am not giving you tips how to handle money but I would like to discuss the basic
reason why we are in trouble financially.

Why do we have problem in money?

The key passage on money in the Bible is Hebrews 13:5

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,
because God has said, “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as
you have. The passage is saying that your life should be without covetousness
but with contentment.

• Without covetousness

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 -Greek word has two meaning: (1) Loving money for particular reason which
talks about spending (2(Loving money by making money and save it.
Saving or storing.
-Spend is about pleasure. We spend money because it feels good to
have more and more.
-Store money is driven by security and fear of the future whereas
spending money is driven by pleasure.

-The point is: are you greedy in spending more or greedy in saving more
because fear?

• With contentment

What are the results of a love of money taking root in one’s life (1 Timothy
6:10)?

-The issue is the love of money refers to storing up or spending. Be careful

because if the love of money grows it leads to:

• Stray from the faith. The picture is a person who is religious but strayed
away from faith.
• Pierce oneself with sorrows. The love of money is used to pierce yourself
with sorrows (many sorrows).

Rather than finding your security from hoarding money or seeking pleasure
from spending money, how should a person respond?

1 Timothy 6:17, 19

17: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who
richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

-Don’t trust. . .money but God.

• Trust God rather than money. Do you trust your bank or money rather
than God?

1 Timothy 6:17b-19:

• Share what you have with others.

Verse 19: Store is banking. It speaks about security. Security is in God.

• Store your riches in heaven.

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Hebrews 13:5-6

• Believe that God will never leave you nor forsake you.

Let’s talk about spending:

-Luke 12:13-31: No covetousness

-Luke 12:13-5: Parable-spend it is not rich toward God.

Luke 12:16-19

Luke 20-21

Colossians 3:5-covetousness is idolatry. Idolatry is above God.

What characterizes true contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-9)?

• Be content with what you have. Present tense means not after but now.
• Be content with food and clothing.

Conclusion
-Money problem is a heart issue.
-Where does contentment come from? 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

-“Sufficient” means strength. It means that God’s grace in my heart brings

contentment. It is God who fills my heart with contentment through His grace.

-Money problem is not solved in bank accounts but in trusting God.

-Contentment is in God’s grace not in gold.