Pastor Mac Hammond | September 12, 2021

Recap:
One of the weed seeds that Jesus warns about in the parable of the sower is the deceitfulness of riches. Now, this weed seed—or you could saw worldly idea—doesn’t refer only to the people who have great wealth. It refers to excess over need. When you have even a few dollars left after your need is met, you have the potential to be lured away from the Word of God by the deceitfulness of money. That doesn’t mean money is bad. Money is a medium of exchange in this natural world, but if your trust and security lies in your bank account taking care of you rather than God, you’ll also find that you can be more easily deceived.

If the devil can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you! That’s why it is important to learn how to relate rightly to money in this natural world.

Dive Deeper:
God’s Word is clear about money. Riches can be deceitful. They can draw you away from trusting in God for your security. Money itself isn’t bad, but how you relate to it—do you love it?—is what we need to understand.

Remember, the enemy’s purpose is to deceive you and draw you away from truth. If he can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you. According to Jesus’ parable of the sower, deception is linked with money. That means deception in any area may just hinge on how you handle your money. If you get it right on money, you close the door on deception as a strategy.

So how does God want you to spend your money? First, you close the door on deception by tithing. Tithing is when you bring the first tenth of your increase to the local church (or storehouse) that God has called you to be. This moves your trust away from your paycheck to God as your provider. Second, you understand how money can be used to promote the kingdom of God on this earth through over-and-above giving.

You see, this is about your heart. God wants your heart. He doesn’t want your heart to be entangled with the kingdom of this world, even though you operate in it. Placing God first in your money is key.

Read More:
Mark 4:18-19 KJV
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:18-19 Amp.
And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 KJV
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 KJV
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Matthew 6:19-24 KJV
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

James 1:22 KJV
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Malachi 3:10-11 KJV
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

Hebrews 7:1-2 KJV
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 KJV
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Discussion Questions:
1. Have you seen the difference tithing can make in your life?
2. Have you seen the impact sowing and reaping can have on your finances?
3. Why do you think the use of our money matters to God?
4. What does God do for us in return as we take care of His Kingdom first in our finances?

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