Mark 10:21 (NKJV) Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Money can become a god to many people regardless of their social status. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for some which have strayed from their faith in their greediness”. In other words, money can prevent a person from coming to God for salvation. The rich and the poor can both develop a love for money, letting it become a stronghold in their lives. The rich may find it hard to part with their money because their trust lies in money, whereas the poor can also love money because nobody wants to be in lack. God does not oppose money or the prosperity and provision of people but rather money becoming a god to us.
Colossians 3:5 (NKJV) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
In the opening passage, the rich young ruler is of Jewish descent and has been well-taught about the laws of God. He must have learned where his wealth and blessing originated. Nonetheless, the love of money has slowly crept into his life, causing him to idolise it, especially when it was accompanied by power since he was a rich young ruler who had tasted power and wealth, and money has become a stronghold in his life. The problem is that he has identified himself with the status and wealth given to him. He needed to remove wealth and power as the idol in his life because it was God who had provided him with his wealth. Therefore, money wasn’t the problem for the rich young ruler, but the love of money, which is a heart issue. He loved money more than his love for salvation or eternal life. He came to Jesus for an answer regarding how to have eternal life, but he couldn’t let go of the idol in his heart—the love of money. Jesus spoke right into his life, helping him realise that his trust in money was hindering his faith in God.
What about you? Is money hindering your faith in God? Are you struggling to let go of your trust in money as your source of security and an idol in your life? This is the beginning of our drifting away, gradually leading us to distance ourselves from God and draw closer to what the world offers us. Remember that God is a jealous God. He doesn’t want us to be lukewarm and half-hearted toward Him; He desires all of us and our hearts.
Sermon Series: Money – The truth shall set you free!
人心的问题
马可福音10: 21 耶稣看着他，就爱他，对他说：“你还缺少一件：去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。
金钱可以成为许多人的神，不管他们的社会地位如何。圣经在提摩太前书6：10中说：“贪财是万恶之根，有人贪恋钱财，就被引诱离了真道。” 换句话说，金钱会阻止一个人向神寻求救赎。富人和穷人都可能对金钱产生热爱，使其成为生命中的营垒。富人可能难以割舍金钱，因为他们的信任在于金钱；而穷人也可能爱钱，因为没有人愿意处于匮乏之中。上帝并不反对金钱或人的繁荣与供给，而是反对金钱成为我们的神。
歌罗西书3:5 所以要治死你们在地上的肢体，就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲和贪婪，贪婪就与拜偶像一样。
在开篇的经文中，这位富有的少年官是犹太人后裔，他受过良好的神的律法的教导。他一定知道他的财富和祝福从何而来。然而，对金钱的热爱慢慢地腐蚀了他的生命，使他开始崇拜金钱，尤其是当权力也伴随着金钱而来的时候。既然他是一个已经尝过权力和财富的富有的少年官，金钱已然成为他生命的营垒。 问题在于，他已经以所获得的地位和财富定义了自己。 他需要去除那作为他生命中的偶像的财富和权力，因为他这些财富的赐与者是上帝。因此，对于这位富有的少年官来说，问题不在于金钱本身，而在于对金钱的热爱，而这关乎人心。他对金钱的爱超过了对救赎或永生的渴望。他来找耶稣寻求得永生之道，却无法放下心中的偶像——对金钱的热爱。耶稣的话直指他的生命，帮助他意识到他对金钱的依赖正在阻碍他对上帝的信心。
你呢？金钱是否阻碍了你对上帝的信心？你是否很难放弃对金钱的信靠，将其视为安全感的来源和生命中的偶像？这是我们歧路的开始，最终导致我们远离上帝，而更就近这花花世界。记住，上帝是一位善妒的神。祂不愿意我们对祂不冷不热或三心二意；祂渴望我们每一个人，每一颗心。
讲章系列 ： 金钱—真理必叫你得自由！
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