MATERIAL TEMPTATIONS (Matthew 4:1-11) 4. So as he did with Jesus, we can expect the devil to tempt us with material things.

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1 MATERIAL TEMPTATIONS (Matthew 4:1-11) 4. So as he did with Jesus, we can expect the devil to tempt us with material things. A. In the 1 st & 3 rd temptations, the devil used material things to lure Jesus into a sin: bread & kingdoms. 1. What could be wrong with the Creator eating His own bread? a. At that moment, it was the wrong use of a right thing; Jesus had made a vow. 2. What was wrong with the Son of God ruling over the nations? a. His Father already did rule the nations; Jesus was going to rule in the hearts of men. 3. The point is that a love for material things will cause us to be self-centered rather that God or Christ centered. a. He may not tempt us with a political office, but he may tempt us when we advance in the secular world. b. The temptation is always, What more can I have that will bring me immediate satisfaction. c. In short, Satan can turn matter against us; he can see to it that material things become our greatest disadvantage if we let him. [Satan has three avenues through which he can approach us, & two of those avenues are paved with material things (1 Jn 2:15-17). The third, the pride of life, is the engine that drives us toward the lust for material things. In this lesson, we want to focus on what the Scriptures teach about material things & our attitudes toward them. 1

2 I. MATERIAL THINGS NOT INHERENTLY EVIL Prov 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, & He adds no sorrow with it. A. I heard a man say, If the Lord has blessed you to such an extent that you can afford a BMW, then go ahead & buy one; you don t have to apologize for it or feel guilty about it. a. For example, most of us have freezers full food items that can sustain us for many days; we have bank accounts & investments. b. Solomon was saying that it s not inherently evil to have more than you need. B. But what about monetary wealth; it is inherently evil? 1. First of all, the type of vehicle a person wants to drive is between that person & His Lord. 1. It wasn t for the Israelites. 2. Secondly, how does he know whether a person ought to feel guilty about buying a BMW? 3. But thirdly, & most importantly, we have been conditioned to equate riches with extravagance. 4. Solomon s reference to the blessing of the LORD making one rich had to do with the abundant supply of daily requirements. Deut 8:17-18 [when] you say in your heart, My power & the might of my hand have gained me this wealth. 18 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. Eccl 5:18-19 Here is what I have seen: It is good & fitting for one to eat & drink, & to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches & wealth, & given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage & rejoice in his labor -- this is the gift of God. 2. But there are some things we need to know about these statements from God: 2

3 a. First, the words of Moses & Solomon were spoken to the physical descendants of Abraham; the people of whom God promised to make a great nation; wealth was just one factor in making the nation great. 1) It may surprise you that a promise of monetary wealth was never made to the church, citizens of the kingdom of Christ. C. In fact, being rewarded by God for your honest labor may never result in you becoming rich. 1 Tim 6:17 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. 1. Were these rich Christians the only ones being rewarded by God for their diligence? 2) The reward promised to us is much greater (Titus 1:2), & it comes with a cost (Mk 10:28-31). 2. Were those Christians who were not rich, slackers or lazy? Not necessarily b. Secondly, Moses & Solomon illustrate that God wanted to reward His people for their honest labor, He just didn t want them to forget from Whom the wealth came. c. So, it is a gross mishandling of the Scripture to say that God was encouraging extravagant living among His people, with God s blessing. 3. But both can learn something vital about the possession of material things. a. They can make us haughty. b. They are uncertain. c. They can turn our trust away from God. 3

4 4. So whether we have just enough or more than we need it is God Who gave it we need to glorify & please Him in the use of it! c. Paul said, that one has been snared by the devil & is falling into a pool of lusts that will drown the life from his soul. D. Actually it is our attitude about material things that can do us the greatest harm. d. That one will be rooted into all kinds of evil that will sprout up into painful sorrows caused by his selfish choices. 1 Tim 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation & a snare, & into many foolish & harmful lusts which drown men in destruction & perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, & pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [Solomon observed, All things are full of labor; man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing (Eccl 1:8). 1. This passage refers to a covetous person: a. one who loves money & will not be satisfied until he is rich. Material things are out there for the taking. They are not inherently evil, but our attitudes toward them can have devastating consequences.] II. THE RICH FARMER & THE RIGHTEOUS MAN 4 b. one who looks for every means to gaining a financial reward, in order to have more of what money can buy. Luke 12:13-21 Read Psalms 112:1-9 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth &

5 riches will be in his house, & his righteousness endures forever. 4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, & full of compassion, & righteous. 5 A good man deals graciously & lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies. 9 He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor. 1 Tim 6:18-19 Let them [those who are rich in this present age] do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 STORING UP FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME TO COME, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Luke 12:33-34 Sell what you have & 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. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. A. In what ways did these two men differ? 1. Their understanding of the source of their wealth, & in the use of their wealth. B. Today, God still blesses & punishes His people in regard to their attitude about material things. 1. But the blessings & punishments are directed more to the spirit than to the flesh (physical life). 2. In other words, you may not see it reflected on the bottom line of your checking account. a. When we are as rich in the use of our things as God was in giving them to us, then He will reward us with greater wealth in heaven in the time to come (Eph 4:28; Matt 25:40). b. But if we are deceptive & selfish in the use of our things, then He can take the greater future reward away (Ananias & Sapphira Acts 5:1-11). [Satan uses material things to ensnare us!] CLOSING 5

6 A. What defines us? What give us our identity? 1. Are we known for what we have or for who we are? 2. Is our sense of self-worth tied to our material possessions or to our relationship with God? B. What moves us? What is the central thought that drives everything we do? 1. Is it something we long to have, or is it the eternal place we should long to go? C. Finish this sentence, I would be content if 1. Can you say, I m already content? I have everything I need? 2. Or did you say, Ask me that question after I have had a chance to get more stuff. 3. Do material things already have us in a choke hold (Matt 13:22)? 4. Satan knows that we can easily be led into covetousness, so he will constantly toss out the bait of he can scrape up from this material world to lure us into that sin (Col 3:5; Jas 1:14-15) DON T GET CAUGHT IN HIS TRAP! 6