click to Read the passage: Judges 16 (a new browser window will open)
( ... and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.)
(And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.)
1 . The enemy gains a lot of loyalty with the promise of mammon.
2. The enemy seems to have plenty of man's mammon to serve his sinful practices.
3. Mammon allows for a transfer of accountability.
The lords of the Philistines were not a direct part.
4. Mammon presents a false belief and value of loyalty and service.
5. The enemy trades value and integrity for the short term gain sought after.
The lords don't care about Delilah; the enemy never cares for anyone.
6. Mammon motivates people in a way that seemingly nothing else can.
Many of God's servants get waylaid on their journey of obedience by the love for mammon.
7. The reward of mammon is a reward of deceit and empty betrayal.
Other teachings regarding money:
Other abuses connected with money: Judas Iscariot in Luke 22; Gehazi in 2 Kings 5: 22-26
Ecclesiastes 5: 10 -He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Is money inherently evil? No. Does God want the child of God not to have any? No
Job was a man of great increase. Job 1 : 3
Solomon was a man of great wealth. 1 Kings 10: 14-29
Abraham was a a man of great abundance. Gen. 24: 35
God truly is willing to bless His people.
It seems it is the response of the child of God to wealth that is the problem.
Can he posses it and remain humble?
Can he possess it and not stray from His Lord? 2 Chron. 7: 17-20 Can he posses it and not love it? 1 Timothy 6: 10
Can he possess it and be judicial? Amos 2: 6 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Israel. and for four. I will not turn away the punishment thereof: because they sold the righteous for silver. and the poor for a pair of shoes;)
Godliness is the better pursuit. Herein Samson failed. 1 Tim 6: 6, 7
God's promises are to meet our needs. Phil 4: 19. It is not a monetary promise, although it could include monetary blessing.
God promises daily bread. The Lord's prayer- God promises sufficiency.
God promises abundance.
God gives spoils of battle.
God gives spirrtual gifts, one of which is giving.
Thus, there is a principle of stewardship involved in all. I.e. the parable of the talents. (Matt. 25: 14-29)
Some points of wisdom:
1. Make sure God is your source, your supplier. Phil. 4: 19
2. Focus on need, not greed. Phil. 4: 19
3. Seek only God's testimony, not your own. Romans 3: 11
4. Seek Jesus first in all things. Matt. 6: 33
5. Thank Jesus for everything you have. 1 Thes. 5: 18
6. Pray inlfor all things. 1 Thes. 5: 17
7. Be content with what you have. Hebrews 13: 5
8. The world's standards regarding finances are not to be yours. Psalms 1: 1-3
9. Don’t let comparisons with others rule you. 2 Gorin. 10: 12
10. Focus on stewardship, not gain. Matt. 25: 14-29
11. Follow God's leading of generosity. Eph. 2: 8, 9; John 3:16
12. Draw by faith from God's deep well of water Heb. 11: 6; John 4: 14
13. Know your financial boundaries, don't go beyond them. 1 Thes. 4: 12
14. True riches are not defined in monetary terms. Matt. 6: 19-21 True riches are of enduring value.
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