LENT SERIES – 1 MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND ...

injustice, or stored up and used selfishly, thus unrighteously, rather thanmoney and possessions being sinful and unclean in themselves. They areprobably correct. But the language reminds us again just how dangerousmoney can be.Jesus thrust in his teaching is that so easily we slide into trusting in andrelying on money and possessions rather than on God. We becomeservants of money. We do what it tells us, we place our allegiance in themarkets, in our savings, in our goods, rather than in the God who is thecreator and sustainer of all things. We stop believing, if we had everbegun to, that God loves us and will care for us. We think we have to doit all for ourselves. This is why the story of the Rich Young Ruler hurts us– he was a highly moral, upright, law abiding, family loving young man,but he could not let go of his possessions and put God first.It is why the parable of the Rich Fool bites. The behaviour of the man isour natural instinct; build up our wealth as insurance against a bad day.Trust in our possessions rather than put God first in all things.Richard Foster in his book “Money, Sex and Power” very helpfullysummarises Jesus teaching on money as showing us both the Dark andthe Light side of money.The Dark SideThe dark side of money is the way in which it constantly threatens ourrelationship with God. Jesus warns us of the dangers time and again.“Woe to you that are rich” (Luke 6:24) “Do not lay up for yourselvestreasures in earth” (Matt 6:`9) “Give to everyone who begs from you;and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again” (Luke6:30)We always want to tame this down; to debate our way out of the radicaldemands being made. But money is powerful; it has the spiritual power topull us away from God. It calls us into greed, into injustice, into puttingdown the weak and the poor. Enough is never enough. Money is like saltwater; it never satisfies our thirst but leads us to want more of itself. Itchokes us; it manipulates us. It is an idol that demands our worship andallegiance; and insists that the true God is abandoned OR REDUCED TO AMINOR DEITY WHO HAS TO SERVE Mammon who will brook no rivals.The Light SideYet there is a light side. God has made creation good. All of this world isthere for enjoyment and fulfilment. God provides for us in his love andgrace – so he clothes the sinful Adam and Eve,. He leads Israel into aland flowing with milk and honey. He makes the flowers beautiful; not asparrow falls to the ground without his knowledge.