Money, money, money!!! #2

As we think about money and how we can turn it into an idol if we are not extremely careful, I want to look at tow examples of what money can do to people from the bible.



The first example is from the old testament. A lady named Delilah. She had a man named Sampson in her grasps. Sampson was a judge for God. He did some might things for the Lord. He was in love with Delilah. Sampson had great strength from God and was told never to cut his hair as a vow to God as that is where his strength came from. One of the enemies of Israel, the Philistines, wanted to know where this strength came from so they could defeat Sampson. So what could they do to get Delilah to help them???? Money, Money, Money! After Sampson had tricked her a couple of times, he finally told her the secret to his strength! Dumb move Sampson! Then look what happened:



Judges 16:18-21

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. 19 Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him,[a] and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.



Money can cause people to do evil things!



Our other example we find in the new testament, a familiar story to most. A named Judas who walked with our Lord Jesus. He had been taught by Jesus and knew first had who Jesus was....The Savior of the world. Greed got the best of Judas and he went to see what he could get for Jesus, if he betrayed Him to the high priests:



Matthew 26:14-16

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.



For thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, Judas betrayed Jesus. Judas would later regret what he had done and take his own life but the damage had already been done!



Think about your own life now. Has money caused you to do anything wrong or evil? Look at the world we live in and what the love of money causes folks to do on a daily basis. It is sad to think how many love money and things more than they love God! This can change in our own lives but only if we want it too!



Remember this verse:



Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.



Seek God not money, and blessings will flow!



Tom