Is God Cheap?

God is for us prospering, but  He's against us coveting.  

The Love of Money is a sin (1 Timorthy 6:10).  Money itself is not a sin.  

The Lord will not provide things that will hurt you and take you away from Him. 

  

It's not having  money that is the problem.   It's money having us.  

Mark 14:3-9 (NKJV)

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. 

Then she broke the flask and poured it on His (Jesus's) head.

 

4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii ($30,000) and given to the poor.” 

And they criticized her sharply.

It was not a waste to put it on Jesus.  He is certainly worth it. They were saying that Jesus was not worth it.  

If you don't think Jesus is worth it, it reveals serious problems.  

Who wants the church broke?  God? No, Satan!  

Who wants to see Christians so desperate that no wants to be one?  God?  No, Satan! 

Ecclesiastes 9:16 (NKJV)

...the poor man’s wisdom is despised,

And his words are not heard.

It's the devil.  He's convinced most of the church that God wants us broke.

   

People who care about the poor help the poor, and don't criticize others.  

You cannot waste money accomplishing God's will.  You can't spend too much.

If you are cheap and not doing the will of God, it's all a waste.

  

People need to learn the value of a soul?

Who is it that despises preaching?  Satan!

Satan was prompting them to shame the woman for showing love to Jesus.     

 

Romans 10:14-15  (NKJV)

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? 

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

 

¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

    

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 

How often does the Bible rebuke people for being wasteful?  

It's not in the 10 commandments, but coveting is (Exodus 20:17).  

7 (Jesus continued) For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.

What is more important?  Helping the poor or honoring God's word?  

It's doing what God has said to do in the way that He said to do it.

God is the provider of man.  It's God not you.  Yes, help the poor, but God never intended you to be god to any poor man.    

8 (Jesus continued) She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 

9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

This is what John said about the same event in his Gospel.

  

John 12:3-6 (NKJV)

3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. 

And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 

5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

People who complain love money.  They use a cloak of concern for the poor to hide it.

Is God cheap?

Cheap has to do with paying the minimum price and saving that money. 

Are there any rewards given by the Lord who saves the most money? No!

If God is not cheap, neither should we be. 

Psalm 50:20-21 (NKJV)

²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

²¹ These things you have done, and I kept silent;

You thought that I (God) was altogether like you;

But I will rebuke you,

And set them in order before your eyes.

People like to make God in their own image.  If they are cheap, then God most be too. 

People are idolizing money. You can do that and not have any.

Saving money is not the main thing, but being lead by the Holy Spirit is.  

If you're lead by price, you're not being lead by the Holy Spirit.  

Many people are proud of being cheap.  That's why they boast about it, and judge others.  They are idolizing money. 

Proverbs 27:23-27 (NKJV)

²³ Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,

And attend to your herds;

²⁴ For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

²⁵ When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,

And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

²⁶ The lambs will provide your clothing,

And the goats the price of a field;

²⁷ You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food,

For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.

How do you know what's wasted and what is not.  



It's God wisdom.  



It's about knowing what you have is for.  



The tithe is for honoring God.  


Some is for food.  


Some is for clothing.   



If you don't know what it's for and spend it on the wrong thing, it's wasting.  



We need to know what it's for.  



Follow the Holy Spirit.  



He'll tell you what it's for.  



Lord, enable me to be transformed by the renewal of my mind what's of you and what's not.  


What's wasted and what's not. 



Help us not judge anyone.  


Help us not to covet.  



Amen!  



We must not love things, but God and people.   


    


Keith Moore, Faith Life Church

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