It seems almost inconceivable to believe that there was life before television. As good as the medium is for some things, it is an instrument of death to conversation in most families. Add computers, a personal CD player, and speed-eating and we've successfully killed off the last remnants of conversation in most families. Frankly, most families have no meaningful conversation at all. Days and weeks pass, if not months and years, without the skimpiest morsel of a good conversation. When I think about this, I almost weep for the magnitude of the loss. A mudslide of media has pushed our families into a cold ravine. We exist together for as long as we can make it, but we don't know each other. Without face-to-face communication, the home has become an electronic desert.
Jim Elliff

The Money Tree

The Money Tree

THE MONEY TREE

All people in the world eat the fruit that trees produce. Some people today eat from the trees of this world while a few others eat from the tree of eternal life. Which do you eat of? Which do you bow down to? Which tree do you find to be the most exciting and life-giving?

If you have money, this tract applies to you. If you wish that you had more money, this tract applies to you. If you enjoy money, then this tract has something to say to you. If you claim to be a Christian, then do this while you read this:

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course you fail the test?”, 2 Corinthians 13:5

Those of you who do not claim to know God take notice of what you are about to read, for all that you read will happen to you. You will know the future after reading this little tract.

God says in James 5:1-3 to those of you who like to make money ,

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days”.

God says that all that money you are earning will “eat your flesh like fire”! That its “corrosion” will burn you for all eternity. God tells you today to start “weeping” and “wailing” because of the “misery that is coming upon you”!

“BUT I AM NOT RICH”

Before you start saying, “I am not rich”, remember that God’s definition of rich is: keeping anything for yourself. If you are enjoying the comforts of this world then Jesus says, “woe to you”. If you are well fed in this world, then, “woe to you”. If you, that is, self, is well off, then Jesus says, “woe to you”. Don’t believe me? Then let us read Luke 6:24-25: “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.”

Jesus says that these words apply to “anyone who stores up things for himself, but is not rich toward God”, Luke 12:21.

Woe to you who enjoy the trips, fishing, careers, TV, fun, cars, homes, and lifestyles of today. Woe to you! If the things, money and fun time do not benefit the Lord, then woe to you.

WHO DO YOU REALLY SERVE?

Remember that little test that scripture said Christians should take to see if they are in the faith or not? Well, let us take a test now. Let us find out which god (God) you are bowing down to and serving today. Is it the real God, or the false god of this world? For there are two gods you can choose to serve. Right now you are serving one or the other. Whether or not you claim to be a Christian, we, by the authority of the Holy Spirit, (John 20:23), ask you, “What god are you serving?”. For Jesus says:

“You cannot serve both God and Money.” – Matthew 6:24

CIRCLE “YES” OR “NO”

To find out which god you serve, circle the correct answer that applies to you. Remember that God is your witness, so be honest by asking God what is true about you. Read Jeremiah 17:9 before you take this test.

  1. Do you ever buy anything because it is on sale? YES NO
  2. Do you ever purchase something because you have a coupon? YES NO
  3. Did you ever take another job because it paid more? YES NO
  4. Is there anything you want to buy? YES NO
  5. Do you get upset or ruffled when you don’t get your money’s worth? YES NO
  6. Do you read the newspaper to see what people have on sale? YES NO
  7. Do you make sure your bills are paid before you give what the Lord has told you to give to the church? YES NO
  8. Is all your money being used for ministry purposes? YES NO
  9. Do you look forward to payday? YES NO
  10. Do you look forward to the weekend when you can rest and take it easy? YES NO
  11. Have you ever delayed obeying the call of the Lord because you did not have the funds to complete it? YES NO
  12. Have you ever given to a ministry because of what they were giving away? YES NO

Total “YES’s”:
(The ultimate question is coming.) If you circled more than one “yes”, you’re still serving money. You may have failed the test of faith already.

How sad it is that God’s people have not yet learned:

“…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'”. Acts 20:35

How few Christians can be found who know this to be a joy! With all the buying, selling and doing in the church it is obvious that the children of God have failed to receive the most basic of blessings in Christ.

DISCIPLES OF JESUS

You see, when followers of Jesus view money, they hate and despise it! They ignore and trample all over it! They refuse to listen to it`s call to save, plan and gain. For Jesus said that if you are going to follow Him people must see within you a “hatred” and “despising” of money. Is that what the world sees? Is this the image the church portrays?

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

How many so-called Christians and Christian churches are really serving money! They bow down to its voice and to its call every day and feel no guilt. These are the very ones who will find this tract to be repulsive.

When you follow Jesus, you buy what His Spirit tells you to, whether it is on sale or not. And a disciple of Jesus never dreams of retiring. Disciples of Jesus are never excited about their cars, houses, fun or security plans. NEVER! Our joy comes from heaven and has nothing, repeat nothing, to do with the pleasures of this world.

WHAT GREED IS

Some will, in the impurity of their own hearts say, “this sounds too narrow”. We do not apologize for the message. For Jesus said it is a “narrow road” and that “few” find it. Still, some will complain that this makes everyone they know look greedy. So what!

What does that tell you about the sin of the church? If that be the case, then, “love always rejoices with the truth”, (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). They are greedy whether they claim to know Jesus or not. This places their claim to salvation in deep question.

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has ANY inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” Ephesians 5:5

THE TEST QUESTION

So let us take the test to see if you are “greedy” and have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. The all important question is: Do you desire any thing else in this world? For greed to God is defined as this: “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” 1 Timothy 6:8. Any desire beyond clothing (one set of clothes) and daily food is greed according to God. This applies to all those Christian items you buy (Bibles, tapes, bumper stickers, retreats). Oh, let the Holy Spirit search your heart! Let God tell you that you are clean-don’t assume it!

Some will out of sinful and warped spirit say, “You’re saying we shouldn’t own anything!”. Well, of course we are saying you shouldn’t own anything. In your heart and life you must come to know it is the Lord who owns everything. He tells you what to buy, sell or give away. Be careful here, because almost everyone says they know everything comes from the Lord. You must hear the Holy Spirit`s voice tell you your sin, and not some worthless tract. If you will let the Holy Spirit reveal your sin of greed and bowing down to the god of money, then, and only then, will you have power to claim 1 Corinthians 7:30-31:

“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on… those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.”

Paul is saying all this so that they will catch the point that they must come to hear what the Spirit has to say on an hourly basis about what they do, say, buy, sell and use, (read 1 Corinthians 7:35).

EYES ARE THE LAMP OF THE BODY

What are your eyes on? Are they on the needs of Jesus Christ, (Philippians 2:21)? Do you labor at your job for one purpose only? That purpose being so that you will always have something to give to others, (Ephesians 4:28, Have you been stealing from the Lord?) Are your eyes always looking for ways to serve and give away? Are your eyes always looking to the joys of this world? Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God show you just where your eyes are. Self-righteousness will get you nowhere with the Lord and those full of His Spirit.

If our eyes are drawn to the advertisements of the world or to the slick publications of the church, our eyes are in the wrong place. If we obey the call of the world because of a free give away, or give to a cause because of what the church is selling to encourage us, our eyes are in the wrong place. If we justify any buying in the name of the Lord, but have not heard the voice of God, don’t be so foolish as to think God is answering your prayers, (James 4:3). We are serving money and are out of step with the Holy Spirit.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters…” Matthew 6:22-24

For those of you who are taking this tract lightly let us remind you that God will not pour out any blessings upon you till you see your sin.

Jesus says: “If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Luke 16:11

If you have not counted it a joy to give away material things… if you have not been honest on your time card at work… if you have not rejoiced in not getting your moneys worth… if you are enticed by the things of this world… if you desire more than clothing and food… if you are not blessing Jesus (others) with all you have then Jesus is saying he will not give you “true riches”. The true riches of salvation, grace, mercy, peace and rest will not be yours… not now, nor in the future. Wake up to what the Word of God is saying!

YOU AND MONEY

All this boils down to you and God. How you let God use money through you and how close the love for money is to your heart is what this tract is all about. If you need to repent, then do it now. Write us and we will send you some information to get you started on finding the joy of “godly sorrow”, (2 Corinthians 7:10).

We will send you a tape entitled, “Freedom from Money”, (yes it is free). Don’t let yourself become a Judas or a Ananias and Sapphira, (Acts 5). Find the greatest joy a man can find. Leave all and come follow Jesus.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

-Luke 12:32-34

Notice Jesus said, “little flock”, for indeed “little” is the size of those who have learned the joy and power that comes from “hating” money!! Blessed are they. How many shocked Christians there will be when they are thrown into the lake of sulfur and burning fire along with those who have never called themselves “Christians” but served money. God reveals that those who follow money, whether you claim to be a Christian or not, will receive the same fate as Babylon the Great. God pleads with all people to come out of her so that they will not experience her fall.

“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues… She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!” The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more – cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh andfrankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.” Revelation 18

Is it not true that since so many Christians refuse to “come out of her” that the “bodies and souls” of men are wasting away in sin? Let us repent quickly of bowing down to the money tree!

Plead with God to teach us how to be trustworthy with worldly wealth before it is too late!

In a time when a “prosperity” doctrine is worshiped in the church… when greed is called good… when churches applaud their paying off of bank notes, their large ministries… when selling must be done for cause… when those who sell the most candy bars are rewarded for their efforts… when lack of knowledge on how to hate money is causing many Christians with noble hearts to stumble and miss blessings, we ask that you write to us so that we may bless you with what God has blessed us with. If you do repent than begin by living Galatians 6:6.

“He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.” -2 Kings 16:4

Our deepest prayer is that you will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, stop bowing down under the “spreading” money “tree”. The Lord be with your Spirit. May God bless you by allowing you the privilege of being crucified with Christ toward money.

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

Remember the warning and encouragement given to to us in the letter of 1 John:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

If our eyes are drawn to the advertisements of the world or to the slick publications of the church, our eyes are in the wrong place. If we obey the call of the world because of a free give away, or give to a cause because of what the church is selling to encourage us, our eyes are in the wrong place. If we justify any buying in the name of the Lord, but have not heard the voice of God, don’t be so foolish as to think God is answering your prayers, (James 4:3). We are serving money and are out of step with the Holy Spirit.

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