August 19, 2020

Treasures #

Proverbs 21:5-6

Introduction

A practical look at treasure, getting, gain, finances and the christian.

I. Diligent Gain (Pro 21:5a) #

Pro 21:5a – The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;

A. Person of diligence (Joseph was diligent) #

• A diligent person is someone who is steady in application to business, they are in constant effort to accomplish the goal.
• Christians should be diligent people, the ant is one of the most diligent of creation, and God tells us to observer their ways! They are constantly diligently preparing for winter.

B. Planning, preparing (Joseph prepared) #

• Some people act with no thought!
• A diligent person, will be thinking ahead, planning and preparing!
• Someone wise once said, “Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.” - not Bible, still good.
• Not all plans work, but having no plan is in essence planning to fail.

C. Plenteousness (Egypt had plenty) #

• There is provisions for hard times.

II. Deceitful Gain (Pro 21:5b, 6) #

Prov. 21:5b ...but of every one that is hasty only to want.

A. Get rich quick scheme #

1. Lottery, Gambling #

• • The majority of people who gamble want one of two things…

    • The temporary happiness from winning
    • The money! -

  • FACTS:

    • Gambling has become a $51 billion dollar a year industry in the USA.
    • Lottery tickets revenue for 2016 were $80B
    • Someone is getting rich, NOT the gambler

2. No legitimate business that makes you rich quick #

• • The majority of wealthy people didn’t inherit their wealth, they didn’t win the lottery, or gamble, they worked hard and saved.
  • The majority of lottery winners end up broke

B. Gain by lying – treasure not always financial #

1. Treasures can be gotten by lying #

• • Fraud, deceit, stealing, it is a huge problem!
  • What drives that? Covetousness.

2. “is a vanity” #

• • You and your desires become more important than who you steal from.

3. “tossed to and fro” – Who you steal from becomes irrelevant, what you want becomes the mort important #

4. The end, death! #

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

III. Desires (what drives you) (17, 20, 25-26) #

A. Luxury Lifestyle (Pro 21:17) #

1. Pleasures (17a) #

• • When you are motivated, driven by pleasure, it will cost you!
  • There is nothing wrong with going to the a theme park, there is nothing wrong with having a boat, or enjoying things in life.
  • When it becomes a consuming passion… it cost you.

2. Wine & Oil (17b) #

• • Oil is not talking about black oil and mining oil for the oil industry.

    • Mary’s spikenard worth 300 pence, a years wage!
    • Oils were used as perfume, and for anointing

  • Wine & Oil since Bible times have been held as luxuries of life.

  • If you love expensive things, you will not be rich.

    • Your money will be lost, and may not be there when you need it.
    • There is room for pleasures in life, but if that is all your life is about, you will drain your bank.

3. Saving! (Pro 21:20) #

• • There is wisdom in setting something aside, and having something!

B. Lazy Lifestyle (Pro 21:25-26) #

1. No work! (25) #

• • Everyone wants something… but lazy people want it given to them.

2. Covetousness (26) “greedily” “all the day long” #