Previously, we mentioned that humans are often slaves to money in the relationship between humans and their material things. In Luke 12: 16 -21 from the ESV Bible，Jesus once mentioned the story of a rich man. He called the rich man an ignorant person. Why was this so? Indeed, this rich man was very wealthy. His business grew and expanded and his property also increased. As a result, he said to himself, “My land produced plentifully and I have nowhere to store my crops. What should I do?” Again, he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” After that, he was so overjoyed that he uttered something very foolish. He said: “I will say this to my soul: Soul! You have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink and be merry!” Therefore, Jesus called him the foolish and ignorant rich man.

Does your soul need food and water? Even your body needs food and drinks because you will be hungry and thirsty. This is the physical level for food substances. Today, numerous people have become ‘one facet’ person. They have only the physical level for food substances but not the spiritual level. He has only the flat plane dimension but not the height and does not have the desire for God and spiritual things. This is a pity. Thus, Jesus called this rich man an ignorant person. You and I should not become ignorant people because of money. On the contrary, we need to return to the truth in the Bible and establish a very healthy and positive relationship with physical substances.

How do we restore the harmonious relationships between the humans and the living creatures or physical substances?

First of all, we need to recognize our own identity. Genesis 1:26 in the ESV Bible tells us that, Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” It also means that we have the image of God, an image that surpasses the physical level of substances. It points to his morality, eternity, spirituality, holiness, character and powers of creation and reasoning. All these qualities are embodied in the honorable image that God has given us. This shows that we not only have the physical level but also the level beyond that of physical substances. When we know that we have the image of God, we will respect and affirm ourselves. We are not a pile of material things or a machine so we should not slog for food and become slaves to money.

Brothers and sister, it is very important that you know yourself well. Know yourself like the roots of the tree. The longer the roots grow the more nutrients they will absorb. As a result, it will bear fruits. When the humans recognize their own identity and their position as a created being, they will know how to choose and what to do? They have to be certain of their own identity - they are not only physical substances but they have the image of God. Therefore, they surpass physical substances and should not reduce themselves to be the slaves of material things.

Secondly, we need to deal with our inner being because a lot of desires from within us will cause our lives to be in bondage and suffering. 1 Timothy 6: 9-10 in the ESV Bible: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

What the humans want are endless and those are desires. However, there is a limit to what the humans need physically. When people are in bondage to their never-ending desires, it will bring about endless pain. When you have money and use it well, it will be your slave. You will, then, be a happy master. Just like what the westerners say: money is our best servant, yet it is also the worst master. When you think only about money, you will become its slave. It will become your evil master and manipulate you instead. What is the result? Just like what the Bible says: pierced themselves with many pangs. Therefore, we need to remind ourselves constantly that there is a limit to our physical needs.

One day, Socrates, the great philosopher, thought of strolling in the streets out of the blue so some students persuaded their teacher to go to the busiest market, saying: “There are a lot of clothes and a variety of colorful satin on display in that market.” One of the students said, “An assortment of jewelry - agate, emerald, pearl and jade can be found there.” Another student said, “There are a lot of goods in the department stores and there is no lack of the basic necessities for life. I guarantee that you will return fully laden with things.” On the second day, when Socrates entered the classroom, the students immediately surrounded him and were eager to know what he had gained from the trip. Instead, Socrates said gently, “The only thing that I have benefitted from this trip is the discovery that I do not need so many things.” He was indeed a great philosopher who was full of wisdom.

Today, there is actually a limit to the physical things that we need. However, there are no limits to what we want in our hearts. The “wants” refer to our desires which cause us to be in bondage – we want this and we want that. For example, I had just bought a handphone but with the rolling out of a new handphone model, I quickly snapped up the new handphone. Our desires are never-ending so we are willing to spend a long time in the queue for the purchase. In reality, we do not need that item. It is our ‘want’. If we spend money on things that we do not need every day, we will not be able to purchase what we truly need in future. We will suffer then.

Thirdly, we must rely on God completely from the level of faith. Just like what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-26 from the ESV Bible: Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6: 33-34 in the Bible tells us that: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Let us be wise people. When you are troubled and worry about your life, Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” When you are full of faith in God and rely on Him, you will not worry unduly about your physical needs. However, when you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the Bible tells us that: the kingdom of God is about His sovereignty; the righteousness of God is about His goodness. When we pursue the truth, kindness, beauty and holiness of God and let Him have lordship over our lives, we will be transformed. God is pleased with us for relying on Him and seeking the abundant life sincerely. He will definitely provide all that we need.

Many people are troubled. What are they troubled about? They are troubled with what they will do after retirement. I ask, “How old are you this year?” The reply is “35 years old” but he will only retire at 65 years old, which is 30 years later. You have already taken the burden of retirement upon yourself now. How can you not be troubled? Jesus said: it is sufficient to bear the burdens for each day.

We need to have faith from the level of belief. When we look up to God and rely on Him completely, we will feel secure from within us and have the abundant lives. Just like what the Lord said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrew 13:5 from the ESV Bible) so we should not worry about tomorrow from now onwards.

Finally, we have to overcome our inner desires for money through practical actions. Paul said in Acts 20:35 from the ESV Bible: In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Again, Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:18-19: They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. In other words, when we take practical actions to give, to help others, to do good and to do things that please God, we can overcome our inner desires, rise above money and have freedom. This is what Jesus means: it is more blessed to give than to receive. When you give, you will receive a greater blessing. Why? It is because you give. When you give, you will receive. The more you give, the more you will receive. The less you give, the less you would receive. If you do not give, you will receive nothing! When you give roses to other people, your hands will have the fragrance smell of roses. If you give chicken dung to other people, you will smell chicken dung! When I give, I will be in control of money and be a blessed person.

A farmer had planted his corns quite well so he would receive the award for the best produce every year. He felt that he could obtain the champion seeds because of the blessing from others. Therefore, he distributed his seeds to other farmer friends generously so that everyone could sow them together. Someone asked him why he was so generous? He said that it was for his benefit too. When the wind blew away the pollens, they would be dispersed. If the neighbouring family sowed seeds of inferior quality, their pollens would be carried to his land and they would inevitably affect the quality of his corns. Thus, he hoped that his farmer friends’ corns would spread the same excellent quality of pollens to him. The only way was to give his seeds to all of them.

If we make it convenient for others, it will also bring convenience to us. Any good works will result in a double effect. Both the giver and the recipient will receive His grace and be blessed at the same time. May the Lord help us to remember the Word of God. The more we give, the more we deal with our inner desires for money. Our lives will, thus, be more wonderful and we will be more willing to let go. If people walk according to the Word of God, they are exalting Him in their lives and can manage the living creatures and money with God’s authority, wisdom and love. They will live happily and the earth will be a good place to dwell in. May the Lord bless you and enable you to be a good steward.

Let us pray together!

Dear Heavenly Father, your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is the compass of our lives. May you help us to become people whom you are pleased with and may we willingly be your servants so that we can rise above the physical things to lead and manage all the living creatures in the physical world. Help us to have dominion over all the creatures and money according to the will of God. May we give not only to our family members, but also to those who are near us and far away from us and are in urgent need. Lord, please help us to live with greater ease, freedom, joy and peace, thus, fulfilling your Word that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. We pray in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

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