TEACHING NOTES Introduction In the last four weeks we have been learning about the other gods of the Bible. We’ve been learning that each of these other gods are real spirits who were created by God for a purpose, but they rebelled and became counterfeit gods who want to destroy humanity. We have also learned that each of these gods represent some form of immorality. Today, we’re going to learn about the god Mammon. ‌ Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ‌ Explanation: Humans (flesh and blood) are not the true enemy. The spiritual forces of evil are the unseen enemies who are driving this worldly system of immorality and destruction. ‌ Psalm 96:4–5 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the LORD made the heavens. ‌ The other gods are real spirits created by Yahweh who rebelled, became counterfeit gods, and seek to lead humanity into destruction. ‌ The other gods and what they represent: Ba’al = Unrestrained Immorality Asherah = Gender Confusion Molech = Child Sacrifice Mammon = Materialism/Greed The Satan = Deception/Destruction ‌ Who is Mammon? Aramaic = Mamona — wealth, greed From the root ‘mn — “that in which one trusts” Mammon represents materialism and greed. Jesus spoke of Mammon as an enslaving force/god that causes us to despise God. “You cannot serve both God and Mammon.” (Matt. 6:24) ‌ Matthew 6:19–21 “19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ‌ Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth = The Greek word for “store up” and for “treasures” are two forms of the same word. The form thesaurizo “store up” is the verb form of the noun thesauros “storehouse.” Jesus uses the same terms in in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21). The phrase “store up for yourselves” is not about having possessions, but about hoarding things selfishly and refusing to be generous. ‌ Where your treasure is, your heart will be = Many readers think that Jesus is saying your treasures follow your heart’s desires. However, Jesus seems to be saying the opposite, that your heart begins to love what you store up. Anyone with many possessions knows that they can consume our thoughts, energy, and resources. What we choose to own often owns us. ‌ Matthew 6:22–23 “22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” ‌ The eye is the lamp of the body = A lamp controls the amount of light in a dark room. What we choose to focus on controls our desires and behavior. ‌ If your eye is healthy = The Greek word for “healthy” here is haplous, which means “sincere, generous, devoted.” A more literal translation is “if your eye is single” meaning that the lens through which you view life is devotion to God. ‌ If your eye is bad = The Greek word for “bad” here is poneros, which means “evil, wicked.” To have an evil eye is to have evil intentions or seeing life through the lens of greed. ‌ Explanation: Jesus is essentially asking, “What are you focused on?” If we are focused on storing up earthly treasures, then we will become greedy, self-centered, and will live in a state of dissatisfaction. This is governed by how we view this life. If we view life through the lens of this worldly system, that system will govern our lives. If we view this life through the lens of God’s kingdom and His ways, we will be governed by the Spirit of God. ‌ Matthew 6:24 “24 No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and Mammon.” ‌ No one can serve two masters = Notice that Jesus allows no wiggle room in this statement. It is impossible for a single person to serve two masters. ‌ Devoted to one and despise the other = Or “cling to one and look down on the other.” The implication here is that if we cling to materialism or worldly wealth it will cause us to despise God or think of God as silly. ‌ How can we avoid being enslaved by Mammon? ‌ 1 Timothy 6:6–8 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ‌ Godliness with contentment is great gain = Readers of this passage should notice that this statement seems contradictory. How can “great gain” come from “contentment”? While the world teaches us to always want more, Paul is saying that seeking godliness and learning to be content is true gain/profit. Always wanting more keeps us in a state of constant stress and disappointment. Having godly contentment is the way to live in peace and gratitude. ‌ 1 Timothy 6:9–10 9 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. 10 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 much grief. ‌ Those who desire to be rich = The Greek word “desire” here is boulomenoi, which is a present tense participle (a kind of verbal adjective) meaning “a strong longing that includes planning.” In other words, this desire to be rich is a consuming desire that is always at the front of one’s mind and becomes one’s life purpose. ‌ Temptation, snare = The longing to be rich is a trap. Paul uses the same Greek word (pagis) in 1 Tim. 3:7 to refer to a trap set by the devil. So, this trap to get rich is set by an evil spirit who wants to destroy us. ‌ Senseless, harmful = Or “foolish and morally/spiritually destructive.” ‌ Plunge into ruin, destruction = The Greek word for “plunge” is bythizousi, which means “to be constantly sinking or drowning.” Seeking worldly riches causes us to be constantly drowning in ruin and destruction. ‌ Some have wandered from the faith = Seeking riches often leads us away from being faithful to God. Often a person who is seeking riches will wander away from the church first, and once they attain some riches they no longer feel like they need God. ‌ 1 Timothy 6:17–19 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be arrogant, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 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. ‌ As for the rich in this present age = For many American Christians the reality is that we are richer than we think. We just don’t feel rich because we living above our means and enslaved with debt. If Paul was writing this letter to us today he would think we are the rich ones. ‌ Not to be arrogant = With wealth comes the temptation to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. We might begin to think that we created wealth all on our own. This attitude eventually leads us to think that we don’t need God. True followers of Jesus know that all we have comes from God and not ourselves. Even if we built wealth by hard work, we still know that it was God gave us the abilities and opportunities. We also know that wealth can be lost in a moment and is actually out of our control. ‌ Uncertainty of riches = Or “the untrustworthiness of wealth.” Remember, earlier we learned that Mammon can mean “that in which one trusts.” Paul is saying that Mammon doesn’t deliver what is promised. We can’t put our trust in Mammon because it is a counterfeit god. ‌ But on God, who richly provides = Our trust and hope lean on God, not Mammon. Only God can be trusted as the source of life and provision. It is God “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” ‌ Do good, be rich in good works = Mammon leads us to store up treasures for ourselves. God leads to use what He gives us for others. ‌ Be generous and ready to share = Mammon leads to greed, but God leads us to be generous and ready to share. The Greek word for share here is koinonikos, which means to share resources. ‌ Storing up treasure as a good foundation for the future = Instead of storing up treasures on earth, we store up good works toward others for heavenly reward. ‌ Take hold of true life = If we reject Mammon and devote ourselves to God and each other, we find true life. Mammon deceives us into thinking that life is all about wealth and possessions. God defines life is totally different terms. True life is following the teachings of Jesus and loving your neighbor as yourself. ‌ The pursuit of riches—no matter what our intentions—may lead to greater wealth, but will also lead to greater temptation, stress, and discontentment. ‌ Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. ‌ Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ‌ How to Respond ‌Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in you. Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness.