The Mammon of Unrighteousness

emekrus · May 22, 2018

Many a Christian are against any preaching that makes mention of prosperity. As a matter of fact, I did write an article about divine prosperity; and someone in her unscriptural zeal attacked and said; “The give to receive garbage gospel, is just that--garbage”.

I quickly made her understand that with such statement, she was inadvertently saying, Jesus preached garbage. Because the Lord did say, give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, shaken together shall men give unto your bosom.

For some of the commenters in that article, they daubed divine prosperity, which is one of the tenets of the New Covenant (Ezekiel 36:29-30), “The Gospel of Mammon”.

Hence, this article sets out to scripturally clarify the meaning of “Mammon of Unrighteousness” as used by our Lord Jesus in the bible. And also, this article seeks to point out, who and who is involved and can indulge in “The mammon of unrighteousness”.

What is the Mammon of Unrighteousness?
Before explaining the meaning of mammon of unrighteousness, let’s see where it was mentioned in the bible in the book of Luke 16:11&13:

“If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The word mammon is from the Greek word “Mammonas” which means, confidence in wealth; or in one word, Avariciousness. In other words, it is the deification of wealth. It is the Love of money referred to by the Apostle Paul in 1Timothy 6:10.

Mammon is the idolatry of money. It is putting the desire for wealth, material or financial gain above God’s commandments. And it is not the vice of only the super-rich. Even the poor and middle class also indulge in it.

Many a believer and preachers, who accuse and condemn rich believers and prosperity preachers of mammonism, are even guiltier of unfaithfulness in the mammon of unrighteousness than they are.

How Do We Indulge in the Mammon of Unrighteousness?

I know with my last statement in the above paragraph, the very next question that comes to mind will be, how do we indulge in the mammon of unrighteousness?

Firstly, mammon has been defined as confidence in wealth and idolatry of money and material gain. We’ve also seen that this idolatry can easily be committed by putting financial and material gain before or above God’s instructions. Hence we indulge in the mammon of unrighteousness in the following ways:

Mismanagement of church funds—including borrowing from tithe and offering without paying back
Lying about our age to gain employment
Refusing to pay our tithes and offerings
Shutting up our bowel of love to a needy brother or sister—when we could be of help
Closing our eyes to the glaring need in God’s house or for God’s work when we could contribute our own quota
Lying in business in order to make sale or gain
Using people to work so much and giving them so little. And even sometimes delaying their payments for our selfish reasons.
Refusing to answer God’s ministerial call for the sake of business
Use of unscriptural tactics to get money from members
Refusing to marry the person God reveals to you because of financial status. And also trying to choose a spouse mainly because of financial status.

All these amongst so many other practices, are the ways many Christian indulge in the mammon of unrighteousness. And we really need to judge ourselves along this line and repent of our sins as quickly as possible.

The Lord multiply on us the grace to be faithful to him concerning money and material possessions in Jesus name.

Remain Blessed!

Emeke Odili

OneFaith · May 22, 2018

"A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished." Proverbs 28:20

RickyZ · May 22, 2018

Job 31:24-28 If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; If I have looked at the sun when it shone or the moon going in splendor, And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.

Psalm 52:6-7 The righteous will see and fear, And will laugh at him, saying, "Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire."

Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

Jeremiah 49:4 How boastful you are about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O backsliding daughter who trusts in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come against me?'

Ezekiel 28:5 By your great wisdom, by your trade You have increased your riches And your heart is lifted up because of your riches

Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

Proverbs 18:23 The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly.

Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

Job 20:17-20 He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds. He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

Proverbs 15:6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

Proverbs 30:8-9 Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Deuteronomy 32:15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.

Nehemiah 9:25-26 They captured fortified cities and a fertile land They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance So they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness. "But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who had admonished them So that they might return to You, And they committed great blasphemies.

Hosea 13:6 As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.

Proverbs 23:4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it.

Haggai 1:3-5 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!

Leviticus 19:13 You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

Deuteronomy 24:12-15 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God. You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns.

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them.

Jeremiah 22:13 Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages,

Micah 6:12 For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

Malachi 3:5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts.

Job 31:24, 25, 28 If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; ... That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.

Psalm 52:7 Behold,the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire."

Proverbs 18:11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.

RickyZ · May 22, 2018

Matthew 4:9-10 and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only’”.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Matthew 13:22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Matthew 19:21-22Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

Mark 4:19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 10:21-22 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Luke 6:20 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 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. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Luke 8:14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Luke 12:13-21 [SUP]13 [/SUP]Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”[SUP]14 [/SUP]Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” [SUP]15 [/SUP]Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” [SUP]16 [/SUP]And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. [SUP]17 [/SUP]He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ [SUP]18 [/SUP]“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. [SUP]19 [/SUP]And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ [SUP]20 [/SUP]“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ [SUP]21 [/SUP]“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth

Luke 16:19-21 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores … 25 But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony

Luke 18:22-23 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

1 Timothy 3:3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

1 Timothy 6:8-9 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?

James 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your 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. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

50C1AL0N3 · May 22, 2018

Yeah, seems like if sin isn't getting you in one way, it will in others. It's like that carnival game where you wait for the little whatever they are to poo it's it's ugly head out of one of the numerous holes so you can smack it hard if you're quick enough, then just about in an instant another one pops up in another spot.

Man, am I ever so very grateful that the Good Lord chose to bestow his grace in my life. The atoning blood of Christ prevents my life from being a smorgasbord of ducking and dodging every unrighteous action, subject matter, and thoughts.

I love the Lord with the best love my lil imperfect self can muster. It is good to know that my consciousness doesn't drive me cra,st over my daily inability to keep from sin. I learned long ago that what I believed to be conscie effort to please the Lord, it slowly and surely became a heavy yoke of depression and insecurity brought on through time from my own personal legalism.

That's not right in the eyes of the Lord. God would want me to do that. Countless acts and thoughts to be the best I could be. Before I knew it, I was staring in the mirror at a losing, legalistic, self righteous individual.

It was one of the best days in my life when I realized the truth in scripture, and the doctrine of the new testament. Where I can't, he can. When I should, but dont, he does.

God is not austere, cold, and exacting. He is the sum of patience and understandung, and he is by far way more faithful to us than we will ever be towards him.

The bottom line is that there is always something you did, or things you should do but don't that others will find and mention to you. It's a great thing that saving grace isn't a "save and run" kinda grace, cuz I'll need it up till the day I die. I learned the hard slow way that no matter what I do or do not do, God will never turn on me or forsake me, because he loves me more that anything, and because of the atoning blood of Christ, his mercy will always prevail over justice.

I guess I'm rambling on when the reason I started this comment was that I was taken back into my blind legalistic self righteousness when I witnessed so many c.c conversations arguing over so many frivolous things, and directly pertaining them to salvation.

I hope all who read this today are blessed beyond belief. Thanks for letting me post.

God Bless.

Nehemiah6 · May 22, 2018

emekrus said:

What you have failed to present and explain is that the Lord said "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." (Luke 16:9).

This is not the prosperity gospel (which is false). What the Lord was saying is that even though money becomes the idol of the rich, it does not have to become an idol to Christians, nor should it ever be. Money in itself is neutral, and if a Christian INVESTS it in the Kingdom of God, in order to propagate the Gospel, bring help to needy Christians, widows, and orphans, as well as to invest it in humanitarian efforts, then it will become a blessing which will receive eternal rewards. In other words, money is not meant to be hoarded and worshiped, but used for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel.

RickyZ · May 22, 2018

Nehemiah6 said:

What you have failed to present and explain is that the Lord said "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." (Luke 16:9).

This is not the prosperity gospel (which is false). What the Lord was saying is that even though money becomes the idol of the rich, it does not have to become an idol to Christians, nor should it ever be. Money in itself is neutral, and if a Christian INVESTS it in the Kingdom of God, in order to propagate the Gospel, bring help to needy Christians, widows, and orphans, as well as to invest it in humanitarian efforts, then it will become a blessing which will receive eternal rewards. In other words, money is not meant to be hoarded and worshiped, but used for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel.

Exactly! Too many people think their reward is of this world.

Problem for them is, it will be.

dcontroversal · May 22, 2018

Solomon said...."To enjoy the fruits of one's labor is from the hand of God"

It boils down to motive and where your heart is.....end of story!

pottersclay · May 22, 2018

A rich man is considered rich not by his wealth or possessions ......but by what he can afford to give away.

dcontroversal · May 22, 2018

The honest truth....for a period of time I managed a farm for a very wealthy man from St. Louis. He and his brother owned 10 dealerships (Nissan, Ford, V.W., Hyundai, KIA, numerous used lots, a wholesale lot etc.) They had houses/farms all over the U.S., Canada and even in Europe.....They had maids, nannies etc....They were also friends with another man who owned dealerships as well....I took his dogs home once and he had a Red Maserati, Ferrari, and Porsche sitting side by side with the keys in them...these guys paid 50 grand a year for front row seats in Busch stadium, had every trinket and toy one could imagine and if they wanted something they bought it. One night I sat in a 2.5 million dollar home that was purchased next to a 380 acre farm he owned just for his friends to sleep in when they were all down to party.....I sat there with 5 guys around the table eating the best steak money could buy....together they had a net worth of over a billion dollars and the HONEST TRUTH.....these guys were some of the most miserable people I have ever met in my life.....they all had problems, issues, sickness in their families, death, drug use and they constantly griped about everything....they were nice enough even though they would let you know at the end of the day that you were the hired help, a body and for sure was replaceable with another body....no loyalty and their wives....they always referenced their wives as "trophy wives" and numerous people joked behind the scenes how the first number on their wives phones were the plastic surgeons.....

I said all this to say....MONEY and the things MONEY may buy will never buy real happiness.....Like JESUS said...what will a man give in exchange for his soul.....and like the song by Kansas said....ALL your money won't another minute buy.

Tragic at the end of the day......

Dino246 · May 22, 2018

emekrus said:

Given that #9 decries the use of unscriptural practices to get money from members (church members) and #3 decries "refusing to pay your tithes...", you have contradicted yourself. Christians are not required to pay tithes. Asking your church members to pay tithes is an unscriptural practice.

emekrus · May 23, 2018

Well Sir,
I need a counsel from you concerning your the point you made above. can you please tell me how and where the money to INVEST in the kingdom of God in order to propagate the Gospel, bring help to needy Christians, widows and orphans, as well as humanitarian efforts to receive eternal rewards come from?

Because common sense tells me that for me to be able to meet the above listed obligations effectively and consistently, I have to be rich. Do you agree?

emekrus · May 23, 2018

Sir,
You mean Christians are not required to pay tithe? could you please explain to me what Malachi 3:10 is saying; and also what Jesus was saying in Matthew 23:23.

You mean these scriptures are no longer relevant to Christians anymore?

FlSnookman7 · May 23, 2018

Idolatry always leaves one empty. Look at how many rich and famous people take their own lives. They sacrificed everything to reach a false goal and when they achieve it they find only emptiness. Solomon realized that all he had accomplished amounted to nothing, only God can make our spirit alive. Once our spirit is made alive we are forever changed and can begin loving others as God loves us. This is what feeds our new spirit and allows it to grow. All the money, fame and power in the world can do nothing for our immortal spirit. God and God alone has what our spirits need, and He gives it freely for the asking!

emekrus · May 23, 2018

Well, I am one them that believe my reward is of this world. Although not all of my reward. After enjoying that of this world, I will also enjoy that of eternity.

And I am standing on the authority of Jesus' word and as such, I believe I am very safe. Here are the exact words of Jesus:

"[FONT=&quot]And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."--Mark 10:29-30

So I enjoy enough pie now. Then in eternity, much more.

Check your bible if it says the same thing.[/FONT]

Nehemiah6 · May 23, 2018

emekrus said:

That is correct. Both these Scriptures operated within the Old Covenant, and as long as the temple in Jerusalem was standing. Christian giving is not the same as Jewish tithing and the New Testament makes that abundantly clear.

emekrus · May 23, 2018

Nehemiah6 said:

Well, so long you are fully persuaded in your heart, no problem.

posthuman · May 23, 2018

Philippians 4:11-13

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

posthuman · May 23, 2018

emekrus said:

If you're not similarly persuaded, who is it you figure are the Levites of this new covenant, to whom the tithe was commanded to be given?

He says of us, we are a kingdom of priests

((I can provide you with a PayPal address if you'd like to send me money))

emekrus · May 23, 2018

well the bible says bring all the tithes to my house. You pay your tithe in your local assembly where you worship.

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