THINGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN MONEY

14 AND Joseph gathered up all the MONEY that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the MONEY into Pharaoh’s house.
15 So when THE MONEY FAILED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT AND IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”
16 THEN Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, IF THE MONEY IS GONE.”
Genesis 47:14-16 (NKJV)

"A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; BUT MONEY ANSWERS EVERYTHING."
Ecclesiastes 10:19 (NKJV)

• Money is important in a person's life.

• You need money to do any number of things because we live in the material world.
• Money is important, but it is not the most important thing.
• There are things that are better than money, if you have them plus money, your life would be fulfilling and colourful.

• Other important things.

I. The Word of God (Psalm 119:11,72,103,105).
7 THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE LORD ARE PERFECT, reviving the soul. THE DECREES OF THE LORD ARE TRUSTWORTHY, making wise the simple. 8 THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, bringing JOY to the HEART. THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD ARE CLEAR, giving INSIGHT for LIVING. 9 REVERENCE FOR THE LORD IS PURE, lasting forever. THE LAWS OF THE LORD ARE TRUE; EACH ONE IS FAIR. 10 THEY ARE MORE DESIRABLE THAN GOLD, EVEN THE FINEST GOLD. THEY ARE SWEETER THAN HONEY, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 THEY ARE A WARNING TO YOUR SERVANT, A GREAT REWARD FOR THOSE WHO OBEY THEM" (Psalm 19:7-11 NLT).

• The Word of God is a guide (Psalm 119:11).
• You can only please God by faith and faith comes by the hearing of the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
• Thus, someone who does not live to please God might not receive anything from Him.

II. Wisdom and understanding that come from God.
7 WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING; THEREFORE GET WISDOM. And in all your getting, GET UNDERSTANDING. 8 EXALT HER, and SHE will PROMOTE YOU; SHE WILL BRING YOU HONOUR, WHEN YOU EMBRACE HER" (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV).

"FOR WISDOM IS A DEFENSE even as MONEY IS A DEFENSE, BUT the excellency of knowledge is that WISDOM SHIELDS AND PRESERVES THE LIFE OF HIM WHO HAS IT" (Ecclesiastes 7:12 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).

• Wisdom gives life to the people who has it.

III. Anointing of the Holy Spirit:
18 AND WHEN SIMON [who previously practiced sorcery in the city of Samaria Acts 8:9] SAW that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your MONEY PERISH WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD COULD BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY! (Acts 8:18–20 (NKJV).
READ: Acts 8:13,18-25

• The anointing of God on someone's life is much more important than money.
• Therefore, value the oil of God on your life, that is, do not lose the anointing of God on your life because of money.
• Esau lost his birthright because of food. - The grace of God on your life to bless the people with God's Word, or songs, or godly counselings, and whatever, is much more important than Money.
• Gehazi, Elisha's servant, was supposed to collect double portions of Elisha's anointing, but collected leprosy instead, because of greediness and covetousness for money and other material things (2 Kings 5:20-27).

IV. Strategic Relationships:
"DEMAS HAS DESERTED ME BECAUSE HE LOVES THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE AND HAS GONE TO THESSALONICA. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia" (1 Timothy 4:10 NLT).

• God ordained relationships are important than money. If you break up from the relationship which God has ordained for your lifting and greatness, you may get into oblivion—you become irrelevant and unfulfilled in life.
• Relationships are for fellowshipping. You can only get to your place in life through God-ordained relationships.
• Value every God-ordained relationship in your life, because it is important and strategic to your lifting.

V. Good name. A person's good name is better than Money:
"A GOOD NAME IS TO BE CHOSEN RATHER THAN GREAT RICHES, Loving favour rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV).

• Abraham valued his good name (Genesis 14:21-23). Joseph likewise protected his good name (Genesis 39:9).
• The true measure of a person is not determined by what he or she does before the people, but what they do when no one would ever know what they did.

VI. Good spouse.
"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? SHE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN RUBIES" (Proverbs 31:10 NLT).

• If you have not married, you would do well to seek God's face for directions, that you might not marry wrongly.
• As a young man who seeks to marry, do not marry a wrong wife: "A VIRTUOUS AND EXCELLENT WIFE [worthy of honour] IS THE CROWN OF HER HUSBAND, BUT she who SHAMES him [with her foolishness] is like ROTTENNESS in his bones" (Proverbs 12:4 AMP).

"BETTER to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a CONTENTIOUS And [an] ANGRY WOMAN."
Proverbs 21:19 (NKJV)

• A bachelor girl who is a Believer in Christ should also work to marry a good husband (Ephesians 5:25-29).
• Do not marry a man because of his wealth, but someone who loved with the love of God: "As coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, SO IS A CONTENTIOUS MAN TO INFLAME STRIFE" (Proverbs 26:21 (DARBY).
• May God help the woman who marries a man because of his handsomeness, popularity, or wealthiness. She would be better off marrying a man who would treat her as Christ does treat the church (Ephesians 5:25).
• The quality of a godly husband will long outlast the good looking, popularity, and money of the playboy type (I Timothy 5:8)·

VII. Your eternal soul

• Your soul is important than money.
  Jesus contrasted a person's soul with the whole world:
  "FOR what will it PROFIT A MAN if he GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD [wealth, fame, success], BUT FORFEITS HIS SOUL? OR WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL? (Matthew 16:26 AMP).

"WHAT PROFIT is there if you gain the whole world—AND LOSE ETERNAL LIFE? WHAT CAN BE COMPARED WITH THE VALUE OF ETERNAL LIFE?
Matthew 16:26 (the Living Bible)

• In other words, putting the whole world together in values, your soul is more valuable than it.
• Your soul is more important than money: 20 “BUT God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “YES, A PERSON IS A FOOL TO STORE UP EARTHLY WEALTH BUT NOT HAVE A RICH RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD" (Luke 12:20,21 NLT).

• We live in a material world, and money would be needed for a number of things to be done, but then, money is not everything.

• Many have given credibility to money than every other thing. If you value money than a God-ordained relationship in your life, you may not go farther in life, and eventually might not get or have the money you so much crave for.
• Some have the mindset that there must be a monetary reward for every good thing they do—every assistance or help they rendered. This is a wrong mindset!
• The teaching is not about playing down the value or importance of money in whatever to do in life, but it should not be valued than other important things.
• Also, money should not be sought at the detriment of your spiritual life—your relationship and fellowship with God.
• Money is needed to live comfortably in the world, and accomplish any number of things, however, seeking it should not be detrimental to the pursuit of God and the blissful eternity in His heavenly Kingdom.
• Believers are not expected to be struggling or striving for Money, like the unbelievers. If a Believer puts the first things first, he or she cannot but be made comfortable—Rich.

31 THEREFORE DO NOT BE ANXIOUS [worry], saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 FOR THE GENTILES [the unbelievers] SEEK AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM ALL.
33 BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.
34 “THEREFORE DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)

• You will not lack in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Whatever is working against your health, such is rebuked and uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!