OPEN HANDS

Part 1: God or Mammon

May 3, 2026

---

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (NIV) Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted…Rather, be openhanded and freely lend…

Acts 2:42-45 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

 

Myth #1: “Jesus didn’t .”

Truth: “Jesus talked about .”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Teachings of Jesus by Topic

1. The Kingdom of God – 35%
2. Wealth & Stewardship – 15%
3. Love – 12%
4. Religious Hypocrisy – 10%
5. His Identity and Mission – 8%
6. Faith & Prayer – 6%
7. Judgment & Hell – 5%
8. Forgiveness & Grace – 4%
9. Heaven & Eternal Life – 3%
10. The Holy Spirit and Age to Come – 2%

Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT) Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness.

 

Myth #2: “Money is .”

Truth: “Money wants to become .”

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.

 

5 Signs You Might Struggle with Devotion to Mammon

1. Your financial decisions are driven by fear.
2. You believe more money will fix your life.
3. You delay obedience based on circumstances.
4. You withhold generosity.
5. You resist biblical teaching about money.

Philippians 4:12 (MSG) I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.

 

Myth #3: “Money provides .”

Truth: “God provides .”

Matthew 6:25-30 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

 

Myth #4: “Money will make .”

Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!

 

Truth: “Happiness doesn’t come from , it comes from .”

Romans 4:7-8 (NCV) Happy are they whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Happy is the person whom the Lord does not consider guilty.

1. Break with .

1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

            2. Put God before .

Proverbs 3:9–10 (TLB) Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.

            3. Replace with .

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

           4. Start your .

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NIV) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.