The Drift
Chris Seidman
Part of Tru$t I$$ues
November 19, 2023

Tru$t I$$ues

The Drift
November 19, 2023
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch


One out of every eight verses of His teachings and 16 out of 38 parables deal with our relationship with money and material possessions.


Frequently Used Words in Scripture

  • “Believe” - 272 times

  • “Pray” - 371 times

  • “Love” - 714 times

  • “Give” - 2,162 times.

“Give” is mentioned about three times as much as “love,” seven times as much as “prayer,” and almost ten times as much as “believe.”


John 10:10 (NIV)
“The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”


1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.


1 Timothy 6:9 (NIV)
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.


Jim Collins Quote
So many of their executives were a part of the malleable masses. These were people who, in the presence of an opportunity to behave differently, got drawn into it, one step after another. If you told them ten years ahead of time, “Hey, let’s cook the books and all get rich,” they would never go along with it. But that’s rarely how most people get drawn into activities they later regret.

When you are at step A, it feels inconceivable to jump all the way to step Z, if step Z involves something that is a total breach of your values. But if you go from step A to step B, then step B to step C … then someday you wake up and discover you’re at step Y, and the move to step Z comes about much easier.

… a farmer never notices the corn growing minute by minute. But if he stays in the field long enough, he wakes up one day to discover that it has grown over his head.


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.


Mark 4:18-19 (NIV)
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”


Luke 12:15 (NIV)
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.”


Matthew 6:24b (NIV)
“You cannot serve both God and money.”

We Drift Away …

  • Through a gradual anxiety.

Matthew 6:25 (NIV)
“Therefore … do not worry about your life … .”

  • Through a lack of intentionality.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness … .”

Suggestions For Working Through Our Trust Issues …

  • Pay attention to anxiety when it arises, and turn to Jesus with it.

1 Peter 5:7-8 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

  • Learn from someone who you see as running a better race than you in this area.

  • Be intentional with what you have, starting today.

  • Remember that our salvation is a result of the One who loosened His grip.

2 Corinthians 8:7, 9 (NIV)
But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (vs.9) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.


1 Timothy 6:12a (NIV)
Fight the good fight of the faith.