Two More Signs You May Be Dealing With A Mammon Spirit

Go here to read my earlier article entitled “Five Signs You May Be Dealing With A Mammon Spirit to refresh what I said. Because so many have read and enjoyed that article that I am expanding that blog to an ebook. Meanwhile, I have discovered two more signs that you might be dealing with a mammon spirit.

We could come up with ten, twenty, or more signs, but fall under a specific category that I covers in these seven signs. A poverty mentality is part of the mammon debacle that we don’t always consider. Being poor is not the problem, as we will see, and neither is having property, wealth, and possessions.

Poverty Mindset

You do not have to be poor or in poverty to have a poverty mindset. Many wealthy, rich, and well-to-do people live with a poverty mindset. As the name implies, it is a mindset or attitude towards money, wealth, and possessions.

According to Alanweiss.com, “A poverty mentality is one that influences behaviors consistent with beliefs that money shouldn’t be spent, opportunities are limited, any risk at all is dangerous, any success is temporary and non-replicable, and generally remaining in the back of the pack is safest.” In other words, you have a mindset of staying poor or, as the quotes stated, in the back.

You do not have a mindset of getting ahead or acquiring wealth. You may even see money as evil and try to get by without using it. But this mindset can lead to some of the other signs also. You may have money and wealth in some cases, but the decisions you make are the same ones that a poor and impoverished person would make.

I have identified three areas I will discuss regarding this mindset: 1-Hoarding, 2- Having money and being stingy or ungenerous, and 3- poor stewardship.

Hoarding

I have seen it and, to a degree, lived it. Yes, I admit I stockpiled things, and I really don’t know why. My mother could do the same, so maybe I inherited it. We have seen the reality TV show where people lived in filth and squalor, had little or no food, and hardly paid their bills.

Those are the extremes. Many people live through hard times, such as the Great Depression, which marks their lifestyle for the rest of their lives. They have memories of growing up with very little and having to scrape and fight for food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Some people don’t grow up that way, but through life experiences, they think that they will not do without storing up large quantities of food or even toilet paper.

Ten years go by, and they have so much stuff put aside that it has begun to deteriorate and rot. They never have any intention of sharing, and sadly they never deal with the outdated stuff. They just buy more and more. This is also poor stewardship,, as we will see.

Stockpiling stuff does no one any good and can be selfish. I think God wants us to put it aside. People have always done that in anticipation of hard times. But you have to rotate food and other things with shelf life. Also, Jesus would expect His people to have a little extra for someone unable to store up, whether they lack the financial means or the place to store it.

Being Stingy And Ungenerous With Money

We think of stingy people, and we often associate them with someone with little or no money or no source of income. Then some grew up rough and maintained that mindset their entire adult lives. However, stinginess with money is often found among the wealthy and those with a lot of money.

Not all wealthy people are ungenerous, but I have seen repeatedly that many wealthy people will not give to the poor or support charitable needs. Instead, they tend to put more money into stocks, bonds, and other investments. In other words, like most people, the mindset is, “What’s in it for me?”

In the Kingdom of God, we sow and reap. The sowing is the investing. We reap blessings from God because we are generous. This is what Jesus taught in the New Testament: generosity. Being generous requires us to be stewards, so we have to be careful and not throw our money into a sinking hole.

Poor Stewardship

This is a subject we don’t talk about enough. Some people just give stuff away and don’t think about who or where they give it. Others never help anyone. Being a good steward is something else Jesus talked about a lot. Remember the unjust steward?

Most Christians forget that God owns it all and we are just stewards. That means we are in charge and responsible until He returns. There is a reckoning coming, and we will give an accounting of how we handled what was entrusted to us. That is why He said in the New Testament that He would give more to those who demonstrate He can trust them.

A poor steward is a result of not understanding who the actual owner is and not appreciating what God entrusted to each of us. It can be a poverty mindset. Remember poverty minded people just want to ride in the back seat and never move forward. You can have millions of dollars and be a poor steward.

Not Trusting God (Depending On Money)

People say, “Money talks.” Yes, it does, and the message it sends is that you can get what you want (and need) with money. Bribery and extortion are some ways people use money to get what they want, whether they need it or not. Ironically, our money has “In God, we trust” printed on it.

People commonly misquote the Bible by saying, “Money is the root of all evil,” but it actually reads, “The Love of money is the root of all evil.” Yes, the love of money and not God cause many to go headlong down the wide gate of the world system. This is because they trust in money and not God.

God is our provider. Money is one of the ways we can obtain goods and services. In other terms, people used precious metals and jewels. Earlier, people bartered for what they needed. Some people still do this. When you do not have money to pay for a service, you can offer your services or something you have of value.

We say we go to work to pay the bills since most people receive compensation for work in the form of money. But, in reality, we go to work to serve, and God compensates us through service credits. We call these service credits money. Unfortunately, so many people complain about their jobs and never realize they are servants.

We get up and go to work by faith. It takes faith to believe the employer will make good and pay us. Then we pay our bills, buy food and then have fun. But do we ever ask God what He wants us to do with the money He has provided through a job or business?

We put more trust in money, which shows our lack of generosity in giving into the Kingdom of God. Christians tend to be the worst at tipping servers. But, it is a reflection of how we view money. The server is serving you. They receive a modest hourly wage and rely on tips for most of their pay. If their service is top-notch, why do we not reward outstanding service?

We sometimes throw God a tip on Sunday morning at church, though. We treat Him worse than the server. Yet, He owns it all, and we should be willing to give it all back if He asks us to.

Anything you put before God is idolatry, including money!

The Solution

I know that money and wealth are touchy subjects. I also know that Jesus spoke about it a lot because it reflects how we view God. The answer to freedom from mammon begins with recognizing that He owns it all and we are just stewards. Also, we need to acknowledge that we are servants in the kingdom of God.

So, we can’t serve God and money. Who will you serve?

Five Signs You May Be Dealing With A Mammon Spirit

Jesus talked a lot about provision, money, wealth, and its effect on the kingdom lifestyle. He talked about putting God first and storing up treasure in heaven. He also talked a lot about serving and helping others from a love relationship with Him and the Father. When it came to dealing with storing up earthly riches, Jesus talked about a spirit called Mammon.

Matthew 6:24 “no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” NASB

What Is Mammon?

The Greek word " mamonas " means wealth, riches, possessions, or property. Having land, houses, cars, and other possessions is by no means bad. It takes those things to live. But the question is ‘Do they own you, or do you own them?’ Does the money work for you, or do you work for money? In other words, it is true what the scripture says ‘The love of money is the root of all evil,’ 1 Timothy 6:10

I am not here to judge or tear anyone down but rather to help you look at your heart and examine it as I have and allow the Holy Spirit to bring freedom in how you handle money and finances. Everything we have belongs to God, and we are just stewards. However, if we get into debt or can’t pay bills or buy food, etc., we tend to stress and worry. This is not healthy, nor is it part of God’s plan.

Matthew 6: 26, “ Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”

Birds, Birds, and More Birds

I’ve noticed since spring, an abundance of birds on and around the property where we are located. I have watched them, and they get closer and closer to where we sit outside. There is a barbed wire near that area, and they come and sit and watch us and sing. Most recently, I have seen a goldfinch land and perch there. Most people WhenSuch a beautiful creature and a reminder that God orders their steps. Then there are sparrows, wrens, chickadees, crows, cardinals, blackbirds, bluebirds, larks, robins, and geese. The geese stop off in the field and, without fear, eat and lay and move about until they are done, and the leader honks, and they follow in perfect formation.

Not only are these birds taken care of by our Father in Heaven, but they seem to know that they are safe around here. Even the geese know when to stop and leave. I have also seen a few doves, and they are marvelous birds. Every bird has a function and purpose and is part of God’s plan. Don’t you think he has a role, purpose, and plan for you and me?

Whatever stage you are at on the journey in the kingdom, we must always consider how we handle money and ‘riches’. This reflects how we view God and His kingdom. We are so accustomed to borrowing money for nearly everything around us. Amazon, Target, and all major retailers each offer their own credit card or line of credit. At some point, we have to quit being slaves to debt and be free as we were meant to be with the resources God has provided us.

I have five things that signal you may be under the influence of the spirit we call mammon (mamonas) or riches.

Worry And Anxiety Over Money

Concern is not the same as worry, but it can lead to it when we obsess over money and constantly figure out ways to make more money. That leads to stress, anxiety, insomnia, and a whole host of psychological and physical problems. When this happens, then you are working for money, and not the other way around. In addition, a lack of trust in God’s provision leads to anxiety.

Money Mismanagement

I know people, and I have been one myself, who never have money because they simply cannot handle or manage money well. They make good money, but they are always broke. They don’t tithe or give into the kingdom, they never save or invest, and they spend beyond their means. This leads to worry and other problems.

Impulse Buying

Have you ever gone shopping and walked into the store, and before you found the first item on your list, your cart was half full of stuff you don’t need? Are you one that watches infomercials and purchases the latest fashion or nifty, trending items? Those impulse buying habits will keep you broke, and with a lot of stuff you have no use for and probably never will.

Greed

You probably want to skip past this, thinking that it only applies to the super-rich when it can apply to anyone, especially the super-poor. Greed is like cancer that is never satisfied. I have seen poor people go to thrift stores or even ministries that offer free items, and they just can’t be satisfied with a few items. Often, they are worse than those loaded with many.

Greedy people have a thirst and hunger for money and possessions that cannot be quenched. Shopping addictions are also a form of this monster.

Bondage of Debt

I have already mentioned that the Bible says that the borrower is the slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:7. But also, the Bible tells us that the wicked borrow and do not pay back. Psalm 37:21 Nasb. So many people have a mortgage, two car notes, and credit card debt.

When they do borrow, most people can’t seem to help themselves and get too much house and too expensive a car for their income. So they don’t plan ahead. So, God is our provider, but he also gives us wisdom. He is not a genie in a bottle or a vending machine.

When we come into the Kingdom of God, we work for Him. He owns everything, and we are stewards. He provides for us as he sees first. Money is just one means to obtain the goods and services we need to live. The job is not the only way in which God provides. Kingdom-minded people must learn to live a kingdom lifestyle and not be controlled by riches or wealth. Jesus told us to lay up treasure in heaven.

One final thought: God is all about multiplication, but He likes to use what we have. Elisha used a widow’s oil to help her get her miracle. It multiplied, and she sold it to pay her debts. Have you set money aside so that God can multiply?

If you identify with any one of these areas, then come out of agreement and come into God’s plan for provision and let your money work for you.