Money or Morals

Money or Morals? Which is More Important?

-Introduction

-When you hear the name, Ahab, what comes to mind?

-For me, the first word that comes to mind is “sin” - 1 Kings 16:30.

-2 Chron. 21:1, 4-6, 12-15

-Notice how God described the sinfulness of Judah’s king, Jehoram - with a reference

to the kings of Israel - particularly Ahab.

-Once again, consider 1 Kings 16:30. Now, notice 1 Kings 16:25 regarding Omri.

-Ahab followed the course of his father and therefore digressed even farther into

sinful rebellion against God.

-Yet, let’s consider another side of the story for both Omri and Ahab.

-Omri

-1 Kings 16:8-10, 15-18, 21-22

-Following Tibni’s death, Omri ruled and brought about some growth and prosperity.

-“Omri was one of the most important kings of Israel and the founder of a dynasty”

(Lockyer, pg 264).

-“Omri was a king of vision and wisdom. From Shemer he purchased a hill on which he

built a new city, Samaria, making it the new capital of Israel. Samaria was more defensible

than Tirzah had been. Because it was strategically located, Omri was able to control the

north-south trade routes in the region. Archaeological excavations at Samaria revealed

buildings of excellent workmanship-an indication of the prosperity the city enjoyed during

his reign” (Nelson's)

-“The Founding of Samaria: The superior strategic importance of Samaria is evidenced

by the sieges it endured repeatedly by the Syrians and Assyrians. It was finally taken by

Sargon in 722, after the siege had lasted for 3 years. That the Northern Kingdom endured

as long as it did was due largely to the strength of its capital. With the fall of Samaria,

the nation fell” (ISBE).

-“In spite of the brief passage given to Omri in the Old Testament, he was one of the most

important of the military kings of Northern Israel” (ISBE).

-“The MOABITE STONE tells of Omri's success against King Mesha of Moab (2 Kings

3:4). But Omri's conflict with Syria proved to be less successful, and he was forced to grant

a number of cities to the Syrians (1 Kings 20:34)” (Nelson’s).

-“Omri entered into an alliance with the Phoenicians by the marriage of his son Ahab to

Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. This may have been done as protection

against the powers from the East, and as such would have seemed to be a wise political

move, but it was one fraught with evil for Israel” (ISBE).

-“His "might which he showed" was celebrated in the royal chronicles. To strengthen his

dynasty he allied himself to Benhadad I of Damascus, surrendering cities as the price of the

alliance (1 Kings 20:34), including Ramoth Gilead (1 Kings 22:3). (See AHAB). For the

same end his son Ahab married the Sidonian king Ethbaal's daughter Jezebel, which issued

in the introduction of Baal worship into Israel...His vigour secured the permanence of his

dynasty for four reigns...” (Fausset’s).

-“Omri was the first king of Israel to pay tribute to the Assyrians...From the days of

Shalmaneser II (860 BC) down to the time of Sargon (722 BC), Northern Israel was known

to the Assyrians as "the land of the house of Omri." On Shalmaneser's black obelisk, Jehu,

who overthrew the dynasty of Omri, is called Ja'uaabal Chumri, "Jehu son of Omri” (ISBE).

-So, in terms of economics and foreign policy, Omri was considered a successful, effective

leader.

-Ahab

-Now, let’s consider some historical information regarding Omri’s son, Ahab.

-“Ahab was a capable leader and an avid builder” (Nelson’s).

-“Ahab was an able and energetic warrior. His victories over the Syrians pushed the borders

of this kingdom to the border of Damascus. Great renown became his, also great wealth

indicated by the ivory palace he built for himself (1 Kings 21:1; 22:39)...Not since

Solomon’s time had a king been so victorious as Ahab...” (Lockyer, pg 36).

-“...Ahab...was clever enough to win the admiration and respect of friend and foe,

strengthening the kingdom without and within” (ISBE).

-“Ahab, recognizing the advantages that would accrue to his kingdom from an alliance with

the foremost commercial nation of his time, renewed the old relations with the Phoenicians

and cemented them by his marriage with Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre...He next

turns his attention to the establishment of peaceful and friendly relations with the kindred

and neighboring kingdom of Judah. For the first time since the division of the kingdoms the

hereditary...quarrels are forgotten, "and Jehoshaphat," the good king of Judah, "made peace

with the king of Israel." This alliance, too, was sealed by a marriage relationship, Jehoram,

the crown-prince of Judah, being united in marriage with the...daughter of Ahab” (ISBE).

-“Ahab appears prominently on the Assyrian monuments of the great conqueror Shalmaneser

III (859 BC - 824 BC). The Monolith Inscription, now in the British Museum, recounts the

clash of Assyrian arms in 853 BC with a Syrian coalition of kings at Qarqar N of Hamath, a

fortress guarding the approaches to all lower Syria. Conspicuously mentioned among those

who successfully withstood Assyria's advance is "Ahab, the Israelite." The Israelite ruler's

prominence is indicated by the large number of chariots he is said to have thrown into the

battle-2,000 as compared with the next largest number of 1,200 supplied by Hadadezer of

Damascus” (New Unger’s).

-Eventually, Ahab would die in a battle against Benhadad’s Syrians.

-So, in regards to economics and foreign policy, history tells us that Ahab had his successes.

-God Evaluates Differently Than Secular History

-When we turn to God’s evaluation of these leaders we don’t find a record of success. Not at

all. To the contrary, we find utter failure.

-Again, consider 1 Kings 16:25, 30

-God doesn’t evaluate based upon economics and foreign policy but on morality,

righteousness and obedience.

-“Although Omri laid the foundation of a strong kingdom, he failed to impart to it the

vitalizing and rejuvenating force of a healthy spiritual religion” (ISBE).

-“Ahab's far-sighted foreign policy was the antithesis of his short-sighted religious policy”

ISBE). “He was a weak-minded man, lacking moral fiber and righteousness” (Lockyer, pg

37).

-As the presidential election nears there is a great amount of emphasis being placed upon

economics and foreign policy. Although these are important issues facing the nation, there

is a much, much more important issue - morality.

-As we have seen, the current financial crisis has gained much interest and publicity. There

has been an outcry from the people of this nation - whether pleased or displeased about the

approved bailout.

-money, money, money

-People’s investments - 401(k)’s, stock portfolio’s, mutual funds, etc. - have lost a

considerable amount of value. People are seeing the effect of this crisis on their pocket

books. Therefore, it has garnered much attention and many outcries.

-Yet, there is a more serious crisis facing this nation. Yet, this crisis gets very little attention

from the government leaders, media or general public.

-We are facing a morality crisis.

-banishing God from schools and other public places and gatherings, homosexuality,

attacks against the integrity of proper marriage, evolution being taught as fact in our

schools, our constitution being misused in efforts to support improper agendas, judges

legislating from the bench, pornography, plague-like spread of sexual crimes and

sexual predators, etc., etc., etc.

-Money or morality? - Which is most important? - If you go by government actions, media

coverage and the attention and reaction of the overall public - money wins hands down.

-That’s a shame!

-By the way, since we are so close to the election, I have a very important question:

When you make your decision on who to vote for, is that decision motivated primarily

by money or morals? Again, which is more important? I’m afraid that many, many

people - whether Republican or Democrat - vote based upon their pocket book.

-Summary and Invitation

-What are we to do? What can we do?

-Perhaps we could do a better job of speaking up. I believe that some of the things

happening in this country go contrary to what the majority of people think. Yet, it

is the special interest groups that are doing the better job of speaking out and

promoting their agenda.

-Perhaps we need to do a better job of communicating with our representatives whether

on the local, state or national level.

-Yet, as I have thought about this, there is one thing that we can do and should do - work

much harder at spreading the Gospel. That’s where the answer is. That’s what we need.

-It is the influence of the Gospel that changes lives, communities, states & nations.

-Money or Morals? Which is more important? I hope you’ll give some more thought to

this. I hope that you’ll be prayerful for our nation. I fear the path that we seem to be

headed down (morally, not economically) because, obviously, our society as placed the

emphasis on money to the neglect of morals - similarly to what Omri and Ahab did

centuries ago.

-Oh, if we would only pay closer attention to God’s word and live according to it!

-What about you? Have you responded to God’s word? If not, believe (John 3:16, 8:24),

confess your faith (Matt. 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be

Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), Walk in Newness of Life (Rom 6:4, Eph. 4:22-24).

-If you have obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful? If not, confess your shortcomings,

repent of them and pray for forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).

Works Cited

Lockyer, Herbert, All the Men of the Bible, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing

New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois.

Return to the Sermon Outline Index Page

Return to the Sallisaw Church of Christ Home Page