245 - Gold In The Trash

Sermon Study #245 – GOLD IN THE TRASH

Illustrate humor A woman gave her son Billy 2 quarters. One was for his Sunday School offering. The other was for an ice cream cone on the way home from Sunday School. Billy was flipping one quarter in the air and catching it on the way down. This happened 8 times or so when all of a sudden Billy missed catching it. It rolled down the storm sewer and was gone. Billy looked skyward and prayed, "Sorry, God."...

· 33% of born again Christians say it is impossible for them to get ahead in life because of the financial debt they have incurred. (1997)

· 51% of Christians believe that no matter how they feel about money, it is still the main symbol of success in life. (1997)

· 19% of Christians believe that you can usually tell how successful a person is by examining what they own. (1997)

· 32% of Christians indicate that money is very important to them. (1997)

Illustrate: “Gold in the trash…”

Why does God prosper some Christians and others stay poor?

The primary response to this question would be: those who learn to give generously will receive generously. However, it is not limited to this giving factor – some attempt to manipulate God by their giving. We will explore another reason why some become rich while others remain poor.

God’s purpose to prosper you financially:

(2 Cor 9:10-11) Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

(1 Tim 6:17-19) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

DISCOVER “GOLD IN THE TRASH”

James 2:2-5 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here’s a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

1. (Prov 14:31) He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

2. (Prov 17:5) He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

3. (Prov 19:17) He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

4. (Prov 21:13) If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

5. (Prov 22:9) A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

6. (Prov 22:16) He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty.

7. (Prov 28:27) He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

Illustrate humor: A pastor stood before his church and said, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the church has all the money it needs... The bad news is that it’s all still in your wallets.”...