Faithfully Managing Money Series

Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Faithfully Managing Money”

1. Sacrificial giving develops and demonstrates devotion to God.

Leftovers

Leftovers are such humble things; we would not serve them to a guest,

And yet we serve them to our Lord who deserves the very best.

We give to Him leftover time, stray minutes here and there,

Leftover cash we give to Him, such few coins as we can spare.

We give our youth unto the world, to hatred, lust and strife;

Then in declining years we give to Him the remnant of our life.

2. Sacrificial giving to the eternal directs the heart to the eternal.

3. Sacrificial giving releases the heart to fully serve God.

When I have any money, I get rid of it as quickly as possible, lest it find a way into my heart.

4. Sacrificial investment in the eternal now brings eternal reward now and later.

There is one more motive behind giving we neglected to mention last week.

5. Sacrificial giving develops unity among believers

I. General Observations concerning Money

A. Proper View of Wealth

1. All wealth belongs to God and is entrusted to us for proper dispersal.

2. Wealth must be invested in eternal pursuits.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21

storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 1 Tim. 6:19

3. Wealth must be accompanied by contentment

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philip. 4:12-13

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 1 Tim. 6:7-9

Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," Hebrews 13:5

4. Wealth must be shared with those in need

Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. Ephes. 4:28

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:16-17

B. Poisonous Venom of mismanaged wealth

1. Don’t put your security in wealth.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. Proverbs 11:28

Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds;

For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. Proverbs 27:23-24

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6:17

2. Don’t desire to have it or love it.

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. Pr 23:4-5

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. Eccles. 5:10

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. 1 Tim. 6:9-10

3. Don’t misuse it selfishly or to gain happiness.

"Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Luke 6:25