How Does Money Affect You? Series

Taking the "Stew" Out of Stewardship (Part 2 of 4)

How Does Money Affect You?

Key points and thoughts from Pastor Leland Patrick

Matt. 6:24-34

Jan. 14, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction:

A A man named Stumpy illustrates how money affects people. Stumpy and his wife, Martha, went to the state fair every year, and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, "Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane." Martha always replied, "I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs $10, and $10 is $10." One year Stumpy and Martha went to the fair and Stumpy said, "Martha, I’m 81 years old, If I don’t ride that airplane I might not get another chance." Martha replied, "Stumpy, that airplane ride costs $10, and $10 is $10." The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet the entire ride and not say one word, I won’t charge you; but if you say one word it’s $10." Stumpy and Martha agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word was heard. He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Stumpy and said, "By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn’t." Stumpy replied, "Well, I was going to say something when Martha fell out, but $10 is $10."

1 Money is something we all struggle with.

a Too little, too much desire, wrong use, poor investments.

b When we worry, money is oftentimes involved.

aa Widows: ends meet, young parents: raising child(ren), ER: medical bills, funeral: pay for this, students: PS3 or insurance to drive.

bb Money & worry have been roommates in each & every heart today.

2 Jesus uses this truth to teach on worry & money.

B No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, ’What will we eat?’ or ’What will we drink?’ or ’What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:24-34 (NASB)

1 Jesus had a worry-alleviating plan for His disciples to follow concerning their finances (essence of the text in a sentence).

a The greatest way for believers to decrease worry in life is to increase their faith in God (essence of the sermon in a sentence).

b I pray you’ll do one thing to further follow God’s worry-alleviating plan for you (objective).

2 What one thing can you begin doing today to follow God’s worry-alleviating plan for you? (Probing question).

a Let’s look at how money affects our lives (transitional sentence).

b Pray

I The first effect are the problems associated with handling money.

A 25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Jesus taught that life’s basic needs (food, water, & clothing) can cause us to worry about money.

1 He divides the areas of worry into two parts: