Money Matters: The Basics

Title: “Money Matters: Basic Principles” Type: Topical Series

Script: Various Where: GNBC 11-3-24

Intro: It is shocking to most people to hear that the Bible says more about money and possessions than it does about heaven and hell! In fact, there are roughly 2350 verses. The economy is arguably the #1 issue in this Presidential campaign. I recently read that in the past 4 years overall prices up nearly 21%, rent up 22.9%, electricity up 33%, many groceries up 25-100%. Housing prices have been at an all-time high. Financial concerns can help us evaluate what our real hope is in. All of us trust in something. The more dependable the object of our trust and hope, the less we need to worry. The stock market isn’t God, the Wall Street Journal isn’t the Bible, your asset manager isn’t your pastor, and financial experts aren’t prophets. (Prophets were put to death when their prophecies didn’t come true!) That doesn’t mean the stock market is bad, but it does mean it’s not trustworthy. It may do well for a day, a month, a year, or even a few decades. But because the stock market is uncertain, it can only produce anxiety when it becomes the object of our trust. God is the only totally trustworthy object. Therefore, He’s the only one who cannot betray our trust.

Prop: Let’s examine 4 basic Biblical principles of money & possessions every Xstian needs to know.

BG: 1. November is stewardship month. Every Christian needs to know basic principles regarding God and money. 2. Money is nothing more than a tool, but like any tool, it can be use legitimately or illegitimately. 3.

Prop: Let’s see 4 basic Biblical principles of money & possessions every Christian needs to know.

I. Ownership – I Chron. 29:11-12

A. Starting Point 1 of Money and Possessions: The Lord Owns it ALL!

1. Here may be the most shocking thing you will hear today: “The Lord owns all our possessions.”

a. Dt. 10:14 – “To the Lord your God belong…the earth and everything in it.”

b. The Bible lists several specific items God owns: Lev. 25:23 says He owns all the land: “The land …shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine.” Hag. 2:8 declares that He owns all the precious metals: “The silver is mine and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of hosts.” Ps. 50 :10-12 declares that “Every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills…everything that moves in the field is mine.”

2. The Lord created all things and He has never transferred the title of His creation to people.

a. Illust: Road rage is so common today. Very violent. Ever seen the videos? Minor ding in a parking lot or at a stop and people rage. “I can’t believe you hit MY car!” Can you think of how much we could de-escalate society if we realized God owns it all? “Hey, do you know you just backed into God’s car?” “Really? Do you know I was also driving one of God’s cars?” “Hmm, I wonder why God allowed that to happen?” “Are you ok?” “Who’s God’s insurance company?” So much more peaceful.

b. Col. 1:17 states: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” We run ourselves ragged in life trying to “keep it all together” – emotionally, financially, physically. Often our possessions and the cost of our stuff nearly run us into the ground. We’re like those circus jugglers spinning plates on poles, running from here to there in an attempt to keep everything spinning, as though it all depended on us. You don’t hold everything together and I certainly don’t either. However, at this very moment. And tomorrow…and the day after that…and…God does and God will.

B. We Need to Learn to Recognize that God Owns it ALL!

1. God requires those who follow Him to relinquish possession of his/her stuff.

a. If we are going to be genuine followers of Jesus Christ, we must transfer ownership of our possessions to the Lord. “None of you can be My disciples who doesn’t give up all of his possessions.” (Lk. 14:33) Sometimes the Lord will test us by asking if we are willing to give up the very possessions that are most important to us.

b. Illust: Classic example of this in the OT. Abraham and Isaac. Abrham and Sara waited 25 yrs. to have their son of promise. Now have had and probably a teenager. Loves son dearly. – Gen. 22:2 “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac…and offer him there as a burn offering.” What! Yet, Abrham obeyed and demonstrated a willingness to give up his most valued possession. God saw his obedience and responded: “Do not lay a hand on the boy…now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son.” (Gen. 22:12) Christian, may I ask you if you have some possession or hobby that has not been dedicated to the Lord?