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:
a "For your life..." food, water
b "For your body..." clothes
c In v. 30b, Jesus exposes what is at the root of their worry, unbelief. You of little faith!
2 Most of what we worry about never materializes.
a (IL) A woman worried for 40 years she was dying of cancer, every stomach pain was a tumor & she ran to the doctor. She died at age 73 of pneumonia! She had worried 40 years over the wrong disease!
b Her worry was a waste of time & energy...so is ours!
B 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? Jesus taught that handling money can lower the quality of life.
1 No matter how much Jesus’ audience worried, it wouldn’t add a day to their lives.
a When you’re young, you spend all your time to get more money; when you’re older you spend all your money to get more time.
b Money can be a distraction!
2 A Gallup poll shows how money can distract from life.
a 64% of all married couples argue over money...#1 cause of divorce, 54% of all divorces are over money issues.
b Worry never gives, it always takes...lowers the quality of life.
C 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. Jesus taught that handling money can lead us into bondage.
1 Serve God or money...no third alternative, no "Gomoney."
2 We serve one Master (Lord)! Ownership is the key.
a Servant to money, get more food, clothes, stuff...serving self.
b Servant to God, serving Him!
3 (Trans) When the Golden Gate Bridge was being built, 23 men fell to their death during the first half of construction. Shut down, invested $100,000 to put a net under the bridge. 8 men fell, none died-& the efficiency of their work was increased by 25%. Why? More confident/less worry! The workers experienced new freedom to "dance on steel." Jesus came to offer us a rich, free, meaningful life. It’s available if you’ll only trust Him as Savior & Lord. God has an eternal plan for you, but also a plan for you now.
II The second effect is God’s plan for us to handle money.
A God wants us to handle money from the right perspective. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal Matt 6:19-20 (NASB)
1 There were (are) two places to store treasures:
a (v.19) Earth: moths, rust, stolen, clothes wear out, food spoils.
b (v. 20) Heaven: no moths, no thieves, bread of life, living water.
2 One of these days, my body will turn to dust/ash & then what will it matter how much money I had, square feet my house was, kind of clothes I wore, car I drove, grade of beef I had in the freezer. 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?
a None of these are going to matter. When I die, they’re not important.
b (IL) Pompeii bodies found clutching their jewels. The jewels survived, the women did not.
c What’s the important thing in my life? Not what I can take with me, but what I can send ahead of me (perspective).
B God wants us to handle money with the right purpose: "the kingdom of God." But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 It’s not enough to refrain from pursuing money (worrying, storing up treasure).
a We’ve got to pursue His kingdom
b Echo of the Lord’s Prayer: "Thy kingdom come...give us this day..."
2 God wants us to live our lives with the purpose of serving Him, not us; His kingdom, not ours.
C God wants us to handle money with the right priority: "Seek ye first..."
1 Make Him first. Where?
a First every day: time of prayer, reading His word
b First every week: On the first day of the week, we’re at His house faithfully.
c First every payday: Paying our tithe, not to the church/organization, but to the Lord.
2 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Lost people worry about food, water, clothing...you’re not lost! (Or are you?)
a If I trust God with eternity, why am I not trusting Him right now?
b Soul: yes. Checkbook: let’s not get crazy!
Conclusion:
A Jesus had a worry-alleviating plan for His disciples to follow concerning their finances (essence of the text in a sentence).
1 The greatest way for believers to decrease worry in life is to increase their faith in God (essence of the sermon in a sentence).
2 We’ve looked at how money affects our lives:
a Problems (worry, lowers quality, leads us to bondage)
b God’s plan (right perspective, purpose, & priority)
B I pray you’ll do one thing to further follow God’s worry-alleviating plan for you (objective).
C 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).
1 Closing story
2 What one thing can you begin doing today to follow God’s worry-alleviating plan for you? (Probing question).
3 Pray
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