Introduction
This week- 2nd and final part of a series on money.
As w/last week- talking about money within bigger context-making God first in every area of our lives
Review from last week
Last week looked at principle- First Things First.
First things are important to God.
Looked at what can we learn about- heart of God and principles of the Kingdom- extend across OT/NT.
(cross platform word- runs on PC/Mac- OT/NT)
We looked at principles of first things first …
1. God is to be first in our lives
God must be number one, first/foremost in our lives.
2. God’s Kingdom is to be first in our lives
Kingdom speaks of how we live- Kingdom principles.
3. The first born belongs to God
God gave- first born son to us before any guarantee that we would receive Him as our Lord.
God asks us to give ourselves up to Him first, then He will prove Himself faithful to honor what we give.
4. The first tenth belongs to God
OT- first 10% holy- belonged to God, NT- all holy.
When we give- returning what belongs to God.
Give It Up- Love Made Me Do It!
Lk 16:10-12
In other words, Jesus is saying …
I am going away to my Heavenly Father, to be seated at His right hand in heaven, and I am trusting you to take care of my affairs on earth, Kingdom affairs, while I am physically absent.
Remember in school- pop quizzes-how we hated them
God is testing us- will we be faithful with what He has given us to manage while He is gone?
God uses money/wealth-test the condition of our heart
Lk 16:13
Jesus said we cannot what? Serve two masters.
We will always end up serving one or the other, one will be our master and govern the way we live.
Satan is well aware of this and works hard to allure us away into his camp with …
money, materialism, possessions, being at ease, serving self rather than others/God, etc.
Money, wealth, convenience, materialism, are all seeking worshippers/servants.
Wonderful blessing of- USA- can become our God.
1 Tim 6:10 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 griefs. NASU
You could translate this as- not just cash, but the convenience, things money buys, comfort.
Is money/wealth evil? NO!
The problem is when wealth/possessions, get such a place in our hearts that we begin to serve them.
Mk 2:27 Jesus said to them, " The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
You could also say …
Money was made for man, man was not made for money.
Man was not created for money to become his master.
If I hoard money/possessions- never willing to give or share- I am loving money- submitting to greed/fear
If I cheat on taxes, fudge on expense reports- I am loving money- allowing it to rule over integrity.
If I believe my current problems can be solved by having more money- it has become my master.
Money is not the answer to our problems. God is always the answer to our problems. Money is a cheap imitation of the reality of who God is. What does money do? Money promises us what only God can give.
Craig Groeschel
Three things money promises- only God can give …
1. Security
If I just had more money I would feel secure.
Lk 12:19 ’And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."’ NASU
Only God can bring true, lasting, eternal- security.
2. Significance
If I had more money- feel better about myself, I would feel more important- dress better, drive a nicer car.
The reality is- you are important because of who God says you are- not what your possessions say.
3. Freedom
There is the allusion that if we had more money we would have more freedom.
There is a sense in which money/wealth bring a freedom to do things you could not do otherwise.
However, the only real, internal, freedom that we are looking for, comes from God.
Jn 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. NASU
Here is the struggle that we all face ...
Rom 7:21-25
There are two natures within us that are at war.
Fleshly side- self-centered, greedy, what is best for #1
Spirit side- generous, gives freely, other/God focused.
My fleshly side is driven by selfishness.
My Spirit side is driven by the love of God.
What does love do? Love by nature gives freely.
How many men here did unusually strange things for the young woman they were in love with? You gave freely of your time and you spent money on the one you loved.
What does John 3:16 say …
Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. NASU
God loved, therefore what did God do? He gave!
Love gives in many ways- look at two of them …
Love gives joyfully
2 Cor 9:7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Giving- heart issue- we do not give out of guilt.
Cheerful- signifies a readiness of mind, one who is prompt to give, one who gives hilariously.
Love says, “Wow, I get to give this away.”
Why does love give so joyfully?
Acts 20:35 … remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" NASU
Love gives joyfully because it is a blessing to give.
The self-centered, fleshly man says, “Give it to me.”
Remember being a child at Christmas time? What was your main focus? What am I going to get! A child is not usually interested in what they can give to others. As a parent your heart attitude shifts and you enjoy giving gifts to your children.
Bible- talks about- a child like faith- some of us still struggle with a child like attitude towards giving.
We are still more focused on what we can do or get w/money- rather than blessing someone else.
Another reason love gives joyfully …
Lk 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." NASU
This verse comes out of an OT practice …
A wealthy farmer at harvest time would hire workers to help him harvest his crop. He would say, “Pack the barrels, bring the barrels back to the barn, and the last barrel of the day is my gift to you- my reward for your hard work.” All through the day- workers packed the barrels. But the last barrel they would make sure was packed tightly- pressed down, shaken together, running over. This is how God blesses the faithful giver- pressed down, shaken together, running- will it be given as you faithfully give.
Though it must never be our motivation for giving, there is a blessing for one who gives generously.
2 Cor 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. NASU
2. Love gives extravagantly
2 Cor 8:2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
The Macedonian church, in financial difficulties themselves, pleaded to be able to share with Paul.
Even in their poverty they gave extravagantly.
Extravagant- exceeding the limits of reason or necessity, lacking moderation or restraint.
Faith takes us beyond reason so we can love others as God loves them- God’s love expressed through us.
Video 2
Conclusion
What is the condition of our heart today.
It has to do with much more than just money.
Money can be an outward indicator of inner loyalties.
It is easy to put- trust in- things of this life- not in God
Is my life characterized by selfishness or generosity?
Am I consumed with God or the things of this life?
Are my thoughts consumed with how will I pay the bills next month, or am I resting in the Lord?
Am I anxious over- things of this world, or is God my peace/security, my sense of self-worth/well-being.
Do I live for- things of this world/will last forever?
God is watching- He is looking- are our hearts His?
Remember …
Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son … NASU
Jesus gave His Son, innocent of sin, as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.
On the third day, God raised Jesus from the grave.
Let me tell you what God asks for from us.
He asks for that which He has given us.
He gave His Son so we could have life, and He asks us to give that life back to Him.
Lk 9:23 … "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. NASU
It’s no longer about you or me, but about Him.
There are those here that God brought for this moment
Pray with me … Forgive me, Jesus. Be first in my life. Be my Savior, be my Lord. I believe You died for me. Now, I want to live for You.”
