INTRO: How many of us liked math when we were growing up? I remember in college, before being called into the ministry, I was going to get a math degree. But I realized I could not make it through Calculus 3. I just could not understand it.
It’s like today living in a society that teaches us one thing but the things of God teach us another.
Let me give you a quiz in math to see how well you do (no writing or calculator). 1000 + 40 add to it 1000 + 30 add to it 1000 + 20 add to it 1000 + 10 = 5000. Wrong – it’s 4100.
Do you see how confusing it can get? When we speak about heavenly math it can get even more difficult. Before I get to this let me review for those who have been here.
We began going through a series called "Beauty and the Beast." Behind a bill or coin you’ll find either a beast or a beauty. How do we bring out the beauty of the dollar, God’s provision, and crush the beast? By exposing the lies with the truth and acting on the truth.
Some of these lies (myths, fairy tales) we have looked at so far are:
1."More will be enough."
2."Character does not really count."
3."Possessions are powerless."
Today concludes the series on the beauty and the beast. The myth we are going to look at today is "Giving Means Subtracting."
TITLE: Beauty and the Beast – Part 4
TEXT: Matthew 6:19-24
I. In our society today we live in a capitalistic system.
A. Our culture is very materialistic.
-In an average week Americans spend 6-7 hours shopping and only 40 minutes playing with their children.
-A few years ago there were more people who declared bankruptcy than people who graduated from college.
-By the time you’re 20 years old you will have seen 1 million commercials. Our consumer oriented society fits well with our sinful nature.
B. Jesus knew the difficulties of money and possessions in our spiritual walk. In 1/6 of the gospels and 1/3 of the parables Jesus spoke about money and possessions.
1. Jesus gives us a spiritual truth in the text today. "You cannot serve both God and money."
-A powerful truth. Do you know what it means in the original Greek language? "You cannot serve both God and money."
2. It’s amazing in our culture how we are trained to accumulate things and keep them.
* It teaches giving means subtracting, that my portfolio decreases when I give, that my assets go down (untrue).
-Scripture teaches if I give I’m not subtracting from my portfolio. I’m really adding to it.
Thought: How can we learn giving does not mean subtracting? It can only be accomplished by giving.
TS: Let me talk about 5 keys that will help.
II. Key of ownership.
A. Story of a woman who lived in northern California. She had been taking some self-defense classes. One evening she was coming out of the store after doing some grocery shopping. As she got closer to her car she noticed four rough looking guys sitting in her car.
She remembered all that she learned in her self-defense classes. She reached into her purse and pulled out her big handgun which, by permit, she was allowed to carry. She walked up and pointed it at them and told them to get out of the car. They did so with tremendous speed and took off running. She got in the car shaking terribly, got her keys, and tried to put them in the ignition but she could not get them to fit no matter how hard she tried.
She got out of the car, looked around, and saw the same type of car (model, year, color) a few rows over. So she went over to that one, opened the door, put the keys in the ignition, and started the car. She drove to the police station to turn herself in. As she began to explain her problem to the man at the desk, he leaned over and looked down the hall at four guys who were filling out a report about a carjacking that had just taken place. The charges were dropped.
Point: This lady got into trouble when she approached this vehicle that did not belong to her and pretended it was hers.
1. It’s the same with us. We get into a lot of trouble when we think something is ours when it is not.
-This teaching the Lord gives us shows what can happen when we think it’s ours.
-Enslavement of the heart.
-Enslavement of the mind.
Vv. 22-23 speaks about an eye. God’s word often uses the eye to represent the attitudes of the mind.
-Enslavement of the will.
B. Other scriptures that show we are not owners:
-Haggai 2:8: ’The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty."
-Deuteronomy 8:18: "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth."
-Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
-1 Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God."
-Luke 16:11-12: "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?"
* How you handle God’s property will be directly related to how much true riches (last forever) God will give you.
Point: All we are – are managers.
III. 2nd key to help in giving. What are you passionate about? V. 21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
A. What are you passionate about? Show me your checkbook or credit card statement and I’ll show you where your heart is.
1. Isn’t God so good? God gives us a principle to ensure where our hearts will be.
-Where you put your treasure (money) there is where your heart will be.
Example: Sports. One begins to put time, talent, treasure into learning the art of sports. Before long there is tremendous passion there. Just look at the players when they lose. Or better yet, look at the parents. The commitment is astounding—the practice schedules of early morning and late evening hours, weekends, the cost to play, the cost to attend events.
-Jesus says where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
a. I’m not saying sports are bad. I believe God is a Denver Bronco fan. But we need to be careful that our heart is in the right place. (Friend, if you give more to sports than you do to God, don’t be surprised if the beast is ruling your life.)
2. Maybe you’re sitting here thinking ’Oh, Pastor, I wish I had more of a heart for the things of God, for missions, for the lost.’
-Simple solution – where you put your treasure, there is where your heart, your passion and drive will be – you have a choice.
IV. 3rd key to help in giving and defeating the beast—the key of eternity.
A. The reality of eternity. Simply, do I really believe this is not my home, but my home is really in heaven.
1. Let’s pretend someone from France comes over to stay in the U.S. for 3 months. When he goes back to France he can’t take anything with him but the clothes he is wearing. He can deposit what he makes here and it will be transferred to his account in France. So Jacque comes over and works, he gets the finest hotel room, he begins to decorate his room with stuff; he buys a car, land, and begins to build a house. Three months pass and Jacque flies back to France. So he arrives in France with only the clothes on his back. He hasn’t deposited anything. (We think Jacque is pretty foolish.)
-There is nothing for him when he gets home.
B. The point Jesus is making: you can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.
1. Vv. 19-20 – Don’t store up treasures here but store them up in heaven.
-When it says "store up for yourselves" it sounds kind of selfish. No, selfishness is when one is benefiting at another’s expense.
-The implication is you can get as much as you want—no limit.
2. How are you doing at investing in eternity? Now compare that with how much you’re investing in this world.
-Jim Elliot (famous missionary who was martyred for his faith): "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Summary: The only way to reveal the lie "giving means subtracting" and have victory over this is by giving.
-Some keys that will help me to give:
1. Key of ownership.
2. Key of passion.
3. Key of eternity.
V. 4th key in giving is freedom. You’ve heard it is better to give than to receive.
A. The money beast tries to ensnare us by the tyranny of possessions, the hassle of upkeep.
1. Giving is the only antidote to materialism. Giving is the only way to keep our heart, mind, soul free from the enslavement that can so easily take hold in our lives.
2. Think about something (this will help determine on which side of the fence your heart, mind, soul is).
-How do you feel when the offering plates are passed? Are you annoyed or troubled; do you despise it, or does it give you joy and happiness? (It’s a small indicator of where you heart lies.)
-The text tells us we can’t serve two masters.
3. You know what happens to the money best when you give your tithes and offerings. The beast cries out because he is losing his hold on you.
-You begin to experience freedom and blessing. I’ll close with the 5th key in giving.
VI. The key of destiny.
A. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11: "Now is who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
1. Key thoughts from these passages.
-Who supplies our seed? God.
-Who brings increase? God.
-Who enlarges our righteousness? God.
-God increases our seed and righteousness so we can be generous on every occasion to bring glory to God.
2. Remember from last week the parable of the rich fool. God gave him increase. All he thought about was expanding his own kingdom and he was cheap toward God. He was toast.
a. We might think this is harsh, but let me ask this. Let’s pretend you’re the owner of a business and your son and daughter desperately needs some help. So you put a package of goods together. You call FedEx and they come out to pick up the package. But rather than delivering it, the delivery person decides to keep it for himself.
-Would you be angry
—would you take some disciplinary action? How much more will God.
