The idea of giving away money always elicits a wide range of emotions:
-Guilt/ Fear
-Joy/ Happiness
-The Nails on a Chalkboard Feeling.
The truth is: Our perspective determines our feelings and emotions.
We must gain an Eternal Perspective in life.
Luke 16:1-15
God’s Perspective on Stuff:
1. Everything we own "Manage" is a Tool.
Our responsibility is to use those tools in such a way that God will save people with our tools.
Luke 16:9 "I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever." (NCV)
Our tools have eternal value! Therefore we must take an inventory of all we have!
Luke 16:10-11 "Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches?" (NCV)
2. Everything we have is a Test!
Luke 16:12 "And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?" (NCV)
One day we all stand before the Lord and give an account.
Romans 14:12 "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (NKJV)
Question: How well did you Invest?
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." (NIV)
3. Everything we have is a Trademark.
Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches." (NCV)
What you do with your stuff does more to indicate to God who¡¦s you really are more than anything else.
Matthew 6:21 "Your heart will be where your treasure is." (NCV)
Question: Who are we going to cheat?
-Our Kingdom?
-God’s Kingdom?
Question: Who is the Lord of your Life?
God’s Challenge: Will you use the little bit of time and money for God’s Kingdom?
