Title: “3 C’s of Financial Stability” Scripture: Various Passages
Type: Thematic Where: GNBC 7-24-22
Intro: (Take hammer, power saw, dollar bill). Which of these is a tool? Which of these can I hurt you with? Which of these can I hurt myself with? Each is a possibility. During His 3.5 yr. ministry, Jesus spoke more about which of the following topics: heaven, hell, salvation, money? Would you believe, MONEY! Having a proper Biblical concept of money is essential to our growth and maturity as believers.
Prop: Examining various passages we’ll better understand the 3 “C’s” of Financial Stewardship.
BG: 1. What is “stewardship”? It is the understanding that everything I have belongs to God and He expects me to use those items, resources, talents, and abilities for His purposes.
2. Religious giving is down 50% from 1990! All US Christians gave 2.5% of income last year!
3. Just back from missions trip. Literally $10ks given to send a team. Many gave joyfully.
I. Financial Stability Requires that We: “Realize the Danger of Coveting.” (Ex. 20:17)
A. Mastering our Money Begins by Realizing the Dangers of Coveting.
1. Coveting is a Sin we Christians need to beware of in our personal lives.
a. In Ex. 20:17; Dt. 5:21; 7:25 – The last of the 10 Commandments states: “Thou shall not covet.” Personally, I see this commandment as standing out from the rest. We see in this verse the heart of the law of God laid open to us. God is not concerned with actions alone. God is also concerned with attitudes. Coveting is a matter of the heart…my attitude.
b. What is “coveting” and why do we need to reject it if we wish to successfully master our money? “Covet” is most commonly defined as “desire.” To covet something means to desire it and for a person to want to take it for themselves. Some people hold that chamad, the Hebrew word most often translated as “covet,” refers to a person’s desires instead of a person’s actions. This would make the 10th Commandment unique as it would deal solely with a person’s thoughts and emotions. The other commandments all deal with a person’s actions. One point that is used by those who argue that chamad should be used like “desire” is that chamad is often used with lakach, or “take.”
2. We must realize that Coveting is Deadly.
a. Why is coveting so deadly? Because it is never satisfied, Coveting relentlessly covers more of this world and a person’s thoughts, affections, and heart occupied with the world will cease seeking heaven, Coveting pulls the heart down to the pit of self-seeking, the muck and mire of envy, slander, pride, adultery, murder, and thievery. Our lust for more. Our lust for what others have.
b. Illust: When living in SC had fire ants. One time I laid a small circle of poison around a hill of fire ants. Thinking the tiny granules of poison were food, the ants began to pick them up and carry them throughout the colony. I returned later to see how well the poison was working. Hundreds of the fire ants were carrying the poison down into their hill. Then I noticed a hole in the circle of poison. Some of the poison was moving the opposite way—away from the hill. Some smaller, nonstinging ants had found this “food” and were stealing it from their ant neighbors. Thinking they were getting the other ants’ treasure, they unwittingly poisoned themselves. That’s what coveting is for you and me. Poison.
1. Covetousness is a Sin Punished by God.
a. The best way to understand the OT is to interpret passages by the commentary the NT makes on the OT. In I Cor. 10:6 we see that the Apostle Paul does just that. The Apostle Paul is warning the Corinthian congregation by looking back scores of centuries to interpret the failure of the Jews wandering in the wilderness. He said that their failure was linked to their “evil cravings” or desire for “evil thngs” that tripped them up spiritually. Paul is saying the same to Christians then: “Let their failure be a lesson to you!” God punished all of the Jews of that generation with two notable examples. Their sin was covetousness. DON’T Covet!
b. Illust: Certainly we can think of notable examples of coveting in the Bible that were severely punished. Back in Josh 7:11-25, after the 40 yrs of wandering, entering the Promised Land. Israel has just defeated Jericho. Now, taking on little Ai. Expecting to easily obliterate this city state. However, soundly beaten with 36 soldiers killed. Joshua and others weeping in prayer. God says: “Get up off your face. There is sin in the camp that needs to be dealt with.” Prior to attacking Jericho, God had put a ban on all the gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Was dedicated wholly to the Lord. One soldier, Achan, ignored that ban. In a dramatic story God ordered the tribes to assemble and then by lot, narrowed down to Achan and his family. Achan confessed his sin of coveting a beautiful mantle, 200 shekels of silver and a gold bar that weighed 50 shekels. Result: God judged Achan, family, livestock, all were stoned and burned up. Severe! God takes coveting seriously, because at the end of the day, it is IDOLATRY.
2. In Jesus Christ we can overcome Coveting. The Apostle Paul gives us an interesting insight into his own spiritual life. In Romans 7:7-8 he tells us what one of his greatest struggles was prior to coming to Christ: Read: (Rom. 7:7-8). Paul was convicted of the sin of coveting! Now in Acts 20, we see Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian elders. The Apostle has been with them for over two years. Listen to what he says: “"I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes.” (Acts 20:33). That is a changed person! Who changed him? Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is the same one who can take our covetous desires and purify them to honor God.
C. Applic: The 1st step in mastering your money is to reject coveting.
II. Financial Stability Requires that We: “Pursue the Peace of Contentment”. Heb. 13:5
A. Contentment Should be a goal of the Christian life.
1. Can you and I honestly say that we are content with God’s provision for our lives?
a. What is contentment? Contentment is not simply about settling for what we have, but trusting in what God has said. Both anxiety and greed rise in our hearts as God’s words fall.When the author of Hebrews wanted to teach his readers about contentment, he told them an old story with a familiar refrain. He quieted their fears and quenched their greed by reminding them what God had said. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5)
b. Illust: According to a 2018 market study, the American Marketing Industry is a $1.2 Trillion business and growing! Marketing is built on the concept of discontentment. You cannot watch tv, be on Youtube, FB, or some other form of media, news, gaming, etc., without being bombarded by slick ad campaigns whose goal and purpose is to make you discontent with what you have. so you will work for or purchase more unnecessary or obsolete junk that will result in your being just as or even more miserable as you are now! In fact, Randy Alcorn has stated that the average American will be exposed to 1 million commercials/ads prior to the age of 20yrs! That is 137 per day! That’s a lot of discontentment.
2. Be Content with what God has Provided.
a. Be content with what you have. Are there six more terrifying words in a culture like ours? They certainly land on me like six sharp strikes of a whip. Don’t let your heart endlessly pine for what you might have one day, but cultivate satisfaction in what God has given you for today. I have known several people who saved for retirement, planned for retirement, made plans for retirement, only to die before retirement. Enjoy life today! The word for content is the same word in 2 Corinthians 12:9, when Jesus says to the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responds, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). Your and my security is found in Christ, not the size of our bank or retirement accounts!
b. He says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). When Western Christians today read, “Be content with what you have,” we might assume the Christian has enough. We may hear, “Don’t long for more than you need.” But many of these young converts were being thrown out of their families, cut off from all provision and protection. To follow Jesus was to embrace abandonment and accept poverty. So, many of them were being called to be content with what they did not have. Discontentment suddenly doesn’t seem so unreasonable. Some of them went without food — for Christ. Some of them had only the clothes on their back — for Christ. Some of them lost their homes — for Christ. Some of them “joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property, since [they] knew that [they themselves] had a better possession and an abiding one” (Hebrews 10:34).
B. Contentment Demonstrates our Trust in God
1. When we live content lives in Christ, we demonstrate our trust in God.
a. Read Phil. 4:11-13. Paul knew the secret of contentment in his life. Contentment allows us to enjoy life whether in prosperity or in want. There is no sin in having a lot. There is no virtue in being broke. Paul said one can be content in either situation. The attitude we have is what is important.
b. Illust: A Jewish man in Hungary went to his rabbi and complained, “Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?” The rabbi answered, “Take your goat into the room with you.” The man was incredulous, but the rabbi insisted, “Do as I say and come back in a week.” A week later the man returned looking more distraught than before. “We can’t stand it,” he told the rabbi. “The goat is filthy.” The rabbi said, “Go home and let the goat out, and come back in a week.” A week later the man returned, radiant, exclaiming, “Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of it now that there’s no goat—only the nine of us.” (Reader’s Digest [12/81].) Contentment is more a matter of our perspective than of our circumstances, isn’t it!
2. We can be content because the Lord is our Provider.
a. Read Mt. 6:25-34. Ralph Phelps tells about the clock that had a nervous breakdown. This new clock was ticking away on the shelf two ticks to the second as any good, self-respecting clock should tick when it began to think about how many times it was going to have to tick. “Two ticks to the second means 120 ticks per minute,” it mused. “That’s 7200 ticks per hour, 172,800 ticks per day, 1,209,600 per week for 52 weeks, and a total of 62,899,200 per year.” Horrors! Straightway the clock had a nervous breakdown.
The clock was taken to a psychiatrist who patched up the mainspring as well as he could then asked, “Clock, what’s your trouble?” “Oh, doctor,” wailed the clock, “I have to tick so much. I have to tick two ticks a second and 120 ticks per minute and 7200 ticks per hour, and.” “Hold it,” the psychiatrist cut in, “How many ticks do you have to tick at a time?” “Oh, I just have to tick one tick at a time,” was the reply. “Then let me make a suggestion,” replied the doctor. “You go home and try ticking one tick at a time. Don’t even think about the next tick until it’s time. Just tick one tick at a time. That you can do.”
Faith is ticking one tick at a time. Knowing that God will give us strength for the next tick. According to I Peter 1:8 we can have a “joy inexpressible.” Don’t worry. Be content.
b. Contentment with godliness results in great gain. if you drift into trusting wealth rather than the Lord for present or future security, you’re off course (Prov. 11:28; Jer. 17:5-6). If you’re storing up treasures on earth, rather than in heaven, you’ll lose it all (Matt. 6:19-34). If you live in abundance, but don’t help the poor, you’re committing the sin of the people of Sodom (Ezek. 16:49). If you’re seeking contentment in money or things, rather than in God Himself, you will come up empty (1 Tim. 6:5-10). So, be careful so that you’re not deceived.
C. Applic. Illust: We can trust God to provide what we need when we need it! Illust: Poland Trip – one member had hand made gifts for translators, etc. As the bags trickled in, person would ask if their box had come. No. No. No. Sunday worship was last time would see many of these people. Wanted to be able to give to them. Saturday night two bags came in! Gifts in one bag! Proverbs 28:22 - He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him
III. Financial Stability Requires We: “Practice the Joy of Contributing. (II Cor. 9:7)
*We have moved from sinful behavior of coveting to the stability of contentment now to the joy of contributing! Friend, there is JOY in realizing God has made you a conduit of blessing.
A. Examine Your Attitude in Giving.
1. II Cor. 9:7 tells us that: “God loves a cheerful giver”. How do we get that attitude? Realize that God is a loving giver! God has given His Son! (John 3:16), “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. (James 1:17). God has graciously and freely given to us His best. We should joyfully give to the Lord. My attitude in giving should reflect the joy of my salvation.
2. Illust: Many know our mission team didn’t get our luggage for 9-13 days! After a couple of days the Ukrainian women had heard that our people did not have bags. Anna, a Ukrainian missionary in Georgia, said: “Now you can relate to us! We don’t have anything either.” True! Then, however, this dear woman said: “Wait, I was given three sweaters since I have been here. Would you like one of mine?” Wow! She was grateful for what had, so she was willing to contribute joyfully.
B. Realize the Amount to Give and the Advantage of Giving.
1. What is the basic amount that Christians are to give? Christians who want to please the Lord often have questions about tithing. The dictionary defines the word “tithe” as “a tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax especially for the support of a religious establishment.” It was a common practice in the Old Testament and was required of members of the nation of Israel. Christians who want to please the Lord often have questions about tithing.
2. According to research from “Share Faith Magazine” – American Christians now give less per capita than during the Great Depression. When we finally look at those in church, at best 25% of the congregation give. That’s at best. If you have that level of participation, you’re not in the norm, according to other research, which says only about 3-5% actually tithe in most cases. And, it’s not the wealthy who always tithe. The statistics suggest that if you make less than $20k, you’re eight times more likely to give than someone who makes more than $75k. Let me also tell you these facts, 80% of all Americans who tithe carry no credit card debt! 28% of tithers in US are debt free! Maybe is something!
3. Is there an advantage to us when we trust God? God accuses his people of “robbing” him by failing to tithe (3:8). This reflects the biblical teaching that the tithe belongs to God. In almost unprecedented fashion, God challenges his people to test him. Tithing is always a test of faith. It’s big enough to hurt, and it forces us to trust God to provide. But it’s not big enough to distress God’s people who are living within their means and leveraging their resources for his glory. God promises to pour abundant blessings on his people when they tithe (cf. 2 Cor. 9:6). No other ceremonial aspect of the Mosaic law draws condemnation in quite this way, except for offering corrupt sacrifices. God treats the lack of tithing as contemptible. When you trust God to give to His work you will gain a greater intimacy with Him (Mt.6:21 –Where your treasure is your heart will be also.) Illust: I want to tell you from nearly 35 yrs. of tithing experience: God is faithful. Have you tested Him?
C. Implement this Approach to Giving.
1. Make it a Priority. A New Testament teaching on giving which may be helpful to you is found in 1 Corinthians 16:2: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” This passage brings out four points: we should give personally, promptly, premeditatedly and proportionately.The matter of your giving is between you and God, and He always takes into account our circumstances. He knows when they are beyond our power to direct and control. The important thing is that we see giving as a privilege and not a burden. It should not be out of a sense of duty, but rather out of love for the Lord and a desire to see His kingdom advanced. Personally – implied “you”. If you earn money you should contribute to the Lord’s work. Promptly: 1st day of the Week. Set time. Sunday. Premeditatedly – Premeditated – plan ahead. Usually think of it in bad way: i.e., murder, etc. This good way. Plan ahead! Make giving to the Lord the FIRST bill you pay each month, not the LAST! Just the discipline of planning to do this will influence every other area of financial life as you prioritize your money. Proportionately: “in keeping with his income”. If you are making $13 per hr God does not expect you to give the same amount as someone making $26 per hour. However, He does expect the same %! 10%. Honor God with the tithe!
2. Illust: W.A. Criswell was pastor of 1st Baptist Dallas for 50 years. Ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. God did just that and in a few years his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, “I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00.”
E. Applic: John Wesley brought revival to 18th-century England & started the Methodist Movement. We know him as a great preacher. But few of us realize that Wesley made enormous sums from preaching--the sale of his writings made him one of England's wealthiest men. If you google John Wesley's Net Worth, the calculation over his lifetime is $50M in dollars. In an age when a single man could live comfortably on 30 pounds a year ($120) , his annual income reached 1,400. In 1731 Wesley began to limit his expenses so that he would have more money to give to the poor. He records that one year his income was 30 pounds and his living expenses 28 pounds, so he had 2 pounds to give away. The next year his income doubled, but he still managed to live on 28 pounds, so he had 32 pounds to give to the poor. In the third year, his income jumped to 90 pounds. Instead of letting his expenses rise with his income, he kept them to 28 pounds and gave away 62 pounds. In the fourth year, he received 120 pounds. As before, his expenses were 28 pounds, so his giving rose to 92 pounds. Wesley felt that the Christian should not merely tithe but generously give once the family and creditors were taken care of. He believed that with increasing income, what should rise is not the Christian's standard of living but the standard of giving. His famous motto was: “Earn all you can to save all you can to give all you can.”
