THE TRUST TEST (PART 2)
Proverbs 3:1-10
John Maxwell
INTRODUCTION:
"The man of pseudo faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at that last day." A.W. Tozer
Review:
Take An Inventory
Recognize God As Your Source
Understand God’s Principles
We’ll review those in a moment.
S Surrender everything to God.
T Test God’s Promises.
Let’s look at the principles that God has for us. These are all, by the way, kingdom principles. These are principles that the Christian understands and hopefully obeys, but that the world does not understand. Are you ready?
Understand God’s Principles
1. The "Who’s in Charge" Principle
God is the owner; I’m the manager. Every resource, every blessing I have today is a gift of God’s.
2. The "Give and Grow" Principle
Practicing stewardship will produce growth in all areas of our life.
3. The "Do it Now" Principle
Stewardship deals with our present resources. Not what I had, not what I will have, but God is asking me today, "John, what are you doing with your gifts and your abilities that you have right now?"
4. The "I’m in Debt" Principle
From the moment we are born, we are debtors. The Apostle Paul said, "I am a debtor." Basically saying that I’ve come into this world already given many blessings, and I am now responsible to return as many as those blessings as I possibly can."
5. The "Fountain of Youth" Principle
We live forever through our giving. As we give of our talent, our tithe, our time, it’s the only thing that lasts forever.
Here’s where the writing begins.
6. The Who’s Number One? Principle. Matthew 22:36-38
God Deserves The First of Everything.
There’s a tendency, instead of giving Him our best, our first, for us to give Him our leftovers. Jesus was asked one time," Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the law? And Jesus answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your mind, soul, and strength. That is the first and most important commandment."
Take your pen out and write down Proverbs 3:9. The Proverbs writer said, "Honor the Lord with your possessions and the first fruit of all your increase." I Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he or she may prosper." God tells us that we are to give Him the first, not the last of everything. Now, our tendency is to give God what’s left over. Now, that’s just human. Our human tendency is to take our possessions and kind of take care of ourselves. And if there’s anything left over, "Well, sure, God. I’ll take care of you." My 14 year old son, Joel Porter, kind of has a job this year. So he got his first "official" paycheck. And, boy, was he thrilled. I mean he came home, he showed me that paycheck, and then he marched into the room where Mom was. And he looked at Margaret and said, "You know, I’m not sure I can afford to tithe." Now, I thought, "How typical of us." Isn’t it? He’s got more money in his hand than he’s ever had in his entire life, and what happens? Greed sets in. Come on now. And all of a sudden, "You know what, I could use this, and I could take it over here."
And I thought out of the mouth of a 14yearoldboy, true to nature, comes this whole question of, Where do I put God? Is He first? Is He second? Is He fifth? Is He 25th? Is He 23rd in my life? Let me ask you a question. Where is God in your life right now? Now, the Lord said, "Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is." He basically said, "I can tell you what you love, if you just let me see your checkbook and your calendar." He says, "I can basically tell what your priorities are in your life."
7. The Cheerful Attitude Principle.
Stewardship begins with loving, not giving.
Paul said what? "God loves a cheerful giver." I have found that...
We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.
Love has to be the foundation. If love is not the foundation of my relationship with God, I’m always going to have a problem. You see,
Love asks: "How much can I give? "
Legalism asks: "How little can I give?"
And there’s a major difference between the two.
The basis of my stewardship and management of all the resources that God has given me has got to be based on the fact that I love Him with all my heart, my soul, and my strength. Carl Meninger, a great psychiatrist, said that generous people are rarely mentally ill. You know what he was saying. When we begin to live beyond ourselves and give of our time and talent and everything -- when we begin live beyond our world of self -- it changes our mindset. We become healthy people. Emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually.
8. The Big Shovel Principle. Luke 6:38
You cannot outgive God.
God has a bigger shovel than you or I do. Listen to what Jesus said, and get your pen out. Because I want you to circle a word in a moment. Luke 6:38. Here’s what Jesus said, "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap." Now notice this next phrase, "But by your..." circle that word your "your.” -- "But by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
That’s a powerful principle. Jesus said that I measure the standard of what I receive." And what I give in delight is what I’m going to receive back. It’s called the "Big Shovel" principle because God is saying, "If you’ll do your part, I’ll do more." And He says, "I have a bigger shovel than you do." A very generous giver was asked, "How is it that you have given so much, and yet God has blessed you financially in every area?" And he replied, "It’s very simple. I shovel in and God shovels back. And God has a bigger shovel than me."
9. The River Principle.
Our life is to be like a river, not a reservoir.
In other words, I’m to be a conduit. I’m to take my life and not hold what God has given me, but I am to pass it on to others. S.D. Gordon, in his book, Quiet Talks on Prayer, says that there is one inlet of power in life. The Holy Spirit.
Five Outlets of Power.
Now, there are five outlets of power, through which this Holy Spirit within us reveals His power. S.D. And let me give them to you today. Because this is the way we’re a river, not a reservoir. We’re to let God’s power flow through us in these five areas.
1. Through our life -- what we are.
2. Through our lips -- what we say.
3. Through our ministry -- what we do.
4. Through our money -- what we give.
5. Through our prayer -- what we claim in Jesus’ name.
We make a living by what we get.
We make a life by what we give. How true it is.
10. The Who Has Whom Principle.
Until God is in control of my life, I am out of control.
James Lawless said, "Stewardship is more than the management of thing; it’s the refusal to let things manage us."
Surrender Everything to God Luke 16:10; Jeremiah 17:5-8
"If I only had more, I would give more." How often we’ve all said that. Luke has something to say about such statements. "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much." What did Luke mean? If you are not giving sacrificially with what you have now, you won’t give sacrificially when you have more. Why? Because there’s a spiritual principle at work in our lives, and that principle has shown time and again: It’s not how much we have of the world that dictates our generosity towards God, but how much God has of us.
Wow. That’s powerful. Now, here’s the problem, in a nutshell. The question for the Christian is very simple. Am I going to live like the world, basically trust in myself, become independent and do my own thing? Or am I going to live under Christian principles so that God has more of me? Am I going to be a truly trusting, obedient, dependent person upon God? Is God going to be my source, or am I going to do the old American deal of pull myself up by the bootstraps and kind of pave my own way? That’s the issue.
The issue this morning, folks, is not your talent, your time, your abilities, or your money. The issue is very simple. Who do I trust in? That’s it. Jeremiah describes both an independent person and a person of trust or dependence. Here’s what he says about the independent person, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like..." ---- notice how He says what we’ll be like if we’re independent and do our own thing -- "He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes, and he will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives." (Jeremiah 17:5-6)
God says, "If you’re going rely on yourself, you’re going to be like a bush, pushed in the wind." Having no roots, no fruit, nothing. But then He goes on, and says, person that trusts and is dependent upon God: "Blessed is the man (or woman) who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Now circumstances are the same for the person who trusts God and the person who doesn’t. For the one who doesn’t trust God, there’s famine. But the one who is prospering has leaves because his roots are grounded in the source, which is God. The other one like a tumbling bush being pushed by the wind. Circumstances the same. Result totally opposite.
Test God’s Promises
Let’s talk about testing God’s promises. I love what Mother Teresa said: "I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much." Oh, what a delightful lady. Did you know why God trusts Mother Teresa so much? It’s very simple. Because Mother Teresa has proven to be trustworthy. It’s that simple, Folks. If you are doing without something in the area of your need, the Bible says, "My God will supply all your needs." If you’re doing without, I can almost promise you, you can go back to the point of trust.
When I was working on this sermon, it hit me that every great Bible character had to go through what I call the "Trust Test." So I put four of them down real quick. To be the honest with you, I just started in Genesis and went through the first four that came to mind. Here they are.
Bible characters who passed the trust test:
1. Noah Genesis 7:6 (building of the ark)
Remember when God told him to build an ark because it was going to rain? Hey, it had never rained before. Major trust, don’t you think? Would you like to explain that to your neighbor? No wonder they ridiculed Noah. But look. Noah obeyed and trusted Him. Look what it says in Genesis 7:6: "And Noah did according to the all that the Lord commanded him." Noah passed the Trust Test.
2. Abraham Genesis 22:1-2 (sacrifice of Isaac)
Remember when God spoke to Abraham, and said that He wanted him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac? And as he and Isaac were going to up Mount Moriah, Isaac said "Where’s the sacrifice? " And Abraham says, "God will provide." Okay. Isaac’s on the altar, the sacrifice is about to take place. Look at verse 12, where God says to Abraham, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, against Isaac, and do nothing to him...." -- Now notice this. Notice this next phrase -- "For now I know that you fear God, since you did not withhold your only son from me." Abraham passed the Trust Test.
3. Joshua Joshua 5:1 (crossing the Jordan)
You know the whole story of Moses crossing the Red Sea. You watched The Ten Commandments. Come on now. You know, how the rod stretches, and the water parts. Can you imagine the people hollering at Joshua as he’s going down the Jordan there? "Hey, Josh, you don’t have your rod. Go get your rod. You know you go to the river, you put out your rod, and the water parts. And you’re good shape. Get the rod." But God didn’t want Joshua to use a rod. Remember, that time they had to put their feet in the water before it could part. Because God didn’t want them to trust in methods. He wanted them trust in God. And as soon as the water parted look what it says about this: "Now it came about that all the kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan of the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites that were by the sea heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, and their hearts melted. There was no spirit in them any longer." Joshua passed the Trust Test.
4. David I Samuel 17:37-39 (fighting Goliath)
Remember David and Goliath? You know the story. As soon as Saul found out that David was going to fight Goliath, you know what he did: "Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with his armor." Now stop here for a moment and look at me. Saul is 6’4", weighs 225; David’s 5’6", weighs 130. You’ve got the picture. David is putting on Saul’s armor. Wouldn’t that be funny? "And David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul ’I cannot go with these for I have not tested them’ and David took them off." David passed the Trust Test.
Here’s how it works. Noah trusted in God, not the familiar. Abraham trusted in God, not personal feelings. Joshua trusted in God, not methods. David trusted in God, not man’s armor. They all had to take the Trust Test.
CONCLUSION
You and I have to take the Trust Test. And here it is.
Promises that God gives His children when we tithe. Malachi 3
1. He will provide for us. (v. 10)
Folks, this is God talking. Look what He said in verse 10. "’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there will be food in my house...." And notice this, "’Test me now on this,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ’If I will not open for you, the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing until it overflows." You’re saying, "Pastor, are you telling me that God will take care of me in every area of my life including finances if I put God first? " No, I’m not. God’s telling you. It isn’t Maxwell’s Trust Test. This isn’t Skyline’s Trust Test. This is God’s. He says, "If you put me first, not second, not third, not 27th, first..." -- Here’s what I found.
In the area I obey -- God blesses.
In the area I disobey -- God disciplines.
What a powerful biblical principle.
2. He will protect us. (v. 11)
In verse 11, He says, "Then I will rebuke the devourer for you so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the Lord of Hosts.
3. Our lives will be attractive to others. (v. 12)
Now, I want you to close your notes for a moment, and I want three minutes of your time and then we’re done. Because I have brought a letter that I want to read to you today that is just absolutely beautiful. Are you ready? Listen carefully. Here we go.
"Dear Pastor, it is has been two years since I came to see you at your office to discuss one of the most difficult subjects my wife and I have ever struggled with. The subject of tithing. During these past two years and, especially past few weeks, the Lord has been telling us to step out on faith and tithe. We had so many questions. Such as, ’How can we afford to give 10 percent when our finances are in such a mess, and we don’t have the money to give?’ Well, we recently realized that our finances are in the state they are in because we haven’t given that area over to the Lord.
"It has been difficult giving up that control. On Sunday, June 27th, we gave our first tithing check. Surprising to us, your sermon was entitled that morning, "Trust the key to successful living." It spoke directly to our hearts about the very issue that God had been dealing with us. God also spoke to us that day, and through one of our daily Word readings, which is kind of a daily kind of devotional, it stated, ’Trust involves letting go and knowing that God will catch you.’ Well, Pastor, on the following Wednesday the Lord showed us that by obeying Him and trusting Him, He will be faithful to us.
"My wife received a surprise pay raise at work, which became retroactive from February of ‘93. Therefore she not only received a larger paycheck that day; she received an additional check which included the retroactive pay raise. Praise the Lord. This definitely is God’s message that He was pleased with our obedience, and now has control of our finances. Thank you, Pastor, for your message on this often difficult and very sensitive subject. With much love...."
And then they signed their names. I asked permission from them to read that letter. I want you to pull out the Trust Test card that is your in bulletin. Every one of you get it. Follow with me, please. [John now reads through the following card with the congregation.] Following is the "Trust Test" created by Skyline for this message. Create something similar for your own congregation, and walk them through it.
This is the only area in the Bible where God tells you to test him. Anywhere else you try to test him, he says no. But in this area, because he knows it’s so difficult for us, he says, "Test me in this." Now every year I take my pen out and do this. There are two boxes. One says, "I will begin tithing," and one says "I already tithe." Now I’ve been tithing since I was a kid, so in a moment I will check "I already tithe." And every year I do this because it’s my recommitment to God. It’s one more time telling God, "I truly trust you in every area."
Now, don’t check boxes yet, because I know some of you are sweating. You’re saying, "Hey Pastor, I haven’t done this before. And I can’t meet my budget now." Would you look at me for a moment? That’s your problem. You haven’t turned your finances over to God. The moment you give Him control, He begins to do things that you and I could never do on our own. And I want to challenge you this morning, to take God’s Word in what He said. I want to tell to you something. If God won’t take care of you in every area of your life, if this promise isn’t true, I’m going home. In fact, if this promise isn’t true, I’m not only going home, I’m leaving the ministry. Because I’m not about to get up here every Sunday and preach God’s Word, and gum myself to death on promises that God can’t fulfill. It’s God’s promise to you.
The Trust Test
Tithing is not an issue of money; it’s an issue of trust. God knows that the most difficult area for us to turn over to Him is our finances. Therefore He says to us...
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not pour open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows." Malachi 3:10
God said it. Can I trust Him to fulfill this promise? More importantly, can God trust me to obey Him?
My Response
Realizing that trust is the single most important factor in a relationship, and that God says, "test me now in this," I take this step of trust by committing the first 10% of my income to the Lord through Skyline Wesleyan Church (the storehouse).
I will begin tithing I already tithe
Name___________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
City, State, Zip___________________________________________
Phone (home)___________________(work)____________________
Giving Number___________________ I need giving envelopes
TODAY’S MESSAGE:
"The Trust Test" (Part 2)
Proverbs 3:1-10
"The man of pseudo faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day." A.W. Tozer
Review:
Take an Inventory
Recognize God as Your Source
Understand God’s Principles
S___________________________________________________
T___________________________________________________
Understand God’s Principles
1. The "Who’s in Charge" Principle
2. The "Give and Grow" Principle
3. The "Do It Now" Principle
4. The "I’m in Debt" Principle
5. The "Fountain of Youth" Principle
6. The______________________________________Principle.
God Deserves the First of Everything. Matthew 22:36-38
7. The______________________________________Principle.
Stewardship Begins with Loving, Not Giving.
We can ___________________ without loving, but we cannot _________________ without _________________.
Love asks: "How __________________ can I give?"
Legalism asks: "How __________________can I give?"
8. The ______________________________________Principle.
You Cannot Outgive God. Luke 6:38
9. The ______________________________________Principle.
Our Life Is to Be like a River, Not a Reservoir.
Five Outlets of Power:
1. Through our________________________- what we are.
2. Through our________________________- what we say.
3. Through our_________________________- what we do.
4. Through our_______________________- what we give.
5. Through our __________- what we claim in Jesus’ name.
We make a living by what we________________________.
We make a life by what we__________________________.
10. The______________________________________Principle.
Until God Is in Control of My Life, I Am out of Control.
Surrender Everything to God
Luke 16:10; Jeremiah 17:5-8
Test God’s Promises
Bible Characters Who Passed the Trust Test:
1.__________________ Genesis 7:6 (building of the ark)
2.__________________ Genesis 22:1-2 (sacrifice of Isaac)
3.__________________ Joshua 5:1 (crossing the Jordan)
4.__________________ I Samuel 17:37-39 (fighting Goliath)
Promises God gives his children when we tithe: Malachi 3
1. He will_____________________________ for us. (v. 10)
In the area I obey -- God ____________________.
In the area I disobey -- God __________________.
2. He will _______________________________us. (v. 11)
3. Our lives will be __________________ to ot
