STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE
Ecclesiastes 6:7
Intro: We live in a consumer culture
Issues of consumption
90% of worlds wealth is in America
*examples
-Mitsubishi commercial
-use of advertising, creative pricing
I. Misconceptions About Finances
A. My financial status determines my worth as a person
*Based upon lie #1 "Wealthy people are more important"
Proverb 14:20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
TRUTH: Every person is of equal value
Proverb 17:5 He who mocks the poor insults his Maker
Proverb 14:31 He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
Matthew 22:17-21 "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar’s." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."
Genesis 1:27 God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Luke 12:15 "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
B. Our financial strategy should determine our course in life
*Based upon lie #2 "He/She who dies with the most wins!"
TRUTH: Our love for God should determine our course in life
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew 6:25-33
Job 1:21 "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
This does not mean we should not plan.
Proverb 10:5 A son who gathers in summer is prudent, but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame.
Proverb 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children
C. It’s God’s will that I should always be moving upwards and forward financially
(Promotions-Raises)
"Name it! Claim it!"
John 14:13-14 "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it."
John 16:23-24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. So far you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."
*Based upon lie #3 "Financial blessings are a direct indicator of spiritual blessings"
TRUTH: "For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you."
Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other
II. We must discern what is of real value
"What is," and "What should be most important to us?"
Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Realization #1 "Physical resources are Temporary"
Isaiah 40:6-8 All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
Realization #2 "Love is a resource without end"
I Corinthians 13:1-3 (4-7), 13-14:1a
