The Lifestyle of a Biblical Steward
Thesis: The life style of a biblical steward is one who acknowledges that God owns everything in their life and they in turn seek to manage all that they have for Him. There goal is multiply what God has given them for the Kingdom of God. This means a biblical steward is one who is a diligent worker, one who is a faithful steward of what God has given them and one who eagerly gives to God and His work on earth.
Introduction:
The truth is we need to be good Stewards of God’s resources because our spiritual lives depend on how we serve the Lord with our lives. You may be thinking about the title of my sermon this morning and asking this question “What does stewardship mean?” Well let’s explore what a steward is:
A steward is like a manager of a local McDonald’s Restaurant who carries out the aims of the owners, maximizes profits, while handling all the problems. Dr. Towns teaches a stewardship lesson in the Pastor’s Bible Class at Thomas Road Baptist Church which is the most requested lesson of all he has taught. "Who Owns Your French Fries". It is the story of a man who buys his little boy some french fries. Then the father does what all fathers do, he reaches over and takes one french fry to taste it. The little boy slaps his father’s hand and says, "Don’t touch my french fries." The father thinks that his son is selfish. The father knows that he bought the french fries and they belong to him. The father knows that his son belongs to him. The father could get angry and never buy his son another french fry again to teach his son a lesson, or the father could "bury" his son in french fries. The father thinks, "Why is my son selfish, I have given him a whole package of french fries; I just want one french fry." God has given us money, (and many other resources) and when He asks for a tithe, people figuratively slap His hand and say, "Keep Your hands off my money." The truth is God owns everything we have. He just wants us: 1. To manage what we have for His glory. God expects us to manage our time, talent, temple, testimony and treasures. 2. To give back a portion of what he has given us to His work. Contributed to Sermon Central by: Jerry Falwell
Biblical stewardship is rooted in the belief “God owns everything including my life.” This belief is biblical and is revealed through several scripture texts from the Bible.
Psalm 24:1
"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
Leviticus 25:23
"The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants."
Haggai 2:8
"’The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
These plus many other Bible references point to the fact that God owns everything in this world including my life, my time, my resources, and yes even my money. When the Christian of today understands this truth it should change the way we live, the way we work, the way we spend our time and the way we spend our money. Randy Barton states, “Stewardship builds the bridge in your Christian life that will enable you to reconcile your "faith" and your "living" in a secular world.” When we understand what biblical stewardship is we understand the importance of how we live our lives every day. Being a steward of God should impact my work, my lifestyle, my time, my family, my finances, my priorities, and everything about my day. Barton notes that if the Christian could grasp the concept of biblical stewardship and live by it then they will find true freedom. He states it this way, “As those who have learned the secret of stewardship will testify, genuine freedom is not found in the accumulation of many possessions, but in the generous sharing of all that we have and all that we are.”
T.S. - Lets look at a parable that Jesus tells about some stewards.
Scripture Text:
Matthew 25: 14“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you. 26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28“‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
I. The life of a biblical steward is modeled by one who is a diligent worker for the Lord.
a. We are to be diligent workers in this world so that God may receive the glory through our work ethic and our lifestyle example.
i. The parable of Jesus in Matthew 25 tells me that God gives all of us talents that are to be used for Him. We are to take these blessings and go to work with them so that they will bring a return profit to the Kingdom of God.
1. This parable tells me that I have to use what God has blessed me with so that He can then use my profit to produce more profits for the Kingdom of God.
2. This parable tells me that I will be held accountable for what I have done with the blessings from God in my life.
a. I will have to give account of my time and how I spent it.
b. I will have to give account of how I used my spiritual gifts and talents for the Kingdom.
c. I will have to give account of how I used the spiritual blessings from God in my life.
d. I will have to give account of how I used my resources for the Kingdom of God.
e. I will have to give account of how I used my money for the Kingdom of God.
f. I will have to give account basically on my lifestyle and how it did or did not impact the kingdom of God.
ii. 1 Corinthians 10:31: 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1. This scripture refers to “Whatever you do!” Your work ethic is included in this statement. The way you spend your time everyday is included in this statement. Your attitude should be centered in this “What ever I do today is to be done for the glory of God!’ This by the way includes how you spend your money each day too!
2. What you do at work makes a difference.
a. Your work ethic states who you are and whether you are being a positive example of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
i. Scripture tells us that if we are Christians then we need to act like Jesus in our lives.
ii. This means at work, at play, at school and at church.
b. Your willingness to be a good worker reflects whether you are a light in this world.
i. Our daily character and lifestyle will either be a light to the kingdom of God or a hindrance to the kingdom of God.
ii. Too many people think that what they do at work should not be reflected on their spiritual walk with Jesus. But it does reflect back on who you claim to be a apart of.
1. This is why we must adopt a biblical steward lifestyle for our lives.
c. Remember we are not to use the name of the Lord in vain! This does not just mean swearing. It means claiming to be Christians and living for God and then acting like heathens.
iii. Proverbs 20:4: A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
1. Sluggards, lazy people, are always condemned in Scripture. Proverbs has a lot to say about laziness and a lack of a work ethic.
a. It tells us that those who are lazy are fools.
b. It tells us those who do not work when it is time to work have nothing and cannot find anything.
c. It tells us that those who do not work will not eat.
d. It tells us that those who do not work do not have wisdom.
e. It tells us that those who do work suffer from their slothfulness.
2. Quote: “The reason worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.” Robert Frost
iv. Proverbs 10:4, 5: Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
v. Ecc. 10:18: If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.
1. The reality check today is this if you fail to be a diligent worker then you house will suffer, your family will suffer, and your relationship with the Father will suffer because you are not regarded as faithful but as disgraceful to the Kingdom of Heaven.
b. Working and adopting a biblical stewardship lifestyle is God’s plan and design for our lives.
i. A retired person became interested in the construction of an addition to a shopping mall. Observing the activity regularly, he was especially impressed by the conscientious operator of a large piece of equipment. The day finally came when he had a chance to tell this man how much he’d enjoyed watching his exceptional workmanship. Looking astonished, the operator replied slowly, "You’re not the supervisor?" (4) Keeping the right perspective on who we work for will make our work better. We work for God first and foremost. Contributed to Sermon central by: Roy Fowler
c. If you have ever studied the Bible you will discover that we are to work to supply for our families and to honor God with our first fruits:
i. Leviticus 27: 30-3:4
1. 30“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. 33He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’” 34These are the commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.
ii. We are to work for God’s Kingdom as well as for earning wages to meet our needs:
1. Numbers 8:11 “11Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the LORD.
2. Jeremiah 48:10 “A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD’S work! A curse on him who keeps his sword from bloodshed!
3. Psalm 128:2: “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”
4. Hebrews 6:10-12: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
d. When we work whether it’s at our job, going to school or in the Kingdom of God we are to do it for the glory of God.
i. 1 Corinthians 10: 31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1. If I go into my backyard and work hard 14 hours a day to dig a big hole, what good will that do? Surely, I’ll be doing more work than probably anybody in this room. I’d be working hard. And hard work is rewarding, or so our culture tells us. But I don’t need a big hole. My work would be useless. All my energy would be wasted. Well, any work that we do that is not done in light of eternity, is like digging holes. In the end it will be useless. Our life’s work, our careers, cannot be our fulfillment or our life, but can only be a means to achieve our true purpose. Our work cannot be the end, but is instead only a means to the end.
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Stephan Brown
ii. Colossians 3:1, 2, 22-25: “1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
1. The Bible says very plainly if you do not work then you will be repaid for your wrong doing. This wrong doing does not just apply to working for wages but it also applies to working for the Kingdom of God.
2. Someone has estimated that the average member of the church has heard 6,000 sermons, 8,000 congregational songs and led zero people to Jesus Christ!
Here is the way the problem stacks up in a Church with 200 members:
20 are too old to work, that leaves 180 left to work,
but of the rest, 18 are too timid to accept much responsibility
that leaves 162 left to work,
but 12 are out of town or away for school,
so that leaves 150 left to work,
but 25 of those work long hours six or seven days a week,
so that leaves 125 left to work,
but 20 of those are tied down with children
that leaves 105 left to work,
but 20 of those are unable to work because of poor health,
that leaves 85 left to work,
but 55 are unfaithful, do not attend regularly, or don’t care...
that leaves 30 left to work,
but 20 of those will attend church...but they refuse to work...
that leaves 10 left to work,
8 of those are very tired of doing all the work and have asked to be relieved
That leaves 2 people, you and me...
But I’m too busy with other things, so you do the work.
(author unknown)
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Larry Brincefield
e. A person who works hard is respected by the Lord and by others and this person becomes a testimony to the goodness and the faithfulness of the Lord.
i. 1 Thess 5:12-15 “12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
1. The Bible tells us that respect comes with a hard work ethic.
2. Those who work should be held in high esteem.
3. The Bible also instructs me to admonish and to correct those who do not work hard.
f. Scripture is very clear that if a person does not work then he and his family will not be able to eat, they will not be able to pay their bills or provide even the basics for their family.
i. It is clear from God’s Word that if you do not work then you will be unable to provide for your family or for the Kingdom of God.
1. 2 Thess. 3:6-13: “6In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
a. We have a problem in our society and that is some people think that society should pay their way for them.
i. They don’t have to work but they expect everyone else to pay their way for them.
ii. They have a self-centered mindset that feels that God, the church, and those who work owe them.
1. Listen when we get saved and commit our life to Jesus we are commanded to get busy in the Kingdom of God.
2. We are to work and not expect everyone else or the church to keep bailing us out because we choose not to work.
2. Learn the lesson from the ants – there are some living today who do not even have the wisdom that an ant has:
a. Proverbs 6:6-11: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
b. Ant wisdom does the work – it understands the necessity of working hard!
i. It learns to store it’s provisions for winter
1. It knows how to save
ii. It knows it has to work in the harvest season so that it has food for the winter months.
iii. It does not lie in the sun all summer and not do its work.
1. It knows that it has to work to provide for the future
2. The ant knows it cannot sleep all day!
3. The ant knows the value of hard work.
iv. The ants know that if it does not work then it will end up in poverty and starve to death.
T.S. – The lifestyle of a biblical steward is marked by one who is considered a hard worker in society. The second dimension of a biblical steward is demonstrated by what a Christian does with what God has blessed them with.
II. The life of a Biblical steward is marked by what he/she does with what God has given them.
a. We are to be faithful with what God has given us and invest into his Kingdom.
i. The text we read above in Matthew tells us that God gives us all talents and we need to put those talents to work for him.
1. When we do then God blesses us with more.
2. But if we fail to get to work with what God has given us then we in the end may be cast out into the darkness of the night.
3. The story is clear from Jesus we need to get out and work for the Kingdom and do our very best for God.
4. God will hold us responsible with what we do with our talents of money, time and resources.
a. Listen fellow saints “God will hold each of us responsible for what we take to bank of Heaven and to the bank on the earth.”
b. We are to be faithful in whatever task the Lord directs us to do for the kingdom of Heaven. We may not always understand it’s eternal value until the end but we need to work at it as if a life depended on it.
i. Persian Legend - Pour Water Into Basket
A certain king needed a faithful servant and had to choose between two candidates for the office. He took both at fixed wages and told them to fill a basket with water from a nearby well, saying that he would come in the evening to inspect their work.
After dumping one or two buckets of water into the basket, one of the men said, "What is the good of doing this useless work? As soon as we pour the water in, it runs out the sides."
The other answered, "But we have our wages, haven’t we? The use is the master’s business, not ours. He is a wise King, and must have his own purpose that we do not understand."
"I’m not going to do such fool’s work," replied the complainer. Throwing down his bucket, he went away.
The other man continued until he had drained the well. Looking down into it, he saw something shining at the bottom - it was a diamond ring.
"Now I see the use of pouring water into the basket!" he exclaimed. "If the bucket had brought up the ring before the well was dry, it would have been filtered out in the basket. The King was looking for his diamond. Our work was not useless."
The King found his most faithful servant!
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Christian Cheong
1. This parable tells me that God does not look at any job as worthless-it all has a purpose and a plan that will impact the Kingdom of Heaven.
a. Greeting makes a difference in a church.
b. Helping out in the nursery makes a difference.
c. Cleaning up after a fellowship dinner makes a difference.
d. Helping out in Kids church makes a difference.
e. Helping out with praise and worship makes a difference.
f. Serving in the sound booth makes a difference.
2. Our responsibility is to be the living sacrifice for the Lord with our lives and our talents.
a. Christianity is about serving not getting.
c. We need to use the resources God has given us to bring a profit to the Kingdom of God. The choice is up to us to produce more fruit with our God given resources or to do nothing and receive a rebuke rather than a well done from God.
i. Barton states, “Ultimately, any exercise in extravagant stewardship involves risk. In the Parable of the Talents, the bottom line for the wicked and unfaithful steward was that he was risk averse. This steward let his flesh, feelings, and unhealthy fears immobilize him (Matthew 25:24-25). Multiplying resources requires letting go.
T.S. – The lifestyle of a biblical steward of God is demonstrated by what they do with what God has given them. Our lives will be measured as being successful or not in Heaven by what we do with the resources God has given us. Our spiritual rewards will be hinged on whether we multiply God’s resources in or life or if we choose to do nothing with them. The truth is God has given us resources so that we can turn around and give them back to His work which touches others lives and sets people free. Giving reflects whether we truly believe God is who He says He is!
III. The life of a Biblical steward is marked by what he/she gives to God
a. Reference Good morning America’s show about money management.
i. This financial advisor said we are to give a tithe to God because it is healthy for us.
b. Larry Burkett states, “A verse in Proverbs says that God has asked for our first fruits: the first and best of all that we receive. That means that we should tithe from our total gross income before taxes. Any profit made from the sale of a home ought to be tithed upon, because it is, in fact, part of the first fruits. Other parts of our first fruits would be inheritances, insurance monies, dividends, and interest. These are all parts of our increase. A farmer first sets aside a portion from the harvest for seed to plant the following year. If he didn’t, he would have another crop. As Christians, our tithes are like seeds. Clearly, if we give to God the first part of everything that comes into our possession, we are honoring Him. It is an attitude of giving. And it is only by honoring the Lord from the first part of all we have that God can take control” (196).
c. We are commanded repeatedly throughout Scripture to give to God what is His and that is 10% of our first fruits.
i. We are to work to supply for our families and to honor God with our first fruits:
1. Leviticus 27: 30-3:4
a. 30“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. 33He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’” 34These are the commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.
ii. Scripture is very clear on the concept of giving – financially. Listen to these texts:
1. Nehemiah 10:37:37“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay. “We will not neglect the house of our God.”
2. Malachi 10:10-12 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
iii. The New Testament has more to say about money and finances than it does some major doctrinal teachings.
1. New Testament era:
a. Luke 14:33: 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
i. The New Testament pushes that we give 100% of everything to the Lord which by the way includes our money!
b. 2 Corinthians 9: 7-11: 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10Now he 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. 11You 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.
d. Crown Financial services tells us that God uses money to teach us spiritual lessons and we will only learn them as we give:
i. God uses money to strengthen our trust in Him. It is often through money that God can clearly and objectively show us that He is in total control, if we will trust Him and accept our positions as stewards and managers of His possessions (see Matthew 6:32-33).
ii. God uses money to develop our trustworthiness. This principle is important because our lives generally revolve around making, spending, saving, and using money. If He can trust us with money, He can trust us with greater responsibilities and His true riches (see Luke 16:11).
iii. God uses money to prove His love. Scripture tells us that God assumes the responsibility of providing the basic necessities for everyone who trusts in Him (see Matthew 7:11). By transferring all money to Him, He often uses money to meet those necessities of life.
iv. God uses money to demonstrate His faithfulness. Moses reminded Israel that it was God who would give them the power to make wealth. Our security is in God, not in our bank accounts. Discovering His faithfulness though financial needs encourages reliance on Him.
v. God uses money to unite Christians in blessings. God will use the abundance of one Christian to supply the needs of another. Surplus money in our lives has been given by God for the purpose of helping those who are in need.
vi. God uses money to provide direction. There is probably no way God can direct our lives more meticulously than through the abundance or lack of money. Too often we believe God directs our lives through the abundance of money, but He also will lead us down His directed path by withholding money.
vii. God uses money to cultivate self-control. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control, a key aspect of successful money management.
viii. God uses money to clarify spiritual maturity. Many temptations clamor for Christians’ attention. A great deal can be learned about our personal character and spiritual maturity by noticing how we handle money and determine financial priorities.
e. The current condition in America:
i. We today in our society today are facing major financial crunches. Bobby Eklund states:
1. Families are in financial crisis, not always because of economic downturns or situations out of their control, but because we normally bring these problems upon ourselves. Families have readily accepted the notion that the best way to get things done is through debt. It is not surprising since we are constantly bombarded with the suggestion that credit is the best route…Many families have never calculated their total debt on credit cards and other loans… The result is a family that lives in a house it can not afford, drives cars that are beyond the budget, and uses credit cards to help juggle the payments. Eventually it all comes to an end, and the family finds itself in the midst of financial collapse (10,11).
ii. There are certain mind sets seeking to implant themselves into your brain today and we need to make sure they do not take root.
1. Mindset #1 is “Greed verse need”
a. Farley notes, “Rather, it is the lust that makes me worldly, a lust that is energized by the lie that something other than God can satisfy” (32).
b. Zechariah 10:2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
c. Revelation 17, 18 paints a picture of the world as a seducing harlot. Harlots seduce with lies and pleasure that is short lived and then emptiness follows.
i. The world of greed is just like a harlot.
ii. One way to get out of debt is to quit borrowing more and more money. It’s usually driven by greed not need.
1. Be frugal-purchase what you can afford.You will never get ahead by going further into debt or refinancing all the time.
iii. Larry Burkett reminds us: God’s word is sure and certain on this particular subject (Paying debts). When money is borrowed, there’s an obligation to pay it back, no matter what. To become debt free, it may be necessary to sacrifice, including eliminating all credit or selling your second car. It may mean repairing the refrigerator or washing machine instead of buying a new one. Do whatever you must to bring your debt under control; determine your priorities; and stick to them” (156).
2. Mindset #2 is “Discipline verse irresponsibility”
a. God desires discipline but discipline really comes from growing more intimate with the Lord.
b. Farley notes, “Using willpower to overcome worldly seduction is like telling a man who has gone without water for three days to control himself and quit being thirsty…the worldly man is convinced that popularity, success, or wealth will slake his thirst. But these are like spiritual salt water: They just make you thirstier” (32.
ii. P.T. Forsyth stated, “Unless there is within us a yearning for that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us” (33).
3. Mindset #3 is “Contentment mindset verse consumerism mindset.”
a. Farley states, “Opportunities to be a friend of the world abound. However, because love of the world separates us from God, every Christian who wants to be a friend of God must increasingly overcome the enticements of the world” (31).
b. I John 2:15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
i. He adds, “We must grasp a simple truth to understand what Scripture means by loving the world. Whatever I trust to provide ultimate happiness is my real god, and I will love it and serve it” (32).
c. Titus says, “No amount of money can buy financial freedom.” I say, “No amount of stuff can bring fulfillment and happiness in life.”
i. Our society screams at us everyday “Buy this and you will have it all.” But you buy it and discover you are still not satisfied. It’s a ruthless circle to con people into debt to make other s rich who still are not happy in life.
ii. He also adds, “Contentment is knowing that you are in the will of God and that you are using all your resources for His purposes.”
iii. This is where true contentment and peace come from.
f. So what seems to be the situation in the church today?
i. Christians do not tithe and do not give like they should and therefore they hamstring the work of the ministry.
1. A.W. Tozer stated, “Within the human heart ‘things’ have taken over. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.”
2. Doug Hagedorn gives the following reality check to modern day Christians in the USA: “I quote a number of George Barna’s recent giving statistics, and giving by the "church" continues to drop. The average American pays $1000 a year in interest and only gives $754 a year to the church! ”
3. Giving to Churches the Barna Report:
a. Churches continue to be the dominant recipients of people’s generosity. Close to two out of every three households (63%) donated some money to a church, synagogue or other place of religious worship during 2003. That percentage has remained constant since 2001, but is somewhat lower than the number of church donors identified in 2000 and in 1999 (66%).
The mean amount of money donated to churches and other worship centers in 2003 was $824. That is the highest mean since 2000, and is 14% higher than the giving level measured in 2002. Once again, the current level is somewhat below the donation level, calculated in constant dollars, of 2000.
In total, about three out of every four dollars donated by individuals in 2003 went to churches, synagogues and other religious worship centers. When contributions are examined as a percentage of household income, giving to religious centers represents about 2.2% of gross income.
Tithing Has Not Changed
In total, one out of every twenty households (5%) tithed their pre-tax income to non-profit organizations. A large majority of those individuals actually gave ten percent or more of their income to churches – a group that represents 4% of the national population of households.
When the survey examined the behavior of born again adults – those who have made a significant personal commitment to Jesus Christ and who believe they will experience eternal life because of their confession of sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their savior – the outcome showed just 7% had tithed to their church. That figure was consistent with the 2002 data among born again adults, which showed just 6% had tithed to their church. The current percentage is just half as many as had tithed in 2002 (14%). Interestingly, more than twice as many born again adults gave no money to a church last year (18%) as tithed to a church (7%).
Among the born again population, which represents 38% of all adults, the average giving to churches was $1411 – much higher than a year earlier ($1220), but below previous year’s totals. The amount of gross income donated by born again adults to their church averaged 3.8%.
4. Larry Burkett reminds us, “Since finance is one of the most often discussed topics in the New Testament, it would seem obvious that God would use that area to test our obedience to Him. We must come to the point that God’s approval is more important than the world’s riches. Being obedient means being willing to do what God’s Word says, regardless of the cost. Then, and only then, will the full measure of God’s peace and power be experienced” (40).
g. Address: New Life’s financial condition and ask the church members to consider digging deeper to help us out off our short fall.
i. See New Life’s financial report comparison.
1. Give the reality check.
Conclusion:
If the church and each person who calls themselves the church does not step up to plate then the ministry of the church will be hamstrung and forced to cut back rather than move forward in its vision. We cannot build or even maintain what we do unless we choose to work and then give what we are suppose too to the work of the kingdom.
Illustration: A MATTER OF BUILDING
Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.
What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.
SOURCE: Morning Glory, July 3, 1993.
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Paul Fritz
Illustration: "A PENCIL IN THE HAND OF THE LORD."
The interview was with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa gave her life to feed starving people and later to minister to the dying. In this article the writer asked Mother Teresa about her feelings of being used of God to minister to the poor, then the world. Her little work was known world wide, even the President of the USA knew her and her Love Labor.
She answered, "But it is His work, I think God wants to show His greatness by using my Nothingness."
She was asked later, " You feel you have no special qualities?"
Mother Teresa replied, "I don’t think so. I don’t claim anything of the work. It is His work and I am like a little pencil in His Hand. That is all. He does the thinking, He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used."
What a beautiful story of this little woman using her talent to cook and feed others.
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Wade Hughes, Sr
Biblical stewardship is all about your faith walk with the Lord. The more you become intimate with Him the more the things of this world will have no power over you.
Personal Application:
The other day I sat an imagined what would happen if every believer at New Life Community church practiced extravagant biblical stewardship:
o Abundant resources would be available for every God-given ministry we do and the ones we seek to do here at New Life to reach people for Jesus.
o Community outreach programs would flow out from our church, modeling the love of Christ to a cynical culture and changing their view of Christianity.
o Our Missions programs could respond to the harvest field any time, anywhere, for any need.
o Our church would be seen by our community as one that is a doer of the Word of God and not just hearers.
o We would be able to get into a new building to better be able to minister to our community.
o We would be able to have ample resources to help the needy out in our community.
Recognizing and removing the roadblocks to extravagant biblical stewardship can revolutionize our church ministry. But for this to happen you as the church must be willing to commit to living a life that is rooted and grounded in biblical stewardship.
Hand out personal biblical stewardship covenant contracts with God.
