GOD’S PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP..
Gods Principles of stewardship.. Our Text Luke 6:38
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
It’s a known "fact" that many Christian people are missing out on Gods blessing’s that they could enjoy.
Some are missing out because.
#1..They don’t want it!
Doesn’t that sound silly?
But it’s true, They completely refuse to obey God and his commandments.
I have a very close family member that will say he wants nothing to do with God and anything he has to offer. It is sad but true.
God longs to bless his people, but many refuse to live for him. And by that they are saying no to him and all he has to offer.
#2..They can’t see the importance of giving.
For many years I myself was that way, I did not think it matter, so I would just keep my money.
#3..They don’t understand why they have to give
#4.. They think and believe that they can’t afford to give and have convinced themselves that "God understands.
#5..They believe that it is their choice to give or not.
IT IS NOT A CHOICE, BUT A COMMAND.
Who here wants to be found faithful inthe eyes of the lord?
God has some principles of stewardship that can demonstrate the point that financial faithfulness is a path to his blessings.
Some has said the more generous and faithful to "God we are. The more generous and faithful he is in terms of meeting our needs.
But there is a much deeper biblical point that many are missing!
The word "Generosity" implies that we are giving something of ours to God.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
The bible says repeatedly that he is the owner of everything.
It also says we owe him a minimum of 10%
Lev.27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
Not to pay him is to rob him. Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
SAY THAT WITH ME. THE TITHE BELONGS TO THE LORD.
Fundamentally the principle of tithing works because it is tied to the reality of greed in the human since.
A survey was reported where people were asked what they would do for a certain amount of money.
70 out 1000 people said that they would execute a total stranger for a certain amount of money.
Why?.. 1 Timothy 6:10 says For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Someone said this way, Money talks, "Yep" sure does and while it is talking, It is telling "God" where our hearts is.
Lets talk about the Principles of investment. Or the laws of investment.
Lets read our text again Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Laws are civil statutes that have direct consequences, fulfill them and you enjoy the freedom.
But violate them and you lose that freedom.
Well "Gods" laws are even more dependable than the state’s
Great freedom from want awaits those who obey the laws of "Gods Investment of stewardship.
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES?
#1.... To know that God is the provider.
Gen. 22 records the story of Abraham and Isaac.
God told Abraham to take his son his only son to mt.moriah and slay him.
Can you just imagine what Abraham was thinking on the way to the mountain?
"Lord I love you with all my heart and will do any and all that you ask me to do.
God you told me that my descendants would become a blessing to the world beginning with Isaac. I know you will provide.
What faith. Great Faith.
Let me share a story with you. The lord woke up early one morning and told me to give my pickup away, told me who to give it to. I got anger at first. It was a very hard thing for me to do. I needed my truck and loved it. But I obey God. I gave it to him that very day. Not knowing what I would do come Monday morning for work. I must say my Faith was a little weak at that time. But I never went out looking for another one, but that very same day I was called by a friend of mind he said he was in a real bad Blind and needed to sell his pickup and would sell it to me for what he owe on it witch was almost paid off. What a blessing that was.
God is a true Provider, that has been over 10 years ago and I am still driving that same pickup. I must say My Faith was increased that day in knowing that the lord was Faithful to me.
God has obligated himself to provide for you to accomplish everything he has called you to do...say amen right there.
#2 Principle.
You have to invest what you want in return.
Gal.6: 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Guess what? That doesn’t just mean Money!
You want "Love"? You have to sow it into someone else
Want a friend? Be a Friend. And it goes on and on.
But that is not a magic formula that says God is a vending machine, Put money in and get money out.
But it does mean as we are faithful to God with our best and first of what he gives us
He blesses us with more, but it doesn’t happen over night.
#3 Principle.
You have to invest on the front end.
Imagine if a farmer said when I harvest my crop I think I will go out and sow some seed. NO NO that is not the way it works.
#4 Principle
Says your heart follows your treasure.
Matt 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Someone said it this way.
Its like there is a string attached to your money and to your heart. Whereever you send your money, your heart follows the string just pulls it right along towards the things of God.
Question...Have you ever Noticed the people that are excited about a given ministry are those who are Investing in it.
Principle #5
Expect results.
Some people believe it is wrong to expect results when we invest in the work of the lord
Question? If God makes you a promise do you believe him?
Do you expect him to keep it?
Luke 6 :38 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
He said if you do your part he would do his part.
If you do your part, It is not wrong to expect God to do his part.
As a result, you will begin to live expectantly knowing that God is going to full fill his promise.
A person who doesn’t expect God to meet their needs will discover that he doesn’t.
#6 Principle
When God does all that he has promises to do give him the Glory.
Gods Purpose in blessing you though your stewardship is not so you can go around and brag about it.
The only way you can truly give God all the Glory is to know in your heart that it was God who gave it to you.
Let me share one more story with you.
My last church I was at we built a half million-dollar building. We had a man in our church that was very rich, he came to us and said he would pay the building off in full under one Condition that if we would all give him the credit and put his name on the building. We would be dept free. But we had to say no.... he would have taken all of God’s Glory. He could have paid it off and said nothing. And God would have gotten the Glory, and the man would have such a reward in heaven. He is dead now, and his money is no good. His last words to me were. I hope I don’t miss Heaven.
In closing, If you are hear and you are not Tithing and giving God your first and your Best, I want to encourage you to think about what we have talked about in Gods Principles of investing in stewardship.
Remember, you must Invest up front, what you sow you will reap from it Big or Little. There will be a harvest.
Lets Pray...
