Jesus At The Center / Risking It ALL / Don't Play It Safe

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 25:25-30

English Standard Version Chapter 25

25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:24-30

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 25

24–25  “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

26–27  “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

28–30  “ ‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

Confess This: Trusting God, with my money, is risky business

I want to debunk a myth and share a truth with you at the beginning of this message:

1.) Money Is Not Evil (Money is an answer)

Ecclesiastes 10: 19 (ESV)

19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.

2.) The Love of Money Is (Money becomes an idol and a huge problem between you and God because money becomes GOD).

I Timothy 6:10 (ESV)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

God doesn’t have a problem with us having money. God even wants us to have money. What God has an issue with is money having us.

Say this: God wants me to have money without money having me.

Here are three points:

1. God wants me to have money

2. God wants me to steward money

3. God wants me to serve / worship HIM

Bonus: Money is a servant to me. It is to be used, not worshipped.

You will always know when you are chasing money and you’ve gone too far with it because it will get in the way of your worship to God.

Again, worship is not lifting up your hands singing slow songs and crying. Worship is whom and what you bow down to and obey.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

In other words, chasing money is NOT wise. Money chasing you is supernatural.

Money A “medium of exchange,” a commonly recognized item of value that usually can be stored and transported more easily than items for which it is exchanged.

I want to give you 3 ways to make Jesus The Center of your money:

Be Thankful For Your Money

I Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Psalms 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

2. Be Content With Your Financial Status

Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Content - In a state of peaceful happiness. Willing to accept a particular thing; satisfied.

Somebody shout: “I Can Handle It!”

I Timothy 6:6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

3.) Be A Sower

2 Corinthians 10:10-14 “For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.”

Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Luke 6:38 “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.””

Don’t eat your seed. If you eat your seed you have a heart of greed.

If you sow your seed you reap your harvest!