I'm Invested

Introduction

Introduce Self

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Hawaiian Sunday giving towards Send Relief

Finishing out our series…remember the name?

Are you In?

We have seen how we are invited in the family of God, We are invaluable to the work of God, We are influential for the glory of God, and today we will see how we are to be Invested in the work of God through the local church.

over the last 4 years as a pastor I’ve never been a fan of preaching messages on giving. I believe it was because of a bad mindset. I’m not sure if it was becuase I was uncomfortable talking about money becuase I didn’t want people to think that’s all we are about, I didn’t want you to feel that I’m just contantly badgering you to give, or some other crazy reason.

However, I’m thankful God has helped me see that I have a responsiblity to Him to preached on the topic of money. Why? Becuase how you handle your money is a reflection of what you believe about God.

As your pastor and fellow brother in Christ it is my responsiblity to share with you what the word of God says about money matters. In the first century Paul said

Acts 20:27 “27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

In preaching the whole counsel of God I must address these things.

What does this mean for us a church family?

I’m very comfortable speaking on the topic of money as an act of worship.

No, your not going to get a ton of money messages now.

Today though we are going to see some things Jesus says and does when it comes to us and our willingness to be invested in the work He is doing around us through the local church.

Character- A follower of Jesus with a scarcity mindset

Have you ever been accused of having or know someone that has what is known as a scarcity mindset?

I was thankful to learn about a scarcity or abundance mindset over the last few years and even more so grateful for the biblical understanding of the two.

A Christian financial group defined a scarcity mindset like this

In contrast, a scarcity mindset sees limitation and shortage at every turn.

It’s a mindset that is easy to gravitate towards and one that needs to be guarded against. A scarcity mindset contributes to an unfulfilled life—one constantly concerned about having enough and others having too much. We’re warned about this in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches how we are not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25-34, ESV).

Scarcity thinkers tend to seek after materialistic achievements, such as money, recognition, or power, instead of focusing on life-giving practices like collaboration, generosity, and openness to change.

Now, I don’t know if some are born with this mindset or if it is developed over time. Either way, what I know about Jesus means that I know it’s not a permanent state of mind.

However it could be your state of mind. Maybe you don’t have it an all areas of life but it is impacting you some area. today we are going to look at how a scarcity mindset impacts your financial and faith life with Christ.

Problem- A scarcity Mindset is not a biblical mindset

The major problem with a sccarcity mindset is that it is not a biblical mindset. So wehther your not you like the terms scarcity or abundance, let’s look at what a biblical mindset is around the topic today.

Scarcity says I don’t have enough, God says His grace is sufficient.

Scarcity says everyone else has more, Paul wrote and said to be content no matter what state you are in.

Scarcity says I can’t give whereas God says

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.”

Can I tell you something though? I believe we pick and choose where we have a scarcity mindset. You see today we are looking at how invested you are in the church of God.

Some of you may say that your not that invested. But you are invested in something.

Do you buy season tickets to a sport? Your invested in your team.

Do you buy the Sunday ticket? your invested in football

You paint yourself up, you wear the jersey, you shout and scream like a crazy person, is this just me?

You are invested with your heart because your heart follows your investment.

Do you know why it’s important to charge for classes about managing money. Because when you pay for a class you are more likely to attend it and be invested in what happens with it.

When you invest in something you care about what happens with it. You want it to do well.

How many of you have ever made the mistake of buying a brand new car off the lot?

I’ve done it twice in my early 20’s and I’ll never do it again.

However, what’s life like in the early days of ownership?

No one can eat, no one can drink, honestly you are probably ok with a mask mandate in your car depending on what they ate before getting into it.

But if you’ve been given an old clunker. a lemon as it may be. People can eat, drink, and be merry. In fact if they need to vomit, your car could be an option becuase you doin’t have much if anything invested into the vehicle. You don’t care about it becuase your not invested inot it.

You see we are all invested in something. We pick and choose what we are invested in and it doesn’t matter what your income level is. It doesn’t matter how much you make, you are invested in something. The problem is that we are invested inthings that don’t last.

Agitated- Scarcity mindset leads to an unfulfilled life, bitterness, and frustration

When your not invested in the things of God and choose to have that scarcity mindset you will ultimately find yourself living n unfulfilled, bitter, and frustrated life.

Why is that? becuase we are storing our treasures up in things that don’t last.

Jesus speaks about this multiple times and uses a phrase that helps us know to not store our treasures up in things that don’t last but into things that are eternal.

Jesus says

Matthew 6:19 “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”

Now a more modern waay of saying that is

Matt 6:19 Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

Do not store up...

God has created us to pour not store.

We are to be a river not a lake.

God did not create us to store up for ourselves. He created us to bless others.

It’s more blessed to give than receive. It’s more blessed to pour than store.

We have this idea that we have to store up so much before we can pour out.

However we all know that it’s a joy to give to otthers.

I believe most of you here love to give. their is a thrill in giving

We love to tell stories of things we have given to and been apart of. I hve what I need or mroe than I need and I’m gogit o use what Ggod has trusted to me to be a blessing to someone else.

What I don’t hear people tell stories about people celebrating their emotinal spending stories.

Do you have any of those?

You the one where you went into the store you shouldn’t have been in, to look at stuff you could’t afford, and then purchase something you didn’t need, with money you didn’t have only to walk about with clothes, sunglasses, or a watch that you are noe thrilled to be paying 19% interest on over the next 3 years.

We don’t celebrate those. There is no good thrill in doing that.

You see we make decisions daily with our money to invest in something…the question is what are you investing in.

Are you investing something that brings fulfillment or are you investing in something that brings regret? Something that will go away or something that is eternal.

Solution- Choosing to have faith in a God that desires to give to you in abundance

The solution to that scarcity mindset towards the things of God is to remind yourself of the God you have, have faith in Him, and give as He calls you to.

The choice is not about whether or not you can invest in the things of God. It’s whether or no you will invest in the things of God.

Choosing to have an abundance mindset that allows you to give to others isn’t based on how much you have, it’s based on where you believe wht you have comes from. Or it could be said it is based on what you believe about who you are giving it to.

It can be easy to have fear of an abundant mindset. Jesu told the story of a rich farmer in Luke 12

Luke 12:16-19 “16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”

Now that may seem like a reasonable decision to us…but what did god say to Him about this? Sounds like a weird joke right? What did God say to the farmer that built bigger barns for his grain?

Luke 12:20 “20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee”

He told the guy that was building biggeer barns he was a fool and that his life would end that night.

If he built the barns and his life ended what good would the bigger barns and more grain do for him?

He goes on

Luke 12:21 “21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

he is teling him if all you are concerned about are the thing of this world your life is worthless and should end now.

I don’t believe the instruction or intent here is to tell people not to properly save or plan for the future. However if you are saving and planning for the future and it doesn’t involve an invest into the kingdom of God, then maybe it isn’t really worth it.

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

When you are invested into the kingdom, you are invested into the local cchurch because it is the locl church that Jesus promised would have victory against the gates of hell.

Guide- Jesus

What is the overriding theme for those that have a scarcity mindset? they are focused on themselves. they are focused on only what is possible in their hands and with their labor.

They forgot to look to the one they were meant to walk with and that would guide them through this life.

When you put your faith in Jesus you are saying you believe who He is, what He haas done for you, and what He will do with you.

You see generosity is not a money issue. it is a faith issue. It is a belief issue.

When yyou operated with a carcity midnset you are operating from fear.

The farmer was afraid he would need more, it was never enough. He had to build things to guard and protect it. He wanted to store it. But you were not made to store. You were made to pour.

When you are operating from faith it is not faith in you or in this world. It’s faith in in the one who owns what you have.

Our money, our homes, our cars, our clothes, and anything else we claim to be ours is not ours. It is His. We are supposed to steward it for Him. This means we use it as He would have us to use it. We are just managers, not owners.

Journey- Trusting God with your little to make it much

It’s that mindset that helps us to go on this journey with Jesus having faith in Him to do moree with what we have and what we give than what we can do.

In Luke 9 we come across a situation where the disciples didn’t believe Jesus could pour. they forgot who they were following. And Jesus used the opportunity to teach them a lesson.

Luke 9:12 “12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.”

Notice the language here “the day began to wear away” Or in another translation it says “the day wore on.”

it waas getting latee in the day as Jesus sat and taught the people around him.

The disciples had the feeling you do when I get close to 12 and haven’t stopped talking yet. The message is going a little long. the disciples are ready to move on and grab some food.

So what do they do. they get together and come to Jesus saying “Hey, listeen…send these people away to get some food.” And I wonder if it wasn’t followed by the thought, and so we can too...

However, Jesus responded with

Luke 9:13 “13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.”

Jesus all we have is these 5 loaves and 2 fish. How can we feed them all? How can what little we have feed so many? How can what I give impact over 5000 people?

This is where I couldn’t be Jesus…I’d say something smart alecky like “Only 5 loaves and 2 fish? That’s it. Whatever shall we do?”

He has them sit the people in groups and then

Luke 9:16-17 “16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.”

not only was what they had enough. Each discicple had a big doggy bag to take with them.

What happened here?

The discciples gave it, Jesus blessed it, and God multiplied it.

What if theey had said we are keeping it? What if they hadn’t ggave it over? What if they hadn’t believed?

In the parallel story in John we see that these items actually come from a young boy in the crowd. This was his lunch in this desert place. This could have been all his family had. He had so little but he trusted so much.

Are we guilty of having so much and trusting too little?

What we keep is all we have. What we give, God multiplies.

Notice that God didn’t give them morre when they stored it. He didn’t give them more when they kept it bnack from Him.

God gave them more when they poured it. When they held it with an open hand, He multiplied it.

Are you holding your treasures with an open hand?

You see Generosity towards God and inveting in His church isn’t an act, it is a mindset.

And I believe it starts with the tithe.

I know…an old fashioned concept. Some would say not a New Testament one. While not directly mentioned in the New Testament, there is the concept of proportional giving.

Let’s start with the Old Testament.

Mal 3:10 “10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

I tell people the curse and promise here is made to the nation of Israel. I beleive that.

I also believe that God still blesses those who are faithfully generrous to Him.

Why? Becuase I’ve never met someone that said “I wish I had never started tithing”

God is God of pouring not storing. He pours out so that we can too.

I’ve been tithing for about a decade now. that’s not to brag…tha’ts just truth. What has that tithe helped do?

-In Yuma it helped buy an old catholic church where Freedom currently runs over 300 or more on a Sunday

-It was helped to start a school that is now runnign I think over 200 students or maybe 160.

-It helped remodel that entire building plus the old priests house into our edducation space.

-It helped reach thousands with the gospel through mailers, social media, and events

-Here, it’s supported the remodel of this property

-Seeing us get through COVID without taking a financil hit

-helped us survice a financial hit

-helped get kids gifts last year

-helped see many saved and baptized in the last 4 years

-take over a coffee shop twice

-host the mayoral innaguration a couple years ago

-make it possible for our staff to be paid

-lay the foundation for the great things ahead

I don’t pretend to be the smartest guy in the room with money, but personally giving to God is the best investment I’ve ever made. Cause when I hear stories from people about how the church has helped tthem or how comign to church here has helped them get to know Jesus more, or know Jesus at all, I know I had a part of that whether I’m the pator or not.

What if I had kept that money? What if you keep yours? How many lives will be impacted by the gospel for the glory of God by what you are keeping back from God?

How many familes would have ate that day if the little boy and the discicples hadn’t decided to give it o Jesus for it to be blessed and for God to multiply?

Resolution- Faithfully giving to the work of God through the church consistently and sacrificially

When you choose to live with a scarcity mindset becuase of fear, you choose to not be apart of the work God is doing. You choose to not be generously invested into the most important thing in the world. It is what Jesus died for.

Rememberr, the ekklesia that Jesus died for isn’t a system of worship, it is people.

Jesus didn’t call you tolive a life of storing up grain, money, or treasure on Heaven that has no impact on the kingdom of God.

He ha called you to pour out what He has given you.

Instead of choosing fear of generosity, choose faith in Jesus.

Give by faith. Give a tithe, give more. Give proportionally to what God has given you and give it cheerfully.

Consitently and sacrificially as an act of worship.

Impact- Greater opportunity to reach people for Christ, greater opportunities to serve, and greater opportunity to serve God with life

When you do this, you make it possible for the church to have a greater opportunity to rech more people with the Gospel. You mke it possible for God to multiply your investment into the lives of people.

You make it possible for the us to have more opportunities to serve, and you are doing it as an act of worship to your creator to sya God you can do mor with this than I can.

I trust you that I’ll be better with 90% than 100%.

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