Stewardship Not Ownership

Sermon Thesis:

We all have ideas of how we want to spend our life, money, time and talents we have tried a lot of different approaches, only to discover those approaches don’t work. God really has a way that works.

Haggai 1:5-7 NASB “Now then, the Lord of armies says this: “Consider your ways! 6 You have sown much, only to harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.”

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Consider your ways!”

Your ways are not working, God wants us to have…

Good financial management

Good time management

Good use of your talents and gifts

1 Corinthians 12 outlines “spiritual gifts” that are to be identified and used in the Kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 says it well, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.”

The goal of today’s message is to encourage you to steward well the gifts, talents, time, and money that God has so generously given to you - because God wants us to be generous.

Prayer

Message:

The Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy who is pastoring the church in Ephesus. The Apostle Paul urges Timothy with this instruction…

1 Timothy 6:17–18 NLT “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”

It is important to have the right attitude and posture when it comes to wealth. Humility is required of a good steward!

o If your income is $49,000.00 you are a part of the top 1% of wage earners in the world

o When we know that we are rich or blessed, we act differently, we think different

2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.”

2 Cor 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Prosperity theology = God wants you to be rich so you can be rich.

(We don’t embrace this theology at all.)

Here is a biblical position of prosperity:

God blesses me with more than I need so I can be a blessing to the world around.

Rich people are not good at being rich

“the more Americans make, the less they give away”

o We have put more hope in our wealth than in God.

God doesn’t mind that you have stuff…He just doesn’t want the stuff having you.

2 Cor 9:6-7 ­…Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

How do I decide on what to give towards? Ask the important questions… Develop a Giving filter.

1. The Relationship Question: Who will I commit to relationally?

o Am I in relationship with them? Am I ready to commit to that relationship? God is wanting his purposes to be fulfilled through your relationships. You may give of your time, spiritual giftings, or financially.

o We typically have a convenient based approach to relationships. Who am I willing to be in a covenant with?

o God made a covenant relationship with us.

o Be careful that we are building the right Kingdom. There is a two-kingdom structure. We have the heavenly kingdom and earthly kingdom. God has called us to invest in the one that is eternal, that will not fade away. When we seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness is about seeking people. His Kingdom is an “others” focused Kingdom.

Here are a few important statements that you can use in your life to keep you prioritizing the most important things

1. We recognize that all we have comes from the hand of a gracious God. God owns us and everything we have so we always check with Him first.

2. We will give the full tithe to the church that we worship in and more as the Spirit guides.

3. We will demonstrate discipline with our spending and live by the 10-10-80 principle.

4. We will make an effort to be generous on every occasion.

2. The Difference Question: Will it make an eternal difference?

ü Not all charity is the same.

ü Not all giving is the same.

ü Not all serving is the same.

Just because you gave or served is not good enough. It needs to make an eternal difference.

- God wants us to be kind and nice but if that is it without dealing with the eternal it doesn’t make the difference that truly matters.

1 Cor. 3:12-15 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

3. The God Question: Is God speaking to me?

The most fun thing you can experience today is hearing from God. Knowing that you’re on assignment today. (spiritual radar…looking for opportunities)

Matthew 9:35-36 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassionon them…

Bottomline: God has called me to be a steward not an owner.

Lord, what would you have me do with my?

Time:

Money:

Relationships:

Talents:

So, when we pray – Lord, what would you have me do? Just know that He is going to do something powerful in you regardless of your circumstance. In fact, He will use it.