Spiritual Disciplines 10
Spiritual Disciplines – 10
STEWARDSHIP II
Text:
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (01/08/04)
Introduction:
The Bible relates the use of our time to our spiritual condition and also the use of our money. Therefore, both areas of Stewardship are spiritual disciplines.
Last lesson was a consideration of the stewardship of our time. This lesson will focus on...
The Disciplined Use of Money
The disciplined use of money requires that we manage it in such a way that our needs and those of our family are met.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Use of money from start to finish is a spiritual issue. That is not only true when we utilize it for the sake of God’s kingdom, but also for others and ourselves.
Biblical use of our financial resources is crucial to our growth in godliness for at least two reasons.
1. It is a matter of simple obedience.
There is much scripture dealing with the use of our wealth and earthly possessions.
2. It is a representation of our life.
We exchange a great deal of our time, talents and life to acquire it.
How we use our money therefore is an expression of our priorities and our hearts.
Much can be said about our use of money for personal and family purposes, and many of the same Biblical principles that govern our use of time can be applied here.
However, for the sake of this lesson let’s consider more specifically how the process of disciplining ourselves unto godliness applies to the area of our giving to the Lord’s work.
Here are Ten New Testament Principles of Giving
1. God Owns Everything You own
1 Corinthians 10:26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
We are simply managers or stewards of the things that God has given to us.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLE – Joseph in Potiphar’s house.
ILLUS: Your house, your car, the trees in your yard, your job – all belong to God.
We really own nothing!
The land you call “your own” now, in a few years someone else will say of it “my own”.
Haggai 2:88The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
The question is not how much of “my money” do I put in the offering plate? But, how much of “God’s money” do I keep for myself?
2. Giving Is An Act Of Worship
Paul described the gift of the Philippian believers for the cause of God’s work as an act of worship.
Philippians 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Giving enhances our worship.
Some give when they have some money leftover.
Others give whenever they are paid.
But likely the happiest givers are those who worship through giving every time they have the opportunity.
It may not be your regular tithe & offering – But why not worship God spontaneously with cash? You may think you need the money for something else – but how many times have you spent that pocket money on something frivolous?
Giving is much more than a duty or obligation, it is an act of worshipping the Lord.
3. Giving Reflects Faith In God’s Provision
The proportion of your income you give back to God is a distinct indication of how much you trust Him to provide for your needs.
CONSIDER – The widow’s mite – Mark 12:41-44
This poor widow was willing to give all because she believed God would provide for her.
4. Giving Should Be Sacrificial & Generous
Giving is not only for those who can “afford” it.
EXAMPLES – The widow / The poor Macedonian believers praised for their generosity in II Cor. 8:1-5
- They gave out of extreme poverty.
- They gave what they were able.
- They even gave beyond what they were able.
Our Giving is not sacrificial unless it is a sacrifice.
STATISTICS: A Gallup Poll from October 1988 shows that the more money Americans make, the less sacrificial our giving becomes. Those making less than $10,000 per year gave an average of 2.8 percent of their income each year to churches, charities, and other non-profit organizations.
Those making $10,000 to $30,000 gave an average of 2.5 percent, those making $30,000 to $50,000 gave 2 percent, and those making $50,000 to $75,000 gave a total of only 1.5 percent of their income to the church and all other nonprofit groups.
If we give sacrificially to God’s work we will never regret it. It is always worth it.
ILLUS: We sacrifice for our children, to see them through school, college, and begin life on their own. Yet we never regret the sleepless nights, and financial sacrifices required to accomplish the goal.
5. Giving Reflects Spiritual Trustworthiness
LOOK UP & READ Luke 16:10-13 (Emphasize vs.11)
If we are not faithful with the use of our money, God will determine that we are untrustworthy to handle spiritual riches.
ILLUS: A man is hired by a large company and given a small area of responsibility. It is a test. As he is observed he is judged to be trustworthy and later trusted with greater responsibility, perhaps culminating in a management or ownership position.
If you love Christ with all your heart, if you are submitted to His Lordship it will be expressed in your giving.
Your checkbook will tell the story of your life!!
6. Giving – Love, Not legalism
God does not send you a bill. The church does not send out henchmen to collect your tithes and offerings.
Your giving should be motivated by your love to God.
Notice the absence of commandment in Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians regarding giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7-8 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Equal gifts in man’s eyes may be unequal in God’s eyes, because he is looking at the heart.
He wants your giving to be an expression of your love to Him.
7. Give Willingly, Thankfully, & Cheerfully
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
One man said, “There are three kinds of giving: Grudge giving, Duty giving, and Thanksgiving.”
Grudge – “I have to!”
Duty – “I ought to!”
Thanksgiving – “I want to!”
God wants us to enjoy giving. Not to give to him the same way we pay our taxes after an audit. Not like we pay our electric bill, but the way we would give an engagement ring to our fiance.
You shouldn’t have to think long for reasons to give cheerfully and thankfully.
1. God gave you His greatest gift – Salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Rom 5:8
2. He daily gives us His mercy and Grace. Lam 3:22-23
3. He has given us all we have!! James 1:17
8. Giving – An Appropriate Response To Real Needs
There is a time and place for specific genuine needs to be made known through the church, allowing the members to respond in a spontaneous, voluntary manner to help meet those needs.
There are at least three instances in the book of Acts where the believers gave through the church in response to specific needs.
1. After the empowerment of the Church – Acts 2:43-45
2. After the early explosive growth of the Church – Acts 4:32-35
3. In response to needs abroad – Acts 11:27-30
In none of these instances was anyone compelled to give or told a percentage or amount to give.
There are other practical guidelines that should be applied to this sort of giving. Make sure one has the facts, how will the money be used etc.
9. Giving Should Be Planned & Systematic
LOOK UP & READ I Cor. 16:1-2
Quickly notice three things about this planned, systematic giving.
1. The First day of every week.
We may not be paid but once every two weeks or once a month, but we can still accomplish this by dividing our giving equally by the number of Sundays during each pay period.
Or by determining to give a gift of pocket cash on the Sundays when we do not give our main gift.
2. Every believer is to give.
We are not excused because of financial difficulty, age, or employment issues.
3. Give in keeping with your income.
The more you prosper, the higher the proportion of your giving should be. 10% is God’s minimum standard – the ground level, not the ceiling where we stop.
ILLUS: R.G. LeTourneau (1888-1969)- An internationally recognized industrialist, His company designed and built some of the world's most massive machinery—earth movers, transporters, missile launchers, bridge builders and portable offshore drilling rigs.
As the Lord prospered him, he gave increasingly more to the Lord’s work.
For many years, he lived on ten percent of his income and gave away ninety percent to Christian work, especially missionary efforts in Africa and South America. Even when his business was in financial jeopardy, he continued giving his sacrificial pledges to Christ's work. "The question" he said, "is not how much of my money I give to God, but rather how much of God's money I keep for myself."
We can honour God as He increases our ability to earn by giving an increasing percentage to Him.
We can teach these same principles to our children. As they get an allowance, or have a job to earn pocket money.
Teach them to 1. Give to God 2. Save 3. Live on the remainder. Easier to learn it now then as adults.
10. Generous Giving Results in Bountiful Blessing
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.
LOOK UP & READ II Cor. 9:6-8
We are not espousing “prosperity theology”. But if you give to God, He will give to you. If you give to Him bountifully, He will give bountifully to you!
Jesus Promised ... Acts 20:35 ...It is more blessed to give than to receive.
The greatest part of God’s blessing for our giving will not come in this life.
Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Conclusion: (Review)
Are you willing to accept God’s principles of giving?
Do you believe and accept them as God’s will for you?
Are you giving like you mean it?
Does your giving demonstrate that Jesus Christ is at the center of your life?