WHOSE MONEY IS IT, ANYWAY?

1 Chronicles 29:10–14 NKJV

10 Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

Today, we are in our second week of The Blessed Life sermon series.

In this series, we are talking about money, giving, generosity, & learning how to live the blessed life.

Last week, we learned that what we treasure determines what is in our heart.

And we saw that the main reason people struggle with giving & generosity is not a money problem but a heart problem.

Jesus said, “you can’t serve God & money.”

Well today, we are going to deal with another problem that keeps people from being generous & experiencing the blessed life…and it’s what I call - The Principle of Ownership.

Too often we mistakenly think that all the money & stuff that we possess belongs to us...And it’s been that way since we were children.

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No one has to teach a little child how to use the word “Mine!”

And it’s been that way since we were children.It’s amazing how easily little children learn to emphatically use the word, “Mine!” For some reason it’s one of the first words in a child’s vocabulary.

phatically announce, “Mine!” For some reason

it’s one of the first words in a child’s vocabulary.

For some reason it’s one of the first words in a child’s vocabulary.

And it’s not just a word—it’s an attitude, the at

And it’s not just a word—it’s an attitude, the attitude that if I want…I should be able to have it.

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titude that what you have belongs to me.

NOTE: The struggle over ownership begins early.

The struggle over ownership begins early.

Before we learn to walk or dress ourselves or feed ourselves, we learn that if we want it, it’s ours.

Before we learn to walk or dress ourselves, we

learn that if we want it, it’s ours. Then we spend

Then we spend the rest of our lives chasing after stuff.

the rest of our lives chasing

stuff

And if we’re not careful our whole existence becomes built around getting more for ourselves and keeping others from taking it.

. Sometimes it

seems that our whole existence is built around

getting more for ourselves and keeping others

from taking it.

The sad reality is that many of us when it comes to money and material possessions are owned by the things that we own.

So we spend our lives making money so we can buy stuff that grows old or breaks down...And then we have to make more money to replace or repair all that stuff.

And then we have to make more money to replace or repair all that stuff.

But let me give you four simple words that will give you real financial freedom...Four words that can free us from financial bondage.

Four words that can free us from financial bondage. Here they are: God owns it all.

Here they are: God owns it all.

The bible makes it very clear that God owns it all & we own nothing.

Exodus 19:5 NKJV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Deuteronomy 10:14 NKJV

14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.

Job 41:11 NKJV

11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

Psalm 24:1 NKJV

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 89:11 NKJV

11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Timothy 6:7 HCSB

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.

God created everything…therefore, He owns all things.

And when you understand He owns it all…it makes giving & generosity & living a life of stewardship much easier to live out.

So, this morning I want to share with 3 truths as we consider the question - WHOSE MONEY IS IT, ANYWAY?

1) EVERYTHING WE HAVE COMES FROM GOD

Since God owns it all…everything we have comes from Him.

1 Chron. 29:

1 Chronicles 29:12 NKJV

12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.

1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV

14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

1 Chronicles 29:16 NKJV

16 “O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

1 Chron. 29:

David has taken up an offering from the people for the building of the temple…and he has given a great offering himself of gold, silver, wood, & valuable stones.

But in these verses David acknowledges that everything they had came from God.

David understood that God owned it all.

David knew that it wasn’t his gold…but God’s gold.

David knew it was God’s silver & God’s precious stones.

NOTE: What we have comes to us from God.

Everything that we have is a gift from Him.

We haven’t earned anything & we certainly don’t deserve anything…but everything has been given to us as a gift.

NOTE: Your life is a gift...Your health is a gift...Your career is a gift...Your intelligence is a gift.

"Everything Comes from You": The Forgotten Secret of Christian Giving

Your health is a gift...Your career is a gift...Your intelligence is a gift

Your career is a gift

David’s Final DreamThese moments of commitment don’t happen every day. They were relatively rare, even in Bible times. Our story today tells of one such moment. In order to get the big picture, we need to go back almost 3,000 years, back across the centuries to another time and place, back before the time of Christ, back before the great prophets, back to the days when a man named David ruled from his throne in Jerusalem. David is an old man about to die. But God has given him a great vision. It is the dream of building a magnificent temple for the worship of Almighty God. It will be the grandest building ever constructed. His fondest dream to is honor his God by building that palatial structure.But God has other plans. We pick up the story in .King David rose to his feet and said: ‘‘Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’ David had the dream but because his hands were dripping with blood, God would not allow him to build the temple. It must be built by a man of peace. God chose Solomon instead. So in verses 9-10 David charges Solomon to seek the Lord with his whole heart:‘And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.David then gives detailed plans for the temple to Solomon. It’s as if David is the architect and Solomon the general contractor. He specifies how the portico should be built, how to use the gold and silver, and the details concerning the golden cherubim above the Mercy Seat.Then in 1 Chronicle 29:1 we come to the key issue on David’s heart:Then King David said to the whole assembly: ‘‘My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.In essence he says there are two problems:1. Solomon is too young. 2. The task is too great.Without God’s help the project is impossible.

Your intelligence is a gift

Your strength is a gift...Your personality is a gift.

Your personality is a gift

Your children are a gift...Your friendships are a gift.

Your friendships are a gift

Your possessions are a gift...Your accomplishments are a gift...Your wealth is a gift.

Your accomplishments are a gift

Your wealth is a gift.

You own nothing. Everything you have is on loan from God.

The King Led the Way

But how will such a grand building be paid for? Where will the money come from? It is fascinating and instructive to read the next few verses in this chapter. David offers his own resources for building the temple: gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, precious stones, marble. Having set a good example, he then challenges the leaders to follow his lead. Verse 6 tells what happened next:Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.This is leadership at its best. First the king gives, then all the other leaders follow, from the greatest to the least.Look at the response of the people in verse 9:The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.Notice two points in this verse. First, they gave “freely.” That means there was no pressure. Second, they gave “wholeheartedly.” That means there was no limit. The same two signs may be found today whenever God’s Spirit is moving. People will give freely and won’t have to be pressured, enticed or intimidated. And they will give without limit to the work of the Lord. The next few verses record a psalm of praise composed by David on the spot. In verse 12 he reveals the secret of generous giving: “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.” He then explains that truth in more detail in the following verses, beginning with verse 14:But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you ().These verses contain a truth we need to carefully consider. David says the people gave generously because they understood that everything they had came from God. In a sense, they were only giving back to God what he had given them in the first place. That’s why the people were able to give “willingly” and with so much joy.That leads me to a crucial point for us to consider: Generous giving is not difficult when we understand that everything we have comes from God.

You own nothing.

Everything is a Gift

Everything you have is on loan from God.

This truth explains the amazing response of the people in David’s day. But it also stands as the basic truth that animates all Christian giving. All that we are and all that we have comes from God. Everything is a gift. Nothing is earned, everything is given.Your life is a gift Your health is a gift Your career is a gift Your intelligence is a gift Your strength is a gift Your personality is a gift Your children are a gift Your friendships are a gift Your possessions are a gift Your accomplishments are a gift Your wealth is a gift.You own nothing. Everything you have is on loan from God.

But you say, I worked for all this stuff.

That’s great…and you need to work.

But the skills & talents you used to earn that money, where did you get them?

Also, the air you breathed…and the health you enjoyed - where did you get that?

Let me ask you this - Who started your heart…And who keeps your heart beating…And who keeps your mind functioning?

ALL THAT YOU HAVE COMES FROM GOD!!!

NOTE: We must never forget that God is the One who blesses us.

Deuteronomy 10:17–18 ESV

17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 NKJV

17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

The only reason we have anything is b/c God gave it to us.

2) WE GIVE BECAUSE HE GAVE FIRST

1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV

14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

1 Chron. 29:

1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT

14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!

Our God is a giver…Our God is generous.

And when we understand that all we have comes from Him…we should willingly & generously give back to Him.

The reality is - we would have nothing to give if He had not given it to us to begin with.

David says, “we give you only what you first gave us.”

He knew that it was only b/c of God’s generosity that he could be generous.

NOTE: When you understand that it’s not yours to begin with…it should free you up to be generous.

If it all belongs to God…and it does…you shouldn’t have a problem returning to God what is rightfully His.

It should be easy to give away what isn’t yours.

(Illus. Give me $100)

But so many believers are holding on to the idea that it’s their money…and so they struggle with tithing & giving.

I said last week - How can we call ourselves followers of God & be greedy at the same time…when God is a giver.

And when you hold on to what isn’t yours - says you are robbing God.

Malachi 3:8 NKJV

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

John 3:16

God has given to us & He wants us to trust Him & give back in return.

3) WE ARE TO MANAGE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US

God owns everything but He has given us His resources to manage & oversee.

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 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.’

Iow’s, we have a responsibility to do with God’s resources as God would want us to do.

This means that we shouldn’t do what we want to do with the money that God has entrusted to us.

NOTE: You don’t properly manage

NOTE: What God has given to you is a test.

Stewardship is a test to see what you will do with what you’ve been given…and one day you will give an account for how you have handled the resources God gave you.

One day you will give an account for how you have handled the money that you were entrusted with.

Think about this - Every spending decision is a spiritual decision.

Every dollar you spend is an investment in God’s kingdom…or the kingdom of this world.

How are you spending God’s money? Would God approve of how you’re spending His money?

I don’t believe God is pleased when we give more to this world…than we do to Him.

Outside of being generous…being a good steward is the next key to living a blessed life.

Here’s what I mean - You can be a giver but if you’re a poor steward…you will never fully live the blessed life.

(Illus. You can tithe faithfully…but if you then go out & buy new outfits…eat out all the time & be unwise with the 90%...& don’t pay your electric bill due...DON’T BLAME GOD WHEN YOU’RE SITTING IN THE DARK…AND DON'T COMPLAIN THAT TITHING & GIVING DOESN’T WORK.)

IT DOES WORK…BUT GOD ISN’T GOING TO BLESS FOOLISHNESS.

NOTE: Paying tithes doesn’t give you the freedom to be foolish with the 90% that you keep.

It’s ALL His…and you are RESPONSIBLE for MANAGING it.

A main reason some struggle to give is b/c they haven’t done a good job of managing what they have.

So they say - “If I just had more then I could give...”

But that’s not the answer.

You need to start giving now…and managing what you have…and when God sees you can be trusted, He will give you more.

When He sees that you are faithful…He will trust you with more.

1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV

2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

When we stand before God, we should all want to hear the words - “well done, good & faithful servant.”

CONCLUSION:

Since God owns it all & He has entrusted us to manage it...what are we doing with it?

Let’s pray!!!