Sermon Tone Analysis

WHOSE MONEY IS IT, ANYWAY?

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.

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 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.