NJ - I'm Responsible For My Finances

I'm Responsible For My Finances

Stewardship

Scripture:

Summary: A message on personal responsibility from the book of John

I'm Responsible For My Finances

John 21:20–25 NKJV

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

It has been said that we are the sum of the choices in our life. Certainly there are things that happen to us outside of our control , but we still choose how we will respond.

Jesus' last message in the gospel of John to Peter is one of personal responsibility. This has been a struggle for mankind since the beginning of time. When God came to Adam and Eve in the garden after they sinned Adam told God, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree and ate.” Eve said, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.” The very first humans struggled with personal responsibility for their actions

We need to take responsability for our lives, finances and stewardship

Lets Pray

Here we are thousands of years later with people who say the credit card companies sent me the card and now I'm in debt and its the cruel banks fault.

We can’t change the past, but we can change our future.

Here in this passage Jesus has just told Peter to go and feed his sheep and he also told him the type of death he was going to die, and when Peter sees John sitting there he ask Jesus a question

“Lord what about this man?”

Peter has just been given this great task from the Lord and told by Jesus “follow me” and even told how he was going to die and Peter wants to know about John

Is John going to have to die for the gospel also? But look how Jesus answers the question in verse 22, “If it is my will that he remains until I come what is that to you? You follow me!”

Don’t worry about what others are doing, be responsible for yourself.

It couldn't be any clearer what Jesus is saying, to put it simply he tells Peter to mind his own business because Gods will for John is between God and John and Gods will for Peter is between Peter and God

Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone put this very simple principle into action.

Paul said,

Romans 14:12–13 NKJV

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

-13

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

Throughout scripture the message of personal responsibility is taught and yet here in this passage we see Peter worrying more about John than he is himself which is why Jesus re-directs him.

When we spend our time more concerned about what everyone else is doing we neglect the things that we should be doing.

When we spend our time more concerned about what everyone else is doing we neglect the things that we should be doing.

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

There are three points of application that I would like to draw from this passage this evening that I believe will help all of us in our walk with Christ

Point 1

I'm responsible for my actions (OWN IT)

Everyone of us here today are responsible for our own actions . Two times in his short response Jesus uses the word “You:” to Peter. He says “What is that to you and you follow me!”

Its not the banks fault if we are in debt,

Its not our parents fault for our situation in life

Its not our parents fault for our situation in life, its not the governments fault its not even the devils fault What was it that Paul wrote in the book of Romans that we read earilier

Its not the governments fault

Its not even the devils fault

What was it that Paul wrote in the book of Romans that we read earilier

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

IT IS OUR CHOICE

We are not going to give an account for our parents, for our friends, for our children we are each going to individually stand before God and give an account of what we have done with this life that God has so graciously given to each of us.

David & Bathsheba

When David sinned with Bathsheba and committed adultery before he could be forgiven and get on with his life he had to come to that point where he said “I have sinned”

2 Samuel 12:13 NKJV

13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

The Prodigal son

When the Prodigal son came back to the Father he said

When the Prodigal son came back to the Father he said

Luke 15:21 NKJV

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Notice the word “I” in these two different occasions.

James 1:13 NKJV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

James 1:14 NKJV

14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Judgment Day is not going to be a time of debate and argument before God. We are not going to be able to say I didn't know or no one told me or it was by parents fault, it will just be you and God and every since will have to start with “I” I have sinned

It's difficult to see our own shortcomings and so much easier to see everyone else's

Matthew 7:5 NKJV

5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:5

too often we act just like Peter and we want to know and see what everyone else is up to rather than taking a good hard look into the mirror. And even when we do look into the mirror a lot of times we have excuses

“I tried” “It was my parents fault” “I didn't have a choice” “My friends made me” “I didn't know what I was doing”

The Bible says that God has made himself so clear in his creation that every person stands without an excuse for not believing in him.

We need God’s wisdom - You version bible study

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

If we put personal accountability for our actions into practice we would be so busy keeping ourselves in line that we wouldn't have time to worry about what everyone else was up to.

Point 2

Are You Taking Responsibility for Your Finances?

Live within your means - That means live on less than you make. That means not maxing out a credit card every month. That means having extra money at the end of every month, even if it’s $10. If you have $10 left over at the end of the month, you lived that month on less than you made.

Know how to budget - You should know how much is going out of your account each month and how much is coming in your account each month. Everything should be accounted for. And I do mean everything.

Save for emergencies - That means you have finances set aside in case of an emergency.

Save for the future - That means learning about ways to generate income. (Make more or spend less)

Pay your bills on time - Utilities, rent, credit cards, medical bills, etc. They have a due date and that due date needs to be adhered to. Strictly.

Learn how to control your spending habits - Are you an impulse buyer? Do you get sucked into “sales” and “specials” and “limited edition” stuff? Control your spending habits. Know how to say NO to that thing that you just don’t need to be buying. Save up for the fun things, it’ll be that much more worth it in the end.

Get your debt under control - This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you’re in debt, now’s the time to get out of debt. If you’re out of debt and debt free, stay that way.

Start buying smart - Unless you’re Bill Gates or some other rich person and you have more money than you know what to do with, it’s time you start shopping around and knowing what you are paying for. Don’t buy a new car because it’s new, you might be able to get the same car, barely used for a much better price.

Know how to give. Generously - Giving is a huge part of being financially responsible. I am so passionate about giving financially and giving generously, it’s something that brings me so much joy.

Get a job. Any job

You can find areas to save money easier than you might think.

as they are walking along he says wait a minute Lord one more thing, what about John?

-Where does that come from, it has nothing at all to do with Peter and the calling that God has just given him

God had given Peter the command to take that talent and follow him in verse 19 and then reminds him again in verse 22 follow me.

We know that God had given Peter a powerful ability to preach the gospel because on the day of Pentecost he stands up before a large crowd and after he preaches 3,000 people get saved

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and bRom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. e baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.

And God has called and equipped everyone of us who are here today with a talent, an ability that can be used to build up the body of Christ

so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, [fn] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

1Cr 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

1Cr 12:5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

two different people and two different callings, and they had no need to worry about what the other person was going to do with their calling because we are each responsible with our own talents that God has given to us

and if we don't use them that's between us and God.. I don't have to worry if your not using yours because I'm not going to be held responsible for your talents

says where much is given much shall be required

In Jesus taught the parable of the talents

Don't be fretting about someone else having a talent and not using it for God, instead look at yourself and ask yourself what has God given to me that I can use to build up his kingdom and reach people for Christ

Point 3

I'm responsible for my relationship with God

We can have confidence in who Christ is in our lives

Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Dont let your finance become a hinderence to what God is wanting to do through you

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Luke 12:25 NKJV

25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

which is why Jesus says what is that to you?

Bible study - Coping with dwindling finances

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We are told in the book of 1 Corinthians when we come to the Lord's table to take communion that we are to examine ourselves

Ask God for wisdom

James 1:5 NKJV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Paul says, “Let a person examine himself, then and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

no one else can stand in judgment of your soul because only God and you know the truth about where you stand

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

It should be a full time job for us to examine ourselves which leaves no time for us to examine and judge everyone else.

Your children, your grandchildren, your neighbors, your spouse, you can tell them about Christ but you can't force them to get right with God that is between them and God

I am responsible for me because I will stand accountable for my actions.

What will you do today

Conclusion

I'm responsible for my actions (OWN IT)

Are You Taking Responsibility for Your Finances?

I'm responsible for my relationship with God