SF692 - HOW TO MAKE YOUR LIFE REALLY COUNT - DEVELOPING A FAITH THAT WORKS (James 5 1-6)
How To Make Your Life Really Count
Developing a Faith That Works
James 5:1-6
Introduction
Once there was a Baptist who had a pious look
He had been totally immersed, except his pocketbook.
He put a dollar in the plate, and sang with might and main;
When we asunder part, it gives me inward pain.
You can measure a man's faith and character by his attitude toward money.
People can stand anything but success.
It is not wrong to be rich, James warns about…
A wrong attitude toward money
The wrong way of getting money
The wrong use of money
It is the love of money that is the root of evil!
Ø Abraham
(Genesis 13:2 NIV) "Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold."
Ø David (1 Chr. 29:28)
(1 Chronicles 29:28 NIV) "He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king."
Ø Job
Ø Joseph of Arimathea
(Psalms 35:27 KJV) "… the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
Three Principles that tell us How to Make our Lives Count…
1A. Invest Your Resources Wisely (1-3, 5)
1B. Man's Tendency: Collect and Keep (Matthew 25:14-30)
"hoarded" = money that is collected for money's sake.
He is taking about and attitude of greed
(Luke 12:15 NIV) "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.""
(Colossians 3:5 NIV) "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."
Money is to work for us, not worshipped by us
Ø God does not want treasure heaped up, He wants it to be spread out.
2B. God's economy: Give and Receive
(Proverbs 11:24-25 NCV) "Some people give much but get back even more. Others don't give what they should and end up poor. {25} Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped."
(Luke 6:38 NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.""
Resources that are not used become worthless
(Ecclesiastes 5:13 NIV) "I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,"
Ø England silver shortage, Cromwell, "Melt the saints down and put them into circulation.
2A. Increase Your Resources Honestly (4)
1B. Avoid Get-Rich Schemes
(Proverbs 13:11 NCV) "Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow."
2B. Value Hard Work
(Proverbs 14:23 NIV) "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."
(Proverbs 12:27 NCV) "The lazy catch no food to cook, but a hard worker will have great wealth."
3B. Maintain Good Health
(Proverbs 23:4 NIV) "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."
4B. Spend Time at Home
"Kids spell love, T-I-M-E." Zig Ziggler
5B. Always Be Honest
Ø The Laborer was at the landowner's mercy. Men got paid each day for their work.
(Proverbs 21:6 NCV) "Wealth that comes from telling lies vanishes like a mist and leads to death."
(Proverbs 16:8 NCV) "It is better to be poor and right than to be wealthy and dishonest."
6B. Keep God First!
(Matthew 6:33 NIV) "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3A. Impact Your World Positively (6)
1B. Have the Right Purpose for Giving
Do not Manipulate Others
(Amos 5:11 NIV) "You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine."
But Minister to Others (Luke 16:1-9)
He was not commended for being dishonest but for using his wealth wisely.
Ø We nee to invest all that we have to get others to heaven.
(Matthew 6:20 NIV) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
Will there be people in heaven because of your stewardship
2B. Have the Right Plan in Giving
Giving is to be regular
(1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV) "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, …."
Giving is to be proportional
(Malachi 3:10 NIV) "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
Application
Invest Your Resources Wisely
Invest in people
Begin with yourself
Increase Your Resources Honestly
Set you priorities and keep them
Ø J.O.Y.
Impact Your World Positively
Use everything you have to bring others to Christ!!!!
How To Make Your Life Really Count
Developing a Faith That Works
July 13, 1997 A.M. - James 5:1-6
Tim McGhee
1A. Invest Your Resources _______________ (1-3, 5)
1B. Man's Tendency: __________ (Matthew 25:14-30)
He is taking about and attitude of ruthless greed
(Luke 12:15 NIV) "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.""
2B. God's economy: __________________
(Proverbs 11:24-25 NCV) "Some people give much but get back even more. Others don't give what they should and end up poor. {25} Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped."
(Luke 6:38 NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.""
(Ecclesiastes 5:13 NIV) "I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,"
2A. Increase Your Resources _______________ (4)
1B. Avoid ______________ Schemes
(Proverbs 13:11 NCV) "Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow."
2B. Value ___________
(Proverbs 14:23 NIV) "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."
3B. Maintain _____________
(Proverbs 23:4 NIV) "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."
4B. Spend Time at ______________
5B. Always Be ______________
(Proverbs 21:6 NCV) "Wealth that comes from telling lies vanishes like a mist and leads to death."
6B. Keep God ____________!
(Matthew 6:33 NIV) "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3A. __________________ Your World Positively (6)
1B. Have the Right _______________ for Giving
Do not Manipulate Others
(Amos 5:11 NIV) "You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine."
Minister to Others (Luke 16:1-9)
(Matthew 6:20 NIV) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
2B. Have the Right Plan in Giving
Giving is to be ____________
(1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV) "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, …."
Giving is to be _____________
(Malachi 3:10 NIV) "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..."