Whose money is it anyway?

1
Whose money is it anyway?

• A look at Biblical principles of stewardship and
  giving.

2
Sermon theme

• Everything we have comes from God and we are
  called to be faithful stewards and use these
  resources to bless others and advance the Kingdom
  of God.
• We will be held accountable for how we managed
  these God given resources. (Parable of the
  talents Matthew 2514-30)

3
Called as faithful stewards

• Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ
  and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it
  is required in stewards that one be found
  faithful. 1 Cor. 41-2
• Faithful means we look after and use the money
  and possessions that God has given us to honour
  God and build His Kingdom.

4
Gods risk

• But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who
  gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so
  confirms his covenant, which he swore to your
  forefathers, as it is today. Deuteronomy 818
• When God blesses us He is taking a risk as often
  times we choose to worship money and possessions
  over Him who gives them.

5
Avoid the love of money

• 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.
• Luke 1215
• Money and possessions in themselves are not evil
  they are weapons, tools to be used for the
  purposes of God.

6
The Principle of Firstfruits

• Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the
  firstfruits of all your crops then your barns
  will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will
  brim over with new wine. Proverbs 39-10
• God set up a system to help us remember that all
  belongs to Him. By giving our firstfruit we
  acknowledge His ownership.

7
The Principle of Tithes

• Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread
  and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he
  blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God
  Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And
  blessed be God Most High, who delivered your
  enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a
  tenth of everything. Genesis 1418-20
• Old Testament principle before Mosaic law
  extending to New Testament.

8
Do not rob God!

• "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you
  ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and
  offerings. You are under a curse the whole
  nation of you because you are robbing me.
  Malachi 38-9
• God expects us to give tithes (10) and offerings.

9
God says test me on this!

• 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. I will prevent pests from
  devouring your crops, and the vines in your
  fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD
  Almighty. Malachi 310-11

10
Understanding the tithe

• Storehouse the church where you are fed! You
  can support other ministries too but your home
  church is where you are called to tithe to.
• Devour means to eat, burn up or consume! If we
  do not walk in obedience we give Satan legal
  right to devour our blessings!

11
Understanding the tithe

• A tithe is 10 of ones income paid as tax to
  church. (Websters dictionary).
• In OT tithe was paid on an increase of wealth or
  possession. Suggest this can be equated to the
  GROSS salary package (salary, bonuses, allowances
  etc.)
• The OT economy was very much agricultural and
  therefore tithes would be paid after the harvest
  was sold. Today we get paid weekly or monthly
  and we are called to give systematically (1 Cor.
  162)

12
New Testament Tithing

• "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
  you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices
  mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the
  more important matters of the law justice,
  mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised
  the latter, without neglecting the former.
  Matthew 2323
• Jesus confirms here that we should tithe today
  and with a right attitude of heart.

13
What about the 90?

• For where your treasure is, there your heart
  will be also. Matthew 621
• It is not just the tithe that belongs to God
  also the other 90.
• Where we invest our treasure that is where our
  heart will be!

14
Principles of stewardship

• Matthew 2514-30
• God gives us what we can handle hence why the 3
  servants all got different amounts.
• The servants were rewarded according to how they
  used what the master gave them.

15
Use money to save souls

• What good is it for a man to gain the whole
  world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 836
• We are called to help save souls. We cannot put
  a price tag on a soul.
• The father of the prodigal son spent half his
  wealth in order to bring his son to salvation.

16
Use money to build relationships

• I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends
  for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will
  be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Luke 169
• Story of the shrewd manager who uses his position
  and the money of his boss to build relationships.
• Simple meals and hospitality touches people and
  builds relationships that allow you to speak.

17
Invest in Gods bank

• For I was hungry and you gave me something to
  eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to
  drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I
  needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and
  you looked after me, I was in prison and you came
  to visit me. Matthew 2535-36
• "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
  whatever you did for one of the least of these
  brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 2540

18
Invest in Gods bank

• He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
  and he will reward him for what he has done.
  Proverbs 1917
• As we use our money to bless others it like we
  lend to the Lord who repays with eternal heavenly
  interest!

19
Provide for your family

• If anyone does not provide for his relatives,
  and especially for his immediate family, he has
  denied the faith and is worse than an
  unbeliever. 1 Timothy 58
• As believers we are called to provide for our
  families. God blesses us with work.
• Not all are called to be in full time church
  employment BUT all are called to be in full time
  ministry.

20
Abundance! Flowing over!

• 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. Luke 638
• Beware of your motivation for giving for it is
  not to receive BUT God promises that as we give
  to His purposes and others so He will pour out
  abundance on us.

21
Finally.

• All belongs to God and we are called to steward
  (look after) all that he gives us.
• We are blessed to be a blessing to others and to
  us our finance and possessions to advance the
  Kingdom of God.
• God promises us that as we pour out so shall He
  pour out blessing upon us.