SUNDAY MAY 3, 2020.
SUBJECT: MONEY STEWARDSHIP!
Memory verse: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." (John 3 vs 27.)
READ: LUKE 16 vs 9 - 13:
16:9: And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by the unrighteous mammon that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting home.
16:10: He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
16:11: Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true richest?
16:12: And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
16:13: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
INTIMATION:
Money is a sore subject that a lot of people want to avoid, but in my considered opinion, learning how God views money is basic Christianity. Many people see making a living as resulting from the sweat of their brow, and they don't see God as their source. They separate their lives into spiritual matters, like heaven and hell, and other matters like career and finances. When it concerns spiritual matters they rely on God, and firmly commit their lives to Him, but when it comes to other matters, it becomes their baby. For instance, when it is money, they think it's all up to them, and view it as something they must control, and such ownership mentality leads to a lot of problems.
God is the source of everything in our lives. He never intended us to carry any burden, including financial responsibility. He wants to lift that burden from you. A lot of Christians say they know God is the source of everything, but their lives don't reflect the understanding of that truth. They think that money comes by their own sweat and efforts, then they keep a much tighter hold on it. When you become attached to your money, it actually becomes your master. But when you see yourself as a steward and recognize money as God's blessing, even though you work for your paychecks, it totally changes the role money plays in your life. It ceases to control you and simply becomes a tool.
The Scripture says in Deuteronomy 8 vs 18, "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth...." You may be out in the world actually doing the work you get paid for, but you need to develop the mindset that the money you receive doesn't belong to you; it belongs to God. Remember, God gave you your talents and abilities, and every good things you have is a blessing from Him. God entrusted you with all of your finances, and it is important to develop the mindset of being a steward over God's money, not yours.
The first step toward becoming responsible with your money is to get this mindset that it does not belong to you. Instead of clinging to your money, you need to think: “I am a steward of what God has entrusted to me. He has blessed me with talents, abilities, job, wisdom, and all the resources I have. I have the responsibility to serve God with all He has given me.” The Bible has more to say about money than most Bible doctrines like heaven and hell, or faith and prayer. Jesus taught more on the subject than any other single topic. In fact one quarter of Jesus' teachings is based on money.
Jesus thought that people's attitude towards money reveal their hearts. Our integrity often meets its match in money matters. God calls us to be honest even in small details we could easily rationalize away. Most importantly, there is a direct relationship between how you manage the earthly blessings entrusted to you, and your inheritance of the vast heavenly riches. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But if we are not trustworthy with our money here (no matter how much or little we have), we will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's kingdom.
Jesus taught on stewardship over what has been given to us in the parable in the passage we read today. His teaching points out the function and attitude of a steward. A steward is a person who manages someone else's property, finances, or affairs. As Christians we are stewards, and we need to recognize that the money we have is not really ours; it's a gift from God (Psalm 50 vs 12), entrusted with us by Him to do His services.
You may have worked for the money you have. May be you work from morning till night, or you may be working two jobs, or you have scrimped for years to get a little savings, and so the money you have accumulated seems like the result of your own efforts. I understand that way of thinking, but, in reality, it isn't true. God is the giver of everything we have. First of all, God gave you life. Only the living can say I have this or that, or I am this or that. He gave you all that you, and you are only a steward for all He has given you.
Prayer: Abba Father, the earth is Yours and all therein. All I have is Yours, and Yours I am. Engrace me with the steward mentality that I will manage adequately the money and other blessings You bestowed on me, all to Your glory, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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