You Asked For It: Finances | Pastor Rodney Thrift
You Asked For It
Finances…
Acts 2:44-46 (NLT) 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity…
SOUL TATTOO: With finances, like all things, if we use God’s principles, we get God’s results.
John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
BIBLICAL GENEROSITY IS:
- WILLING.
2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV) “For if the willingness is there, your gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one doesn’t have.”
2 Corinthians 9:7a (NIV) “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion.”
- CHEERFUL.
2 Corinthians 9:7b (NIV) “…for God loves a cheerful giver!”
- SACRIFICIAL.
2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (NIV) “They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service.”
- EXPECTANT.
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV) “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and whoever sows generously also will reap generously.”
2 Corinthians 8:5 (NIV) “They gave themselves first to the Lord.”
Tithe Quote: “If the church in America would just tithe…not give one dollar over, we would have enough money in the church in America to feed and educate every human being on the planet and have between 60 and 70 billion dollars left over to advance the Gospel! God knew exactly what He was talking about! Let’s honor God first.”
Church Finances:
Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) “A tithe of everything… belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Malachi 3:10 (ESV) 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
- Financial freedom begins with trusting God with His money.
1 Chronicles 29:11 – 12 (NLT) 11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
THREE AREAS OF GIVING:
- Give of our TIME.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NASB) “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
- Give of our TALENTS.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”
- Give of our TREASURE.
Romans 12:8 (NLT) “If your gift is… giving, give generously.”
Matthew 23:23 (NLT) “Yes, you should tithe, but do not neglect the more important things”
BENEFITS OF GIVING:
1.) Giving draws us CLOSER to God.
Matthew 6:21 (NIV) “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
2.) Giving is the antidote to MATERIALISM.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV) “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
3.) Giving strengthens our FAITH.
Prov. 3:5, 9-10 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of your income, and he will fill your barns to overflowing.”
Luke 6:38 (NIV) “Give and it will be given to you… For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
4.) Giving is an investment in ETERNITY.
1Timothy 6:18-19 (LB) “Give happily to those in need, and always be ready to share whatever God has given you. By doing this, you will be storing up real treasure for yourselves in heaven – it is the only safe investment for eternity!”
Give Glory to God:
- With my Time.
- With my Talent.
- With my Treasure.
5.) Be a Good Steward of the resources you have.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NIV) So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Luke 16:10 (NIV) Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Stewardship Killers:
- Ingratitude
- Waste
- Duplicity
6.) Be a Margin Creator.
Proverbs 21:20 (NIV) In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil but the fool spends all that he has.
Margin brings peace to my:
- Time
- Talent
- Treasure
Job 3:26 (ESV) 26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.
SOUL TATTOO: With finances, like all things, if we use God’s principles, we get God’s results.
God Principles:
Matthew 6:19-24 (ESV) 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
1.) Money is not evil.
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV) 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
2.) Hard work provides an honest income.
1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV) 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
3.) Saving money is important.
Proverbs 6:8 (NLT)… 8 they (the ants) labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
2 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV) 14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
4.) The dangers in money and possessions.
- SELFISH ACCUMULATION.
- TRUSTING IN TREASURE.
- MAKING MONEY A GOD.
5.) The TWO TREASURES.
- TEMPORARY.
- PERMANENT.
6.) The TWO VISIONS.
- “EVIL EYE”. (earthly focus)
- “HEALTHY EYE”. (heavenly focus)
7.) The TWO MASTERS.
- “MAMMON”
- “GOD”
SOUL TATTOO: With finances, like all things, if we use God’s principles, we get God’s results.