Embracing Stewardship and Contentment in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to remember and celebrate the profound grace, love, and adoption we have received through Jesus Christ. This remembrance is not just a ritual but a deep acknowledgment of the unbreakable love and eternal family we are part of when we put our trust in Jesus. Our address is already written in heaven, and we look forward to a place with no sorrow, mourning, or pain. This is a free gift available to anyone who surrenders their life to Jesus.
We then transitioned into the second week of our series, "Faith and Finance," where we explored the theme "God owns it all, and we are merely managers of His resources." Using the analogy of a parent giving money to a child, we emphasized the importance of consulting God in how we manage the resources He has entrusted to us. This stewardship is not just about financial management but about living a life that honors God in every aspect.
We delved into the story of Ahab and Naboth from 1 Kings 21 to illustrate the dangers of coveting and the insatiable desire for more. Ahab, despite having significant wealth and power, coveted Naboth's vineyard, leading to a series of tragic events orchestrated by his wife, Jezebel. This story serves as a powerful lesson on the destructive nature of coveting and the importance of contentment.
Coveting is a poison that inflicts pain on us and those around us. It is a violation of the Tenth Commandment and a sign of an insatiable desire for more, which can never be satisfied. Instead, we are called to find our satisfaction in our relationship with God, who alone can quench the thirst of our souls. The goal of life is not to get the life we want but to love the life we have, recognizing that true contentment comes from a close relationship with Jesus.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Remembrance: Remembering Jesus' sacrifice is not just a ritual but a profound acknowledgment of the grace, love, and adoption we have received. This remembrance anchors us in the reality of our eternal home and the unbreakable love of God. It is a celebration of our identity as sons and daughters of God, with an address already written in heaven. [20:30]
2. Stewardship of God's Resources: Recognizing that God owns everything changes our perspective on money and possessions. We are merely managers of His resources, and this stewardship requires us to consult God in how we use what He has entrusted to us. This mindset shifts our focus from ownership to faithful management, aiming to hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." [39:12]
3. The Danger of Coveting: The story of Ahab and Naboth illustrates the destructive nature of coveting. Coveting is an insatiable desire for more that leads to moral compromise and harm to others. It is a violation of God's command and a sign that we are looking for satisfaction in the wrong places. [50:39]
4. Contentment in Christ: True contentment comes from a close relationship with Jesus, not from acquiring more possessions or achieving more success. Coveting and contentment cannot coexist. When we find our satisfaction in Christ, we can love the life we have and be grateful for God's blessings. [56:46]
5. The Goal of Life: The goal of life is not to get the life we want but to love the life we have. This involves recognizing and being grateful for the blessings we already have, rather than focusing on what we lack. It is about finding joy and satisfaction in our relationship with God, who alone can fill the deepest longings of our hearts. [01:07:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[20:30] - The Power of Remembrance
[21:24] - Declaration of Faith: Apostles' Creed
[37:45] - Faith and Finance: Week Two
[38:29] - God Owns It All
[39:12] - Stewardship and Faithfulness
[39:53] - Introduction to True Financial Freedom Course
[42:20] - Practical Financial Management
[43:06] - Learning to Love the Life You Have
[45:08] - Historical Context of 1 Kings 21
[47:16] - The Story of Ahab and Naboth
[50:39] - The Danger of Coveting
[56:46] - Contentment in Christ
[01:07:04] - The Goal of Life
[01:10:14] - Prayer of Contentment
[01:11:17] - Closing and Announcements
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 21:1-16 - The story of Ahab and Naboth's vineyard.
2. Exodus 20:17 - The Tenth Commandment on coveting.
3. Philippians 3:8 - Paul's declaration of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Ahab's initial request to Naboth, and how did Naboth respond? ([47:58])
2. How did Jezebel manipulate the situation to get Naboth's vineyard for Ahab? ([49:01])
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of remembering Jesus' sacrifice? ([20:30])
4. What does the Tenth Commandment in Exodus 20:17 warn against, and how does it relate to the story of Ahab and Naboth?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Naboth refuse to sell his vineyard to Ahab, and what does this tell us about his values? ([47:58])
2. How does the story of Ahab and Naboth illustrate the dangers of coveting? ([50:39])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true contentment can only be found in a relationship with Jesus? ([56:46])
4. How does the Tenth Commandment serve as a guardrail against the "monster of more"? ([01:01:44])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt an insatiable desire for something. How did it affect your relationship with others and with God? ([55:16])
2. The sermon mentioned that coveting and contentment cannot coexist. What are some practical steps you can take to cultivate contentment in your life? ([01:06:30])
3. How can you apply the principle of stewardship in your daily financial decisions? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with the idea that "God owns it all"? ([39:12])
4. Think about a specific area in your life where you struggle with coveting. How can you surrender this desire to God and find satisfaction in Him instead? ([01:10:14])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of loving the life you have rather than constantly seeking more. What are some blessings in your life that you can be more grateful for? ([01:07:04])
6. How can you remind yourself daily of the grace, love, and adoption you have received through Jesus? What practices can help you stay anchored in this truth? ([20:30])
7. Identify one area where you can practice better stewardship of God's resources this week. How will you consult God in managing this area? ([38:29])
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Remembrance
Remembering Jesus' sacrifice is not just a ritual but a profound acknowledgment of the grace, love, and adoption we have received. This remembrance anchors us in the reality of our eternal home and the unbreakable love of God. It is a celebration of our identity as sons and daughters of God, with an address already written in heaven. When we take time to remember, we are reminded of the eternal family we are part of and the unbreakable love that God has for us.
This act of remembrance is a powerful spiritual practice that helps us stay grounded in our faith. It is a moment to reflect on the immense sacrifice Jesus made for us and the incredible grace we have received. By remembering, we are also reminded of our eternal home, a place with no sorrow, mourning, or pain. This perspective can bring immense comfort and hope, especially during challenging times. [20:30]
Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
Reflection: How can you incorporate a moment of remembrance into your daily routine to stay grounded in the grace and love you have received through Jesus?
Day 2: Stewardship of God's Resources
Recognizing that God owns everything changes our perspective on money and possessions. We are merely managers of His resources, and this stewardship requires us to consult God in how we use what He has entrusted to us. This mindset shifts our focus from ownership to faithful management, aiming to hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Stewardship is not just about financial management but about living a life that honors God in every aspect. It involves being intentional with our time, talents, and treasures, seeking God's guidance in how we use them. By acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God, we can approach our resources with a heart of gratitude and a desire to use them for His glory. [39:12]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can be more intentional in seeking God's guidance on how to use the resources He has entrusted to you?
Day 3: The Danger of Coveting
The story of Ahab and Naboth illustrates the destructive nature of coveting. Coveting is an insatiable desire for more that leads to moral compromise and harm to others. It is a violation of God's command and a sign that we are looking for satisfaction in the wrong places.
Coveting is a poison that inflicts pain on us and those around us. It is a violation of the Tenth Commandment and a sign of an insatiable desire for more, which can never be satisfied. Instead, we are called to find our satisfaction in our relationship with God, who alone can quench the thirst of our souls. The goal of life is not to get the life we want but to love the life we have, recognizing that true contentment comes from a close relationship with Jesus. [50:39]
James 4:2-3 (ESV): "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have been coveting. How can you shift your focus from what you lack to being grateful for what you have?
Day 4: Contentment in Christ
True contentment comes from a close relationship with Jesus, not from acquiring more possessions or achieving more success. Coveting and contentment cannot coexist. When we find our satisfaction in Christ, we can love the life we have and be grateful for God's blessings.
Contentment is a state of the heart that is cultivated through a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus. It is recognizing that our worth and fulfillment are found in Him alone, not in the things of this world. By focusing on our relationship with Christ, we can experience a peace and joy that transcends our circumstances. This contentment allows us to appreciate the blessings we have and to live a life of gratitude and purpose. [56:46]
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV): "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Jesus and find true contentment in Him?
Day 5: The Goal of Life
The goal of life is not to get the life we want but to love the life we have. This involves recognizing and being grateful for the blessings we already have, rather than focusing on what we lack. It is about finding joy and satisfaction in our relationship with God, who alone can fill the deepest longings of our hearts.
Loving the life we have means embracing the present moment and being thankful for the gifts God has given us. It is about shifting our focus from what we don't have to what we do have and finding joy in the simple blessings of life. By cultivating a heart of gratitude and contentment, we can experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose. [01:07:04]
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (ESV): "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."
Reflection: Take a moment to list the blessings in your life. How can you practice gratitude today and find joy in the life you have?
Quotes
1. "When we come to the table, we remember, right? That's what Jesus said. Whenever you do this, remember me. So what do we remember? Remember a grace that covers all of our lives. Our shame and our sin. We remember a love that's unbreakable and greater than we could ever comprehend, the Apostle Paul says. And we remember an adoption, that when we put our trust in Jesus, we become sons and daughters of God the Father. And it's a family that will last forever." [20:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "It's written in heaven. And we can know that one day we're going to be in a place that has no more sorrow or mourning or crying or pain. It's going to be gone. All because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. So today we remember, we celebrate. If you put your trust in Jesus, you're welcome to participate with us, even if this is your first Sunday of grace." [21:24] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God owns it all. I'm managing his resources. We saw how David lived that out. A guy who had so much but said, God, everything we have really has come from you. And when we recognize that, it changes how we see money. Let me give you an example. Suppose that you're a parent, you Venmo, you know, your son 100 bucks and say, would you pick up Chipotle for all of us, you know? And so he comes home. He says, well, it was $42. And what do you expect to happen to the other 58? The money may have been in his account, but whose money is it? It's your money, right?" [38:29] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you don't own it, even if your name is on it, but you know that it belongs ultimately to someone else, you consult with them, right? You say, this has been entrusted to me. He owns it. I manage it. And when we can do that right in a way, our goal is what Jesus, we looked at this passage last week in Matthew 25, that we'll hear him speak these words to us when he comes home. And he says, well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount. So now we'll give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together." [39:12] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Well, today I want us to see from the Bible the power of learning to love the life that you have. To do that, we're going to see the example of a guy who had a bunch of stuff but still it was never enough and it ended up his life crashed as a result. And we're going to sort of analyze that and say, how can you and I avoid going down that path and find true satisfaction as we manage our money? Because often what happens is we get in a fix because we think if I just buy one more thing or if I get this, then I'll ultimately be satisfied." [43:06] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "What it is asking us is to consider this question. How much does it take to satisfy like your soul? Is there something where you go, until I have that, I don't think I could ever be happy. What Ahab shows us is the danger of having this insatiable desire for more. You go, how do I know if it's like out of line with God? When you're willing to blow through the guardrails, let's say God sets a guardrail, you go, I don't care what God says, I want this so badly, I'm gonna blow through the guardrails, God is saying, because I need that." [55:16] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Friends, if we don't find the true source of life, the only relationship that can quench the thirst of our souls will always be looking outside for something more and we'll be tempted to covet because we think if I just have that one more thing I'll be satisfied. And you know what God shows us back in the first of the Ten Commandments? He says you shall have no other what? God's before me. You know what he's saying? He's going look to me for your source of life. Trust me. Follow me. You were created to be in relationship with me." [01:03:21] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Nothing will ever fill the aching part of that hole in your heart except for a relationship with Jesus. That's what God wants for you. You can say with the Apostle Paul, I consider everything else a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. He's the only one who can satisfy. Are the gifts that God gives in life wrong? No, but when we try to put them at the center of our life and say I won't be happy unless I have that, God says do not covet. Friends, he tells us that because he loves us." [01:03:52] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Coveting and contentment cannot coexist. So if there's a lack of contentment in your life, you're like, I just don't feel like right now I'm satisfied. What kind of coveting might be going on in your life? What are you coveting after? What is the longing that you go, if I would be... And what you're going to find is if we don't find contentment, coveting sucks the joy out of your life. You see, friends, what this text is telling us is this. That the goal of life is not to get the life that you want, but to love the life that you have." [01:06:30] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Friends, what if we could come to the place of saying, God, what you've given me, thank you. Thank you. What if we stopped the things that we believe would make us happy and just said, Lord, thank you for what I have in a relationship with you. Forgiveness that is amazing. That when I trusted you, adoption into your family. I look forward to heaven. I've got your constant presence, your promises. Lord, you've been so good to me. Friends, the goal here is not to get the life that you want, but to love the life that you have when you're in relationship with Jesus that he is really all you need." [01:09:06] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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