Faithful Stewardship: Sowing, Tithing, and Trusting God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of stewardship and the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, particularly focusing on our finances. We began by reflecting on Galatians 6:7-9, which emphasizes that we reap what we sow. This principle applies to every area of our lives, including our finances. We are all farmers in God's field, responsible for sowing seeds that will yield a harvest. The key is to sow seeds that please the Spirit, not the flesh.
We discussed the importance of having a heart turned toward Jesus in every area of our lives, including our finances. Many of us have hardened hearts due to negative experiences or misconceptions about money and the church. However, God is not after our money; He is after our hearts. Money is a significant source of stress for many, and the statistics show that financial mismanagement is a widespread issue. Therefore, it's crucial to align our financial practices with God's principles.
The message centered on the "predictable promise" of God's blessing when we follow His financial principles, particularly the principle of tithing. Tithing, or giving the first 10% of our income to God, is not just a religious duty but an act of worship and faith. It moves our finances from the natural to the supernatural, bringing God's favor, protection, and blessing.
We looked at the first mention of tithing in Genesis 14, where Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the king of Salem. This act was a response to the blessing he received, symbolizing that tithing is a worshipful response to God's goodness. Tithing is not about the money itself but about trusting God and acknowledging that everything we have belongs to Him.
Finally, we introduced a six-month tithe challenge, encouraging those who have never tithed to test God's promise in this area. The challenge comes with a money-back guarantee, emphasizing that trusting God with our finances is a step of faith that He will honor.
### Key Takeaways
1. Sowing and Reaping: The principle of sowing and reaping is universal and applies to every area of our lives, including our finances. When we sow seeds that please the Spirit, we can expect a harvest of blessings. This principle assures us that our actions have consequences, and we must be intentional about what we sow. [41:31]
2. Heart Alignment: Our financial practices should reflect a heart turned toward Jesus. Many of us have hardened hearts due to negative experiences or misconceptions about money. However, God is not after our money; He is after our hearts. Aligning our hearts with God's will in our finances opens the door to His blessings. [45:03]
3. The Predictable Promise: God's promise of blessing is predictable when we follow His financial principles, particularly tithing. Tithing is an act of worship and faith that moves our finances from the natural to the supernatural, bringing God's favor, protection, and blessing. [50:52]
4. First Mention of Tithing: The first mention of tithing in Genesis 14 shows that it is a worshipful response to God's blessings. Abraham's act of giving a tenth of everything to Melchizedek was not a legalistic requirement but a heartfelt response to God's goodness. This sets a precedent for us to view tithing as an act of worship. [01:06:56]
5. Tithing as Worship: Tithing is not just a religious duty but an opportunity to worship God. It acknowledges that everything we have belongs to Him and expresses our trust in His provision. When we tithe, we invite God's supernatural intervention in our finances, transforming them from natural to supernatural. [01:09:45]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[40:48] - Opening Prayer and Scripture
[41:31] - Principle of Sowing and Reaping
[45:03] - Heart Alignment with Finances
[50:52] - The Predictable Promise
[53:24] - God's Plan for Our Finances
[57:24] - The Tithe: Moving from Natural to Supernatural
[01:06:56] - First Mention of Tithing
[01:09:45] - Tithing as Worship
[01:17:20] - Six-Month Tithe Challenge
[01:19:24] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 6:7-9: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
2. Genesis 14:18-20: "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 praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
3. Luke 6:38: "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."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 6:7-9, what are the consequences of sowing to please the flesh versus sowing to please the Spirit?
2. In Genesis 14:18-20, what was Abram's response to being blessed by Melchizedek, and what does this signify about his attitude towards God?
3. How does Luke 6:38 describe the outcome of giving, and what does this imply about God's principles of generosity?
4. What are some reasons mentioned in the sermon for why people's hearts might be hardened towards giving and finances? [45:35]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the principle of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7-9 apply to our financial practices? What does it mean to sow to please the Spirit in the context of our finances?
2. What does Abram's act of giving a tenth of everything to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18-20 teach us about the nature of tithing as a response to God's blessings? [01:06:56]
3. In what ways does Luke 6:38 illustrate the "predictable promise" of God's blessing when we follow His financial principles? How does this promise challenge our usual approach to giving?
4. The sermon mentioned that God is not after our money but our hearts. How does this perspective change the way we view tithing and financial stewardship? [46:06]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current financial practices. Are there areas where you are sowing to please the flesh rather than the Spirit? What changes can you make to align your finances with God's principles? [41:31]
2. Have you ever experienced a hardened heart towards giving or finances due to negative experiences or misconceptions? How can you begin to soften your heart and trust God in this area? [45:35]
3. The sermon introduced a six-month tithe challenge. What are your thoughts on taking this challenge? How might it impact your faith and trust in God's provision? [01:17:20]
4. Tithing is described as a worshipful response to God's goodness. How can you cultivate a heart of worship in your financial giving? What practical steps can you take to make tithing a regular part of your worship? [01:09:45]
5. Consider the "predictable promise" of God's blessing when we tithe. How have you seen God's favor, protection, and blessing in your life when you have followed His financial principles? [50:52]
6. The sermon mentioned that many people are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling with debt. What practical steps can you take to manage your finances better and move towards financial freedom? [47:42]
7. How can you use your financial resources to be a blessing to others, as mentioned in Genesis 12:2? Identify one specific way you can bless someone this week through your giving. [53:24]
Devotional
### Day 1: The Principle of Sowing and Reaping
Description: The principle of sowing and reaping is a universal truth that applies to every area of our lives, including our finances. When we sow seeds that please the Spirit, we can expect a harvest of blessings. This principle assures us that our actions have consequences, and we must be intentional about what we sow. In the context of finances, this means being mindful of how we use our resources and ensuring that our financial practices align with God's principles. By doing so, we invite God's blessings into our lives and experience the fulfillment of His promises. [41:31]
Bible Passage: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: Think about your current financial habits. Are there areas where you are sowing to the flesh rather than the Spirit? What changes can you make today to align your financial practices with God's principles?
### Day 2: Heart Alignment with Finances
Description: Our financial practices should reflect a heart turned toward Jesus. Many of us have hardened hearts due to negative experiences or misconceptions about money. However, God is not after our money; He is after our hearts. Aligning our hearts with God's will in our finances opens the door to His blessings. When our hearts are aligned with God's purposes, our financial decisions become acts of worship and trust in His provision. This alignment transforms our relationship with money and allows us to experience God's peace and blessings in our financial lives. [45:03]
Bible Passage: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your attitude towards money. Is your heart aligned with God's will in your financial decisions? How can you shift your focus from financial stress to trusting in God's provision?
### Day 3: The Predictable Promise
Description: God's promise of blessing is predictable when we follow His financial principles, particularly tithing. Tithing is an act of worship and faith that moves our finances from the natural to the supernatural, bringing God's favor, protection, and blessing. By giving the first 10% of our income to God, we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to Him and express our trust in His provision. This act of faith invites God's supernatural intervention in our finances, transforming them from natural to supernatural and allowing us to experience His abundant blessings. [50:52]
Bible Passage: "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." (Malachi 3:10, ESV)
Reflection: Are you currently tithing? If not, what is holding you back from trusting God with your finances? How can you take a step of faith today to experience God's predictable promise of blessing?
### Day 4: First Mention of Tithing
Description: The first mention of tithing in Genesis 14 shows that it is a worshipful response to God's blessings. Abraham's act of giving a tenth of everything to Melchizedek was not a legalistic requirement but a heartfelt response to God's goodness. This sets a precedent for us to view tithing as an act of worship. By giving a portion of our income to God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and express our gratitude for His blessings. This act of worship deepens our relationship with God and allows us to experience His favor and provision in our lives. [01:06:56]
Bible Passage: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!' And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." (Genesis 14:18-20, ESV)
Reflection: How do you view tithing? Is it a legalistic duty or a heartfelt act of worship? How can you shift your perspective to see tithing as a response to God's goodness and blessings in your life?
### Day 5: Tithing as Worship
Description: Tithing is not just a religious duty but an opportunity to worship God. It acknowledges that everything we have belongs to Him and expresses our trust in His provision. When we tithe, we invite God's supernatural intervention in our finances, transforming them from natural to supernatural. This act of worship allows us to experience God's favor, protection, and blessings in our financial lives. By prioritizing tithing, we demonstrate our faith in God's promises and our commitment to honoring Him with our resources. [01:09:45]
Bible Passage: "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make tithing a regular part of your worship? What steps can you take today to honor God with your finances and invite His supernatural intervention in your financial life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God doesn't need our money. God wants our heart. God is always after our heart. The whole darn thing. Not just the pieces we want to give him, but all of it. And let's just be honest, time and money captivate and capture a lot of our heart. He's not after our money. He's after our heart." [46:06] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The most important reason we're going to talk about money and spend some time talking about God's ways in church is because God himself has a lot to say about finances, money, and stewardship in the Bible. It's actually referenced over 2,000 times in scripture. It's the second most talked about topic in scripture." [49:11] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we live our lives God's way in every area, including our finances, when we are sowing to please the spirit, not the flesh, then God's word promises that we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." [51:56] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's economy is different than the world's economy. God's way of doing things is different from ours. His word is full of promises and principles for every area of our life. And the plan, the predictable promise that God has for our finances and the starting point of us passing that stewardship test is the tithe." [57:24] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we give the first 10% to God, our money moves from natural to supernatural. It moves from operating in the world's economy, which I don't know if anyone would want to trust that. If you do, let me know. But when we, the predictable promise is that when we put God first, He moves our money from natural, worldly economy to supernatural, godly economy." [01:16:16] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Is my heart turned toward Jesus in every area of my life, including my finances? Or has my heart been hardened by negative thinking about money? Has my heart been hardened maybe by negative thinking that the church is just after my money? Or maybe your heart's been hardened because you've had a personal experience with the misuse of money in church." [45:03] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. Stewardship is about carefully and responsibly managing what God has entrusted to our care. God has so graciously entrusted every one of us to steward what he's given us and learning to steward that well according to his will and his ways, not ours." [44:03] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The natural state of money is to degenerate. The natural state of money is to rot. The natural state of money is to decay, to be devalued over a period or process of time. It's because we live in a sinful world. But we need to ask ourselves a question this morning. Would a loving God really want us to live this way? To stay under this natural curse that everything else is under?" [01:11:42] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The tithe is the worshipful act of faith of returning to God the first 10% of your income. Returning it to Him because everything we have is His. So returning the 10% that already is His anyway. We just return it. The tithe. God gives us the opportunity to worship Him in this way. It's a worshipful act of faith returning to God the 10% of our income." [58:51] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The predictable promise is the tithe. And maybe you're here today, like I said, and you've tithed your whole life. Maybe you're here today and you give a little here and there and kind of tip God when it's convenient for you. Maybe you're here today and you've never given to God's house. And I know we have all of those in our midst today." [57:55] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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