Financial Freedom: Surrendering to God’s Provision
Summary
In our current sermon series, "Unleashed," we are exploring the freedom that comes from living a life surrendered to God, particularly in the area of finances. The testimony we heard today and the partnership with Sea of Hope Ministries remind us of the importance of this freedom. Many of us are bound by worries about money, which is the top concern for 66% of Americans. Whether we have much or little, the fear of losing it or not having enough can grip our hearts. But as followers of Christ, we must remember that our identity is not in our possessions but in being children of God.
I shared my own journey with financial bondage, how my ignorance of biblical financial principles led to debt and restricted our ability to follow God's calling. It wasn't until I was discipled in financial stewardship that I began to experience true freedom. This transformation did not happen overnight; it required discipline, sacrifice, and a commitment to living within our means.
The Bible speaks extensively about money, with Jesus himself addressing it frequently. Our relationship with money can significantly impact our discipleship, as it often reveals where our true devotion lies. We cannot serve both God and money. To live "unleashed," we must adopt biblical financial strategies, such as earning income with integrity, giving God our first and best, saving for the future, and planning our spending.
The principle of giving first and best is not about legalism but about trust and worship. It's about acknowledging God's provision and sovereignty in our lives. The story of the Israelites in Malachi demonstrates the heart issue tied to our finances and God's desire to bless us when we trust Him with our resources.
Our church's vision is to be one of the most generous churches of our generation, impacting the world by giving more than we keep. Through your generosity, we've been able to support church planting and ministries around the globe, demonstrating the power of open-handed living.
Finally, we must choose contentment and gratitude, recognizing that our discontentment often leads to financial bondage. By embracing contentment, we can live within our means and experience the peace that comes from trusting God with our finances.
Key Takeaways:
1. Financial freedom in Christ is not about the abundance of possessions but about the liberation from their control. As we align our beliefs about money with God's Word, our behaviors will follow, leading us to a life of stewardship and generosity. [49:33]
2. Discipleship encompasses every aspect of our lives, including finances. It is a process that requires discipline, much like training in any other area of life. By submitting our financial practices to God's authority, we open ourselves to His guidance and provision. [01:05:01]
3. Giving our first and best to God is an act of worship and trust. It is not about fulfilling a legalistic requirement but about prioritizing God in our lives and acknowledging Him as our provider. This principle is foundational to living a life "unleashed" from the love of money. [01:15:01]
4. Planning and saving are not contrary to faith but are wise and biblical practices. By being diligent and proactive with our resources, we can avoid the pitfalls of financial emergencies and live with the foresight and wisdom that Scripture encourages. [01:29:01]
5. Contentment and gratitude are choices that lead to financial peace. By recognizing the blessings we have and choosing to be content, we can resist the cultural pressures to accumulate more and instead find joy in what God has provided. [01:39:01]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:24 (NIV): "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
2. Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV): "Honor 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."
3. Malachi 3:10 (NIV): "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 there will not be room enough to store it."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:24, what are the two masters that Jesus says we cannot serve simultaneously?
2. In Proverbs 3:9-10, what are the two actions we are instructed to take with our wealth, and what are the promised outcomes?
3. What challenge does God present to His people in Malachi 3:10, and what does He promise in return for their obedience?
4. The sermon mentioned that financial freedom in Christ is not about the abundance of possessions but about liberation from their control. How does this align with the message in Matthew 6:24? [49:33]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus specifically chose money as the rival master in Matthew 6:24? How does this reflect common human struggles?
2. How does honoring the Lord with our wealth, as described in Proverbs 3:9-10, demonstrate trust and worship rather than legalism? [01:13:01]
3. In Malachi 3:10, why do you think God invites His people to test Him in the area of tithing? What does this reveal about His character and His relationship with His people?
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of contentment and gratitude in achieving financial peace. How do these attitudes help us resist cultural pressures to accumulate more? [01:39:01]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current financial practices. Are there areas where you feel "enslaved" to money? What steps can you take to begin experiencing financial freedom in Christ? [49:33]
2. The sermon shared a personal story about financial bondage due to ignorance of biblical financial principles. Have you experienced something similar? What biblical principles can you start applying to your finances today? [55:01]
3. How can you practice giving your first and best to God in a way that feels like an act of worship and trust rather than a legalistic obligation? [01:13:01]
4. Planning and saving were highlighted as wise and biblical practices. Do you currently have a financial plan or budget? If not, what steps can you take this week to create one? [01:25:01]
5. Contentment and gratitude are choices that lead to financial peace. Identify one area of your life where you struggle with discontentment. How can you practice gratitude in that area this week? [01:39:01]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of earning income with integrity. Have you ever faced a situation where you were tempted to compromise your values for financial gain? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from the experience? [01:09:01]
7. The church's vision is to be one of the most generous churches of our generation. How can you contribute to this vision in your personal life and within the church community? [01:19:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Liberated from Possession's Grip
True financial freedom in Christ is found when possessions no longer control our lives. It's a transformation that aligns our understanding and management of money with the principles found in God's Word. When we view our resources through the lens of stewardship and generosity, we begin to act as caretakers rather than owners, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. This shift in perspective allows us to use our finances in a way that honors God and furthers His kingdom, rather than merely accumulating wealth for ourselves. It's a journey that moves us from bondage to liberation, where our behaviors follow our beliefs, leading to a life marked by generosity and trust in God's provision. [07:40]
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21
Reflection: What material possession do you find difficult to let go of, and how can you begin to loosen its grip on your heart?
Day 2: Discipleship in Dollars and Cents
Discipleship is an all-encompassing journey that includes our financial practices. It requires the same discipline and commitment as any other area of spiritual growth. By submitting our finances to God's authority, we open ourselves to His guidance and provision. This means learning to earn, give, save, and spend in ways that reflect our devotion to God and our desire to follow His calling. It's about making conscious choices that align with biblical wisdom, leading to a life of financial peace and the ability to generously support God's work. [01:05:01]
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" - Hebrews 13:5
Reflection: How can you incorporate biblical financial principles into your daily life to better reflect your commitment to discipleship?
Day 3: Worship Through Giving
Giving our first and best to God is an act of worship that demonstrates our trust in Him as our provider. It's not about fulfilling a legalistic requirement but about expressing our gratitude and prioritizing God above all else. When we give, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from God, and we show our willingness to be used by Him to bless others. This act of faith unleashes us from the love of money and aligns our hearts with God's heart for generosity. [01:15:01]
"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
Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to prioritize giving to God in your budget?
Day 4: Wise Stewardship and Foresight
Planning and saving are not only practical but also biblical. They are acts of wise stewardship that reflect a thoughtful approach to the resources God has entrusted to us. By being diligent and proactive, we can avoid financial emergencies and live with the foresight and wisdom that Scripture encourages. This approach allows us to be ready for opportunities to serve and give as God leads, without the hindrance of financial stress or debt. [01:29:01]
"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." - Proverbs 21:5
Reflection: What is one financial habit you can develop this month to improve your stewardship and planning for the future?
Day 5: Choosing Contentment and Gratitude
Contentment and gratitude are choices that lead to financial peace. In a world that constantly urges us to want more, choosing to be content with what God has provided is counter-cultural. It frees us from the endless cycle of desire and dissatisfaction. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to the abundance we already possess, allowing us to live joyfully and generously within our means. [01:39:01]
"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world." - 1 Timothy 6:6-7
Reflection: How can you practice contentment today, and what are three things you are grateful for that money cannot buy?
Quotes
"God will not bless unethical behavior. He will not bless you as a follower of his choosing to do completely opposite of what he teaches us to do in the basics, right, he won't bless that kind of behavior." [01:11:01] (Download | )
"Discipleship encompasses all of our lives. It's not just how much you know the Bible about whatever you want to pick, it encompasses, I would say it would encompass some of the biggest parts of our lives, which includes the way that we relate to money." [53:01] (Download | )
"God's word has to be the authority. Remember what we've learned about God's word in discipleship. What we know about God's word, it shows us the truth. It shows us what we really need to see." [01:05:01] (Download | )
"Maybe a wake-up moment for you. The very last thing is this is a big thing. You've got to choose. Wherever you are, you have to choose contentment and gratitude. It's choice." [01:39:01] (Download | )
"Jesus did not set us free from our sins so that we can be enslaved to something else. You didn't get set free by Jesus to be enslaved to something else that would shackle you." [58:01] (Download | )
"God loves to bless when we give first and best. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." [01:15:01] (Download | )
"We want to lead EBC to be one of the most generous churches of our generation. We want to give more away than we keep right here. We want the nations to call us blessed, because as we do that, do you realize? We've been called to make a difference." [01:20:01] (Download | )
"I got so upset with him, and I was angry with him, and can I tell you why I was angry with him? I was seeing in my son the very same patterns that got me into the place, that got me into the ditch where I led my family." [01:36:01] (Download | )
"It wasn't until I was in my 30s that somebody actually came along. We as a church started going through something called Crown Financial Ministries, and someone started to disciple me and show me what the Bible has to say about a lot of these things." [01:02:01] (Download | )
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