Stewardship: Aligning Finances with Spiritual Values
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound relationship between our finances and our spiritual lives. Money, often seen as a mere tool for transactions, is actually a significant test of our values, trust, and stewardship. It reveals what we love most, as our spending habits reflect our priorities. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6 not to store treasures on Earth but to invest in heavenly treasures, indicating that where our treasure is, our heart will follow. This principle challenges us to examine our financial decisions and align them with our spiritual goals.
Money also tests what we trust most. Are we relying on our wealth for security and happiness, or are we placing our trust in God? Proverbs 11:28 warns that trusting in riches leads to downfall, while trusting in God leads to flourishing. This is a call to evaluate our spiritual health through the lens of our financial management.
Furthermore, money is a tool that God uses to test if He can trust us with more. Our ability to manage material wealth is directly linked to receiving spiritual blessings. Jesus emphasizes that faithful management of worldly wealth is a prerequisite for being entrusted with true riches. This perspective encourages us to view money as a tool for God's purposes, not as an end in itself.
The best use of money, as Jesus teaches, is to invest in relationships that have eternal significance. By using our resources to help others know Christ, we are storing up treasures in heaven. This eternal perspective shifts our focus from temporary gains to lasting impact.
Finally, we are reminded that one day we will give an account to God for how we used our resources. This accountability extends beyond finances to include our talents, opportunities, and relationships. The principle of faithfulness in small things leading to greater blessings is a powerful motivator to steward all that God has entrusted to us wisely.
Key Takeaways:
- Money as a Reflection of Love: Our financial habits reveal our true priorities. By examining where we allocate our time and money, we can discern what we genuinely love and value. Jesus teaches that our heart follows our treasure, urging us to invest in eternal, not earthly, treasures. [00:55]
- Trust and Security: Money tests our trust. Are we relying on wealth for security, or do we trust God to provide? Proverbs 11:28 highlights the danger of trusting in riches, encouraging us to place our faith in God for true flourishing. [02:16]
- Stewardship and Trustworthiness: God uses money to test if He can trust us with more. Faithful management of material wealth is essential for receiving spiritual blessings. This challenges us to view money as a tool for God's purposes, not as an end in itself. [04:51]
- Eternal Investments: The best use of money is to invest in relationships that have eternal significance. By using our resources to help others know Christ, we store up treasures in heaven, shifting our focus from temporary gains to lasting impact. [14:03]
- Accountability and Stewardship: One day, we will give an account to God for how we used our resources. This accountability extends beyond finances to include our talents, opportunities, and relationships. Faithfulness in small things leads to greater blessings. [17:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Money Tests What We Love
- [00:39] - Treasures in Heaven
- [01:47] - Trust and Security
- [03:01] - Can God Trust You?
- [04:23] - Trustworthy with Worldly Wealth
- [06:09] - Connection Between Money and Maturity
- [07:14] - Money as a Tool
- [08:12] - Love People, Use Money
- [09:25] - Lessons from the Dishonest Manager
- [10:15] - Planning and Acting Quickly
- [11:51] - Taking the Long View
- [13:46] - Best Use of Money
- [16:17] - Giving an Account to God
- [18:25] - Faithfulness with Little
- [20:08] - Abundance Through Faithfulness
- [21:15] - Personal Evaluation and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
2. Proverbs 11:28 - "Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."
3. Luke 16:10-12 - "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. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:19-21, what does Jesus say about where we should store our treasures, and why? [00:39]
2. How does Proverbs 11:28 describe the outcome of trusting in riches versus trusting in God? [02:16]
3. In Luke 16:10-12, what is the relationship between being trustworthy with worldly wealth and being entrusted with true riches? [04:23]
4. What are the three things that money tests according to the sermon? [00:10]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might storing treasures in heaven, as mentioned in Matthew 6, change a person's financial priorities and decisions? [00:55]
2. What does it mean to trust in God rather than riches, and how can this trust manifest in daily life? [02:16]
3. How does the concept of stewardship in Luke 16 challenge individuals to view their financial resources? [04:51]
4. Why might God use money as a tool to test our trustworthiness, and what implications does this have for spiritual growth? [06:09]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spending habits. What do they reveal about your priorities and what you love most? How can you align them more closely with storing treasures in heaven? [00:55]
2. Consider a time when you relied on wealth for security. How did that experience compare to times when you trusted God for your needs? [02:16]
3. What steps can you take to become a more faithful steward of the resources God has entrusted to you? [04:51]
4. Identify a relationship or community need where you can invest your resources for eternal significance. How will you take action on this in the coming week? [14:03]
5. How can you prepare for the day when you will give an account to God for your stewardship? What changes might you need to make now? [17:16]
6. Think of a specific way you can use your financial resources to help someone know Christ. What is one action you can take this month to make that happen? [14:03]
7. Evaluate your current financial plan. Does it reflect a long-term view that includes spiritual goals? What adjustments can you make to ensure it does? [11:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Money as a Mirror of the Heart
Our financial habits are a reflection of our true priorities and values. By examining where we allocate our time and money, we can discern what we genuinely love and value. Jesus teaches that our heart follows our treasure, urging us to invest in eternal, not earthly, treasures. This principle challenges us to examine our financial decisions and align them with our spiritual goals. It is a call to shift our focus from accumulating wealth for personal gain to using it as a means to further God's kingdom. [00:55]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Consider your recent spending habits. What do they reveal about your priorities and values? How can you begin to align your financial decisions with your spiritual goals today?
Day 2: Trusting God Over Wealth
Money tests our trust. Are we relying on wealth for security, or do we trust God to provide? Proverbs 11:28 highlights the danger of trusting in riches, encouraging us to place our faith in God for true flourishing. This is a call to evaluate our spiritual health through the lens of our financial management. It challenges us to consider whether we are placing our trust in temporary wealth or in the eternal security that comes from God. [02:16]
Proverbs 11:28 (ESV): "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt anxious about your financial situation. How did you respond? What steps can you take to place your trust more fully in God rather than in your financial security?
Day 3: Faithful Stewardship of Resources
God uses money to test if He can trust us with more. Faithful management of material wealth is essential for receiving spiritual blessings. This challenges us to view money as a tool for God's purposes, not as an end in itself. Our ability to manage material wealth is directly linked to receiving spiritual blessings, and Jesus emphasizes that faithful management of worldly wealth is a prerequisite for being entrusted with true riches. [04:51]
Luke 16:10-11 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?"
Reflection: Think about a recent financial decision you made. How did you approach it? What would it look like to manage your resources as a faithful steward for God's purposes?
Day 4: Investing in Eternal Relationships
The best use of money is to invest in relationships that have eternal significance. By using our resources to help others know Christ, we store up treasures in heaven, shifting our focus from temporary gains to lasting impact. This eternal perspective encourages us to prioritize relationships and opportunities that have lasting spiritual value over those that are fleeting and temporary. [14:03]
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (ESV): "They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
Reflection: Identify one relationship in your life that you can invest in for eternal significance. How can you use your resources to help this person know Christ better?
Day 5: Accountability Before God
One day, we will give an account to God for how we used our resources. This accountability extends beyond finances to include our talents, opportunities, and relationships. The principle of faithfulness in small things leading to greater blessings is a powerful motivator to steward all that God has entrusted to us wisely. It reminds us that our actions and decisions have eternal consequences and that we are called to be faithful stewards of all that we have been given. [17:16]
Romans 14:12 (ESV): "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."
Reflection: Reflect on how you are currently using your resources, talents, and opportunities. What changes can you make to ensure that you are being a faithful steward in all areas of your life?
Quotes
"God's favorite tool to test you listen is finances it tests all kinds of in fact it tests three things write these down number one money tests it shows what I love most how I spend my money shows reveals to God and everybody else what I love most now whatever you love most is what you're going to give your most time to and you're going to give your most money to." [00:00:00]
"Money shows what I really trust most it shows what I have faith in am I trusting in my money for security or am I trusting in God for my security am I trusting in money for my happiness or am I trusting in God for my happiness am I trusting in money for my fulfillment to make me feel good about me or am I trusting in God to make me feel good about me it shows what I trust most it's the acid test of faith." [00:01:47]
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much when God's looking at you can I can I trust you to give you more or not whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much and who's ever irresponsible obviously with little or be irresponsible much if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth Circle that phrase trustworthy in handling worldly wealth." [00:04:23]
"Money is a tool money is a tool to be used for God's purposes you say what do you mean money is a tool doesn't the Bible say money is the root of all evil no it does not say that it says the love of money is the root of all evil not money but the love of money is the root of all evil okay money is neither good nor bad right nor wrong it's just there." [00:07:14]
"The best use of money is to use it to get people into heaven the best use of my money is to use it getting people into heaven now let me read this is the most problem verse people don't understand verse 9 Jesus says I tell you use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves he's talking about building relationships so that when it is gone they will welcome you into your Eternal dwelling." [00:13:46]
"One day I'll give an account to God one day there's going to be an audit on my life how I use not just my money but everything that God gave me what did you do with what you were given your talent your relationships your opportunities your mind your creativity your contacts your networks what did you do with what God gave you now it doesn't really matter whether you got a lot or a little." [00:16:17]
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with little will be dishonest with much and obviously whoever is irresponsible with little but will be irresponsible with much are you using your money and such a way that God says man I want to give them more are you using your time in such a way are you using your influence this principle applies to every area." [00:18:25]
"To those who use well what they are given even more will be given and they will have what I want as your pastor who loves you I want you to have that abundance in every area of your life but you got to use what you've been given faithfulness in little ways produce fruitfulness in big ways most of you know that when I wrote purpose-driven Life it became the bestselling book in the world for four years." [00:20:08]
"Does God really have first place in my life or is something else first place in my life can God trust me with what he's allowed me to have am I managing my money well am I managing my opportunities well am I managing my life well am I managing my health well or every everything else God has given me does the way that I'm using my money show God that I can be trusted with more." [00:21:15]
"God I want what I do with my money to show that I love you the most and I want what I do with my money to show that I trust you for security not my bank account and God I want you to look at the way I'm using my life and my money and know that you can trust me with greater responsibility help me to remember that money is just a tool while many people use it for bad I want to use it for good and for God." [00:23:59]
"Help me to do what this manager did right help me to look ahead help me to make a plan help me to act quickly and not procrastinate Lord Lord you've said from your own words that the best use of money is to help get people into heaven so that that's storing up treasure in heaven Lord I I I want to use some of my money to do that I know that one day I'll give an account to you for how I used my life." [00:24:59]
"Jesus Christ I don't understand it all but as much as I know how I ask you to come into my life I want a relationship with you not a religion but I want to learn to know you and love you and serve you and feel your love and I pray this in Jesus name amen today I want to ask you to join with daily hope as we focus on fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ you know sharing Jesus with others is the most important thing you can do." [00:27:59]
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