Stewardship: Living Responsibly with God's Gifts

 

Summary

In today's gathering at Atkinville United Methodist Church, we explored the profound concept of stewardship, a theme that transcends the traditional confines of financial giving. We began by acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God, and our role is to be responsible stewards of these gifts. This stewardship is not limited to the church's needs but extends to how we live our lives in alignment with God's purpose. John Wesley's teachings on money provide a framework for this: earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can. These principles guide us in using our resources wisely and ethically, ensuring that our pursuit of wealth does not harm ourselves or others.

Wesley's first rule, "earn all you can," encourages us to engage in honest labor without compromising our health, spirituality, or relationships. It's a call to balance ambition with integrity. The second rule, "save all you can," challenges us to live modestly, avoiding unnecessary expenditures that do not contribute to our well-being or God's kingdom. This is not about hoarding wealth but about discerning what is truly necessary for a fulfilling life. The final rule, "give all you can," reminds us that our financial resources are tools for building God's kingdom. Giving is not just about meeting a percentage but about aligning our entire financial life with God's will.

We are reminded that money itself is not evil; it is a tool that can either serve God's purposes or become an idol. Our challenge is to use this tool wisely, ensuring that it supports our calling and the community around us. As stewards, we are entrusted with God's gifts to further His work on earth, and this requires prayerful consideration of how we earn, save, and give. Let us commit to being faithful stewards, using our resources to reflect God's love and grace in the world.

Key Takeaways:

- Stewardship Beyond Finances: Stewardship is about more than financial contributions to the church; it encompasses how we live our lives in accordance with God's purpose. We are called to be responsible stewards of all that God has given us, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from Him. [09:09]

- Earning with Integrity: John Wesley's principle of "earn all you can" encourages us to pursue honest labor without compromising our health, spirituality, or relationships. It's a call to balance ambition with integrity, ensuring that our pursuit of wealth does not harm ourselves or others. [31:36]

- Living Modestly: "Save all you can" challenges us to live modestly, avoiding unnecessary expenditures that do not contribute to our well-being or God's kingdom. This principle is about discerning what is truly necessary for a fulfilling life and resisting societal pressures to accumulate more. [36:00]

- Generosity as a Lifestyle: "Give all you can" reminds us that our financial resources are tools for building God's kingdom. Giving is not just about meeting a percentage but about aligning our entire financial life with God's will, ensuring that our resources reflect His love and grace. [39:01]

- Money as a Tool, Not an Idol: Money itself is not evil; it is a tool that can either serve God's purposes or become an idol. Our challenge is to use this tool wisely, ensuring that it supports our calling and the community around us, rather than becoming an object of worship. [43:00]

YouTube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [09:09] - Introduction to Worship
- [12:00] - Call to Worship
- [15:00] - Opening Prayer
- [18:00] - Hymn: Blessed Assurance
- [21:00] - Introduction to Stewardship
- [25:00] - John Wesley's 22 Questions
- [31:36] - Earning with Integrity
- [36:00] - Living Modestly
- [39:01] - Generosity as a Lifestyle
- [43:00] - Money as a Tool, Not an Idol
- [49:12] - Prayer and Confession
- [51:35] - Community Prayers
- [55:00] - The Lord's Prayer
- [58:00] - Announcements and Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Stewardship and John Wesley's Teachings

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:25-34 - "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"
2. 1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
3. Luke 16:13 - "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."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 6:25-34 suggest about God's provision for our needs? How does this relate to the concept of stewardship discussed in the sermon? [31:36]
2. According to the sermon, how does John Wesley's principle of "earn all you can" balance ambition with integrity? [31:36]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between saving money and living modestly according to Wesley's teachings? [36:00]
4. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the idea that money can become an idol if not used wisely? [43:00]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the teachings in Matthew 6:25-34 challenge modern concerns about financial security and material needs? [31:36]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Wesley's rule to "save all you can" is about more than just financial savings? [36:00]
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of "giving all you can" in the context of building God's kingdom? [39:01]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of prayer in financial decision-making and stewardship? [49:12]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current financial practices. Are there areas where you might be prioritizing money over your health, spirituality, or relationships? How can you adjust these priorities? [31:36]
2. Consider your spending habits. Are there unnecessary expenditures that you could cut back on to live more modestly? What steps can you take to align your spending with God's purpose? [36:00]
3. How can you incorporate prayer into your financial decisions to ensure they align with God's will? What specific financial decision can you pray about this week? [49:12]
4. Think about your approach to generosity. How can you move beyond a percentage-based giving model to one that reflects your entire financial life being aligned with God's will? [39:01]
5. Identify a way you can use your financial resources to support your community or church this month. What specific action will you take to make this happen? [43:00]
6. Reflect on a time when money became an idol in your life. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? What changes can you make to prevent this from happening again? [43:00]
7. How can you ensure that your pursuit of earning money does not harm your neighbor or community? What practical steps can you take to earn with integrity? [31:36]

Devotional

Day 1: Stewardship as a Holistic Life Approach
Stewardship is a comprehensive approach to life that extends beyond financial contributions to the church. It involves recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God and calls us to be responsible stewards of these gifts. This means living our lives in alignment with God's purpose, acknowledging that our time, talents, and resources are entrusted to us for His glory. By embracing this holistic view of stewardship, we can ensure that every aspect of our lives reflects our commitment to God's kingdom. [09:09]

"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life can you better recognize and honor God's gifts, and how can you begin to steward them more faithfully today?


Day 2: Integrity in Earning
John Wesley's principle of "earn all you can" emphasizes the importance of engaging in honest labor without compromising one's health, spirituality, or relationships. This principle calls for a balance between ambition and integrity, ensuring that the pursuit of wealth does not harm oneself or others. By maintaining this balance, individuals can work diligently and ethically, contributing positively to society while honoring God in their professional endeavors. [31:36]

"Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice." (Proverbs 16:8, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your work life where you feel pressured to compromise your values? How can you uphold integrity in those situations starting today?


Day 3: Modesty in Living
The principle of "save all you can" challenges individuals to live modestly, avoiding unnecessary expenditures that do not contribute to their well-being or God's kingdom. This is not about hoarding wealth but about discerning what is truly necessary for a fulfilling life. By resisting societal pressures to accumulate more, individuals can focus on what truly matters and live in a way that reflects their values and priorities. [36:00]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can simplify or cut back on unnecessary spending to better align with your values?


Day 4: Generosity as a Lifestyle
"Give all you can" is a reminder that financial resources are tools for building God's kingdom. This principle encourages individuals to align their entire financial life with God's will, ensuring that their resources reflect His love and grace. Generosity is not just about meeting a percentage but about adopting a lifestyle that prioritizes giving and serving others as an expression of faith. [39:01]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate acts of generosity into your daily routine, and who in your life could benefit from your giving today?


Day 5: Money as a Tool, Not an Idol
Money itself is not evil; it is a tool that can either serve God's purposes or become an idol. The challenge is to use this tool wisely, ensuring that it supports one's calling and the community around them, rather than becoming an object of worship. By viewing money as a means to further God's work on earth, individuals can make financial decisions that honor God and reflect His priorities. [43:00]

"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." (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways might money be taking a central place in your life, and how can you reorient your perspective to see it as a tool for God's purposes?

Quotes

"All that we are is a gift from God. The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it. All that we have is a gift from God, the world, and the world. And those who live in it. There are no words to describe the wonders of God's creation. For God has founded it on the seas." [00:10:18] (22 seconds)


"John Wesley in his 22 questions that he would meditate on daily one of his questions was do I pray about all of the money I spend do I pray about all the money I spend and as a useful tool that one's a pretty hard question to answer or to to reconcile within ourselves do we pray about all the money we spend" [00:25:19] (29 seconds)


"Jesus is telling his disciples what is or asking his disciples what is your focus what is our focus what is the purpose of our being here at all and he ends that section of teaching with do the birds of the field not have enough to eat are the grasses of the field not clothed in wondrous raiment how much more will God care about you so do not worry about what you will eat or what you will eat or what you will wear worry instead about the kingdom of God" [00:26:17] (44 seconds)


"John Wesley there are a lot of places where he comes up with three rules for something do all the good you can't do no harm do good and tend to the ordinances of God that's a John Wesley set of three rules for life but Wesley came up with three rules for money the first is earn all you can which is I think a surprising rule when we think about kind of our life as Christians" [00:30:02] (28 seconds)


"Earn all you can without hurting your neighbor in body mind or soul if you're earning causes your neighbor to somehow fall short it is outside of what Wesley and who God calls us to be. For Wesley, this included things like selling spiritist liquor and running gambling establishments or brothels. I don't think any of us are quite there. Hopefully." [00:31:36] (36 seconds)


"And while savings accounts and bank accounts existed for Wesley, what he was focusing on when he said save all you can was don't spend money you don't need to spend. Live modest lives. Not live joyless lives. Not live lives that are completely devoid of comfort. But live modest lives. Get... Purchase those things that are needful for health, and for strength." [00:34:17] (38 seconds)


"So often we try to keep up with what we think we need that we never quite take that step back and say, what is needful for me? What is needful for my family? What does my family, what do I, what does the church, what does my community actually need to be whole, to be complete, to feel the love of God?" [00:37:04] (27 seconds)


"Money is a tool. If we spend all of our time amassing it, and looking at it, and thinking it's the best thing in the world, if we spend all of our time pulling it together, comparing how much we have to someone else, if we spend all of our time thinking about how much money other people have, and saying, well, they must be better than me because they have more money, it stops being a tool and starts being, an idol." [00:42:19] (31 seconds)


"That's how do we, we live in and for the kingdom of god here and now how do we use the tools at our disposal to build the lives that god has called us to to live the lives that god has called us to to build the community that god has called us to live in and those three rules are still good rules wesley may have had different conceptions of what the economy around him looked like than our reality but to earn all you can save all you can and give all you can are still good guidelines for us to sit down and consider how am i using the tools at my disposal to live the live life that god has called me to live" [00:43:00] (59 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?