Stewardship Over Ownership: Finding Purpose in Wealth

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound relationship between our lives and our finances, drawing from one of Jesus' parables to illuminate the deeper truths about wealth and purpose. The parable of the rich man with an abundant harvest serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of living with a consumption mindset. This man, blessed with surplus, chose to hoard his wealth, believing it was all for his personal enjoyment. However, Jesus reveals a stark truth: life is not about accumulation but about being rich towards God.

The rich man's story is a mirror reflecting our own tendencies to accumulate and consume without considering the broader implications of our wealth. We often find ourselves with garages full of unused items, yet we continue to seek more. Jesus challenges this mindset by asking, "Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This question underscores the reality that our time is limited, and our wealth, if not used wisely, will ultimately benefit others, not by choice but by default.

The key to a meaningful life, as Jesus teaches, is to view money as a tool rather than an end in itself. Money can add meaning to our lives when used purposefully, aligning with our values and the greater good. The challenge is to shift from a mindset of ownership to one of stewardship, where we prioritize giving and saving over mere consumption. By doing so, we align our financial practices with our spiritual values, ensuring that our lives are a means to a greater end.

To live a life of significance, we must ask ourselves, "To what ends do you want your life to be a means?" This question invites us to consider what we want to be remembered for and what impact we wish to have. By giving from a grateful and broken heart, we can direct our resources towards causes that resonate with our values and address the needs that move us deeply. In doing so, we not only add meaning to our lives but also contribute to the well-being of others.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Danger of the Consumption Assumption: The parable of the rich man warns against the assumption that all we have is for our consumption. This mindset leads to a life focused on accumulation rather than meaningful contribution. Instead, we should view our resources as tools for greater purposes. [06:50]

2. Money as a Tool, Not a Master: Money can add meaning to our lives when used as a tool for good. It should not be the ultimate goal but a means to achieve greater ends. By prioritizing giving and saving, we align our financial practices with our spiritual values. [07:18]

3. The Question of Meaning: To live a life of significance, we must ask, "To what ends do you want your life to be a means?" This question challenges us to consider our legacy and the impact we wish to have, guiding us to use our resources purposefully. [08:22]

4. Giving from a Grateful and Broken Heart: By giving to organizations that we are grateful for and those that address needs that break our hearts, we ensure our resources are used meaningfully. This practice aligns our financial actions with our deepest values. [10:13]

5. Living as a Manager, Not an Owner: Embracing a stewardship mindset means living like a manager of our resources, not an owner. This perspective encourages us to give and save before spending, leading to peace and contentment in our financial lives. [12:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:06] - Money's Perspective
- [00:38] - Conversations with Money
- [01:28] - Realistic Expectations
- [02:42] - Managing Money
- [03:09] - The Parable Introduction
- [03:36] - The Rich Man's Dilemma
- [04:33] - The American Dream
- [04:58] - God's Surprising Response
- [05:29] - The Question of Legacy
- [06:16] - Total Loss Without Purpose
- [07:03] - Money as a Tool
- [07:48] - The Meaning Question
- [09:18] - Prioritizing Generosity
- [10:13] - Giving with Purpose
- [11:06] - The Ends of Your Life
- [12:06] - Final Reflections

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 12:16-21 (The Parable of the Rich Fool)
- Matthew 6:21 ("For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.")
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (Instructions to the Rich)

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Observation Questions:

1. In the parable of the rich man, what was his initial reaction to his abundant harvest, and what decision did he make regarding his surplus? [03:36]

2. How does Jesus describe the ultimate fate of the rich man, and what question does God pose to him? [05:12]

3. What does the sermon suggest is the common mistake people make regarding their wealth and possessions? [06:50]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the question, "To what ends do you want your life to be a means?" [07:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the parable of the rich man challenge the common perception of wealth as a sign of success and security? [04:58]

2. What does it mean to be "rich towards God," and how does this concept contrast with the rich man's approach to his wealth? [06:31]

3. How can viewing money as a tool rather than an end in itself change one's approach to financial decisions and priorities? [07:18]

4. What might it look like in practical terms to give from a "grateful and broken heart," as suggested in the sermon? [10:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current financial habits. Are there areas where you might be operating under a "consumption assumption"? How can you begin to shift towards a mindset of stewardship? [06:50]

2. Consider the question, "To what ends do you want your life to be a means?" What specific legacy or impact do you want to leave behind, and how can your financial decisions support this goal? [07:48]

3. Identify one organization or cause that you are grateful for and one that addresses a need that breaks your heart. How can you begin to support these causes financially, even in a small way? [10:13]

4. What steps can you take to prioritize giving and saving over spending in your financial planning? How might this change bring peace and contentment to your life? [12:06]

5. Think about a time when you felt the pressure to accumulate more possessions. How did that experience align with or contradict the teachings of Jesus in the parable? [04:33]

6. How can you ensure that your financial resources are used in a way that aligns with your spiritual values and contributes to the greater good? [07:18]

7. What practical changes can you make this week to live more like a manager of your resources rather than an owner? [12:06]

Devotional

Day 1: The Consumption Assumption: A Path to Emptiness
The parable of the rich man with an abundant harvest serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of a consumption-focused mindset. This man, blessed with more than he needed, chose to hoard his wealth for personal enjoyment, failing to consider the broader implications of his actions. Jesus challenges this mindset by asking, "Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This question highlights the reality that our time is limited, and if we do not use our wealth wisely, it will ultimately benefit others by default, not by choice. The key takeaway is to view our resources as tools for greater purposes, rather than mere accumulation. By shifting our focus from ownership to stewardship, we can ensure that our financial practices align with our spiritual values and contribute to a meaningful life. [06:50]

Luke 12:15-21 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.' And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, "What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?" And he said, "I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself accumulating more than you need? How can you begin to use these resources for a greater purpose today?


Day 2: Money as a Tool for Greater Ends
Money, when viewed as a tool rather than a master, can add significant meaning to our lives. It should not be the ultimate goal but a means to achieve greater ends. By prioritizing giving and saving over mere consumption, we align our financial practices with our spiritual values. This shift in perspective encourages us to use our resources purposefully, ensuring that they contribute to the greater good. The challenge is to move from a mindset of ownership to one of stewardship, where we see ourselves as managers of our resources, not owners. This approach leads to peace and contentment in our financial lives, as we focus on what truly matters. [07:18]

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV): "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 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: In what ways can you use your financial resources as a tool for good this week? Identify one specific action you can take to align your spending with your spiritual values.


Day 3: The Question of Legacy and Meaning
To live a life of significance, we must ask ourselves, "To what ends do you want your life to be a means?" This question challenges us to consider our legacy and the impact we wish to have on the world. By reflecting on what we want to be remembered for, we can use our resources purposefully, directing them towards causes that resonate with our values and address the needs that move us deeply. This intentional approach not only adds meaning to our lives but also contributes to the well-being of others, ensuring that our legacy is one of positive impact and significance. [08:22]

Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 (ESV): "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart."

Reflection: What do you want to be remembered for at the end of your life? Identify one step you can take today to begin building that legacy.


Day 4: Giving from a Grateful and Broken Heart
By giving to organizations and causes that we are grateful for and those that address needs that break our hearts, we ensure that our resources are used meaningfully. This practice aligns our financial actions with our deepest values, allowing us to contribute to the greater good. Giving from a grateful and broken heart means recognizing the blessings we have received and using them to bless others. It is an act of stewardship that reflects our commitment to living a life of significance and purpose, as we seek to make a positive impact on the world around us. [10:13]

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: What is one cause or organization that you feel deeply grateful for or moved by? How can you support them this week, either financially or through other means?


Day 5: Living as a Manager, Not an Owner
Embracing a stewardship mindset means living like a manager of our resources, not an owner. This perspective encourages us to give and save before spending, leading to peace and contentment in our financial lives. By viewing ourselves as stewards, we recognize that everything we have is a gift from God, entrusted to us for a purpose. This mindset shift allows us to prioritize generosity and intentionality in our financial decisions, ensuring that our resources are used for the greater good and aligned with our spiritual values. [12:06]

Psalm 24:1-2 (ESV): "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers."

Reflection: How can you begin to view your financial resources as something you manage rather than own? Identify one practical step you can take to embrace a stewardship mindset in your daily life.

Quotes

"Here's what he said, he said, 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.' So let's stop right there, here's a rich guy who now has even more wealth because the ground produced an abundant harvest. The ground which, by the way, he had no control over." [00:03:21]

"Jesus continues, the rich man thought to himself, 'What shall I do?' I mean this was a problem, right? 'What shall I do, I have no place to store my crops.' And then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and I will build bigger barns and there I will store my,' notice the word, surplus, 'my extra, grain.'" [00:03:36]

"Then and listen to this question, 'Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' In other words, you are out of time even though even though you're not out of grain. You are out of time even though you're not out of money. And that's gonna be the story for most of us, isn't it?" [00:05:19]

"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God. Jesus is not teaching against preparing for the future. Here's what Jesus is saying, he's saying this is how it will be for anyone who only prepares for their future and is not rich towards God." [00:06:31]

"Money said, 'I can add meaning to your life but I'm not the meaning of life.' I can add meaning to your life and that's the right lens. That's how we should view our money. Money can add meaning to our life because money is a tool and when we use money as a tool, it adds meaning to our life." [00:07:08]

"So here's the question I mentioned up top. The one at first glance seems to have nothing to do with money. Here it is, to what ends do you want your life to be a means? To what ends do you want your life to be a means? If something is not a means to an end, it has no meaning." [00:07:42]

"Give from a grateful heart, and from a broken heart. Here's how that works. Choose an organization that you're really grateful for. You're grateful because of what it's done for you and your family and then give a portion of your giving money there first. Your local church, your kids school, whatever it might be." [00:09:51]

"Then choose an organization or two that address a need that breaks your heart. For Sandra and I those are organizations that support foster care and foster kids. For you it may be an organization that does something overseas or maybe a local hospital or a non-profit committed to curing a particular disease." [00:10:11]

"Now giving first may sound crazy. And from a certain perspective, it is crazy. But it's a better version of crazy than spending everything on you and having nothing to show for it in the end, right? Crazy is living as if your life consisted in the accumulation of stuff and of wealth." [00:10:46]

"So, one more time, to what ends do you want your life to be a means? You should know the answer to that question before you spend yourself into a position where you can't address what matters most to you. Skip that question, and you'll just follow your money. You'll settle for me first living with a little left over giving." [00:11:06]

"But when you identify and embrace your answer to our big question, your money will follow. You'll begin to view everything you own, everything that comes your way as a tool you can use to add meaning to your life and meaning to the lives of others as well. So come on, let's get this right." [00:11:37]

"What you choose to do with me speaks volumes about who and whose you are. So I hope you'll live like a manager not an owner. I hope you'll give and save before you'll live and in the process, I hope you'll discover the peace and contentment Jesus talked about when Jesus talked about money." [00:12:13]

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Transcript
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