Stewardship: Trusting God Over Material Wealth

Devotional

Day 1: Trust in the Lord as Your Strong Tower

In a world where material possessions and wealth can easily fade away, the name of the Lord stands as a steadfast refuge. Trusting in worldly things like horses or chariots can lead to disappointment, but placing your trust in the Lord offers safety and stability. This trust is a testimony of faith that transcends material wealth, reminding us that God is our constant refuge amidst life's uncertainties. [47:06]

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying on material possessions for security? How can you begin to shift your trust to the Lord today?

Day 2: Faithfulness in Small Things

Stewardship begins with being faithful in small things. It's not about the size of the task but the integrity with which we handle it. Being honest and reliable in minor tasks prepares us for greater responsibilities. This principle challenges us to be precise in what seems petty, as faithfulness in small matters is a testament to our ability to handle larger ones. [49:11]

"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." (Luke 16:10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a small task or responsibility in your life. How can you approach it with greater faithfulness and integrity today?

Day 3: God's Blessings Without Strings

God's blessings come without strings attached, enriching our lives without sorrow. True blessings do not require compromising our values. Recognizing this allows us to manage our desires and resources responsibly, understanding that everything belongs to Him. Our reliability in small matters reveals our level of responsibility and faithfulness. [53:23]

"The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10:22, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent blessing in your life. How can you ensure that you honor God with it, without compromising your values?

Day 4: Reliability and Responsibility

Our reliability in small matters reveals our level of responsibility. Faithfulness is a requirement, not perfection. How we manage what we have reflects our trustworthiness and readiness for more. This principle encourages us to be generous, not just for personal gain, but to be a blessing to others, embodying the spirit of giving that reflects God's love. [01:01:07]

"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area where you can be more reliable. What steps can you take today to demonstrate greater responsibility and trustworthiness?

Day 5: Choosing Whom to Serve

While success and money are not inherently wrong, they should not be our masters. True fulfillment and peace come from a relationship with God, not from material possessions. This message calls us to choose whom we will serve—God or material wealth. It is a reminder that our ultimate satisfaction is found in God, who provides peace and contentment beyond material possessions. [01:10:05]

"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: Reflect on your priorities. Are there areas where material wealth is taking precedence over your relationship with God? How can you realign your focus today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that while material wealth and possessions may fade, the name of the Lord remains a steadfast refuge. We are reminded that our trust should not be in worldly things like horses or chariots, but in the name of the Lord, which is a strong tower for the righteous. This is a call to recognize the sacredness of our gathering and the importance of hearing from God amidst the noise of the world.

The central theme revolves around stewardship and the question, "What's your limit?" We delved into Luke 16:10-13, which emphasizes the importance of being faithful in small things as a precursor to being entrusted with greater responsibilities. The story of a man tempted by lucrative offers to misuse his yacht serves as a metaphor for the temptations we face in life. It highlights the need to know our limits and resist the allure of easy gains that compromise our integrity.

We are reminded that God's blessings come without strings attached, and true stewardship involves managing our desires and resources responsibly. The message challenges us to be precise in what seems petty, as faithfulness in small matters is a testament to our ability to handle larger ones. It is not about the amount we have but how we manage it, reflecting our discipline and reliability.

Furthermore, the sermon underscores the importance of honoring God with what we have, recognizing that everything belongs to Him. Our reliability in small things reveals our level of responsibility and faithfulness. We are encouraged to be generous, not just for personal gain, but to be a blessing to others, embodying the spirit of giving that reflects God's love.

Ultimately, the message calls us to choose whom we will serve—God or material wealth. It is a reminder that while success and money are not inherently wrong, they should not be our masters. True fulfillment comes from a relationship with God, who provides peace and contentment beyond material possessions.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust in the Lord as a constant refuge, not in worldly possessions. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, offering safety and stability when everything else is shaky. This trust is a testimony of faith that transcends material wealth. [47:06]
2. Stewardship begins with faithfulness in small things. Being honest and reliable in minor tasks prepares us for greater responsibilities. It's not about the size of the task but the integrity with which we handle it. [49:11]
3. God's blessings come without strings attached. When God blesses us, it is with the intention of enriching our lives without sorrow. We must recognize that true blessings do not require compromising our values. [53:23]
4. Our reliability in small matters reveals our level of responsibility. Faithfulness is a requirement, not perfection. How we manage what we have reflects our trustworthiness and readiness for more. [61:07]
5. Choose whom you will serve—God or material wealth. While success and money are not wrong, they should not be our masters. True fulfillment and peace come from a relationship with God, not from material possessions. [01:10:05]
** [70:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:06] - Trust in the Name of the Lord
[47:38] - Seeking God's Word
[48:24] - Honoring Leadership
[48:37] - Under New Management
[49:11] - Faithfulness in Small Things
[50:19] - The Temptation of Easy Gains
[52:23] - Stewarding Desires
[53:23] - God's Blessings Without Strings
[54:10] - The Mindset of Stewardship
[55:12] - Precision in the Petty
[57:06] - No Recession in the Kingdom
[60:05] - Honoring God in Small Things
[61:07] - Reliability and Responsibility
[70:05] - Choosing Whom to Serve

Sermon Clips

today that when gold Fades when silver loses its value your name is a constant reminder that some trust in horses some trust in chariots but our testimony is we will trust in the name of the Lord for the name of the Lord our God is a strong tower the righteous run in and are saved thank you for being a place of safety for us when everything around us is shaky thank you for being a firm foundation and God thank you for this Sacred Space called the Luke church [00:47:06]

Jesus went on to make these comments if you're honest in small things you'll be honest in big things if you're a crook in small things you'll be a crook in big things if you're not honest in small jobs who will put you in charge of the store no worker can serve two bosses he'll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second you can't serve both God and the bank [00:49:11]

when God blesses us hear me if you fall asleep in this sermon if you don't miss anything else here's what I need to tell you when God blesses you He blesses us with no strings attached if the Bible is true that the blessings of the Lord make you rich and add if no sorrow when God opens a door when God blesses you with a bag when God does something for you you won't have to politic or pay for you [00:53:23]

here's the thing we are not owners but responsible managers I'll be honest this passage challenged me because we walk around here talking about we're the plug and there's nothing wrong with being blessed and balling but at the end of the day you and I don't own anything everything we have is because God has trusted us to be managers uh you don't even on the body that you have it's literally a rental [00:54:10]

we must be precise with what appears to be Petty let me say that again we got to be precise in what appears to be Petty watch the text if you are faithful in the small things then you can be trusted with the big things the the testing of stewardship does not start with your money it starts with the minor moments the small task [00:55:12]

now if we be honest um most of us don't have a resource problem we have a discipline problem let let me say it again most of us don't have a resource problem we have a discipline problem and let me just say I am not insensitive to what's happening in our economy but news flash because you and I are children of God hear me there is no recession in the Kingdom [00:57:06]

your reliability reveals the level of your responsibility it's in the text um he says if if you cannot manage the small things you will not be able to be put in charge of the store people say money don't change you they ain't never had none people let let me let me just say this money changes you but if it doesn't change you it will reveal who you really are [01:01:07]

when you consider all that God has done for you and it's not always about materialistic things sometimes you get it back in peace sometimes it comes back in a good night's sleep sometimes it comes back in doors being open for you that you couldn't make happen for yourself sometimes it looks like loan payoffs when you know you should have been paying that money back [01:03:27]

everything we have belongs to God let me say it again everything that that car you drive belongs to him that that house you live in I know you sign for but God was the co-signer the job you still have as much as you've been late belongs to God and the only reason some of us have what we have is not because your credit was so good or you had the income it's because his name was on it [01:04:18]

you honor God by showing up to your job on time and doing what you're supposed to do you honor God by respecting the partner you've been blessed with you honor God by covering and caring for your children you honor God by paying your mortgage and rent on time you honor God uh by managing your finances watch this not so that you can just get the bag and keep it for yourself [01:05:08]

no man or woman can serve two masters which means there Comes A Time in your life where you've got to choose which side you going to be on either you going to serve the bag or believe that God has all you need now now watch this church it didn't say you can't have both it says you can't serve both okay y'all don't leave me out here by myself [01:10:05]

there comes a season in your life where you brag on trying to secure the bag and get all the money you can succeed in your professional career as much as you want but you will hit a wall and discover that you got all the money all the square footage and lonely and unfulfilled you don't believe me look at all that square footage that Michael Jackson had when he died and he needed medicine to go to sleep [01:10:45]

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