Stewardship: Using Wealth and Power for Good
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound relationship between money, wealth, and power, and how these elements are tools that can be used for good or evil, depending on our character and intentions. We delved into the parable from Luke 16, which has long been a source of confusion and contemplation for many, including myself. This parable, which involves a dishonest manager, challenges us to rethink our understanding of wealth and its purpose. The manager, despite his initial wrongdoing, is commended for his shrewdness in using his position to secure his future. This story illustrates that wealth is not inherently evil; rather, it is a tool that can be used to bless others and invest in the future.
The key takeaway from this parable is the importance of using our resources wisely. The dishonest manager's actions, though ethically questionable, highlight the necessity of thinking beyond immediate gratification and considering the long-term impact of our financial decisions. This aligns with the biblical principle that everything we have is ultimately God's, and we are merely stewards of His resources. Our responsibility is to use these resources to further His kingdom and bless those around us.
Furthermore, we discussed the concept of power, not just in terms of financial wealth, but also in character and influence. True power comes from the ability to affect change and influence others positively. Our character plays a crucial role in this, as it determines how we wield the power and resources entrusted to us. The Bible emphasizes character more than wealth, underscoring the importance of integrity and righteousness in our dealings.
In conclusion, the message encourages us to seek wisdom in managing our resources, to invest in eternal rewards, and to partner with God in His work on earth. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience the blessings that come from faithful stewardship.
Key Takeaways:
1. Wealth as a Tool: Wealth is not inherently evil; it is a tool that can be used for good or evil. Our responsibility is to use it wisely, investing in the future and blessing others, rather than solely for personal gain. [46:51]
2. Character and Power: True power comes from character and integrity. The Bible emphasizes the importance of character over wealth, as it determines how we use the power and resources entrusted to us. [48:45]
3. Stewardship and Responsibility: Everything we have is ultimately God's, and we are stewards of His resources. Our responsibility is to use these resources to further His kingdom and bless those around us. [54:45]
4. Investing in Eternal Rewards: By using our earthly wealth to invest in eternal rewards, we align ourselves with God's purposes and experience the blessings that come from faithful stewardship. [01:00:13]
5. Partnership with God: Partnering with God in His work on earth involves using our resources to support His mission and bless others. This partnership leads to greater influence and blessings in our lives. [01:15:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [41:46] - Addressing the Scam Email
- [43:26] - Introduction to Money, Wealth, and Power
- [46:51] - The Morality of Money
- [48:45] - Understanding Power
- [50:10] - The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
- [51:09] - Wrestling with the Parable
- [53:06] - Insights from Recent Studies
- [54:45] - The Purpose of Wealth
- [56:02] - Stewardship and Responsibility
- [57:28] - Investing Wisely
- [58:54] - The Heart of Giving
- [01:00:13] - Earthly Wealth and Eternal Rewards
- [01:03:49] - Testimonies of Giving
- [01:05:00] - The Supernatural Power of Giving
- [01:07:53] - The Role of Wealth in God's Kingdom
- [01:09:28] - Faithfulness in Stewardship
- [01:11:58] - National Influence and Partnership
- [01:15:09] - Being Faithful with What We Have
- [01:17:12] - Serving God through Partnership
- [01:20:19] - The Heart of Partnership
- [01:25:00] - The Role of Faith in Provision
- [01:26:52] - Personal Testimonies of Provision
- [01:29:36] - The Responsibility of Stewardship
- [01:31:51] - The Power of Wise Investment
- [01:33:13] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 16:1-13
- Matthew 6:33
- 2 Corinthians 9:8-10
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Observation Questions:
1. In the parable of the dishonest manager in Luke 16, what actions did the manager take to secure his future after being dismissed? [50:10]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between wealth and character? [46:51]
3. What examples were given in the sermon of using wealth as a tool for blessing others? [01:03:49]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of being a steward of God's resources? [54:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the parable in Luke 16 commend the dishonest manager for his shrewdness, and what lesson does this teach about the use of wealth? [51:09]
2. How does the sermon suggest that character influences the way we use power and resources? [46:51]
3. What does it mean to invest in eternal rewards, and how does this align with the biblical principle of stewardship? [01:00:13]
4. How does the concept of partnership with God, as discussed in the sermon, influence our approach to using resources for His kingdom? [01:15:09]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current use of financial resources. Are there areas where you could be more intentional about using them to bless others and invest in the future? [54:45]
2. Consider a recent financial decision you made. How did your character and values influence that decision? What might you do differently in the future? [46:51]
3. Identify a specific way you can partner with God in His work on earth this week. What resources can you use to support His mission? [01:15:09]
4. Think about a time when you used your influence or resources to positively impact someone else's life. How did that experience align with the sermon’s message about true power? [48:45]
5. How can you apply the principle of investing in eternal rewards in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to align your financial decisions with God's purposes? [01:00:13]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about stewardship. What is one area of your life where you feel called to be a better steward of God's resources? [54:45]
7. How can you cultivate a heart of generosity in your community, and what specific actions can you take to demonstrate this in the coming month? [01:03:49]
Devotional
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Quotes
We talked about money, wealth, and power. Wealth is, is an abundance of valuable resources, valuable possessions or money. And today we're going to end up, we're going to talk about power. The morality or immorality of money and wealth has nothing to do with the thing itself, but has to do with how we use it. Money and wealth are tools. [00:44:33] (24 seconds)
With finances, with an abundance of finances, you have more and more power. If you have a dollar, you have so much power. If you have ten dollars, you have ten times the amount of power. And so on and so off. It's an ability to change, ability to affect the world around you. [00:45:33] (21 seconds)
The master, verse 8, the master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. Now hopefully you can see my problem here. Hopefully you can see my dilemma. [00:51:29] (20 seconds)
Everything you have is his. Everything. Well, no, I went to work on Monday morning through Friday night, and I am the one. Well, we actually read that parable last week about the guy. He says, I have produced this harvest, and I'm going to put it in my barn, and I'm going to not work next year. [00:56:34] (24 seconds)
If you use what he's given you to increase for the future, you're wise. If you take what he's given you and all you do is consume it for yourself, you're not wise. He said, the least the people of this world understand that when you invest something, because what he was doing was investing. [00:57:45] (29 seconds)
When you give to someone else, there is a supernatural power. That's the best way I can say it. There's a supernatural power released that blesses them, and it blesses you. That's why even unsaved people, unsaved, heathen people, who are givers, are financially blessed. [01:04:53] (25 seconds)
If he says to go do something, we go do it. If he tells us to stay home and work on something, we do it. But being faithful with what you have opens the door for God to be able to bless you more. And so this is what we're talking about. [01:15:28] (15 seconds)
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