Trusting God: The Heart of Financial Stewardship

 

Summary

To begin this year, we have been exploring the question: what would happen if you gave God one year of your life? How close could you get to Him if you went all in? J. Oswald Sanders once said, "You're as close to God as you choose to be." This year, I challenge you to choose to pursue God like never before. The promise is simple: if you give God one full year of your best, it will be your best year yet, because it will be your best year with God. James 4 reminds us that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Today, we conclude this series by tackling a challenging topic: money. It's a subject that often makes people uncomfortable, but if you can get this right, it will bring you closer to God than you can imagine.

Money is a sensitive topic because it feels material and personal. We often resist discussing it in church because it feels like an intrusion into our personal lives. However, Jesus spoke about money frequently, as it is a chief competitor for our hearts. In Matthew 6, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This means that our financial priorities reveal the true state of our hearts. God doesn't need our money; He desires our hearts. By aligning our financial lives with God's principles, we can draw closer to Him.

Tithing, or giving the first 10% of our income to God, is a biblical principle that teaches us to put God first. It's not about God needing our money, but about us acknowledging that everything we have belongs to Him. When we tithe, we are not giving to God; we are bringing back to Him what is already His. This act of obedience opens the door for God's blessings in our lives. It's a step of faith that requires trust, but it is also a step that leads to spiritual maturity and a deeper relationship with God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Heart of Giving: Money is a reflection of our heart's priorities. Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. By examining where we allocate our finances, we can discern what truly holds our heart's affection. This insight challenges us to align our financial decisions with our spiritual values, ensuring that God remains the primary focus of our lives. [07:22]

- Ownership vs. Stewardship: Many of us live with an ownership mentality, believing that what we earn is ours. However, the Bible teaches that everything belongs to God. Shifting from an ownership mindset to a stewardship mindset allows us to see our resources as tools for God's purposes. This perspective frees us from the burden of ownership and invites us to trust God as our provider. [11:03]

- The Principle of Tithing: Tithing is not just about giving 10% of our income; it's about prioritizing God with the first 10%. This act of obedience is a tangible expression of our trust in God. By putting God first in our finances, we invite His blessings into our lives and demonstrate our commitment to His kingdom. [15:12]

- The Consumption Assumption: Many people live with the assumption that everything they receive is for their consumption. This mindset leads to a self-centered life that prioritizes personal gain over generosity. By challenging this assumption and choosing to live open-handedly, we can become conduits of God's blessings to others, reflecting His love and generosity. [26:23]

- Testing God's Faithfulness: Malachi 3 invites us to test God in the area of tithing. This is the only place in Scripture where God encourages us to test Him. By stepping out in faith and trusting God with our finances, we open the door for Him to demonstrate His faithfulness and provision in our lives. This act of trust deepens our relationship with God and strengthens our faith. [29:55]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:26] - The Challenge of Money
[04:14] - Why Money Matters
[05:37] - Stewardship and Trust
[07:22] - Money and the Heart
[09:12] - Ownership vs. Stewardship
[11:03] - The Principle of Tithing
[13:15] - Giving Back to God
[15:12] - The First 10%
[16:44] - The Blessing of Obedience
[19:20] - Condemnation vs. Conviction
[20:09] - Trusting God with Finances
[22:03] - Spiritual Maturity and Giving
[24:52] - The Consumption Assumption
[26:23] - Living Generously
[27:52] - Flipping the Script
[29:55] - Testing God's Faithfulness
[31:34] - A Year of Trust
[32:55] - The Leap of Faith
[34:36] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. James 4:8 - "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
2. Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
3. Malachi 3:10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the promise made in James 4:8 about drawing near to God? [02:26]

2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between money and the heart, as mentioned in Matthew 6:21? [07:22]

3. What does the sermon say about the concept of ownership versus stewardship in relation to our finances? [11:03]

4. How does the sermon explain the principle of tithing and its significance in our relationship with God? [15:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to have a stewardship mindset rather than an ownership mindset, and how might this change one's approach to finances? [11:03]

2. How does the sermon suggest that aligning our financial priorities with God's principles can lead to a closer relationship with Him? [07:22]

3. In what ways does the sermon challenge the assumption that everything we receive is for our consumption, and how does this relate to living generously? [26:23]

4. How does the sermon interpret Malachi 3:10's invitation to test God, and what implications does this have for our faith and trust in God's provision? [29:55]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current financial priorities. How do they align with the principle that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"? What changes might you consider making? [07:22]

2. The sermon challenges us to shift from an ownership to a stewardship mindset. What practical steps can you take to view your resources as tools for God's purposes? [11:03]

3. Consider the concept of tithing as presented in the sermon. How might prioritizing God with the first 10% of your income impact your spiritual growth and trust in God? [15:12]

4. The sermon discusses the "consumption assumption." How can you challenge this mindset in your own life and choose to live more open-handedly? [26:23]

5. Reflect on a time when you felt God's faithfulness in your life. How does this experience encourage you to trust Him more with your finances? [29:55]

6. The sermon suggests that testing God in the area of tithing can deepen our relationship with Him. Are you willing to take this step of faith, and what might that look like for you? [29:55]

7. How can you incorporate the practice of "give, save, and live" into your financial planning, and what impact do you anticipate this will have on your relationship with God and others? [27:52]

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart's True Affection
Money is a reflection of our heart's priorities. Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. By examining where we allocate our finances, we can discern what truly holds our heart's affection. This insight challenges us to align our financial decisions with our spiritual values, ensuring that God remains the primary focus of our lives. [07:22]

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your recent financial decisions. What do they reveal about your heart's priorities, and how can you realign them to reflect your commitment to God?


Day 2: Embracing Stewardship Over Ownership
Many of us live with an ownership mentality, believing that what we earn is ours. However, the Bible teaches that everything belongs to God. Shifting from an ownership mindset to a stewardship mindset allows us to see our resources as tools for God's purposes. This perspective frees us from the burden of ownership and invites us to trust God as our provider. [11:03]

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle with the concept of stewardship. How can you begin to view this area as a resource entrusted to you by God?


Day 3: Prioritizing God Through Tithing
Tithing is not just about giving 10% of our income; it's about prioritizing God with the first 10%. This act of obedience is a tangible expression of our trust in God. By putting God first in our finances, we invite His blessings into our lives and demonstrate our commitment to His kingdom. [15:12]

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce." (Proverbs 3:9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current giving habits. What steps can you take to ensure that God is prioritized in your financial decisions?


Day 4: Challenging the Consumption Assumption
Many people live with the assumption that everything they receive is for their consumption. This mindset leads to a self-centered life that prioritizes personal gain over generosity. By challenging this assumption and choosing to live open-handedly, we can become conduits of God's blessings to others, reflecting His love and generosity. [26:23]

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." (Proverbs 11:24, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent opportunity to give that you hesitated on. How can you challenge the consumption assumption and choose generosity in similar situations moving forward?


Day 5: Testing God's Faithfulness
Malachi 3 invites us to test God in the area of tithing. This is the only place in Scripture where God encourages us to test Him. By stepping out in faith and trusting God with our finances, we open the door for Him to demonstrate His faithfulness and provision in our lives. This act of trust deepens our relationship with God and strengthens our faith. [29:55]

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your finances where you can test God's faithfulness this week? How can you take a step of faith in this area today?

Quotes



"Some people are like, I don't really know what matters to me. I can tell you exactly what it is. Go to your bank account, go to your credit card statement, go to your financial ledger and look, because money tells the story of our hearts. Remember a second ago, I said that many people don't want the money drawer of their lives opened. Jesus opened it all the time." [00:07:38] (17 seconds)


"God doesn't need your money, I want you to hear this. Well, God's after is your heart. Jesus said where your money is, there your heart will be. And if God knows if he can get ahold of your money, he'll have your heart. Your money and your wallet and your heart are inextricably tied to each other. So let me say this to you." [00:11:22] (18 seconds)


"If you would like to change where your heart is, just change where your money goes. Let me phrase it like this. If you'd like to get closer to God this year, pay attention to what has your money." [00:11:42] (14 seconds)


"Three verses down from the verse we just read a moment ago in Matthew chapter six, Jesus said this. He said, 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. And look what he says. He says you cannot serve both God and money." [00:11:57] (16 seconds)


"When you can see your finances through God's lens, which is that you're not the owner of it, but you're a steward or a manager of it, when you can understand that God owns it all, here's what it means. It means when you put him first in this way, what happens is the weight and the onus of ownership falls on him, and I got great news. He's really good at taking care of his people." [00:28:32] (21 seconds)


"Malachi chapter three, it's the only place in scripture where God says, put me to the test. In fact, one last story and then we'll be done. In the early days of our church, there was this church in Oklahoma that was just leading the way. They were so innovative and cutting edge and they came up with something. They taught a message on putting God first in your money and the pastor came up with this idea called the 90-day tithe challenge." [00:29:55] (22 seconds)


"Here was the whole idea. Malachi chapter three says, God says, bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, the place where you're fed spiritually. God says, test me in this, says the Lord, and see if I won't open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing on you that you can't contain it. It's the only place in the Bible where God invites us to test him." [00:30:55] (20 seconds)


"So what if instead of a 90-day tithe challenge, what if you just said, God, look, I'm all in. I give you a year. I said this earlier. This is not just about money, but about every part of my life. God, I'm going to go all in with you for a year." [00:31:34] (13 seconds)


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