This week, Pastor Chris shared a practical, Biblical word on financial stewardship. He expressed the reality that our bank accounts will reflect our hearts, priorities and motives. Jesus spoke about money and there are real, spiritual implications for how we steward what we have been given. If we’re lackingvictory in the area of stewardship, we will walk around in bondage wondering where our freedom is. Where you spend your money will show you who is on the throne of your life.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 9:26–27 (ESV)
26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.1. What we do with our finances reveals a lot about our hearts, priorities, and motives.
Matthew 6:24–25 (ESV)
24 “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. 25 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…”
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 2. You have to have a planthat you will diligently keep.You can choose to be diligent or hasty, obedient or self-reliant, trusting or controlling when it comes to money.
Proverbs 21:5 (ESV)
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Luke 14:28 (ESV)
28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?3. How fit am I financially? a. Where do my finances come from? We are prone to forgetfulness. We need to consistently remind ourselves that God is the source of all we have been given, including the power to work in order to make money.
Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (ESV)
17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.b. What do my finances come for? Budgeting is determining the intended purpose for what God gave you in order to align them with the right place and purpose.
Stewardship: managing the assets of somebody else. We have only grasped stewardship if we realize that all our money must be under God’s control.
Owner
My Money
Determine
I Decide
My Rights
Steward
His Money
He Determines
He Decides
His Will
1 Timothy 6:17–19 (ESV)
17 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. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 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.
How to Live God’s Priorities
1. Tithe to the Lord
Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
10 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.
2. Take care of needs
3. Generosity
4. Leave a legacy
5. Enjoy life and its pleasures
God’s Plan: God-Reliance• Tithe to the Lord• Take care of needs• Generosity• Leave a legacy• Enjoy life and pleasures
World’s Plan: Self-Reliance• Enjoy life and pleasures• Leave a legacy• Generosity• Take care of needs• Tithe to the Lord 4. Do I have a plan to manage my finances? Do I control them or do they control me?a. Be honest.
Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)
16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.b. Make a plan. Find out where you need to be.
“Those that fail to plan, plan to fail.” Benjamin Franklin.c. Be disciplined to live out that plan.
Proverbs 6:6–8 (NLT)
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (ESV)
10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Discussion Questions
1. How would you define “stewardship”? Why does God call us to do this with money?
2. What role do obedience and submission play in the life of a Christian when it comes to money?
3. How can the love of money lead to practical bondage in the life of a Christian?
4. Read Deuteronomy 8:17–18. Have you ever struggled to remember who the source of your income is?
Application Questions
1. Ask yourself: how do your finances shape your heart? Has money or spending become an idol in your life? Take this idol to the feet of Jesus this week.
2. When was the last time you tithed? Read Malachi 3:10 and make a plan to tithe 10% of your income starting this week. Watch and see what the Lord will do!
3. Take time this week to pray and evaluate how financially fit you currently are. Did the Lord bring any conviction? Write these down and choose to realign with God.
4. Use City Central’s app to download a Budget Template. Take a practical step to make a plan and walk forward into financial freedom with the Lord.