Sermon Summary

This week Pastor Chris wrapped up our mini-series on financial fitness. He shared the surprising reality that Jesus spoke more about finances in the Bible than he did about heaven and hell combined. It matters greatly to the Lord what we do with His resources, and how we spend our money will reveal the motives of our hearts. The Lord and the enemy both have distinct paths for us depending on how we will view and manage the resources God has given us.

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. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Matthew 6:21 (ESV)

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

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. 

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)

Two Options

DiligentHasty
ObedientSelf-Reliant
TrustingControlling

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?

How fit am I financially? 

  1. Where do my finances come from?  
  2. What do my finances come for? 
  3. Do I have a plan to manage?  
  4. Do I live out my plan?  
  1. Where do my finances come from? (Who or what is the source?)

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.

  • What do my finances come for? (What is the true intended purpose of the paycheck?) 

Stewardship: Managing the assets of someone else. 

OwnerSteward
My MoneyHis Money
I DetermineHe Determines
I DecideHe Decides
My RightsHis 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.

A Biblical perspective to have a Biblical blessing

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 3:8–11 (ESV)

8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

2. Take care of needs

3. Generosity

4. Leave a legacy

5. Enjoy life and its pleasures

“There are two ways in which a Christian may view his money–“How much of my money shall I use for God?” or “How much of God’s money shall I use for myself?”

  W. Graham Scroggie.
God’s Plan: God-RelianceWorld’s Plan: Self-Reliance
Tithe to the LordEnjoy life and pleasures
Take care of needsLeave a legacy
GenerosityGenerosity
Leave a legacyTake care of needs
Enjoy life and pleasuresTithe to the Lord
  1. Do I have a plan to manage them? (Do I control them, or do they control me?) 

1. Honesty

Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)

16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

2. Find out where you need to be. 

3. Disciplined to live the 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.

My Giving Covenant

  • I affirm God’s full ownership of me, and everything entrusted to me.
  • I set aside the firstfruits tithe into the Lord’s house —at least 10 percent—of every wage and gift I receive as holy and belonging exclusively to the Lord.
  • Out of the remaining treasures God entrusts to me, I seek to make generous freewill gifts.
  • I ask God to teach me to give sacrificially to His purposes, including helping the poor and reaching the lost.
  • Recognizing that I cannot take earthly treasures from this world, I determine to lay them up as heavenly treasures—for Christ’s glory and the eternal good of others and myself.
  • I ask God to show me how to lead others to the present joy and future reward of the Treasure Principle.

Discussion Questions

  1. Pastor Chris said, “our hearts will follow our money.” Do you agree with this? Give an example from your personal life. 
  2. Have you ever experienced anxiety regarding your finances? What do you believe was the root of this anxiety?
  3. Scripture says that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). How can we know if we love money? How can we guard ourselves against loving it?
  4. What role does obedience play in how we manage our money?

Application Questions

  1. Do you need to align with God’s plan for your finances? Come before the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal His specific plan for you.
  2. Do you need your perspective on money to change from you being an owner to a steward? Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind in this area this week.