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Materialism & Stewardship Introduction:
We must develop a Biblical concept of money management. We need to appreciate
what God has given in order to give back to God appropriately. Biblical giving
is not based on guilt or pressure but the appreciation of what we have. Sixteen
of 38 parables in the Bible are related to money. More is said about money then
heaven and hell combined. Five times more said about money then prayer. There
are over 2000 verses in the Bible dealing with money and material possessions. I)
Materialism A)
Two assumptions 1.
We all struggle to some degree with materialism and the use of money.
a. More divorces are due to money than anything else.
b. We want more thinking a little more will make us happy or happier,
Luke 12.15 2.
We are Christians may feel guilty and uncomfortable on this subject.
a. Average person works over 1,800 hours per year in
b. 2006 average hours per man 47.3 and women 41.4 Source
is http://books.google.com/books?id=Geg19mcwmAMC&pg=PA297&lpg=PA297&dq=comparing+hours+worked+to+earlier+generations&source=bl&ots=vKH4iJ9xCH&sig=W_5B207B0yP8DJu19vaD5pMR2xQ&hl=en&ei=6mmtSd-zCaKBtweTwYGHBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result 3.
Are we working to survive or to get ahead? Is it wrong to want more things? B)
What is materialism? 1.
Caring too much for the things of the world and neglecting spiritual needs. 2.
Preoccupation with or
emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest
in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values. (dictionary.com) 3.
The problem is not possessions but obsession with possessions, Matthew
6.24 4.
It is the attitude and not the amount, 1
Timothy 6.17; Matthew 13.22 II)
Stewardship and 4 Key Principles, Matthew 25.14-30 A)
Verse 14 – God owns it all, Psalms 100.1-3 1.
God has the right to whatever He wants, and whenever He wants it.
a. You borrow the family car, the car belongs to your parents, you
simply have been given the privilege of using the car.
b. The borrower has an implied responsibility to the owner. 2.
We possess many things but own nothing, Ecclesiastes
5.18-20
a. Whatever you have will be left behind, Ecclesiastes
5.15
b. Look around your property. How long will it belong to you? 3.
Stewardship is the use of God given resources to accomplish God given goals. 4.
It I lost it, it is still God’s, Job
2.10 B)
Spending is a spiritual decision 1.
Do we separate our giving from how we spend our money?
a. Every spending decision is a spiritual decision (Car, house, clothes,
food, etc.)
b. Our checkbook gives our spending history and shows our
decisions, shows our stewardship. 2.
We cannot fake stewardship. We can fake praying, singing, worship, but not
stewardship. C)
God uses money in our lives in four ways, vv. 15-21 1.
God uses money as a tool to help us grow.
a. Parents use money to teach their children responsibility. God uses
money to teach us.
b. God uses money to get our attention.
c. When we face financial set backs we need to look to God and to
learn. 2.
Money is used as a test of our abilities, Luke
16.10 3.
Money is used as a test of our faithfulness, Luke
16.11-12
a. The lack of worry will make us different, Matthew
6.25
b. Christians build their lives with people and not with things.
c. A person with a Biblical attitude toward money will be different.
Matthew 5.14-16 4.
The amount we have is not important, vv.
22-24
a. The person that cannot handle a little will not be able to handle a
lot.
b. Ex. People in D)
Faith requires action, vv. 25-30 1.
There is the investment of resources to do more. 2.
The real benefit of money is it allows us to do more and not less, Matthew 6.19-21 III)
Warning Signs of Materialism A)
There is no set formula to determine if a person is materialistic B)
It is a matter of heart 1.
We go from managing our resources to being anxious and worrying over our
resources. 2.
We compare ourselves to others (the $2000 rule), 1
Peter 2.1 3.
We have lost the appreciation for what we have and focus on what we do not have. 4.
We have lost the joy of giving and living. We focus on ourselves instead of
others, 2 Corinthians 8.3-5 Conclusion:
Are you rich toward God? Luke 12.21 |