God and Money: Basic Instructions

Preached on 1.3.10 by Dustin Neeley Sermon Notes

God Owns Everything.

1. Ps. 24:1, 1 Chr. 29:11-12, Ps. 50:11.

2. We tend to like this truth when we need God to provide something but shy away from it when it reveals the true extent of His ownership.

3. Do we recognize that “our Father owning the cattle on a thousand hills” means that He owns OUR cows as well?

Practically Speaking:

1. You are wearing God’s clothes, driving God’s car, living in God’s house and spending God’s money.

2. The question is not “What can I do with this money?” but “What should I do with this money?”

Heart Idols that Must Be Addressed in Order to Live in Light of This Truth:

1. Pride.

   • We like to think that we earned this money on our own and are entitled to do with it as we please. We need to hear the correction of Deut. 8:17-20.

2. Control.

   • We like to run our own ‘financial kingdom’ where we do what we want with the money. “Tithing” (though a great and needful practice) does not save us from this.

3. Comfort.

   • This idol, which is implicit in our context, is perhaps the most dangerous of all. This will kill our own souls as individuals and families and our Mission together as a church.

Our Hope in All of Our Sins is the Same : JESUS!

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24-25a

Practical Steps in the Right Direction:

1. Get to know Jesus-turn from your sins and trust in Christ.

2. Remind yourself effectively and often that your money is not your money.

   • Effectively: Whatever works for you. Eg. Post-it on the check book.

   • There is nothing like regular, systematic, generous giving to keep you oriented in the right direction.
   • Often: You can’t “set it and forget it.” Finances change. Our Flesh wars against us. God wants us to always be growing in this area.

3. Enlist others to help you in your struggle for growth

   • Community Groups. Fight Clubs. Your Pastor/Elders.

4. Begin to ask the right questions.

• Not “What can I do with this money?” but “What should I do with this money?”

The Gospel is our only hope for real, lasting change that works its way from the inside out.

Works Consulted for this Series: Messages by Darrin Patirck, Craig Groschel, Andy Stanley, Daniel Montgomery, Tim Keller and More. Various resources by Dave Ramsey, Larry Burkett, Chip Ingram, Ron Blue, Etc.