Money Talks: Truth About Money

Preached on 1.4.09 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes

Lie: Our Money is Our Money.

Truth: God Owns Everything. We Are His Stewards.
1 Chr. 29:11-12, Hag. 2:8, Ps. 24:1

Heart Issues and Outward Manifestations:

• Greed. – We love money and we want as much as we can get. No sharing.
• Pride. We want to believe that we have earned and made our own way. – “It’s my money and I can do what I want with it.” Sense of entitlement.
• Control. We are content to put God in charge of some areas and not others. – 10/90 Myth. Or we cannot/will not give to the Mission.
• Fear. Lack of trust in God and His goodness toward us. – We cannot/will not give to the Mission. Afraid God won’t provide.

My Issues Concerning Money:

(Not giving accordingly, 10/90 myth, undisciplined, no budget/plan, need to make more, need to save more, etc.)

Truths We Need to Move Us Toward Stewardship:

“He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant 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.” Luke 16:1-13 ESV

Main Point: Use your financial resources wisely.

Secondary Points that will aid us in carrying out the primary point:

1. Money is a tool (v.9).
a. “make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth” Invest in the Mission of God.
b. “so that when it fails” Its failure is inevitable.
c. “they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Be welcomed in heaven.

Application:
1. Take the opportunity you have to make a difference with your money.
2. Giving as prescribed by the Scriptures.
a. Gifts that are motivated by the Gospel (grace), from your heart, in proportion with your income, regular/systematic, cheerful, and generous, and in faith. The tithe (10%) is a great place to start.
b. Invest in and through the church that is investing in you first and then to other trustworthy Gospel ministries.

Question: Am I using the money God has entrusted to me to help advance His Kingdom? How can I take the Next Step in right direction? Do I recognize that my money will eventually fail and I need to invest in eternity?

2. Money is a test (v.10-12).
a. Faithfulness with a little leads to greater responsibility.

Application:
1. Both earthly and ‘heavenly’ sense in regard to money.
2. At work.
3. Parenting. Start your kids with a little and then increase their responsibility.

Question:
Are I being faithful with what I have in front of me (money and all areas of life)?
How can I take the Next Step in right direction?

3. Money is a trademark (v.13).

Application:
1. Our money reveals where our hearts really are with God.
a. “For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” Matt. 6:21

Question:
Does my spending reflect that I belong to God? How can I take the Next Step in right direction?

Works Consulted : NIV Application Commentary, God and Your Stuff by Wesley K. Willmer, Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce,. Life Application Bible, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, MacArthur Study Bible, L$ST Series by Andy Stanley