MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TREASURES

Introduction

To every believer God has given a portion of time, talents, and treasures to be used for His glory and the building of His kingdom.

The Bible says that, whether we realize it or not, each of us is a steward of another person’s treasure. Whose treasure? God’s treasure, because He owns it all?

God made it clear to Haggai the prophet that when it came to finances it is all His: God says in Haggai 2:8 that The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.

Maybe no Scripture is more clear on this principle than Job 41:11, who has a claim against me that I must pay him says the Lord? Everything under heaven belongs to me.

A steward is not the owner but the manager. God is the owner and we are merely the managers of what He gives us. And as managers we have no rights, merely responsibilities. God alone as owner has rights.

Believing and understanding that God owns everything will free you up to give generously of God’s resources to God’s purposes and God’s people. 

God gives to us out of the abundance of His grace in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:7

Do we give back to the Lord out of the abundance of what we have or do we wait to see what we have left over after we have given to everyone else and then give what we can?

Proverbs 11:24-25 There is one who gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds excessively, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6 He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

We are to honor the Lord with our wealth; with the first of what we bring in. Proverbs 3:9.

There are 2 major misconceptions about giving:

1. Giving is not a return to God of His portion; rather it’s the recognition that God owns it all.

1 Chronicles 29:14 says: All that we have comes from God and we give it out of His hand.

2. Giving is not a cause of spiritual growth; rather it’s the consequence of spiritual growth. The more mature in Christ you are the greater will be your giving.

There are 3 common reasons we don’t give as we should: 

1. We don’t know we can give and still meet all our other goals and obligations. So, to be safe, we avoid giving. Our circumstances rather than God controls our giving.

2. We think because we do not have much to give that it won’t matter to God if we give at all. How much we have is not a determining factor on whether we give. It’s not the amount but the proportion that God is pleased with.

3. We don’t plan to give. Aim at nothing and you are sure to hit it. If you don’t plan to give you won’t give. We live as responders rather than planners.

If we are not giving we are in essence robbing God. Malachi  3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings.

10% is a good start, but if the law required 10% how much more under grace?

There are 3 levels of giving taught in the Scriptures:

1. The Should Give level. This is consistent proportionate giving: each Christian giving according to what they have received.

1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

2. The Could Give level. This is planned giving; the amount we could give if we gave up something else or made a lifestyle change.

 I call this “The Jim Elliott Principle”: He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

3. The Would Give level. This is pre-committed giving: As God blesses us beyond what we expect or think we commit to giving Him the increase. This is a faith promise to God.

Whatever is not of faith is sin Romans 14:23. And without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6

There are 10 key stewardship principles that will help you in your giving:

1. Spend time alone with God.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

2. Your commitment is to God, not your financial plans.

Matthew 6:33 Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all your needs will be supplied.

3. Practical advice may not be the right advice.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

4. Giving will never make economic sense.

2 Corinthians 5:7 We walk by faith not by sight. If you walk by sight you’ll always find an excuse not to give.

5. Giving is a believer’s response to God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

6. God uses what you have, not what you don’t have.

Matt. 25:23, 29 Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master…To every faithful servant more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but to every unfaithful servant even what he does have shall be taken from him.

7. Never give grudgingly or under compulsion but from a heart full of gratitude for all God has done for you by grace.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8. Giving breaks money’s power over people, because when you give you voluntarily lose control of it.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil. Generous giving is the greatest sign that you do not love money.

9. All designated giving should be above and beyond your giving to the local church where you are being fed and where you are serving.

The early church took up offerings on the first day of every week from the income they had brought in to meet ministry needs in and outside of the body. 1 Corinthians 16:2

10. God will never leave you nor forsake you so don’t be afraid to trust Him with your finances.

Hebrew 13:5-6  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

If we are faithful stewards of what God has given us He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19.