The Owner has the Right, the Steward has the Responsibility.
Why would you struggle to give the biggest denomination from your wallet?
We are stewards, God is the Owner. He has the Right but we have the responsibility.
1. My financial giving has nothing to do with my spirituality.
2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Some Christians say that giving is not my gift…
The fact that you are a deacon, serve in Sunday school or praise and worship team, it doesn’t substitute your giving.
Your check book reveals all that you really believe about Stewardship- Ron Blue.
A person who has been a Christian for even a short while can fake prayer, Bible Study or going to church but you can’t fake what your check book reveals.
God expects is to give only 10 per cent of our income.
Luke 16:11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Possessions compete with the Lord for the first place in our lives. Money is a primary competitor with Christ in our lives.
2. I don’t have enough so I can’t give
Many of us are not Content of what God has given us. We do not appreciate what we already have.
We are always looking for something better forgetting what we already have. We take God’s blessings for granted.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness
There should be some equality. Serve with what you have. God doesn’t require you to give what you DON’T have. Give from what He has already Blessed you with.
Before you had what you have God already knew it.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
In church, there are three types of Christians:
a. Those that make things happen.
b. Those who watch things happen.
c. Those who have no clue of what’s happening.
NB: GOD expects you to give what He has given you. We need to stop the EXCUSES and be good stewards.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
Mark 12:41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
3. Procrastination
2 Corinthians 9:2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
The greatest enemy of financial Stewardship is procrastination
The trouble is that too many people spend too much money they have not yet earned for things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.
Overcoming Excuses
1. Start giving today.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
Those who to not start giving when they have little left never give they seem to always have little left.
2. Choose an amount that affects your Lifestyle
Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.
2 Samuel 24:24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
Give according to your income lest God make your income according to your giving- Peter Marshall.
God help me be a good Steward in Jesus Name
Amen!
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