PART 2 ALL IN | STEWARDSHIP

All In Part 2 – Stewardship, March 12, 2023

Romans 10:14-15 (NIV2011)
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?”
 
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV2011)
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV2011)
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.
17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Observation #1:
God owns it all
Deuteronomy 10:14 (NIV2011)
14  To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

God owns it all
Mistake #1: “What I have is mine”
Example: Beach House
Application: Spending decisions are spiritual decisions

God owns it all
Mistake #2: “God needs me”
Psalm 50:9-12 (NIV2011)
9  I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
10  for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11  I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
12  If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

“Although we cannot contribute anything to God since He has no needs, He offers us the dignity of participation in His purposes.” Ken Boa
Application: This church

Observation #2:
God determines the content of your life
1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV2011)
What do you have that you did not receive?

1 Timothy 6:7 (NIV2011)
…we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
Example: Early in my career

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (NIV2011)
11  Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12  Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

God rewards faithfulness

Luke 6:38 (NIV2011)
38  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Application: God will not give you more until you’re faithful with what you already have