Stewardship: More Than Money
Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
I. What is the Gospel?
Good news!
Good news about what? The Kingdom of God!
What is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is when Jesus is King
in your life!
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and
hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
You can be transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom
of Light (the Kingdom of God).
This world is Satan�s kingdom. He is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4)
- the god of this present age (John 14:30 Eph 2:2).
Man gave the kingdom of this world to Satan in the Garden of Eden
(Gen 3). Man lost dominion to the devil. And though we teach that
dominion has been returned through the work of the cross, the vital
fact is that Jesus� Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). He has
given His Kingdom to us; He has transferred our citizenship into His
Kingdom (Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. - NIV). Will we
give up that Kingdom also to Satan? We will if we do not do the work
of God and support the work of God! Kingdom living puts Jesus on the
throne of your life. That means His Kingdom and His will is preeminent
in your life. That means His is more important than yours.
II. An Enemy and A Thief
Satan, the thief, comes to steal from you and from God. (John 10:10).
He will steal your time, your attention, your goods, your money, - and
your soul if he can get it. He will draw you away from the work of
God. He will sway your attention to materialistic rather than spiritual
things.
III. Prosperity and Purpose
We have to keep it straight - God prospers His people -
Jos 1:8: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shalt have good success.
De 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he
that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his
covenant . . .
But God prospers His people so that the Kingdom of God might prosper.
Our primary purpose in life is the gospel. Any other purpose is a
distraction. Any other purpose is a counterfeit. Any other purpose
is beneath you. You were made for better things than this earth offers.
I cannot stress this enough. Regardless what your occupation is, your
purpose must be centered in the gospel. You purpose is more critical
than your occupation. There is no higher purpose in life, and nothing
important enough to impede the gospel.
IV. Understanding Stewardship
Stewardship involves your time, talent, and treasure. Stewardship
essentially acknowledges God�s sovereignty over our lives.
� Treasure
As we have established, it is question of who is in control. If he
doesn�t have control over your treasure - your money - then He doesn�t
have control.
� Time
But just as certainly, if He doesn�t have control over your time, he
doesn�t have control. Where does your time go? What do you allow to
control your time? Is it wasted on frivolous things - or on the
urgency of the moment - or on selfish things - worldly things?
Does God get a generous portion of your time in prayer - church
attendance - fellowship - service?
� Talent
How about your talent? Are your talents and abilities dedicated to
God? Any talent no used for God is wasted.
God gives us all our talents and abilities, etc., and they are for the
purpose of serving Him.
Who is in control of your life?
Stewardship is being a caretaker over someone else�s property.
Everything belongs to God. We really own nothing. God owns it all.
Are you treating it like it�s His or yours? Stewardship is more than
tithing. It is more than money. Tithing is just the beginning - it
is training in giving to God. You are to give all you have and all
you are to God.
1 Co Ro 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and
whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or
die, we are the Lord's.
Ro 14: 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be
found faithful.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
If God doesn�t have your time, talents, and treasures, then He does
not have your heart. And if He doesn�t have your heart, who does?
Who is your Lord?
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
