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TAKING A SPIRITUAL AUDIT OF YOUR MONEY Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 April 11th, 2010 (Easter Sunday)
The thought of being audited is terrifying. It brings thoughts of panic and fear - for most of us that is. This morning I want to ask you to make a mental audit of your personal and family finances based on the Word of God and furthermore, ask you to act upon in obedience to your Lord and Savior, for your joy and the glory of God.
I was asked by one of
the financial deacons/officers to preach on money and giving and
God's will around April 15th. - When we are reminded of our income - When we are reminded of our giving - When some are getting tax returns - When we are tempted to be anxious or annoyed by money
I also come to this
message with a riddle that was brought more clearly to my attention
- - I don't mean this in the anti-American way (I love this country and we are more generous than most of the world. - American Christians are the richest in the world (their resources are amazing). - The call and the mark of a Spirit-filled believer in the NT is a generous giver. - Yet, relatively speaking, the American church is not a generous people - the average Christian gives away lest than 2.5 of their income (after taxes). - 60-70 percent of Protestant Christians give less than 2 percent of their income - Barna Group - 6 percent of "born again" Christians give away 10 percent. - Five percent of Christians give the most and they are not the wealthiest - Grace is not really an exception to this riddle This morning I want ask each of you to consider the following questions:
How and Why should we answer these questions, repent (if applicable) and obey in faith? 1) Disciples are stewards and not owners - the owner is a great Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (20) for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. Luke 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Malachi 3:8-10 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. (9) You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. (10) Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 2) Disciples are investors in a Kingdom that they love and pursue with their all - including their money and possessions. Don't be anxious about your money. Don't seek earthly treasures that waste away. Seek First his Kingdom... Matthew 6 I want to challenge you to dream a dream for the Kingdom of God at Grace church through the work of the Gospel and through the sacrificial lives of you disciples! Dream big! What is God calling us to do! Lets not just think small - like a budget - a few missionaries - current ministries, etc. Here is one dream that I ask you to join me in: Glorify God by following Jesus in the REFORMATION OF THE FAMILY by the power of His Spirit.
The discipling of
every family here in the biblical instruction of the Lord for the
obedience, joy and radical display of God's glory in husbanding and
wifery and parenting, and child discipleship and biblical manhood
and womanhood, godly and radical grandparenting, adopting, foster
caring, biblical and mature singlehood, commitment to the unborn,
the destructive affects of the addict, stopping out the attack of
Satan through porn, and more and more... NT Giving Should Be: (ESV Study Bible) willing and cheerful - “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7; cf. 8:2–3). This is true of all our actions of obedience to God. Do it as to the Lord!
a regular pattern of life - “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up” (1 Cor. 16:2). In the OT they had a pattern of regularly giving their tithes and offerings to the Lord...
proportionate to one's ability - “Each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper” (1 Cor. 16:2). - Tithing was the old testament practiced and was assumed in the NT
generous - “In a severe test of affliction, [the Macedonians'] abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave . . . beyond their means” (2 Cor. 8:2–3; cf. Prov. 14:21, 31; 19:17; 2 Cor. 9:6; 1 Tim. 6:18)
1 Timothy 6:18-19 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (19) thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
2 Corinthians 8:2-4 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (3) For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, (4) begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give [to others and to charity]. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditures on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them. -- Lewis – Mere Christianity – page 67 4) Disciples know that all things, including all that they are and have exist to glorify a great and joyfully generous God who has lavished them with grace through the Gospel! 1 Corinthians 10:31 1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: (11) whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Does my use of money
and possessions reflect a belief that I am a steward of God's
possessions? - Cheerful? - Regular? - Proportionate? - Generous? - Sacrificial? How is God calling me to change my thinking and actions regarding money that would maximize my joy and trust in Him and so glorify God? When am I going to start this change? Who will help me start? |
