November 12-13, 2005, Selected

HEART CHECK$!
MEASURE YOUR PULSE!

GOOD STEWARDSHIP IS A HEART ISSUE!
*** Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [NIV]
***Pr.4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” [NLT]

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
- A BIBLICAL REASON:
- A PRACTICAL REASON:

IF YOU DON’T CONTROL YOUR MONEY IT WILL CONTROL YOU!

HOW CAN WE AVOID FINANCIAL PRESSURE AND IMPROVE OUR SPIRITUAL HEART HEALTH:

1. BY DEALING WITH POSSESSION OBSESSION!
*** Luke 12:15b “...a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." [NIV]

2. BY OVERCOMING THE ILLUSION!
IT’S NOT ABOUT HERE AND NOW IT’S ABOUT THE HEREAFTER!
*** Phil. 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven.” [NIV]
*** Matthew 6:19-20a “Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven….” [NIV]

3. BY LEARNING CONTENTMENT!
*** 1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” [NIV]
*** Phil. 4:11-13 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” [NIV]

4. BY IMPROVING OUR MANAGEMENT!
*** Proverbs 27:23-24 “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever….” [NIV]
A. BY ESTABLISHING A REALISTIC BUDGET!
B. BY GIVING TO GOD FIRST!
*** Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns…and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” [LB]
C. BY LIVING ON LESS THAN YOU MAKE!
*** Proverbs 13:7 “One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” [NIV]
D. BY GETTING OUT OF DEBT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!
*** Proverbs 22:7“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” [NIV]
E. BY SAVING SOME AMOUNT REGULARLY!
*** Proverbs 21:20 “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” [Living Bible]
F. BY INVESTING WISELY FOR THE LONG TERM!
*** Proverbs 13:11 “Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow.” [NCV]

5. BY UNDERSTANDING MANAGEMENT vs. OWNERSHIP!
*** Matthew 25:19-21 “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'” [Message]
*** Matthew 25:26-29 “The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'”

TWO LESSONS:

- LESSON 1: THE OWNERSHIP ISSUE!
*** Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it….” [NIV]
*** Haggai 2:8 “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord.” [NLT]
*** Deut. 8:17-18 “You might say to yourself, "I am rich because of my own power and strength," but remember the Lord your God! It is he who gives you the power to become rich….” [New Century Version]

- LESSON 2: THE OBLIGATION ISSUE!
HE WAS NOT CONDEMNED BECAUSE HE WAS UNFRUITFUL BUT BECAUSE HE WAS UNFAITHFUL!
*** Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it.” [New Living Translation]

6. BY INCREASING OUR FAITH FACTOR!
*** Luke 12:22-24 “Turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life…. Look at the ravens. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!” [NLT]

THREE FACTS ABOUT BIRDS:
A. THEY WORK!

B. THEY PLAN AHEAD!

C. THEY TRUST GOD!
*** Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” [NLT]
*** Phil. 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” [NIV]
*** Luke 6:45 “Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts.” [Contemporary English Version]

GOD’S RESOURCES USED GOD’S WAY WILL ALWAYS RESULT IN SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY HEART!