Minute By Minute: Stewardship

October 18th, 2020/The Lookout

Intro:

Passage: 1 Chronicles 29:14-19 CSB

14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. 15 For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you. 18 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you. 19 Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes, and to build the building for which I have made provision.

Background: David was a man that was passionate about serving the Lord and was also passionate about His house. This passage speaks to the legacy David left his son Solomon. David’s prayer was not that he left him wealth and an inheritance, but that Solomon’s heart would be loyal to God. This passage speaks to the generosity and stewardship of David and the tribes of Israel to build the temple.

Title: From “Have To” To “Get To”

Stewardship Definition: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care

Generosity Definition: the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving more than what is required

Big Idea: To be a good steward of the resources entrusted to us, we must live with a spirit of generosity. Stewardship apart from generosity is disobedience. As faithful stewards we are called to be generous givers.

Pray

Main Points:

Principles for Biblical Stewardship:

1. The Principle of Ownership (V14)
   1. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.
   2. “The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it.” - Deuteronomy 10:14

   3. A change in perspective

      1. When you recognize that God is the owner, God is the giver, God is in control, then you realize that you have a responsibility based on what God has entrusted you with.

      2. It’s no longer, “What do I want to do with what God has given me”... it is “God, what do you want me to do with what you have entrusted me with?” “God, how do you want me to steward my influence, steward my relationships, steward my job, steward my finances?”

         4. A change of heart

      3. Recognizing that God is the owner gives us a heart of humility. David said “Who am I?”

      4. Illust: God owns this building, God owns this equipment, God is the owner. God owns my finances, my family, my future, God is the owner. God owns this earth, these mountains, these trees, God is the owner.

         5. A change in behavior

      5. Question: How are you stewarding what God already owns?

      6. We don’t give to God, we give back to God what already belongs to Him.
      7. Application: Spend time alone with God and ask Him how you could be a better steward of the relationships and resources He’s entrusted you with. And when He speaks, respond in immediate obedience.

      8. The Principle of Contentment (V15-16)

         1. 15 For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you.
         2. Recognizing the ownership of God should lead us to open our hands and live a content life. “Everything belongs to you.” It’s only when we treasure the treasure more than the giver that we become discontent.
         3. As Benjamin Franklin states, “Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.”

      9. The difficulty with achieving wealth, is that you’re never wealthy enough. There never seems to be “enough”. It’s the notorious conversation of “What would you do if you had a million dollars?” PROBABLY THE SAME THING YOU WOULD DO WITH $100 DOLLARS!

      10. MONEY DOESN’T SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS, IT MAGNIFIES THEM. If you are generous with little, you will be generous with plenty. If you have a hard time being content with little, you’re probably going to be discontent with abundance.

          4. “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:11-13

      11. With Christ as our source, with Christ as the ultimate provider, with Christ having given us everything, how could we lack.

      12. Nobody owes me anything, Jesus gave me everything. Nobody owes me anything, Jesus gave me everything.
          5. Being content is not being lazy. Being content is not irresponsible. Being content in all seasons and circumstances is called being obedient!
          6. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” - 1 Timothy 6:6-12

      13. The Principle of Generosity (V17)

          1. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.
          2. “17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.” - 1 Timothy 6:17-19
          3. “7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7
          4. Nothing great is built out of a spirit of obligation

      14. We need to move from a spirit of obligation, to a spirit of opportunity. Yes, God calls us to give, but do we see it as “have to” or “get to”.

      15. Question: Have you ever done something out of obligation?

          1. Maybe you’ve bought a wedding gift because you felt obligated
          2. Or you showed up to a birthday party because you felt obligated.

          3. How many of you know that nothing GREAT comes out of a spirit of obligation? 3. Obligation says “I’ll do it because I have to” 4. Some of you are looking through the lens of obligation

          4. Is your marriage an obligation?

          5. Are your children an obligation?
          6. Is your job an obligation?

          7. Is your calling an obligation? 5. Text: Both the tabernacle (Exodus 35 & 36) and the temple were built from the voluntary gifts of God’s people.

          8. The same is true of the local church today. 6. Pinewood Church is here because of the faithful generosity of God’s people. Our partners don’t give grudgingly or out of guilt, they give out of obedience and opportunity!

          9. Over and over I hear our partners say that they are honored to be on the team. Blessed to support the ministry. Privileged to sow into the work God is doing in Boulder. 7. You can’t outgive God!

          10. “Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house.Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” - Malachi 3:10

          11. The Principle of Worship (V18)
              1. 18 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you.
              2. “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24

      16. God is not after your money, He’s after your heart.

      17. Story of the Rich man that couldn’t walk away… “16 Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he asked him. Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself. 20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?” 21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.” - Matthew 19:16-22

          3. Stewardship is an act of worship and is for the glory of God alone

      18. We don’t give to feel better about ourselves or for self gratification.

      19. It is not possible to deceive God. He knows our heart and our motive. If our motive is self interest and self gratification then it is not true worship.
      20. If we’re being honest, being generous does make you feel good. It is satisfying when you provide backpacks and school supplies for kids that otherwise wouldn’t have the resources to buy them. It feels good to provide meals for families in times of need. It feels good to give of our time, treasure, and talents to love others, but that CANNOT be our motive in being generous!

      21. Here we see three wrong motives for giving.

          1. Got to give - guilt
          2. Give to get - incentive
          3. Give and get - gratification
          4. God is calling us to so much more! This motive of generosity will only lead to pride, let down, arrogance, and self indulgence. There’s a better way.
          5. The Principle of Legacy (V19)
             1. 19 Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes, and to build the building for which I have made provision.
             2. David gave not so that he could get something in return, but so that future generations would have a place of worship to God!

      22. If you look deeper in the story, David would actually never be able to experience the temple that his provisions provided. He gave knowing it would be for his son and future generations.

          3. We don’t give for a blessing, we give from a blessing

      23. We don’t give to receive. We give to advance.

      24. True generosity is not giving to get something in return.

      25. Illust: buying my wife a diamond for her wedding ring.

          1. I didn’t buy this gift thinking “Where’s my diamond?” NO! This was me wanting to be generous with my wife with no strings attached.