The Stewardship of Money
Part #1 - Three Key Principles of Money and The Stewardship of It
By Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
In this current message series, our focus has been on stewardship. Paul reminded the Corinthian believers, "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2
As I begin, I would like to remind you of the definitions of a steward and stewardship are. A steward is a person who manages and administrates what has been entrusted to him by another. In this case, a steward is a person who manages what has been entrusted to him/her by God. God has entrusted us with our lives, our talents, our time, and our money. Therefore, stewardship is the careful and responsible management of the things God has entrusted to your care.
It is hard for Americans to appreciate the abundance we all have. The poorest person in this congregation has more money and possessions than most of the common people in third world countries. Linda and I were missionaries in
Key Principles That Must Be Remembered When It Comes To Money And The Stewardship of It…
Be Cautious That You Do Not Love Money
Turn in your Bible to 1 Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The word "contentment" in verse 6 is a translation of the Greek word autarkeia-autarkeia (ow-tar’-ki-ah). The word means a mind that is content with its lot. Vincent’s Word Studies says, contentment is an inward self-sufficiency, as opposed to the lack or the desire of outward things. I like the way William Tyndale put it -- "Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath."
Verse 7 gives us a clear perspective on the temporary nature of money and possessions – "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
Verse 8 gives us a realistic perspective on what we should be satisfied with…food and raiment. We know what food is. Raiment is a translation of the Greek word skepasma-skepasma (skep’-as-mah), which, according to some includes a roof to cover us, that is, a dwelling, as well as clothing.
In Verse 9 the phrase "they that will be rich" is an emphatic construction in the Greek and "refer to persons who are determined to get riches; who make this their object and aim in life; who live to get money; who get all they can." (
Now, back to the context of verse 9. This verse points out two of the evils that the desire to be rich will bring.
Temptation and Snare – Regarding temptation: they that desire to be rich are tempted to do sinful things in order to build up wealth. Matthew Henry wrote in his famous commentary, "when the devil sees which way their lusts carry them, he will soon bait his hook accordingly. He knew how fond Achan would be of a wedge of gold, and therefore laid that before him (Joshua 7:20-21). Now to the snare. Satan may be compared to a fowler (one who catches and kills birds); his temptations to sin are his nets and snares; and they that will be rich, are the birds that are caught and entangled in his nets, out of which sometimes it is impossible to disentangle themselves.
Foolish and Hurtful Lusts – First, consider the word lusts. It means craving and desires. The desire to be rich leads to foolish cravings and desires. Foolish is a translation of the Greek word anohtov-anoetos (an-o’-ay-tos), which means unwise, want of understanding, silly, senseless. The whole conduct of such a person is unwise. Further, it is hurtful or injurious, to relationships, the body and the soul. They are caught up in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, and negligent of the things that matter, such as relationships with family and God. Our Lord said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:36-37. Those that make being rich their top priority can expect to drown…"in destruction (ruin) and perdition (destruction of the soul)."
Look at verse 10 – "For the love of money is the root of all evil…" Note that it does not say money is the root of all evil. Money itself is not evil, but the immoderate love of it, or an excessive delight in it, is the cause of much evil. Look at the phrase "the love of money…" This phrase is a translation of one Greek word - filarguria - philarguria (fil-ar-goo-ree’-ah), which means avarice. Now we do not use the word avarice. Avarice simply means greediness or insatiable desire of gain.
Before I move on I need to mention the phrase the root of all evil. Barnes say the phrase is to be understood as all kinds of evil. All sorts of evils grow out of the love of money. Surely we need no proof of the fact that men and women will commit any sin or crime for money.
Verse 10 concludes, "which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The first principle that must be remembered when it come to money and the stewardship if us is this -- Be Cautious That You Do Not Love Money.
Let’s move on to the second principle.
God Owns Everything, Even Our Money
Psalms 24:1 "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
There is another passage that is even more "money" specific. Turn to Haggai 2:7-8 "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts."
I like to begin with the phrase "the desire of all nations." While some would disagree with me, it is my judgment that the phrase refers to wealth, "the silver" and "the gold." I like what J. Vernon McGee has to say about these verses.
"What is the desire of all nations? It is silver and gold. In our day many nations have had to go off the gold standard. When they dkd this, the economic foundation of the entire world was rocked. Why? Because there still is a desire for gold and silver…. All the silver and Gold in the world belong to God, and there will be plenty of it to adorn God’s house in the future. The future millennial temple will be, I am confident, a thing of beauty."
My point is simply this, all wealth belongs to God!
It Is God Who Gives The Power To Get Wealth
Turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 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 which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."
Next, turn to 1 Chronicles 29:12-13 "Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name."
Job of old put it this way: "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21
Here’s my point. It is foolish to trust in our wealth. It can be here today and gone tomorrow. One day Nebuchadnezzar was the richest man in the world. The next day and for the next seven years he was eating grass and living like an animal. Paul exhorted young Timothy to "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" 1 Timothy 6:17. Trust in God, not you money! It is God who gives us the power to get wealth. Enjoy what he has given you and use it to His glory.
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The Stewardship of Money
Part #2 – Three Alternatives For Sending Money
By Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Three Alternatives For Spending Money
Money Can Be Carelessly Wasted On Sinful Living
Billions of dollars are wasted each year by people who either don’t realize or don’t care that they are responsible to God for they way they spend their money, so they carelessly squanders their money on hedonistic living.
Turn with me to Luke 15:11-13, The Parable of The Prodigal Son. Before I read this parable to you I must tell you the definition of the word prodigal. A prodigal is a person who spends his money recklessly and extravagantly. Now to Luke 15:11-13 "And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living."
Many people are wasting their "substance with riotous living." His life reflected a pattern of squandering his money on such sinful excesses as drinking, sexual immorality, and wild living.
There are many people who are doing the same thing today. I overheard the conversation of three young people in there 20’s the other day telling how they partied the weekend away and got really drunk. Many people are spending hundreds of dollars gambling, playing the lottery, playing poker and betting on sporting events. Luke 15:30 says, the prodigal son "devoured" his "living with harlots." Many are doing that today. Others spend their money on drugs. Wild unrestrained living, regardless of the vice, will lead to a dead end.
Money Can Be Hoarded & Benefit No One Except Yourself
Tragically, an ever increasing number of Americans are so self absorbed that they only use their money to for themselves and what they do not spend now, they hoard. This is one of the characteristics of the last days. Paul told Timothy that "men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous…" 2 Timothy 3:2. As believers we must resist living like this. We would do well to ponder the parable our Lord shared with the man who came to the Lord and complaining the his brother would not share his inheritance with him.
Luke 12:13-21 "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
As you can see, real problem was that the rich man was living in poverty…spiritually.
That brings us to our final and only right alternative…
Money Can Be Used To Glorify God & Bless Others
Turn in your Bibles to Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
Let me clarify for you what the word substance is referring to. A man's "substance" are his wealth and riches. Whatever God sends us in the way of secular prosperity, there is a portion of it always for God’s cause. When that portion is given to Him the rest is sanctified. But, when it is withheld, God’s curse is upon the whole. Give to God, and God will give to you. (I plan a message on tithing as a part of this series. I will go in to more depth at that time.)
Not only should we give to God for the work of His Church, but we should also use our money to bless others. One of the reasons we are to work is so that we will have money to share with those in need. Turn to Ephesians 4:28 "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."
1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich (abound) in good works, ready to distribute (share with others), willing to communicate (willing to share their blessing with others without reluctance); 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
Paul tells Timothy to caution those that are rich in two areas.
Don’t be puffed up or prideful about the money you have. It is God who allowed you to get it and enjoy it.
Don’t trust in your money. Nothing is more uncertain than the wealth of this world. Many have had much of it one day and been stripped of all the next. Riches make themselves wings, and fly away as an eagle. Turn to Proverbs 23:5 "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."
Verse 18 says that we are to use our money to "do good" (see Galatian 6:10; Hebrews 13:16). That is, to perform acts of kindness and generosity. It is reinforced by the phrase following, "be rich (abound) in good works."
Next, we are to be ready to share with others, which is the meaning of the phrase, "ready to distribute." "Willing to communicate" carries the idea of giving freely and without reluctance.
In Verse 19 we read, "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." The basic idea is that when a believer uses your money to in ways that please God, He will reward you when you come in to His presence.
In summary, don’t squander your money on living sinfully, or just to benefit yourself. Rather, use it to the glory of God and the blessing of others.
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The Stewardship of Money
Part #3 – 7 Scriptural Reasons For Tithing
By Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Seven Scriptural Reasons For Tithing.
Let’s begin by looking at the definition of tithe. The Hebrew word rsem ma‘aser (mah-as-ayr’) literally means tenth or a tenth part. Let’s look at the first Scriptural reason for tithing…
Abraham Commenced Paying Tithes
I have had many interesting discussions with people about tithing over the years. One thing that often comes up is the assertion that tithing began under the Old Testament Law. However, that is not accurate. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedec about 500 years before the Law was ever given. We see this in Genesis 14:20 "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." We see that Melchizedec was both a king (King of Salem – the old name for
Jacob Continued The Practice of Tithing
The times of Jacob are still about 450 years before the Law. We read about his partnership with God and his agreement to tithe in Genesis 28:20-22 "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
The Practice of Tithing Is Made A Part of God’s Law For His People
Leviticus 27:30 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD." Turn also to Deuteronomy 14:22 "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year." Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
Christians who complain about tithing in our day should be glad that they did not live under the law. Why? Apparently there were two tithes in
Our Lord Jesus Christ Commended It
Matthew 23:23 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
In this passage Jesus is not condemning their tithing these small aromatic herbs, but what he does condemn is neglecting "the weightier matters." He acknowledges that they were exact in their tithing but, they neglected other very important matters of the law like judgment, mercy and faith.
Paul Taught That The Gospel Ministry Should Be Supported Just As The Old Testament Ministers Were Supported
1 Corinthians 9:13-14 "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."
How was God’s work and His workers supported in the Old Testament? It was by the tithe and offerings. We are told in verse 14 that, "the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel," that is by the tithe.
The Author Of The Book of Hebrews Insists That Christians Are Under Greater Obligation To Give Their Tithe To Our Ever-living Christ Than Abraham Was To Give The Tithe To Melchizedek
Turn in your Bible to Hebrews 7:1-3 & 14-28. In this passage we see "Abraham paid a tenth part of all" to Melchizedek. Then in verse 17 & 21 that Jesus Christ is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Therefore, He is to receive the Christian’s tithes.
Paul Urges The Corinthians To Become Regular, Systematic and Proportionate Givers
1 Corinthians 16:1-3 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of
There is little doubt that the laying by in store as the Lord prospered was giving the tithe. Under the Law tithing was commanded. Under Grace, we do not tithe legalistically, but because we love the Lord. Do you think God would ask less love, less faith, and less cheerful giving from a New Testament Christian than from a Jew under the Law? Tithing, for the Christian, is not a matter of bondage. Turn to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
What does God call us if we refuse to tithe? "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8.
Paying our tithe pleases the Lord. It establishes God’s ownership of all we have. It keeps us from covetousness. It proves the sincerity of our love for the Lord.
If we will be wise stewards of our money, we will pay our tithe.
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