Money

 

What comes to mind for you when you think of money? Maybe you think of how you don’t have enough? Maybe you hate it? Love it? Think of something you want to buy? Think of greedy people or someone who is poor financially? Immediately change the topic because you hate talking about it? Feel excited at the thought of having money? Think of Las Vegas or the lottery? Maybe you think of someone who has ruined their life because of money? So many of us think a million different things about money as soon as it is mentioned and, most of the time, it’s something about our personal experience with money.

 

We need to start from the very beginning about the thought of money. What is it? Why do we even have it? Have you ever actually thought about that?

 

The short answer is this: money is a tool God gives us to accomplish His purposes. How did we get to that conclusion and definition of money? Keep reading.

 

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be stewards of what God has given us. A steward is someone who takes care of someone else’s possessions. So then it begs the question, who possesses money? Who is in charge of it? The answer is God. Read on and consider who is ultimately in charge of money.

 

How Much Of What We Have Is God’s?

· Behold, to The Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. -Deuteronomy 10:14 · Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. -Job 41:11b

· The earth is The Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. -Psalm 24:1

· For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. -Psalm 50:10-12

· The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. -Psalm 89:11

 

Then, What Does The Bible Have To Say About Stewardship and Money?

· Whoever is generous to the poor lends to The Lord, and He will repay him for his deed. -Proverbs 19:17 · Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required -Luke 12:48

· But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. -1 Timothy 6:9-10

· Instruct those who are rich to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. -1 Timothy 6:17-19

· Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5

· No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. -Matthew 6:24

· In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ -Acts 20:35 · The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. -Proverbs 22:7

· And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19                                       

              The Board of Stewardship