If a person gets his attitude toward money straightened out, then almost all other areas of his life will be straightened out. (Billy Graham)

If a person gets his attitude If a person gets his attitude toward money straightened toward money straightened

out, then almost all other out, then almost all other areas of his life will be areas of his life will be

straightened out. straightened out. (Billy Graham)(Billy Graham)

Being a disciple of Jesus includes Being a disciple of Jesus includes the duty of being a steward—one the duty of being a steward—one who manages another’s property or who manages another’s property or financial affairs. With Jesus as Lord financial affairs. With Jesus as Lord and Master, everything belongs to and Master, everything belongs to him and what I have is only him and what I have is only entrusted for me to manage.entrusted for me to manage.

This plain truth motivates me to be This plain truth motivates me to be productive, protects me from greed productive, protects me from greed and reminds me to be accountable. and reminds me to be accountable. In the Gospels, Jesus teaches In the Gospels, Jesus teaches through parables and by direct through parables and by direct statements on the stewardship of statements on the stewardship of money and possessions.money and possessions.

Guard against Greed!Guard against Greed!(Luke 12:13-21)(Luke 12:13-21)

1.1. Guard against greed! Guard against greed! (Luke 12:13-21)(Luke 12:13-21)1.1. Guard against greed! Guard against greed! (Luke 12:13-21)(Luke 12:13-21)

a.a. The man in the parable became The man in the parable became rich through proper planning and rich through proper planning and productivity.productivity.

b.b. God calls the rich man a fool not God calls the rich man a fool not because he is rich but because he because he is rich but because he “stores up things for himself but is “stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God,” v. 21.not rich toward God,” v. 21.

1.1. Guard against greed! Guard against greed! (Luke 12:13-21)(Luke 12:13-21)1.1. Guard against greed! Guard against greed! (Luke 12:13-21)(Luke 12:13-21)

c.c. When God’s interests and eternal When God’s interests and eternal values are ignored, the pursuit of values are ignored, the pursuit of wealth breeds greed.wealth breeds greed.

Store upStore upHeavenly Treasures!Heavenly Treasures!

(Matthew 6:19-21)(Matthew 6:19-21)

2.2. Store up heavenly treasures! Store up heavenly treasures! (Matthew 6:19-21)(Matthew 6:19-21)2.2. Store up heavenly treasures! Store up heavenly treasures! (Matthew 6:19-21)(Matthew 6:19-21)

a.a. ““Treasures in heaven” are really Treasures in heaven” are really treasures on earth that also count treasures on earth that also count for eternity because they are used for eternity because they are used to please God and promote His to please God and promote His kingdom.kingdom.


b.b. ““Where your treasure is, there Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [The your heart will be also.” [The reverse is also true: Where your reverse is also true: Where your heart is, there will your treasure be heart is, there will your treasure be also]. Your heart is revealed by the also]. Your heart is revealed by the priorities you set.priorities you set.


c.c. Do you give priority to what God Do you give priority to what God deems right and promotes his deems right and promotes his kingdom?kingdom?

Serve one Master!Serve one Master!(Luke 16:1-13)(Luke 16:1-13)

3.3. Serve one Master! Serve one Master! (Luke 16:1-13)(Luke 16:1-13)3.3. Serve one Master! Serve one Master! (Luke 16:1-13)(Luke 16:1-13)

a.a. In this parable, the dishonest In this parable, the dishonest steward was commended for his steward was commended for his practical wisdom (shrewdness), practical wisdom (shrewdness), v. 8.v. 8.


b.b. When Money was his master, he When Money was his master, he was dishonest; when his master was dishonest; when his master (God) demanded an accounting, he (God) demanded an accounting, he became wise and planned his became wise and planned his courses of action.courses of action.


c.c. Wise people use worldly material Wise people use worldly material money to serve heavenly spiritual money to serve heavenly spiritual interests, v. 9.interests, v. 9.

Live to Give!Live to Give!(Luke 6:38)(Luke 6:38)

4.4. Live to Give! Live to Give! (Luke 6:38)(Luke 6:38)4.4. Live to Give! Live to Give! (Luke 6:38)(Luke 6:38)

a.a. Jesus watches as the rich and a Jesus watches as the rich and a poor widow gave offerings and said poor widow gave offerings and said “this poor widow has put more “this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the into the treasury than all the others,” Mark 12:41-44.others,” Mark 12:41-44.


b.b. Jesus endorses tithing but cites Jesus endorses tithing but cites other important spiritual values other important spiritual values besides tithing, Luke 11:42.besides tithing, Luke 11:42.

I do not believe one can settle how I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more the only safe rule is to give more

than we can spare. than we can spare. (C.S. Lewis)(C.S. Lewis)


c.c. Jesus commands giving to Caesar Jesus commands giving to Caesar his dues (taxes) and giving to God his dues (taxes) and giving to God His tithes, Matthew 22:21.His tithes, Matthew 22:21.

Perspectives on Wealth and GivingPerspectives on Wealth and GivingPerspectives on Wealth and GivingPerspectives on Wealth and Giving

POSSESSING wealth is not WRONG.POSSESSING wealth is not WRONG.

USING wealth may be WRONG.USING wealth may be WRONG.

TRUSTING in wealth is always WRONG.TRUSTING in wealth is always WRONG.

Perspectives on Wealth and GivingPerspectives on Wealth and GivingPerspectives on Wealth and GivingPerspectives on Wealth and Giving

1.1. I share with God I share with God when I want towhen I want to..

2.2. I share with God I share with God because I have tobecause I have to..

3.3. It’s all God’s, and It’s all God’s, and He shares with meHe shares with me!!

If a person gets his attitude toward money straightened out, then almost all other areas of his life will be straightened out. (Billy Graham)

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If a person gets his attitude toward money straightened out, then almost all other areas of his life will be straightened out. (Billy Graham)