Believe Week 9: God, how do you want me to use your money?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 9: Stewardship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Are you a thief?
I would guess many of you would answer, “I’ve never stolen anything in my life!”
Are you a tither? (A person who gives 10% of their income to the Lord through their local church)
I would guess many of you would answer, “I can’t afford to do that.”
Did you know that God spoke through the Old Testament Prophet Malachi to call out the thieves in Israel? Were they robbing from their neighbors? Were they shoplifting from the local market? Or were they telling their employer they were working a full day and only working half?
Nope.
They were stealing from God. How? Here’s God’s word through Malachi 3:6-9:
6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.
Here’s a few observations:
- The whole community was under a curse because they were not giving the tithe to the Lord. Collectively they had grown complacent.
- The community had turned away from the Lord…but what was standing in the way of them returning to the Lord was giving of the tithe.
Was God broke that he need some offerings?
No, God knew that the issue was the hearts of his people were more in love with their material wealth than they were with him. They could not return to him and love him with all their heart if their hearts were still loving money. Giving the 10% was much more than an amount of money, it was a statement of trust. The tithe is reflective of the truth that everything everything I am and everything I own belong to God!
When I truly believe this, I ask the question, “God, what do you want me to do with the wealth you have given me?” And God says, “Return to me the tithe, 10%, as a statement of your faith and obedience. Give your offerings as you have freely received, freely give.”
May I be the voice of Malachi to you today and challenge your heart as Malachi challenges mine to a) remember everything…EVERYTHING…you have is God’s and b) follow his direction how he wants HIS money to be managed.
But here’s the great thing. God invites us to TEST him and his promise. Malachi continues (3:10-12) 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
Too often we think of our regular giving/tithe as a “burden” or “obligation” or something that we “can’t afford.”
May I suggest you can’t afford NOT to give the tithe. God invites you to test him and see if he will not bless you as you give to him – not out of compulsion but because of a heart that loves God FIRST above all else…including your money.
Apply: Take a three month challenge (November, December, January). First figure out what percentage of your before tax income (give to God before giving to Caesar) you are currently giving to the Lord through your local church (this is God’s design for the tithe to be the mechanism to support the kingdom work of your local church). Develop a plan over the next three months to be at 10% by February. If you are currently at 10%, I pray you are experiencing the blessing of it and I’d love to hear your stories. I am convinced in three months you will see God’s blessing even more fully in your lives…not because you are giving more, but because your heart is focused on HIS love more!
Prayer: We give you but your own…whatever the gift may be. All that we have is yours alone…a TRUST, O Lord, from you. Forgive our greed and robbery, fill our hearts with trust and love. Be faithful to your promise as we test you in giving the full tithe and offerings to you. AMEN.
Believe Week 9: God, what do you want me to do with my body?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 9: Stewardship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What would you do to your home if you knew Jesus was going to physically visit you tomorrow?
Perhaps some of you would say, “You know what, he already knows how I live, no need to clean up.”
Others would initiate a “full court press” to clean the whole house, the yard, and ensure that the house where Jesus would visit was in its top form.
I would say the latter would be my tendency.
So how come we don’t…or at least don’t very well or very often.
Probably because the last person we expect to visit us physically would be our Lord Jesus.
Sure we remember his promise is that he is with us always.
Sure we remember that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there.
Sure we remember nothing can separate us from Jesus.
But does it change anything?
Probably not as much as we would think it should.
We are busy. We have things to do. We don’t have time to waste and the list goes on.
Here’s the truth I invite us to consider today from 1 Corinthians 6:19.
Jesus actually is dwelling with you…in your OWN body!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
You see our bodies aren’t just attached to our soul for us to do with our bodies as WE desire. In fact God gave us our bodies and all its abilities and senses to do as God desires.
This week under the theme of stewardship, we are asking different questions. When we realize Jesus has taken up residence in my body…when I realize that I was bought at a tremendous price, I realize that I need to ask a new question, “God, what do you want me to do with my body?”
Luther would say, (Explanation to the First Article): For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
When we realize our bodies were bought at a price and are the dwelling place of our Savior, it is our duty to use our energy and abilities to give thanks to God through the actions we do every day. It is our duty to use our lips and our voices to sing and speak the praise of God. It is our duty to use what God has entrusted to us to serve others. It is our duty to use our mind to obey the words and commands of Him who bought us with his very body and blood. It is a duty that is not burdensome, but a natural response to the goodness we have been shown.
Enjoy having an awareness today that you too have Jesus himself residing in your heart and soul. Let today represent him to others.
Apply: What small change might you make today to better care physically for your body (take a walk, eat something more healthy, take daily vitamins, etc. Form a new habit to better care for the body God has given to you and in which he has taken up residence!
Prayer: Thank you for fearfully and wonderfully making me. Thank you for purchasing me with the body and blood of your Son, that I might be your own and every day, now and always honor you with my body. AMEN.
Believe Week 9: God, what do you want me to do with my life?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 9: Stewardship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
I’ve met interesting people over the past years of pastoring. I learn about many things in life by the experiences and stories of others. Maybe you’ve met similar people. Here’s a sampling:
- A World War II vet who was at the invasion of Normandy
- A VP for McDonalds who never went to college.
- A person whose ancestors had interesting connections to Texas history.
- Multiple people who spent their lives in nursing.
- Pastors, teachers, and other ministry-minded people.
- Faithful moms and dads raising their kids.
- Owners of companies…workers for minimum wage.
- And more.
Everyone has a story. Everyone has one life to live. At some point we all have wrestled with the question, “Why am I here?” or “What am I going to do with my life?”
For some the calling becomes clear early in life, for others they struggle for a lifetime.
While I may not fully answer the question specifically for you, let me suggest your question changes slightly, but importantly.
Instead of asking, “What am I going to do with my life?” ask, “God, what do you want me to do with my life?” This second question leads me to consider there may be direction that I have been missing because I’ve been trying to figure it out on my own.
God doesn’t usually come to you specifically and tell you the job and/or career you are suppose to have, but he does set a few underlying principles that give meaning and purpose to whatever job or career you find yourself in.
First, in whatever you do or are doing, glorify God!
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
A primary question before any task or any job acceptance or career direction is to ask, “Can I do this job/career to the glory of God?” “Will this job allow me opportunities to express and share my faith or will it be a situation that shuts down or stands in the way of my faith?” Let life be about glorifying your Savior and giving thanks to God the Father for all the talents and abilities he has given to you.
Second, in whatever you do or are doing, serve others!
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
I remember one of my leadership mentors via his books, John Maxwell, saying often, “Add value to others and they will add value to you.” His point was to always approach life and leadership with a servant heart and mindset. Do not let life revolve around you and be lived with an expectation that everyone else was born to serve you! Remember Jesus himself did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. Whatever abilities, whatever job you have, use it to serve others, be a blessing to others, add value to others.
So what does that all mean today? You may not be in your dream job, or calling career, or most days “hate” going to work. But what if you a) repent of engaging in life trying to get all YOU can out of it and rather b) engage in life and live to give to others what God has given to you!
Go about your tasks today with the mindset, “I’m giving glory to God by changing my baby’s diaper. I am giving glory to God by spending time helping my student with homework. I am going to show up at work and let my light shine in the staff meeting or my interactions with customers. I am going to add value to people today and ask God to show me how and where to do that. I’m not just going to “survive” at work, I am going to thrive because every day is a day to give thanks for all God has given to me and use what he has given to serve others.”
Today is going to be a great day. Life is going to be a great life!
Apply: Notice today your heart as you go about your activities. Ask God to give you a perspective to glorify him and serve others in all you do!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving your all for me so that my life might be spent giving glory to you and serving others with the same love you have given to me. AMEN.
Believe Week 9: Who’s stuff is it anyway?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 9: Stewardship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What do stewardship and evolution have to do with each other?
I have to be upfront, I didn’t really consider a connection until this week and looking at our key verse and key truth for the week.
The key truth: I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God.
The key verse: Psalm 24:1-1 “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”
This passage puts forward that everything in and on the earth is the Lord’s for the very reason HE founded it. HE established it.
SO…if someone founds a company or establishes and organization, I’m pretty sure he gets to direct how it is used. It’s the nature of ownership. Your company…your call.
SO…if the earth is the Lord’s…it’s his call how it is used. If the earth just evolved with no creator or owner, it is every living being’s role to claim what they can to survive.
The connection between stewardship and evolution is this:
If God created everything, it is his and HE gets to direct how his stuff is used.
If everything evolved, I need to gather as much as I need in order to survive. I determine how it is used.
I will say there is another factor in this discussion: our sinful, human heart. It wants to make the call too.
So what will it be?
The key truth this week sparks a key question: “Whose stuff is this?”
How I answer this question determines what I believe about “stewardship.” Being a steward implies management of stuff FOR someone else. So I really have two choices:
Will I see my stuff and my life as God’s and manage it HIS way or will I see my stuff and my life as mine and manage it MY way? This week we’ll explore the two perspectives and discover the blessing of managing all I have God’s way.
To begin your week, consider this parable Jesus told. What lessons is he teaching you today?
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Jesus wants us to enjoy the fun and blessing of being a steward for HIM! Let’s learn more this week!
Apply: Simply evaluate for yourself: Do I see the stuff I have as MINE or as GOD’S?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the Creator of all and establishing this earth for your glory and my benefit. Forgive me for my selfishness and I pray, grant me your Spirit to renew my mind and heart to see and manage all things for YOUR glory, for they are yours to begin with. AMEN.
Believe Week 8: Clothe Yourself with Compassion!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 8: Compassion”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What clothes did you put on this morning?
Perhaps its casual Friday. Perhaps you have an important meeting so you dressed up a bit more. Perhaps it’s a day off so the grubbies came on…or it’s a PJ day!
What we put on is how we present ourselves to the outside world. While the external appearance isn’t always indicative of the person inside the clothes, hopefully that matches more than it doesn’t!
As Christians, God calls us to be consistent. What we “wear” on the outside is who we are on the inside.
The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
The fact is that we each are recipients of God’s tremendous compassion and love. With that inside of us, God’s Spirit encourages us, “Wear it on the outside!”
Clothe yourselves with compassion. Literally it says a “gut of mercy.” This the inner feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Clothe yourselves with kindness. This is the response of good that comes from a heart that has been touched by the mercy and grace of God. It desires to do good to all.
Clothe yourselves with humility. Be willing to put the interests of others above your own. This is the heart that is willing to serve others; there is no task that is too menial.
Clothe yourselves with gentleness. Show up as a friend. Let go of arrogance and show up with a demeanor that shows respect and interest in all.
Clothe yourselves with patience. Be willing to go the distance with someone who needs you by their side. Be slow to get angry and quick to aid and instruct.
This is quite a “closet full” of clothes our Savior invites us to put on. These are not just humanistic virtues, but are all given and driven by the Spirit of God. It is important that we remember “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…” Without the work of God’s love, mercy and compassion in our hearts, there is no way we can wear the clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
So what will you put on today?
It’s easy for our sinful nature to discourage us and say, “Mike if you put these things on, you will be taken advantage of, be seen as a pushover, and never get done what you need to get done. Someone else can show up today in those clothes.
For this I repent. For this we repent. Satan loves to move us to the part of the closet that puts on pride, selfishness, heartlessness, impatience and the like. Why don’t we just throw those clothes out in the trash! They stink and look awful anyway.
Rather clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You’ll look amazing, reflect God’s love tremendously, and make a difference in the lives of others.
Apply: Try mentally “clothing” yourself today with these attributes…or just start with one. At the end of the day, see how it impacted your day and someone else’s day.
PRAYER: Lord thank you for the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience you have shown to me. Let this gift of compassion shown to me move me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience each and every day! AMEN