Slide 1

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 2

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 3

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 4

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 5

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 6

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 7

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 8

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 9

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 10

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 11

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 12

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 13

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 14

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 15

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 16

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 17

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 18

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 19

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 20

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 21

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 22

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 23

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 24

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 25

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 26

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 27

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 28

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 29

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 30

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 31

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 32

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 33

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 34

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 35

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 36

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 37

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 38

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 39

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 40

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 41

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 42

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 43

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 44

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 45

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 46

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 47

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 48

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 49

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 50

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!


Slide 51

2 Corintians 8:7
But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(Click mouse to go to next slide or use the arrow keys.)

Jesus Christ said more about money than
about any other single thing because,
when it comes to a man’s real nature,
money is of first importance. Money is
an exact index to a man’s true character.
All through Scripture there is an
intimate correlation between the
development of a man’s character and
how he handles his money.
Richard Halverson

Why is money so important to God?
 There are twice as many verses about
money (2,350) as there are on faith and
prayer combined
 When God interacts with people we see
the condition of their hearts. When He
saves someone we see a change in their
heart and a change in the way they view
and handle money

 Zacchaeus gives half of his possessions

to the poor and if he has cheated
anybody he pays back four times the
amount. Jesus said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house…”
Luke 19:8-9

 Jesus said to the rich man “Go, sell your

possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.” When the young man
heard this, he went away sad, because he
had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell

you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. “Who
then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23-25

 John the Baptist tells the crowds coming

to be baptized to produce fruit in
keeping with repentance. “What should
we do then?”
 1) The man with two tunics should share
2) One who has food should do the same
 3) Don’t collect more than required
 4) Don’t extort money
 5) Be content with your pay
Luke 3:7-14

 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.…All the
believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had…. Acts
2:44-45

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where

the offerings were put and watched…
Many rich people threw in large
amounts. But a poor widow came and
put in two very small copper coins…
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything—all she had to live
on.” Mark 12:41-44

 The land of a rich man produced

plentifully…“I will tear down my barns
and build larger ones… And I will say to
my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.” God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life will be demanded
from you… This is how it will be with
anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

 How would you have counseled the

poor widow? The rich fool?
 How does the rich fool’s worldview
and financial planning differ from
ours?
 How does the poor widow’s differ
from ours?
 God’s financial ways won’t always
match up with this world’s ways

 So then, each of us will give an account

of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
 For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Matt 6:22,23pp—Lk 11:34–36
 19 “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.

Matt 19:16–29pp—Mk 10:17–30
 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?” 20 “All these I have
kept,” the young man said. “What do I
still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”

 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)
 Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to
put their hope in wealth… 18 Command
them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as
a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life

Matt 12:22–31pp
 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. 23 For life is
more than food… your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell
your possessions and give to the poor.
Provide purses for yourselves that will
not wear out, a treasure in heaven that
will never fail… 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It’s a matter of the heart
 Greatest commandment – love God with
all of your heart, mind and soul
 God wants your heart
 What/who do we love, treasure, value,
be devote ourselves to, believe in, trust
in, serve, desire, obey with all our heart

 What you believe (truly believe in your

heart and mind) will drive your life
 If we truly believe that God owns it all,
and that we are His stewards, that
should increasingly bring changes in our
lives; it should show in the way we
manage our finances
 Ask yourself, do I really believe that God
owns it all? My house, cars, bank
account, retirement fund, all my stuff?

 If you want to change your life, change

your heart
 If you want to change your heart, change

where you put your money, time, talent

My experienced
 First was change in beliefs
 God changed my mindset and beliefs
(God owns it all and I’m His money
manager)
 Next came the decision to obey
 Obedience led to a change in heart
 Change in heart resulted in greater
joy, peace, sense of purpose

 Eleven of Christ’s thirty-nine parables deal with finances

and asset management.
 Steward: One entrusted with another’s wealth or

property, and charged with the responsibility of
managing it in the Owner’s best interest.

 The Stewardship Parables

 The Shrewd Manager
 The Faithful and Wise Servant

 The Watchful Servants

Luke 16:1-8
Matt. 24:45-51

Mark 13:34-37
 The Talents/The Minas
Matt. 25:14-30
 The Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
 The Tenants (Vineyard Renters) Matthew 21:33-44
 The Unworthy Servant
Luke 17:7-10
 The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16-21
 The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Luke 16:19-31

 He owns it all
 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the

highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

 Deuteronomy 10:14

 The master’s will is authoritative. Behind his words

there is ultimate power.
 He has delegated to his servants authority over his
money and possessions. He shows trust in their ability
to manage them and a willingness to take the risk of
delegating responsibilities to people who may fail.
 The master has high expectations of his stewards. He’s
not easy, but He’s fair.
 He is away for a season. The relationship is long-distance—

consequently, there is delayed accountability. It’s a test of
each servant’s devotion to see if the master’s standards are
maintained even though he isn’t there to give immediate
reward or correction

 The master will come back. It may be sooner, it may be

later, but he could return at any time, likely when least
expected.
 He has the right to expect the servant to do what he
commanded without reward. Yet the master graciously
promises reward and promotion to faithful stewards.
 The master’s instructions were reasonable. He’s not

one to accept excuses. The servants know his high
standards. They shouldn’t presume upon his grace by
being lazy and disobedient. The master will take
away whatever reward he would have given the
servant who is unfaithful. And He will discipline the
servant for poor stewardship.

 Stewardship. Servants should be acutely

aware that they are not owners, or masters,
but only caretakers or money managers. It’s
their job to take the assets entrusted (not
given) to them and use them wisely to care for
and expand the master’s estate. If a servant
does not fully grasp the implications of the
master’s ownership, he will not be a faithful
steward.



Industriousness. The
servants must work hard, and not
slack off.

 Accountability. The stewards

will one day stand before the
Master to explain why they did
what they did—and didn’t do—
with His assets.

 Faithfulness. Servants seek to handle their master’s

estate in a way that will please him. They do this until
the master returns or until death, no matter how many
years. Stewardship is the servant’s life calling.
Resignation isn’t an option. Where else would he go?
 Wisdom in investing. Because they are managing

the master’s assets, servants must choose
investments carefully. They can’t afford to take
undue risks. Nor let capital erode through idleness.
The goal isn’t merely to conserve resources but to
multiply them. Servants must be resourceful and
strategic thinkers finding the best long-term
investments.



Readiness for the master’s return.

 “When do you expect the owner to return?”
 The caretaker’s reply: “Today, of course.”
 Fear of the master. The stewards know the master is

just. His instructions were explicit. If the stewards
work wisely, they know they’ll fare well, because the
master is generous. But they also know that if they’re
unfaithful they will feel the master’s wrath. This
healthy fear motivates them to good stewardship.

 Individual standing before the master. Reward is not

to the group but to the individual. The master has a keen
eye. An individual servant’s efforts will not be negated by
the unfaithfulness of others. Each servant must do the
job given him, and will be rewarded justly.
 Single-mindedness in service. The wise steward’s life

revolves around service for the master. All side interests
are brought into orbit around this one consuming
purpose in life—to serve the master well.

John Wesley’s questions about
spending:
1) In spending this money, am I acting as if
I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s
trustee?
2) What Scripture requires me to spend
this money in this way?
3) Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice
to the Lord?
4) Will God reward me for this expenditure
at the resurrection of the just?


 God owns it all (100%; not a 90/10 split)
 Everything we have He has given us

 He entrusted us with a portion of His

resources as stewards/money managers
 He allows us a salary to cover our needs
and even some of our desires
 He also tells us to use His resources to
further His work
 He will reward us for our faithfulness

Our Goal - Attributes of a godly steward
 Seeks to please his master
 Values what his master values
 Knows his master (how he thinks)
 Uses his master’s resources to accomplish
his master’s goals not his own
 Faithful
 Asks his master for guidance and
clarification when he is not sure
 Organized
 Has a plan (spending, savings, giving)

God’s commands to us as stewards
 Take care of our needs
 Take care of the needs of our family
 Physical families
 Spiritual family

 Take care of the needs of the poor,

suffering, especially the orphans and
widows
 Support God’s work of taking the gospel
to the nations

Giving Video
 Give from the heart, not just from duty
 Put into practice what you learn
 God owns it all
 Share with needy
 Try it and see the principles come to life
 It was a challenge – they had no money
 Now they count it all joy in their hearts
 Generosity is transformational

What is our motivation/why?
 Our desire to bring glory to God
 Out of love for God and our desire to
please our heavenly Father
 Want to be obedient and conformed to
the image of Christ – become more
Christ like
 Fulfill our purpose – we are God’s
workmanship, created to do good works

Messengers/Lights/Witnesses
 let our light shine so they may see our good
works and glorify God in heaven
 To be a witness to the world; family, friends,
those who know us; may open their hearts to
the gospel
 Deeply touches the hearts and lives of those we
help
 For such a time as this; God has blessed us with
wealth at the same time there is great suffering
and in need in the world. God has given us the
resources to relieve that suffering and bring the
hope of the gospel to all peoples and bring
glory to His name

Gain blessings for ourselves, our families,
and those we help
 To lay hold of the promises of God
 Find true treasure (Christ)
 hidden treasure in field
 the pearl of great price

 In this life – peace, satisfaction,

contentment, joy, love, greater resources to
manage

 In eternity – well done good and faithful

servant, eternal rewards

Obstacles/roadblocks/Dangers
 Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. Luke
12:15
 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.

Wrong beliefs
 we are owners (not stewards)
 we are giving some of our money to God
 That we deserve/entitled to a certain
lifestyle or standard of living
 Need to live at the level our parents do
and shortly after leaving home
 You believe the lies that the world tells
you, like money will make you happy
and more money will make you happier

 Belief that the harder you work the more

you make that God has blessed you and
you have more to spend on yourself
 Belief that when God blesses you, it is
always to increase your standard of
living
 Deception – we deceive ourselves – look
into God’s word and forget what we saw
and don’t do what it says (James)

Why does God Prospers Us?
 The God who “supplies seed to the
sower” will “increase your store of seed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
 You will be made rich in every way so

that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

Action Plan
 Do a personal (or with your spouse if

married) or small group study on
stewardship.
 Study the topic through good Christian
books/dvds.
 What does God command us?
 What would further God’s kingdom?

 Evaluate your own personal/family

beliefs and values in the area of money,
possessions, saving, giving and
spending. What do you value, treasure,
desire the most, love/adore, seek after,
focus on, rely on and trust (God or
money and things?).

Get a plan –
 Look at checkbook – how you spend,
what you give, what you save, what you
borrow and why?
 Evaluate your spending habits – plan to
modify them to be in line with a
steward’s
 Evaluate your debt situation – develop a
plan to get out of debt

 Get a plan – put together a budget

(spending plan, savings plan, giving
plan)
 Set goals for giving;
 Start with tithing
 Then as your spending and debt get

under control or income increases, plan
to increase your giving by an
 A set amount
 Percentage increase (maybe 1% each year

until hit the goal)

 Pray – ask God for direction, ask Him

about expenditures you make (big and
little but especially the big ones)
Altima and Van/Rav4 examples
 Come to Financial Peace University
classes that we will run starting in
February (practical skills for managing
you money). Sign up to let us know
you are interested.

Conclusion
 It’s not a question of whether we will be
stewards or not. We are all stewards. We
don’t own anything. It’s a question of
whether we will be good or bad
stewards, faithful or not; wise or foolish
 It’s about doing what God wants us to
do and becoming the person God wants
us to be

 We can be godly stewards whether we are

rich or not (don’t wait until you’re rich)
 Be faithful in little, and God will entrust us
to be faithful in much
 We are all rich when compared to the world
population (in top 1%), even if in our eyes
we don’t have enough or when we compare
ourselves to those who have more than us;
 Compare ourselves to the 99% and not the
1%

 Keep our eyes on our goal (Christ;

eternal life) not the world’s (stuff and
more stuff)
 Glorify God
 love for God, pleasing God
 witness to the world, be a light, and
example to the world, to your family, to
the church, younger generation
 rewards

 Right beliefs and values lead to right

behavior and actions
 Ask God for the faith that leads to
actions
 Be different than the world, be a light, a
follower of Jesus, not the world
 We don’t want be like the man who
looks in the mirror and forgets what he
sees as soon as he turns and walks away,
we must be doers of the word

Questions?
If we have time!