In this series of teaching on stewardship, John Cole revised and taught from a published course made available without copyright by local church pastors shared for churches like ours. Read the handout notes here...

Matthew 19:16–22 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

IDENTIFYING MATERIALISM

Rightly Enjoying Material Things

So how do we know when we’re rightly using material things?

1 Timothy 4:1–5 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1) We must have a right understanding of material things according to the Word of God.

Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

2) We should receive it with thanksgiving .

3) Thanksgiving should lead us to prayer .

• Through prayer, we acknowledge God’s kindness to us in giving us material things and our dependence on Him for them.

• Prayer also helps to humble us , as we look to God to help us rightly enjoy that which He’s provided and not use it for our selfish ends.

• Through prayer, we set our hearts on the will of the Creator for His creation.

IDOLIZING MATERIAL THINGS

Materialism is essentially placing the wrong value on money and possessions.

Does owning or desiring “X” distract you from what God has called you to do?

Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

What do you delight in? Are you more excited about things than you are about God?

Psalm 73:25–26 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

How do you react when something is taken away ?

How do you feel toward others who have more than you ?

Luke 12:14–15 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

How do you react when you feel insecure ?

Proverbs 18:10–11 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as an high wall in his own conceit.

Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: But righteousness delivereth from death.

FIGHTING MATERIALISM

Treasure the excellence and beauty of God .

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Remind yourself of the danger of materialism.

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Confess materialism as sin.

Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

Fight for faith to rest in God.

Think about heaven.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Give generously .

Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Create a budget .

Proverbs 27:23–24a Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds.

Talk with others about it.

1. Take time to do an honest self-assessment.

2. Share your self-assessment with a Christian friend and allow them to ask accountability questions.

Examples:

• What purchase decisions do you most regret?

• Where are your weaknesses in spending money?

• How much debt do you have? What is your current plan to get rid of it?

• How much do you have in savings? Investments? What is the purpose of that money?

• How much do you give? How much could you give?

3. Invite their feedback on how you can be more faithful in honoring God.

Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: But he that hateth reproof is brutish.

4. Make a plan and act on it.

CONCLUSION

• We’ll view money as a tool to do good rather than a thing to hoard.

• We’ll see ourselves more as stewards who’ll give an account to Jesus rather than owners who call the shots.

• We’ll hold our possessions loosely with an open, generous hand rather than tightly with a clenched, selfish fist.

• We’ll experience joy by trusting in our God rather than sadness by trusting in our wealth.

• We will be diligent to gladly give God our first from what He has prospered us.