A Steward Must Be Faithful

Scripture: Proverbs 24:30-34

C.I.: What to Do with All this Money

So far in this series… - Today we will conclude this series on a very positive note.

•  “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant…”

•  The Wise Steward

•  Setting aside money for an emergency is wise!

•  In our Scripture Reading – we saw how a person who is lazy with their life – ends up poor.

1) You should have in savings – an amount equal to 3 months wages (job loss, sickness, etc.).

2) This is what you do with the money you were using to pay off debts (“The Snowball Effect”)

3) Illust.: Show slide from Lesson #3

4) ( Pro. 6:6-8 ), “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which having….”

5) You are ready for any future emergencies – so now what?!!

•  Getting rid of your home mortgage is wise! (No, really!!! )

a. Get the house you can afford (it will appreciate) – pay it off in 15 years!!

1) $110k house (after down payment) @ 7% over 30 years = $263,520 for your home!

2) $110k house (after down payment) @ 7% for 15 yrs. = 177,840 ($85,680 difference!!!)

•  “Difference in payments” (you say). - $732 vs. $988 (only $256! – Not much if debt-free!)

•  ( Pro. 21:5 ), “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but those who are hasty…”

•  Investing the Lord's money is wise!

•  Invest 15% of your before tax income – into your retirement!

1) Illust.: Putting $$ towards recurring debt versus investments (cf. Ramsey, workbook, p. 229)

2) (You may still be paying off your home - so 15% is good (raise it when home is paid off).

3) Use matching funds when available. – Roth IRAs grow tax free so use them.

4) Mutual funds are best for the long haul – (Explain how highs & lows in the market help.)

•  Jesus Himself encourages this sort of thing…

1) ( Matt. 25:16, 21 ), “Immediately the one who had receive the 5 talents went and traded with
them, and gained 5 more … ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful with a
few things, I will put you in charge of many things.'”

2) God expects us to be wise in the way we handle what He has given to us.

•  “Now, what I am to do with all of this money?!”

•  Have Fun!

•  Enjoying the blessings God bestows - is NOT sinful!

•  We don't condemn athletes, singers, painters, or others for enjoying the gifts God gives them.

•  The question regarding money must be – what is our motivation re: money?!

•  ( I Tim. 6:9-10 ), “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. – For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.” – But when God blesses… enjoy!!!

•  ( v. 17 ), “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy .

•  Use it to Bless Others!

•  There are many ways in which God's blessings can be used…

•  Feeding others in need (our pantry) – ( Matt. 25:35 ), “I was hungry and you gave Me….”

•  Supporting missionaries – ( III Jn. 7-8 ), “They went out for the sake of the Name, accepting
nothing from the Gentiles. – Therefore, we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow
workers with the truth.”

•  Use it to support the various ministries within the church - ( I Cor. 16:1-2 ), “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. – On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.”

CONCLUSIONS:

1. James 1:17 , “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
Father of lights.”

2. Thus, all that we have is a gift from God – and what we do with it – is our gift back to Him!

a. So… how are we using the gifts God has given us: time, efforts, money?

•  ( II Cor. 5:10 ), “We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account….”

•  ( II Cor. 6:2 ), “‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you'; behold, now is' the acceptable time,' behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.'”

•  ( Acts 2:38 ), “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”