Transforming How I See And Use Money
Transforming How I See And Use Money
Luke 16:1-13 (NIV) 1Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6“‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
What not to do with money
1. Don’t waste it.
2. Don’t love it or live for it.
3. Don’t trust it for security.
Proverbs 23:5 (GNT) Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.
4. Don’t expect it to satisfy.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV) Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
Luke 12:15 (NLT) Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
What to remember every day
1. It all belongs to God.
2. God uses money to test me.
Money shows what I love most.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) “Don’t store up treasures here on earth… Store your treasures in heaven… Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Money shows what I trust most.
Proverbs 11:28 (NIV) Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Money shows if God can trust me.
3. Money is a tool to be used for God’s purposes.
Luke 16:9 (NIV) “I tell you, use worldly wealth…”
He looked ahead.
Proverbs 14:8 (TLB) The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.
He made a plan.
Proverbs 16:9 (TLB) We should make plans—counting on God to direct us.
He acted quickly.
4. The best use of money is to use it to get people into heaven.
5. One day I’ll give an account to God.
6. If I’m faithful with a little, God can trust me with more.
Matthew 25:29 (NLT) To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.
Growing Deeper Together (Group Discussion Questions)
Use these points throughout the week as part of your quiet time, in your small group, or over coffee with a friend to help you apply what you learned in today’s message.
How do you view your money: a. It’s mine, keep your hands off. b. It’s my creditors’. c. It’s God’s – I just manage it. Why? How could you use it for the sake of the kingdom?
Rate yourself – how well are you taking care of God’s money and his property that he’s entrusted to you? Why did you give yourself that rating? Where are you doing well and how will you improve in the areas where you’re struggling?
In what ways are you currently experiencing the most internal conflict regarding money? How does that conflict affect your relationships with God and others?
What is the toughest decision you need to make concerning your finances? How does our key passage speak to that decision? Who are you partnering with in prayer over this?
Are you ready to Look Ahead, Make A Plan, & Act Quickly? Email deenasmith@northpointe.org for information on our financial freedom class that will kick off in April!
Transformed messages & group materials have been adapted from 50 Days of Transformation by Saddleback Church 2014