For the next few weeks, we are going to go on an adventure to look into God’s Word to see what it says concerning our finances. We are going to be “MAKING CHANGE” over the next few weeks! Our purpose of this series: a. I’m wanting to help believers who are stressed, out maxed out, and frustrated. b. I don’t want to see your marriage blow up over financial stress. c. I know if you apply the principles we are going to teach you over the next few weeks – it is going to give you freedom and take away the stress! d. Less Stress when the bills come due.
MAKING CHANG
EPART 1: MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Text: Matthew 25:14-30
Sunday, January 16, 2022
Pastor Tom Cogle
1. ALL THAT WE HAVE BELONGS TO GOD.
Psalms 89:11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
Romans 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
2. HE HAS ENTRUSTED US AS MANAGERS OVER HISRESOURCES. (OVER HIS BUSINESS)
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.
3. WE ARE GIVEN WHAT WE CAN HANDLE.
Matthew 25:15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities.
4. PROMOTION IS DEPENDENT UPON HOW WE MANAGE WHATWE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
Matthew 25:16-18 The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
a. We can be WASTEFUL.
Matthew 25:26-27 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
· We don’t PLAN for the future.
· We are unable to TRACK our spending.
· We spend FOOLISHLY.
b. We can be FAITHFUL.
Matthew 25:21 (& 23) “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Matthew 25:39 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
c. Reward for faithfulness:
AFFIRMATION: ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
PROMOTION: “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.”
CELEBRATION: “Let’s celebrate together!
’d. We are called to be faithful with our time, talents, and TREASURE.
1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
Colossians 1:9b-10 We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
5. OUR PERCEPTION OF GOD DETERMINES OUR EFFECTIVENESS.
Matthew 25:24-25 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
1 John 4:16-18 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
2 Corinthians 9:11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.
6. WE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW WE RUN OUR BUSINESS.
Matthew 25:19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
Romans 14:10 & 12 Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.1 Corinthians 4:5b For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
MAKING CHANGE HOMEWORK
· Track how every penny is spent for the next 30 days.
· Make a list of all monthly reoccurring bills (rent, mortgage, phone, insurance, utilities).
· Make a list of every loan and debt owed (credit card, car, school, medical, mortgage).
Come back next week for: “Making Change: Show Me The Money”
*All scripture is the NLT version unless otherwise stated.