Sunday Sermon

Who Owns What?

Dave Shaner

June 6, 2004

Introduction: Many of the arguments in the world boil down to who owns what. It creates tension in all our relationships. For us to give our best means settling this issue of ownership.

I. Giving my best means understanding of ______________.

A. Genesis 24:1-27

B. What does the Bible mean about what a steward is?

C. Jesus often used the image of a steward in his teachings.

The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns."  - Luke 12:42-43

II. Three Foundational Truths about Stewardship:

A. God is ____________. All things are ____________.

1. Scriptures:

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. - Psalm 50:9-12

The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; - Psalm 24:1

The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.  - Leviticus 25:23

Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.  - Job 41:11

2. Deuteronomy 10:14

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

3. Our culture honors the self-made man.

4. Deuteronomy 8:17-18a

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth

B. I am a ____________. His things are ____________.

1. I Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

2. James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

3. Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

C. We are ____________. Our things are ____________.

1. God wants his wealth circulated to bring him honor.

2. The Bible condemns the sin of hoarding.

a. Ecclesiastes 5:13

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner

b. Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

3. God wants to bless you as a channel to bless others.

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.  - II Corinthians 9:11

4. Luke 16:10

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.

III. The exhortation to stewardship is part of the call to ____________.

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.  - Luke 14:33

Conclusion: Giving my best means giving my all. Who owns what ultimately depends on what/who owns you.

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