Luke 6:47-49 (NIV)

47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

INTRODUCTION:

• Today I am going to conclude the series on Stewardship that I began before leaving for holidays. Today?s message is the continuation of the message I began on the Sunday before I left entitled The Trust Test. I?ve stated from the beginning of this series that no matter how you look at it or talk about it or analyze it you?ll always come back to the fundamental truth that Stewardship (that is managing what God has given you) begins with TRUST! In fact, successful Christian living is found in that key word, in that important attitude, in that necessary behavior of trust!? (recap briefly the first two messages)

(Possibly read Proverbs 3:1-10)

“The man of pseudo [pretend/insincere] faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at that last day.” A.W. Tozer

Review:

- the acronym for trust

Take An Inventory

Recognize God As Your Source

Understand God?s Principles

- We?ll review those in a moment.

S Surrender everything to God.

T Test God?s Promises.

Let?s look at the principles that God has for us. These are all, by the way, kingdom principles. These are principles that the Christian understands and hopefully obeys, but that the world does not understand. Are you ready?

Understand God?s Principles

1. The “Who?s in Charge” Principle

God is the owner; I?m the manager. Every resource, every blessing I have today is a gift of God?s.

2. The “Give and Grow” Principle

Practicing stewardship will produce growth in all areas of our life.

3. The “Do it Now” Principle

Stewardship deals with our present resources. Not what I had, not what I will have, but God is asking me today, “Darren, what are you doing with your gifts and your abilities that you have right now?”

4. The “I?m in Debt” Principle

From the moment we are born, we are debtors. The Apostle Paul said, “I am a debtor.” Basically saying that I?ve come into this world already given many blessings, and I am now responsible to return as many as those blessings as I possibly can.”

5. The “Fountain of Youth” Principle

We live forever through our giving. As we give of our talent, our tithe, our time, it?s the only thing that lasts forever.

Now we will pick up where I left off and you can find in the handout a place to record notes.

6. The Who?s Number One? Principle. (Matthew 22:36-38)

There is an important point I?d like to make: God Deserves The First of Everything.

There?s a tendency, instead of giving Him our best, our first, for us to give Him our leftovers. Jesus was asked one time,” Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the law? And Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your mind, soul, and strength. That is the first and most important commandment.”

Take your pen out and write down Proverbs 3:9. The Proverbs writer said,

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Paul writes to the Corinthian church about their offerings (collection for God?s people)?

1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)

2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

God tells us that we are to give Him the first, not the last of everything. Now, our tendency is to give God what?s left over. Now, that?s just human. Our human tendency is to take our possessions and kind of take care of ourselves. And if there?s anything left over, “Well, sure, God. I?ll take care of you.”

From this human tendency comes this whole question of, Where do I put God? Is He first? Is He second? Is He fifth? Is He 25th? Is He 23rd in my life? Let me ask you a question. Where is God in your life right now? Now, the Lord said, “Where your treasure is, that?s where your heart is.” (Matthew 6:21) He basically said, “I can tell you what you love, if you just let me see your checkbook and your calendar.” He says, “I can basically tell what your priorities are in your life.”

7. The Cheerful Attitude Principle.

Stewardship begins with loving, not giving.

Paul said what? “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) You see…

We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.

Love has to be the foundation. If love is not the foundation of my relationship with God, I?m always going to have a problem. You see,

Love asks: “How much can I give? ”

Legalism asks: “How little can I give?”

And there?s a major difference between the two.

The basis of my stewardship and management of all the resources that God has given me has got to be based on the fact that I love Him with all my heart, my soul, and my strength. Carl Meninger, a great psychiatrist, by the standards of the world, made the observation that generous people are rarely mentally ill. Do you understand what he was saying? He was saying that when we begin to live beyond ourselves and give of our time and talent and everything — when we begin live beyond our world of self — it changes our mindset. We become healthy people. Emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually.

8. The Big Shovel Principle. (Luke 6:38)

You cannot out-give God!

God has a bigger shovel than you or I do. Listen to what Jesus said, and get your pen out. Because I want you to circle a word in a moment.

Luke 6:38 (NIV)38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Now notice this next phrase, “For with the measure you use…” — circle that word your “you” — “But by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

That?s a powerful principle. Jesus said that “I measure by the standard of what I receive.” So that means is what I give in delight is what I?m going to receive back in abundance. It?s called the “Big Shovel” principle because God is saying, “If you?ll do your part, I?ll do more.” And He says, “I have a bigger shovel than you do.” A very generous giver was asked, “How is it that you have given so much, and yet God has blessed you financially in every area?” And he replied, “It?s very simple. I shovel in and God shovels back. And God has a bigger shovel than me.”

9. The River Principle.

Our life is to be like a river, not a reservoir.

In other words, I?m to be a conduit. I?m to take my life and not hold what God has given me, but I am to pass it on to others. S.D. Gordon, in his book, Quiet Talks on Prayer, says that there is one inlet of power in life – The Holy Spirit.

Five Outlets of Power.

Now, there are five outlets of power, through which this Holy Spirit within us reveals His power. I?d like to give them to you today. Because this is the way we?re to be a river, not a reservoir. We?re to let God?s power flow through us in these five areas.

1. Through our life — what we are.

2. Through our lips — what we say.

3. Through our ministry — what we do.

4. Through our money — what we give.

5. Through our prayer — what we claim in Jesus? name.

We make a living by what we get.

We make a life by what we give. How true it is.

10. The Who Has Whom Principle.

Until God is in control of my life, I am out of control.

James Lawless said, “Stewardship is more than the management of thing; it?s the refusal to let things manage us.”

I?d like to expand on this principle by looking at the next letter in our acronym in trust which is “S”?

Surrender Everything to God (Luke 16:10; Jeremiah 17:5-8)

“If I only had more, I would give more.” How often we?ve all said that. Luke has something to say about such statements.

Luke 16:10 (NIV)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.

What did Luke mean? I believe he meant that If you are not giving sacrificially with what you have now, you won?t give sacrificially when you have more. Why? Because there?s a spiritual principle at work in our lives, and that principle has shown time and again: It?s not how much we have of the world that dictates our generosity towards God, but how much God has of us.

Wow. That?s powerful. Now, here?s the problem, in a nutshell. The question for the Christian is very simple. Am I going to live like the world, basically trust in myself, become independent and do my own thing? Or am I going to live under Christian principles so that God has more of me? Am I going to be a truly trusting, obedient, dependent person upon God? Is God going to be my source, or am I going to do the old North-American deal of pull myself up by the bootstraps and kind of pave my own way? That?s the issue.

The issue this morning, folks, is not your talent, your time, your abilities, or your money. The issue is very simple. Who do I trust in? That?s it. Jeremiah describes both an independent person and a person of trust or dependence. Here?s what he says about the independent person,

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NIV)5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

Notice how He says what we?ll be like if we?re independent and do our own thing ? God says, “If you?re going rely on yourself, you?re going to be like a bush, pushed in the wind.” Having no roots, no fruit, nothing.

But then He goes on, and says about the person that trusts and is dependent upon God:

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Now circumstances are the same for the person who trusts God and the person who doesn?t. For the one who doesn?t trust God, there?s famine. But the one who is prospering has leaves because his roots are grounded in the source, which is God. The other one like a tumbling bush being pushed by the wind. Circumstances the same. Result totally opposite.

Now for the last letter in our acronym?

Test God?s Promises

Let?s talk about testing God?s promises. I love what Mother Teresa said: “I know God will not give me anything I can?t handle. I just wish He didn?t trust me so much.” Oh, what a delightful lady. Did you know why God trusted Mother Teresa so much while she lived? It?s very simple. Because Mother Teresa was proven to be trustworthy. It?s that simple, Folks. If you are doing without something in the area of your need, the Bible says, “My God will supply all your needs.” If you?re doing without, I can almost promise you, you can go back to the point of trust.

When I was working on this sermon, it hit me that every great Bible character had to go through what we can call “The Trust Test” I put four of them down real quick. To be the honest with you, I just started in Genesis and went through the first four that came to mind. Here they are.

Bible characters who passed the trust test:

1. Noah Genesis 7:6 (building of the ark)

Remember when God told him to build an ark because it was going to rain? Hey, it had never rained before. Major trust, don?t you think? Would you like to explain that to your neighbor? No wonder they ridiculed Noah. But look. Noah obeyed and trusted Him. Notice what it says in Genesis 7:6?

Genesis 7:5 (NIV)5 And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.

Noah passed the Trust Test.

2. Abraham Genesis 22:1-2 (sacrifice of Isaac)

Remember when God spoke to Abraham, and said that He wanted him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac?

Genesis 22:1-2 (NIV)

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

Genesis 22:6-8 (NIV)

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Genesis 22:12 (NIV)

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham passed the Trust Test.

3. Joshua Joshua 5:1 (crossing the Jordan)

You know the whole story of Moses crossing the Red Sea. You watched The Ten Commandments. Come on now. You know, how the rod stretches, and the water parts. Can you imagine the people hollering at Joshua as he?s going down the Jordan there? “Hey, Josh, you don?t have your rod. Go get your rod. You know you go to the river, you put out your rod, and the water parts. And you?re good shape. Get the rod.” But God didn?t want Joshua to use a rod. This time they had to put their feet in the water before it could part. Why? Because God didn?t want them to trust in methods. He wanted them trust in HIM! And as soon as the water parted – look what the scriptures say?

Joshua 5:1 (NIV)1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Joshua passed the Trust Test.

4. David I Samuel 17:37-39 (fighting Goliath)

Remember David and Goliath? You know the story. As soon as Saul found out that David was going to fight Goliath, you know what he did! David went to King Saul and said that he would fight for Israel. Saul looked at this young boy and said:

1 Samuel 17:33-39 (NIV)

33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.” 38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.

David passed the Trust Test.

Here?s how it works. Noah trusted in God, not the familiar. Abraham trusted in God, not personal feelings. Joshua trusted in God, not methods. David trusted in God, not man?s armor. They all had to take the Trust Test.

CONCLUSION

You and I have to take the Trust Test. And here it is. (Malachi 3) It surrounds the issue of tithing

Promises that God gives His children when we tithe. Malachi 3

1. He will provide for us. (v. 10)

Folks, this is God talking. Look what He said in verse 10. ”

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

You?re saying, “Pastor, are you telling me that God will take care of me in every area of my life including finances if I put God first?” No, I?m not. God?s telling you. It isn?t Ethier?s Trust Test. This isn?t Hanover Pentecostal Church?s Trust Test. This is God?s. He says, “If you put me first, not second, not third, not 27th, but first…” — Here?s what I found.

In the area I obey — God blesses.

In the area I disobey — God disciplines.

What a powerful biblical principle!

2. He will protect us. (v. 11)

Malachi 3:11 (NIV)

11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

3. Our lives will be attractive to others. (v. 12)

Malachi 3:12 (NIV)

12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

(Share personal story of tithing when teenager working at the grocery store.)

I want you to pull out the Trust Test card that is your in bulletin. Every one of you get it. Follow with me, please.

This is the only area in the Bible where God tells you to test him. Anywhere else you try to test him, he says no. But in this area, because he knows it?s so difficult for us, he says, “Test me in this.” There are two boxes. One says, “I will begin tithing,” and one says “I already tithe.” Now I?ve been tithing so in a moment I will check “I already tithe

Now, don?t check boxes yet, because I know some of you are sweating. You?re saying, “Hey Pastor, I haven?t done this before. And I can?t meet my budget now.” Would you look at me for a moment? That?s your problem. You haven?t turned your finances over to God. The moment you give Him control, He begins to do things that you and I could never do on our own. And I want to challenge you this morning, to take God?s Word in what He said. I want to tell to you something. If God won?t take care of you in every area of your life, if this promise isn?t true, I?m going home. In fact, if this promise isn?t true, I?m not only going home, I?m leaving the ministry. Because I?m not about to get up here every Sunday and preach God?s Word, and gum myself to death on promises that God can?t fulfill. It?s God?s promise to you.

The Trust Test

I want you to understand something – tithing is not an issue of money; it?s an issue of trust. God knows that the most difficult area for us to turn over to Him is our finances. Therefore He says to us…

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not pour open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Malachi 3:10

God said it. Can I trust Him to fulfill this promise? More importantly, can God trust me to obey Him?

Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

INTRODUCTION

Today I want to talk to you about managing the resources that God has given to us. Two Sundays ago we asked the question: Can I trust God? Last week we looked at another question: Am I trustworthy? Can God trust me with the resources He has given to me? And today I just want to share with you what I call the Trust Test. This is a two-part sermon. I?ll share half this morning, and half when I get back from my holidays. We?re really going to work through this whole issue of trust, and how we, as God?s children, do when we take the Trust Test. Let me read as an introduction of this message an article that I came across in preparation for this message.

“At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things that I did wrong so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn?t know Him.

“But later on, when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike. And Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don?t know just when it was that He suggested that we change places, but life has never been the same since.

“When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but it was predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts. Up mountains and through rocky places at break-neck speeds. It was all that I could do to hang on. And even though it looked like madness, He said, ?Pedal.? I worried and was anxious, and I asked, ?Where are you taking me?? He laughed and didn?t answer. And that?s when I learned that I was going to have to trust Him.

“I forgot my boring life and entered into every adventure. And when I?d say, ?I?m scared,? He?d lean back and just touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed. Gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. He gave me gifts to take on my journey and off we went again. And he would say, ?Give the gifts away. They?re extra baggage, too much weight.? So I did, to people we met, and I found that in giving, I received. The journey continued and our burden was light. I did not trust Him at first to take control of my life. I thought He?d wreck it, but He knows bike secrets. He knows how to make those sharp corners and how to jump clear off high rocks and do things I could?ve never done if I were in control.

“And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places. I?m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful Companion, Jesus Christ. And when I?m not sure I can do it anyway more, He smiles and, says, ?Just pedal.?”

I think every one of us comes to a place where we ask a very simple question: Can I really trust God? Can I trust God with my life? Can I trust God with my future? With my family? With my job? With my health? Can I trust God with my possessions? I think every one of us comes to the place where we have to cross a line of either saying, “Yes, I do trust Him,” or staying back and saying, “No.”

This is a crucial observation: it?s at that Trust Test line that we either grow spiritually by crossing it and saying,” Yes, I?m going to trust God,” or we back away from that line and begin to shrivel in our soul and never reach our potential as a child of God. All because we were unwilling to let God take control of our life.

I?m trying to give you handles, ways that you and I could learn to trust God more completely. I came across this little acrostic, and let me just share with you what each letter stands for. We?re going to talk about a couple of them this morning.

T Take an inventory.

We need to be asking ourselves the bottom line question: Do I really trust God?

R Recognize God as your source.

We need to realize as we take inventory of our life, that everything that you and I have right now is a gift from God.

U Understand God?s principles.

Until we understand them, we?re always going to hold back in our trust toward God.

S Surrender everything to God.

The moment that we understand the principles that God has for us; then it?s just an act of surrender.

T Test God?s promises.

We need to look at God?s Word and test his promises, because it?s in that testing that God proves Himself to us. Then all of the sudden our faith begins to build.

Take An Inventory (Psalm 139:23,24; Proverbs 3:5-10)

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139. The psalmist said it better than I could. He says to God, “God, look deep into my heart and find out everything that I am thinking. Don?t let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.”

Three observations about the psalmist?s prayer of inventory.

1. Only God knows everything about us.

It?s obvious to me because the psalmist said, “Look deep into my heart and find out everything I?m thinking.” In other words, the psalmist said, “I don?t even know what?s down there. I don?t even know what I?m thinking. Look deep in my heart.” He?s asking God to help him take inventory.

2. Only God can lead me correctly.

The psalmist recognized that our tendency is to want to follow evil ways.

3. Taking inventory and trusting God begins with me.

This whole issue begins with me. I have to do personal inventory. Look at myself and ask myself, “How am I doing in this area of trust? ” Turn with me please, to Proverbs 3, and let me just show you how personal this inventory has to be.

When you go to Proverbs Chapter 3:5-10, you?ll see that the Proverb writer understood that trust began with him. In fact, take your pen out with me. I?m going to read it, and I want you to underline or circle all the personal pronouns. Are you ready?

Proverbs 3:5-10 (NIV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

The Proverb writer said that all trust starts with personal inventory. I need to take responsibility for doing my part. What happens? I do my part, and you know the rest — God does His part.

Recognize God As Your Source (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

We need to come to a place where we recognize God as the source of our life. Recognize that He knows everything. There?s nothing hidden from Him; He is sovereign. I love the humorous story of the mother telling her daughter a little bit about the facts of life, as she came to the age to understand some of those things. The little girl was really shocked. And when the mother finished, the little girl said, “Mom, does God know these things? ” God knows them all. He?s the source. Also write down Colossians 1:15-20. It?s a great passage that talks about God (Jesus) being the source.

Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

As I was going through the Word of God this week, I realized that there are so many places in the Bible that tell us without God it?s impossible:

Matthew 5:36 tells us, that we cannot change our hair, add hair to our head, without God being the source.

Matthew 5:36 (NIV)

36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Matthew 6:27 tells us that we cannot add a single moment to our life without God being the source.

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

James 4:14 reminds us that we cannot even say with certainty what?s going to happen tomorrow without God as the source.

James 4:14 (NIV)14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Act 27:20 tells us that we cannot save ourselves from disaster without God being our source.

Acts 27:20 (NIV)20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

It?s very humbling when we to recognize where we are.

They tell us that William Beavy, the naturalist and a very close friend to Teddy Roosevelt, spent many evenings with Roosevelt. After their meal, they would go outside and look at the stars in the heavens, and he would say, “That is a galaxy as large as the Milky Way. It consists of a 100 billion suns. It is one of a 100 billion galaxies. ” And then Roosevelt would you believe grinned, and said, “Now I think we?re small enough. Let?s go to bed.”

God?s the source.

Understand God?s Principles

Three reasons why Christians don?t give more to God:

1. They don?t think they can give and meet their own needs.

Most of the time when we start talking about resources and finances, these people say, “Well I?m not sure that I can give and still take care of family, still meet the budget, and meet my own needs.” And so it alarms them.

2. They don?t know how to give.

3. They don?t plan to give.

Because they lack planning, they are always in an emergency. A favorite quote of mine that could be applied to so many things including finances is this, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”

Stewardship principles that make a difference:

1. The Who?s in Charge Principle Psalm 24:1

God?s the Owner – I?m the Manager

And that basically is, “Who?s going to run my life?” Psalm 24, “The earth and everything that is in it belongs to the Lord. The world and its people belong to Him.”

2. The Give and Grow Principle.

Practicing Stewardship Produces Growth.

I have a quote here by Timothy Johnson that?s outstanding.

“Some say dedicate the heart and the money will follow; but our Lord put it the other way around. ?Where your treasure is, there will your heart will be also.? If your treasure is dedicated, your heart will be dedicated. If it is not, it simply won?t. It is as simple as that.” Stewardship, Timothy Johnson

I sat down and began to write all the ways that practicing good stewardship enables us to grow: We find our spiritual gifts. It increases our faith. We become spiritually sensitive. We become fruitful for God?s kingdom. We receive a blessing from God. We are a blessing to others. We make a lasting contribution.

I can tell you, practicing stewardship causes us to grow. You see, stewardship training isn?t about raising money or gifts. It?s about raising Christians and developing you the way that you need to be developed.

3. The Do it Now Principle.

Stewardship Deals with our Present Resources.

“The person who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.” Samuel Johnson

A cute poem I heard recently: “Procrastination is my greatest sin. It brings me endless sorrow. I?m going stop doing it. Perhaps I?ll start tomorrow.”

Can I ask a question? How long are you going to wait before you find out what your spiritual gift is? How long are you going to wait before you use it? How long are you going to wait with all the resources God has given you before you do something about what you?ve got right now?

You see, there?s tendency for us to say, “Well sometime, next year, I think, I?m going to find out what my spiritual gift is. You know, down the road I?m going to start using it.” What are we doing with these gifts right now? It?s our present resources that God is concerned about. If you don?t know what your spiritual gift is, can you imagine appearing before God, who gave you those gifts, and He looks at you, and He wants to know what you did with them? And you don?t even know what they are. Come on now. Get a life.

I can?t imagine Christians who just sit in pews on Sunday somehow thinking they deserve a purple heart for showing up. What are your gifts? Do you know them? Are you using them? You see, we?re going to be held accountable for those things. There?s going to be a day when I stand before God, and I?m going to either have gold and silver and things precious; or I?m going have a bunch of wood. Some of you are going to have a bonfire with it.

And what are you doing with your present resources now? I know, I know, you?re saying, “If I had just won that lottery last week, man, I?d given all that money to the church.” No you wouldn?t. You don?t tithe now. What are you talking about giving everything to God. If you can?t give Him 10% now, you?re not going to give Him a 100% later.

I love the story about the real rich guy who was on this prosperity gospel kick. And he went from town to town talking about how he once only had $20 in his pocket, and when the offering plate came by, he put all $20 in. Then he became a multimillionaire. And, boy, they loved this story. He?d go everywhere. People would just clap and he?d encourage them to do the same thing. He was in Toledo and shared this great story. And everybody clapped.

But one lady raised her hand. He looked at her and said “Yes ma?am, do you have a question?” She said, “Yes. Now let me make sure I understand. You only had $20. You gave all $20 to God, and He made you rich and famous.” “Yeah, that?s exactly the way it works.” “And now you?re a multimillionaire.” “Yeah, that?s exactly right.” “Just one question:”, she said, “would you like to do it again?”

I get so sick and tired of Christians with all these spiritual clich?s talking about how God will provide. Let me tell you something. God?s already provided. The issue is not God?s provision. The issue is for you and I to learn to manage the resources He?s given, be a good steward of them and pass them on. Amen?

4. The I?m in Debt Principle. (Romans 1:14-15)

The Moment We?re Born … We?re in Debt.

“Well, praise God! There?s one I?m really following right now.” ?I?m not quite talking about that.

“Whatever you have received more than others — in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life — all this you must not take yourself as a matter of course. In gratitude for your good fortune, you must render some sacrifice of your own life for another life.” Albert Schweitzer

How true. Paul said to the church of Rome, in Romans 1:14-15, “For I owe a great debt to you and everyone else.” Paul understood that he was a debtor.

Our indebtedness is two-fold…

1. To God.

All the blessings that God has given to you health, life, everything. “Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.” I?m indebted to God, you?re indebted to God. It?s a process that we all need to understand.

2. To the previous generation.

But there?s another indebtedness that we have. And that indebtedness is to the previous generation. The one that has gone on before us, that has given many of the blessings that we have in Canada. Many of the blessings that we have, have been handed down.

I can?t stand a bunch of ungrateful people who look for a handout and think that everything they have they deserve. Why don?t you get a life? You don?t deserve anything. Everything you have is a gift from God or a gift from somebody else (which is ultimately a gift from God!!). And it?s our job to take those gifts that God or others have given to us and turn around and reproduce and multiply and develop them for the glory of God and to help our fellow man.

5. The Fountain of Youth Principle.

We Live Forever Through Our Giving.

“We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.” Douglas M. Lawson

Jesus said that what we keep we lose, and what we lose we keep. We know that. You all heard the expression, “You can?t take it with you.” There?s a new one I read the other day: “You never see a hearse with a luggage rack.” Amen? Can?t take it with you. You always like the deep stuff I give you, don?t you?

“No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist.” Calvin Coolidge

CONCLUSION

One of the things that excites me about our church is we have a vision that is beyond the local church. Our vision is to see our community reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our vision, our purpose is to not only reach our community but to disciple those won to Christ so that they become more like Him. Oh how I desire to see our chairs filled with people who have been won to Christ because of the vision of a church that cares and the action of a people who trust God and in whom God trusts. The vision is not for our benefit. The vision is for the kingdom. Amen? And that?s the only kind of vision that will last. This vision will only be fulfilled when as a church we understand that stewardship begins with trust.

2 Timothy 2:14-19 (NIV)

14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

INTRODUCTION:

Last week I asked the question, “Can you and I trust God?” As I’m continuing the series of trusting God , “Stewardship ? It Begins with Trust,” today I want to ask another question.

I think last week we realized that God’s gifts are generous, and God’s care is constant. And, yes, He is trustworthy. The question I want to deal with this morning is, Can God trust you?” Can God trust me? Let’s think about a parent and children. One of the biggest issues parents deal with their children as they grow older is the issue of trust.

Example #1: Trust Babys?

Obviously when a child is a baby there is little that you can trust that baby boy or girl with. You can?t trust them in the bathtub alone for instance. You can?t trust them with sharp utensils. (Tell about experience with trusting baby?s with pictures.) But as our children grow older we begin to trust them with little things (Share example of Zachary with juice). Then when they get to be teenagers?

Trust is a big issue between parents and children. As they get older we ask them, “Can I trust you? Can I trust you to go where you?re saying you?re going? And can I trust you to get back on time?” And every time they do it right, they get a little bit more trust; and every time they do it wrong, we have to pull back a little bit.

It’s the same way with God. The question that God has for every one of us today is: Can I trust you? Luke 16:1-15 contains one of the most difficult parable, I believe, to understand in all the Bible. Now Luke 16 is connected with Luke 15, which is the best loved and the best known parable. It’s the story of the prodigal son. And in Luke 15, our Lord deals with wrong attitudes about people. In Luke 16, our Lord deals with wrong attitudes about wealth. It talks about our possessions — what we have and how are we going to deal with what He has given to us.

Read Luke 16:1-15

Story of the foolish steward:

Chapter 15: Wrong attitudes about people.

Chapter 16: Wrong attitudes about wealth.

The Bible and Money…

Jesus talked about money in 16 out of 38 of His parables; and 1 out of 10 verses in the Gospels. The Bible devotes 500 verses to prayer, less than 500 verses to faith; but over 2,000 verses to money and possessions.

Some observations of this parable?

1. The Accountability of the Foolish Steward (vv. 1,2)

When the owner came back, this unwise manager of possessions was brought into accountability. Are you ready? Note this parable was to His disciples, wasn’t to the scribes, wasn’t to the Pharisees. It was His own inner core. “A rich man once had a manager to take care of his business, but he was told that his manager was wasting money. So the rich man called him in, and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Tell me what have you done. You are no longer going to work for me.’” Now, there are two reasons why this manager was accountable to the owner. There are two reasons why I’m accountable to God.

Reasons why I’m accountable to God:

A. He is the owner; I am the manager.

The first reason that I’m accountable to God is because what I have today are gifts of God; I own none of it. I’m accountable to the owner.

James 1:17 (NIV)

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.

Amen? He’s the owner. He gives me everything. The gifts I have, He gave them to me. Every possession I have, it is a gift of the Lord. He’s the owner.

Now, this is the No. 1 issue. Until we can settle this issue, we’re always going to have a problem in this area of management and stewardship. You see, if I believe that Darren Ethier is the owner, then I’m going to constantly be in conflict with God over what I do with the stuff I have. But the moment I understand that God is the owner and I am the manager, then all of the sudden the conflict disappears, because I realize everything I have right now: my health, my life, my possessions, my family, everything I have is not mine.

Now, let’s just do a little quiz here to make sure we understand this. If you made $400 last week, and you came to church on Sunday, how much of that $400 belongs to God? You’re so smart. It must be the great preaching you get that makes you that way. You better believe it. All of it. $400 is God’s, not $40. Somebody says, “Well, let me see, 10% of $40…” No, no, no. $40 is not God’s and $360, yours. All $400 is God’s. It all belongs to Him, and until we understand this issue of lordship, we’re going to be in trouble.

B. The owner has expectations of the manager.

When the master comes, the owner comes back, He wants to know what has been done with the possessions that He’s given us. And there are several areas of expectation, and I just want to give you a few Biblical areas today.

Areas of expectation:

1. Ourselves. Romans 12:1

The first thing the owner expects is for us to consecrate, dedicate, and give ourselves to Him. That’s why Paul said in Romans,

Romans 12:1 (NIV)1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

That’s the most sensible way to serve God. All Paul is saying is that the most sensible way to serve God is settle immediately in your Christian walk that He’s the owner; you’re the manager. And so you give yourself to Him. You voluntary surrender everything to Jesus Christ.

2. Possessions. Luke 14:33

He has an exhortation for what I’m going to do with the things that He has given me in my life. That’s why Jesus said, in Luke 14:33

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

3. Time. Ephesians 5:15-17

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 5:15-17,

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

4. Our Gifts. I Peter 4:10

The owner has an expectation that we’re going to do something with the gifts He’s given. That’s why Peter says,

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

5. The Gospel. I Thessalonians 2:4

The good news. The story of redemption. The story of Jesus dying on the cross. I Thessalonians 2:4,

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV)

4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

I came across this in preparation for this message and this just really fits right where I’m preaching, and it really fits what I want to get across. It says: “God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I’m so far behind that I will never die.” How many of you felt like that before? The manager is accountable to the owner, I am accountable to God and there are certain expectations He has of me?

Next observation:

2. The Assessment of the Foolish Steward (v. 3)

The moment this unwise manager realized that he was going to lose his job, look what he said in verse 3.

Luke 16:3 (NIV)

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–

“He made an assessment of where he was. The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now that my master is going to fire me? I can’t dig ditches and I’m ashamed to beg.’” Now, this fellow realizes all of the sudden he’s in trouble. The owner comes home, doesn’t like how he’s handling the possessions and fires him. He says, “Now what am I going to do?”

There are different times when people will change in our lives. And one of those times is when they hurt enough that they have to. In other words, this guy was in that position. He said, “I’ve got to make a change. I’ve got to do something differently. I’m in trouble. I’m losing my job. What am I going to do?” He made a quick assessment and found out that he wasn’t doing what the master required.

So what does he do? Next observation?

3. The Action of the Foolish Steward (vv. 4-7)

This unwise manager began to act on what he had just discovered. And let’s look at the action of the foolish steward.

Luke 16:4-7 (NIV)

4 I 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 “‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’ 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.’

Now, I want you to notice that when the owner came home he said, “You’re going to lose your job.” But interestingly enough, he gave this man a little bit of time to settle some accounts. And in the settling of accounts, you notice, the one who owed 800 was reduced down to 400, the one who owed 1,000 down to 800.” And perhaps this man is knocking off the interest that was owed, and just saying, “Let’s go to the principle.” Perhaps, because he was foolish steward, he was overcharging them in the first place, and all of the sudden when the owner came home, he realized what happened. So he cut it back down to the right price. Whatever the reason -there are four lessons that I believe you can learn from this story.

Lessons learned from the story:

1. Use your opportunities wisely. (vv. 8,9)

Jesus commended the man for his wise use of opportunity.

Now, let’s look at how this happened in the story. In verse 8, we see that the master praised his dishonest manager. Now, just stop for a moment. Why would he praise a dishonest manager? Because he did a bad job? Why would he praise him for that? Well, it’s very simple. He didn’t praise him for the bad job he did. Let me go on with the story and explain.

Luke 16:8 (NIV)

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.

In other words, the children of God.

Luke 16:9 (NIV)

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Now, why was this foolish steward commended? It’s very simple. He wasn’t commended for being dishonest, he wasn’t commended for wasting maybe months and years of the master’s money. He was commended for the fact that when he realized there was a problem, he immediately took action to fix it!

Now, this is very important. Because some of you today are saying, “I’m sure God’s given me gifts that I don’t use for His glory. I’m sure that I’m not really using my time like I need to for the Lord. I’m positive that I haven’t really settled this issue of who owns what concerning my possessions, my money, et cetera. ” And many of you today, perhaps you’re struggling, and saying, “Wow, maybe I’m a foolish steward.”

Here’s the good news: God gives us a chance, just as the owner gave this man a chance, to settle the issues and get the accounts and the books right. There?s a little poem that captures this thought well, “Though I cannot go back and make a brand new start, my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.”

And that’s what we’re going for. And the Lord said that this man is to be commended because he began to use his opportunity wisely. In fact, what’s interesting is, He said, “The people of the world are often more time conscious than Christians.” And, he said, “I want you to realize that we are to use our opportunities as wisely as we possibly can.” Do you remember what Jesus said over in Matthew 6:19-21? He said,

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

You know the passage. I saw a paraphrase of that recently that I just loved, and the paraphrase was simple. “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.” Now, what does that mean? Is there some kind of account up there? No, no. When you give money to missions, and somebody gets saved over there, you don’t have an idea that they even got saved. You don’t know, you just gave your money and asked God to bless it. You see, when you get to heaven, there will be somebody from that country waiting for you. Now, we all want to go to heaven, but nobody should want to go to heaven all alone.

Let me ask you a question. How many people are going to be waiting on you? And that person is going to say, “I just want you to know it was your gift, your talent, that ability that you had that influenced me to become a Christian. It was the time that you used wisely.” Are we investing in eternity? Are we laying treasures up in heaven? The treasures are always redeemed persons. You see, I believe that heaven is going to be one giant video screen. Sound’s going to be great. And I believe on that video, we’re going to see flash before us lives that we have positively affected for the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we had absolutely no idea that we influenced. But because we were a good manager of what God gave us, or a good steward of what God gave us, all of the sudden we’re going to one day see the results. Just ask yourself the question, “Am I using the opportunities that I have right now wisely?”

Next lesson?

2. Trust must be earned. (vv. 10-12)

The big question: Why would the Master give me more if I misuse what I have?

The second lesson our Lord teaches is the trust must be earned. He teaches us that trust can never be granted without us earning it. Now, look at verses 10-12.

Luke 16:10-12 (NIV)

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. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

He talks here about the fact that we need to earn our trust.

He’s basically saying, “If you can’t be faithful in the few things, why am I going to give you more things?” It goes back to the illustration I gave you at the beginning of the message. Here?s a parent with a teenage son or daughter who just received their drivers license. And this parent has to trust them to come home on time. Now if their son/daughter doesn?t come home on time, then the parent will look at this situation and say, “You wanted to go out next week or tomorrow night. Well we?re going to curb this thing back a bit” Why? Because if you’re not faithful in little thing here, then I certainly cannot trust you tomorrow night. If I can’t trust you in everything, I can’t trust you anything. Trust has to be earned. It’s never just granted. No parent should just say, “Here, I just totally trust you. Go out, and if you don’t come back on time and you disobey me, I’m sure there’s a reason.” No, no. Trust has to be earned. And the more we earn trust, the more trust is given. The more we show that we don’t deserve trust, the more trust is pulled away.

Remember the story that Jesus told (Matthew 25:14-30), where he gave one man five talents; and one, two talents; and one, one talent. He went away and came back and the guy who had five talents had taken it from five to ten. The guy who had two went from two to four. But the guy who had one buried it. He was afraid. This story contains a great principles on stewardship. This week when I was finalizing this message, all of the sudden it hit me. Why did the Master give the one guy just one talent? Was it because He didn’t like him? Of course not. I believe it was because He knew before He ever left that the man was untrustworthy. I believe he had already had previous bad experiences with him. Remember when He came back, that guy who had one talent said, “Here, I dug a hole. Here’s what is yours. You can have it. I knew you were a hard man.” How did he know the Master was a hard man? Because he had some bad dealings with Him in the past. I can promise you the Master only gave him one talent because that’s all He could trust him with. And He had to take it from him.

Now, here’s a very simple question. How much can God trust you with? How many abilities and talents and opportunities can He give me because I’m trustworthy? Or how many has He not given me and withheld from me because I’m not trustworthy? Can God trust you with money? Could you lack financially because you’re not trustworthy? Does God have opportunities to give you, but withholds because you?re not using the opportunity you have right now?

Here?s another important question to ask, “What do you do with what you?ve got?” I run into people all the time who say “Well, you know, Pastor, if I ever get a million dollars, I’m going to give it all to the church.” No, you wouldn’t. Most of the people who tell me that don’t even tithe. If you can’t give 10 percent to God now, you’re not going to 100 percent next year. You see, the whole issue is: Am I trustworthy with what I have right now? I wonder how many blessings we miss because we’re sitting in our chairs waiting for some time, somewhere under the rainbow for that opportunity to hit us. Am I trustworthy right now? Here’s the big question. Why would the Master give me more if I?ve misused what I have?

Remember when the fellow with the one talent said, “I was afraid, and I dug a hole and I hid my talents.” It was fear that kept him from trusting his master. It was fear that became the wall between the owner and the steward.

I brought a parable with me today. I want to read it. It is the parable of the three little turtles. I hope you can intellectually handle this parable. I know you come to church to hear me preach, and I’m so deep that you just try to strive to stay with me intellectually. But hang with me?

Three turtles were going out one summer afternoon for a country picnic. One carried a basket with the food and the second, a jug with turtleaide; and the third, nothing. Just then they felt the first splat of rain drops on the their shells. “We can’t have a picnic without an umbrella,” said the first. “Who will go back for one?” They made the choice, and the empty-handed turtle was chosen.

“I won’t go,” he said. “As soon as I leave, you’ll eat all the food and drink all the turtleaide, and cut me out of everything. Right? ” “Wrong, they said, “we’ll wait for you, no matter how long.” “No matter how long?” Asked the third turtle. “No matter how long,” the other two replied. So he turned back, and they sat waiting an hour, two hours, four, a day, two days, a week. Two weeks went by when one turtle turned to the other and said, “Maybe we should go ahead and have the picnic.” Just then the voice of the third turtle came out from the bushes behind them, “If you do, I won’t go,” he said.

I love it. I wonder how many times God has entrusted something to us, and instead of going, giving or doing – we wait behind the bushes.

Next lesson?

3. Trust can be measured. (vv. 10-12)

Our Lord says, “I want to tell you how I measure trust.” Now carefully follow this. He said, “I measure trust by this very simple method. If you are trustworthy in a few things, I give you more. That’s how I measure trust. If I can’t trust you with a few things, you don’t get any more. You can either hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You’ve been ruler over a few things, and I’ll make you a ruler over many things.” Or you can hear, “You are an unlawful servant. Be cast into utter darkness.” Here’s how he measures trust: not by what you’re going to do; I measure trust by what you’re doing right now.”

Let’s say a daughter/son comes home 30 minutes late, and the parent says, “Hey you?re supposed to be home at 10:30; and it’s 11:00.” And they say, “Oh, dad, I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time.” Now the Dad has to say, “Listen you violated trust tonight. Now, I think your intentions were good, and I think your intentions are good for tomorrow. But that isn’t the issue. You see, the only way I can measure trust is not by what you say; the only way I can measure trust is the way God measures trust. Are you trustworthy now?” Am I trustworthy now?

I love the story of the pastor who preached in a farming community. And he was trying to teach this issue. And he went to one of his farmer laymen and said, “If you had a 100 cows and God asked you for 50, would you give them to Him?” He said, “Oh, yes, I sure would, Preacher.” He said, “If you had a 100 horses and God asked you for 50, would you give them to Him?” He said, “Well, sure I would, Preacher.” He said, “If you had two hogs and God asked you for one of them, would you give it to Him?” “Now, that’s not fair, Preacher, you know I have two hogs.”

I think some of us maybe this morning our trying to snow God. Have you ever tried to do that? Now, don’t feel bad. I?ve been guilty of doing this before. Let’s just take a quick poll. How many of you ever tried to slip one past Him? Sure you have. It doesn’t work because trust can be measured, and we can’t slip one past Him by what we say, or what we sing. No, no. He says, “If you aren’t faithful here, you’re going to have trouble down the road.”

Now one more thing about the story as I wrap it up this morning?

4. Be wholly devoted to God. (v. 13)

Luke 16:13 (NIV)13 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Jesus says, in that last verse, “You cannot be a slave of two masters.” “You will like one more than the other, or you’ll be more loyal to one more than the other. You cannot serve God, and you cannot serve money.” I want to ask you this morning Who are you and I slaves to today? Can God trust you? You see devotion to God begins with trust. Yes, you can trust Him and you should trust Him but the next step is to ask yourself, Can God trust me?

Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

INTRODUCTION:

In Proverbs 3:1-10, there are some marvelous words of wisdom for us on our relationship with God. This morning, and for another three Sundays I?m going to be talking about what I believe is the key to successful Christian Living! I want to talk to you about trusting God, his being able to trust us, and what happens when our whole relationship is based upon obedience and trust. How many of you remember this song: “Trust and obey, for there?s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Top two questions Christians ask:

1. “How can know God?s will? ”

2. “How can I be a success for God, others, and myself? ”

Series Title: “Stewardship…Begins with Trust”

Series Thesis (main idea, most important point, thrust of these messages): Trust is the most important factor in…

Knowing God and His will for my life.

Growing His Kingdom and myself as a steward.

Open your Bibles now to Proverbs 3:1. I want you to have your pen ready, because I?m going to have you underline some words. Let?s get going. “My son, (or my daughter), do not forget my teaching. But keep my commands in your heart,” Would you take your pen out and just circle or underline the word “keep” and then write in your margins “complete”. As the Proverb writer begins to talk to us about this relationship with God, he talks about “keeping” his commands, he is talking about “complete” obedience.

Now, the result of this obedience is found in verse 2. “for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” Verse 3,4 “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” He talks about love and loyalty always being at the very fore place of our life, and the result is that God and people will like you and consider you a success.

Verse 5,6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” In verse 5 underline the word “all.” “With all your heart,” the Proverb writer says we must trust the Lord. And in verse 6 underline the word “all”. “In all your ways acknowledge him?” or in other words, “always let Him lead you.” The Proverb writer tells us if we do these things, that He will make our paths straight! Verse 7, “Do not be wise in your own eyes;” Underline the words “do not.” “Don?t ever think that you are wise enough,” and verse 7 continues, “fear the Lord and shun evil.” If we do this verse 8 says, “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Verse 9, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” Again, underline the word “all.” Verse 10 “Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Observations on Proverbs 3:1-10:

1. The commands are all-inclusive.

Did you notice that there were no exceptions? He didn?t say that we were to partially obey our Lord?s teachings and instructions. He didn?t say with most of our heart we were to trust in Him, and that we were sometimes supposed to let Him lead us. Notice these words: keep, all, all, do not, all of your crops. These words are all inclusive exhortations. No exceptions. No leaks. He says, “I want you to understand that trust is a total affair in your heart and in mine.”

2. The commands precede a promise.

God tells us that if we do these things, He will do some wonderful things in return.

3. The promises are conditional.

We do our part, and God does His part. If we trust Him completely, if we obey Him completely, then He has some wonderful provisions for us as His children.

Stewardship statements:

1. God is trustworthy.

2. God has entrusted (placed within our care) the possessions, opportunities, talents, and time

that we now experience.

3. We are trustees of everything God has given us.

Now I suppose after making these statements there are some questions we have to ask ourselves. Ask yourself: Do I trust God? Where do I place my faith? Where do I place my confidence?

Now, I know it?s easy to say, “I trust God.” It?s easy to say, “Oh, yes. I obey God completely. I trust God completely.” But this is just for personal introspection. Do I trust God? Is He truly my source? Do I trust Him in everything? Do I trust in Him some things? Do I trust Him in big things and not in small things? Or do I trust Him in small things but with big things, I kind of want to take control? This is an incredible question. I?ve wrestled with this question for a large part of my life and I?ve come to the conclusion that it?s the key to success, and it?s not an easy thing to do in a self-reliant society. Well, that?s why I want you to stay with me the next three weeks. And, folks, I tell you what, the potential for your spiritual growth is greater than anything I?m going to do all year. Because we?re going to really look at these penetrating questions. Can I trust God? Do I trust God?

When we?re through looking at that, we?re going to turn the tables around and ask another question. And if you think the first one makes you sweat bullets, how about this one: Can God trust me? Does He trust me? Have I proven to be a trustworthy person? Can He give me what He wants to, knowing that I am trustworthy? Or am I one of these people who are trustworthy in some areas, but in other areas, God says, “I cannot touch this area in your life because you?re not yet trustworthy.”

We?ll wrap up the series by taking what I call “the Trust Test.” Hang with me, folks. The next three weeks can be life changing. In Week 3 and Week 4, we?ll go through a process of taking the “Trust Test” where we can really begin to look at ourselves, and ask ourselves, “Am I truly trusting Him?” Now, let?s talk about God for a moment.

Trustworthy thoughts about God:

1. God?s Care is Constant.

When it comes to trusting God, you can rest assured that He gives you and me constant care. I love Hebrews 13:5,6, where, “God has said, ?Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.? So we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Amen? That?s a great promise. Literally, in the original language it reads this way: “I will not, no, not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee.”

Five times God wants to assure us that He is never going to leave us. George Beverly Shea, the singer who partnered with Billy Graham for so many years, was sharing that he had many requests for songs to be sung at crusades. And he said the strangest request he ever got was when somebody handed him a slip of paper one time, and wanted him to sing a song entitled “God?s grip don?t slip.” Now, I want tell you it?s very poor grammar, but it?s marvelous theology. God?s grip don?t slip. God constantly cares for us, and because of that the writer of Hebrews can tell us that we are to cast all of our anxiety, all of our worries upon Him. His care is constant. It?s not occasional or sporadic; His care is total, not partial. His care is sovereign. Nothing can touch a child of God without first touching God.

Most of us have read the beautiful poem called Footprints. It?s brought comfort I think to all of us. Kerryanne and I have it hanging (in of all places?) our bathroom. We?ve also got a copy of this poem hanging on the wall of Elaine?s office when you first come in the side door. I see it continually. What?s interesting is that the lady who wrote Footprints, Margaret Fishbeck, went through amazing trials. The person that she loved left her, she caught meningitis, and was literally bedridden for many months. She came to the lowest place of her life. During that time, another man fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. But she wouldn?t marry him. She basically said, “I?m out of trust. I?m not sure I trust God. I know I don?t trust men. I?m out of trust.”

One night in her diary as she lay in bed, she began to write that beautiful piece, Footprints. And that night she saw the answer. I?ll just take a moment to read it to you, if you?ve never heard it: “One night a man had a dream, and he dreamed that he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes of his life, and for each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other belonging to the Lord. After the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. And he also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and at the very saddest times of his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it. He said, ?Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you?d walk with me all the way. But I?ve noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there?s only one set of footprints. I don?t understand, Lord. Why, when I needed you the very most, you would leave me?? And the Lord replied, ?My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.?”

2. God?s Gifts are Generous.

God not only constantly cares for us; but He is also generous in His provisions to us. He has blessed us with gifts, and talents – all kinds of blessings. Just write in your sermon notes Psalm 136. When you have time today, read that Psalm. I?m going to read just a few verses just to give you the flavor of it:

Psalm 136:1-9 (NIV)1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights– His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

Every time he makes a great statement about God, the Psalmist says, “God?s love endures forever.”

Developing our Trust…

1. Trusting in Adversity.

We are responsible to trust him in times of adversity, but we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us to do so.

You see, David said in Psalm 56:4, “?in God I trust; I will not be afraid…” And in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” What?s David saying? You and I are responsible to obey and trust God. That?s our part.

You see, here?s where the conflict comes. Now, hang in here with me. Here?s our problem. God asks us to obey or to trust Him in an area of our life that?s bigger than what we can reason or understand, and instead of doing our part, which is total trust and obedience, we want to get over on His side. And we want to say, “Now God, if I do this, how are you going to work? If I really let you have my marriage…” It?s almost like, “God, you just don?t understand all the problems I?ve got in my marriage.” “If I surrender this financial issue to you, God, I?m not sure you understand how bad the finances are.” “I?m not really sure, God, you understand how deep the problems go.”

It?s so simple. I think this is why our Lord said, “We have to be like children to get into heaven.” The simplicity, the willingness to be vulnerable, just to say yes to God and trust Him. Even in adversity, when we don?t have answers. Even if we have to say like the Psalmist, “I trust in the Lord, and Lord, I give you my fears.” That?s not conflict. That?s not a double standard of statements. What he?s really saying is, “God I believe you, and God, help my unbelief.” Have we all been there before? “I?m willing to obey you, God, and yet there?s something within me that wants to pull back.” He?s basically saying, “God, I don?t understand, but I?m willing to trust you.”

2. Trusting in Plenty.

The extent to which we genuinely thank God for the blessings he provides is an indicator of our trust in Him.

I suppose truthfully, this area becomes most difficult. Because when we are blessed, there?s a tendency for us to either trust in ourselves or trust in our blessings. Huh? I think we run to God fast when we have problems, but I think we kind of ignore God when we?re being blessed. There?s tendency for us just to kind of think “You know, I?m doing pretty good here. ” And we become self-reliant. It?s so human for all of us.

3. Trusting God as our Source.

Human tendency: Trust in God?s instruments of provision rather than in God himself.

We trust the job instead of realizing that God is the provider of the job. We trust our health instead of realizing that God is the provider of our health.

In Proverbs 18:10, 11, there is an interesting contrast between people who trust in God, and people who trust in themselves or their possessions. Listen very carefully. Here?s what he says:

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Beautiful picture. Now, listen to what he says:

Proverbs 18:11 (NIV)

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.

What?s he saying? Very simple. He?s saying that those who trust in the Lord when they have an issue or need, they immediately go to Him. And He is their trust. But those who have possessions, they make them a fortified city, and they look at that fortified city and say, “It?s an unscalable wall. I cannot be touched. I?ll hide behind it.”

What?s your unscalable wall today? Is it your college degree? Is it your savings account? Is it your job? Is it your health? It?s so easy for us to trust all of these other things, and not make God the source and platform of our trust. It?s like the fellow who said, “God, it just seems like I cannot not lean on you like I want.” And God says to him, “It?s because you?ve never put your total weight on me. You?re still using your own strength. You?re still using your own muscles. Relax.”

In preparation for this message I came across a quote from a man by the name S.M. Lockridge. I don?t know if you ever heard him, I know I hadn?t until I came across this short message delivered by him. He?s a black preacher who pastored for a long time at Calvary Baptist church in San Diego, USA. He passed away in April, 2000 but I?d like to share something he preached in Detroit in 1976 about trusting God. I?m going to read it. Listen carefully to the words.

“You Can Trust Him.

He?s the one who made us. It is He who made us and not we ourselves. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. No means of measure can define His limitless love, and no farseeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. I?m telling you today you can trust Him.

“No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. He?s enduringly strong, and He?s entirely sincere. He?s eternally steadfast, and He?s immortally graceful. He?s empirically, powerfully, and impartially merciful. He?s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He?s God?s Son. He?s the sinner?s Savior. He?s the centerpiece of civilization. I?m trying to tell you, Church, you can trust Him.

“He does not have to call for help, and you can?t confuse Him. He doesn?t need you, and He doesn?t need me. He stands alone in the solitude of Himself. He?s august, and He?s unique. He?s unparalleled. He?s unprecedented. He?s supreme. He?s preeminent. He?s the loftiest idea in literature. He?s highest personality in philosophy. He?s the supreme problem of higher criticism. He?s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He?s the cardinal necessity of the spiritual religion. He?s the miracle of the age, He?s the superlative of everything good that you can call Him. I?m trying to tell you can trust Him.

“He can satisfy all your needs, and He can do it simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak, and He?s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He sees, He guards and He guides. He heals the sick, He cleansed the leper. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the people. He blesses the young. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. He beautifies the meek. I?m trying to tell you, Church, you can trust Him. (Congregation: Amen.)

He?s the key to knowledge. He?s the wellspring of wisdom. He?s the doorway of deliverance. He?s the path of peace. He?s the roadway of righteousness. He?s the highway of holiness. He?s the gateway to glory. You can trust Him.

“He?s the master of the mighty. He?s the captain of conquerors. He?s the head of heroes. He?s the leader of legislators. He?s the overseer of the overcomers. He?s the Governor of the governors. He?s the Prince of princes. He?s the King of kings. He?s the Lord of lords. You can trust him.

“His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy. His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. He?s indescribable because He?s incomprehensible. He?s irresistible because He?s invincible. You can?t get Him off your hands. You can?t get off your mind. You can?t outlive Him, and you can?t live without Him. Pilate couldn?t stand it when he found out that he couldn?t stop Him. Pilate couldn?t find any fault in Him, and the witnesses couldn?t get their testimonies to agree, and Herod couldn?t kill Him. And death couldn?t handle Him, and thank God, the grave couldn?t hold Him. There was nobody before Him. There?ll be nobody after Him. He has no predecessor. He?ll have no successor. You can?t impeach Him, and He?s not going to resign. You can trust Him.”

“He?s the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. The first and the last. He?s all things. He?s the giver of life. He?s the joy out of every sorrow. He?s the light of every darkness. He?s the peace that passes all understanding. He?s the giver of every good and perfect gift. You can trust Him. There?s no God before Him. There?ll be none after Him. He is the first. He is the last. He is preeminent. There is no other God.” YOU CAN TRUST HIM!

Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. We give you praise, we give you glory. We walk out of this building today knowing, God, you are trustworthy. And God?s people say, “Amen”. All right. You can trust Him. Amen