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THE ACTIVE WORD

TITLE OF Message: Simple Strategic Stewardship Part 2 Why Be?

MESSAGE DATE: 5/15/05 TAPE NUMBER: T1322

TRANSCIBED BY:

Scripture Reference for Message Colossians 3:3

TIMECODE:

Opening Praye

Father even now we sense your spirit leading and guiding in our life. But we are here and that's because you want to do kingdom business in our life. Aware the only way it works, willingness, readiness, and so we pray, if there's a part of our heart that we still hold back help us to be wise for we admit and acknowledge once again father knows best. And because your interest in our life is for our best, Lord we trust you now. In Jesus name. Amen.

Strategic spending, balanced budgets, financial forecast, oh Bob why can't I do what I want to do with my money? Obviously you missed out lesson last week. Why? Well because that was the first part in this important series when we as a people discovered it's not your money any more than it's your time any more than it's your life.

Because if in fact you are a part of what we commonly call the body of Christ, your life, it's his, your time it's his and that would also include your money. Why? Well its not just going to be a what your a steward. No there's going to have to be a why be a steward. For with every what in his word the why gives this reason? And the reason? Its Colossians chapter three drawing your attention to verse three we read: For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Your attention please three words I want to draw to your attention the first of which is died. He says you died, wait a second I'm not dead I'm very much alive. Do you understand the original language implies you are now by your own desire out of control, that's what that word means. Out of control? You thought it wiser to put someone else in control you on the day you asked Christ into your life took the reins, your direction your purpose your reason. And you simply placed them in the hands of God.

You said God I want you in charge of my life. Now why then did you die? Simple, simple second word he said you wanted to be hidden in Christ, hid. You wanted to be concealed you wanted to be covered is the original language. And the reason for that? Because you note third word, that's where you'll gain greater glory. You see the word glory once again Doxa that's where you find substance, that's where you find weight, that's where find greater fruitfulness greater faithfulness because now you are hidden in him. And he can take you; listen to this, much further much faster than you can ever travel spiritually on your own.

For instance last week I was in Washington Monday and Tuesday I was in Atlanta Thursday and Friday. And I am ever glad that I was on a plane. Why? Because I have only a drivers license. And with only a driver's license I'd still be there, I wouldn't be back yet. But because I know someone who has a Pilot's license who has a plane, what happens? Further and faster, it's just the way it works. So I hide myself in and able to travel, I'm able to get where I need to get much sooner.

Christian listen, its not a matter of pilot's license or driver's license, there's only one who truly has the authorization to be God. It is God, God says hey I know when it comes to traveling further faster, you want to get from here to there. He says the way to do this? Hide your heart in me. And let me tell you what I'll do.

You life? It will be more. Your time? It will be more. Your investments? More, because I can do for you what you cannot do on your own. And because the goal is giving him glory and because some day the opportunity to gift him glory will be gone. Now is the time and today is the day because you just don't' know when the chance to give him glory will in fact be gone. Gone?

I mentioned it and now you'll see it, its called listen Death clock.com. What does it look like? Well it's a web site and I have it here on the big screen you'll see with me all that's required to find out when you'll die. Oh put a few little interesting you know insights into this program and what will you discover? Let's say your date of birth is the twenty seventh, let's say you were born in November, let's say you were born in the year nineteen fifty five.

Now let's just say that's you. Now, let's just say you're a man, lets' just say you're normal. You say wait a second Bob if this is you does normal belong in that box? Well my choices are this. I can either be pessimistic, optimistic, or never mind the other one. Okay.

Now when it comes to being alive that's body mass, I am minus twenty five that's my height and my weight. Then we come to smoking status, I'm a non smoker so how long do I have to live? Well all you have to do is check your death clock and what do you find? Well for me I've actually got listen to this seven hundred sixty seven million two hundred and seventy nine thousand eight and eighty six, eight hundred and eighty five, wait, eight hundred four, eight hundred and eighty two. What?

My life is passing me by. Christian listen, right now your life is passing you by. As you watch that clock tick down that's my life. But listen that's only if I'm a normal non-smoking male. If I put in that I'm a pessimistic smoker? You know what it said? It said I'm dead, I'm already gone. So if in fact I only have, well now I have less time. Shouldn't I do the most with the time that I have?

If in fact this is not my time? What do you mean? I really don't know when I'm going to say good-bye. I have no idea. But what I've come to discover is that sometimes when you think you have time you really don't have time at all. And sometimes even if you think you have a lot of time you get to the end of that time and you realize there's not enough time to do what you'd hope to do when you thought you had time.

For instance, I remember years ago I remember getting a phone call. An emergency medical nurse at a local hospital called me, got a hold of me through the church. Pastor Bob there's somebody here in the emergency room dying and they keep on calling for you. And I got in my car, I drove over, I made my way into the emergency room and there he was.

Probably about sixty five years old, with only minutes to live he grabs hold of my arm and he pulled me close to his chest. And now with a frantic face he said, "Pastor Bob you don't know me, I don't go regularly to Calvary Chapel but I need your help because they say I'm not going to make it much longer. And I." And I'll never forget the next line; although what I've already shared may not be verbatim the next line will be forever branded on my brain. He said this and I have so much regret.

What do you mean? He saying I didn't do life how I thought I should of done life. And now when I find out I don't have much life left, I need help. Its too late, I want to go backwards now, I'm going forward in my future I, I.

Let me tell you, there are contrasts to that in my role as Pastor Bob. It was yesterday morning I said I'd speak over at the Sheridan House single mom's event over at the Signature Grand. I did and because I was busy I basically turned my phone off. And I came back here to study finishing up for this weekend. Taught last night, last night on my way home I flip back on my phone. I got a frantic phone call from a friend telling me about another friend whose brother has a massive heart attack yesterday on the golf course.

I of course now had the chance to call back late last night said, "Hey, hey, hey how did he make it? I mean." No he passed away about fifteen minutes after I called you. Oh really? Now wait a second, is this who I think it is? I mean how old, how old? Forty two years old. With his son on the golf course yesterday morning, before leaving to play golf a Bible study and a journal entry. And that journal entry read I must learn to accept God's will, not question it no matter what.

Well I end up on the phone last night with his wife I talk to his sister at length last night and what happens? We both, we all have this sense in our heart you just don't know man. You just don't know. And once its gone, it's really, really gone. And that's the problem. You see as we consult the word of God we discover that many of us assume on tomorrow.

And as we continue to assume on tomorrow, what does scripture have to say? Its Ecclesiastes chapter twelve, drawing your attention there please you'll start in the New King James, I'm going to read out of a New Living Translation. You just follow along with me Ecclesiastes chapter twelve and verse one. Listen to this.

Don't let the excitement of your youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living. It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. No your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too. Sound real optimistic, sound real hopeful? Gets worse, listen to this verse four.

And when all your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights verse five and falling, white-haired and withered, dragging along without any sexual desire. You will be standing at death's door. And as you near your everlasting home, the mourners will walk along the streets.

Yes, remember your Creator while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don't wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. "All is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless."

I don't understand this he says Solomon in a very backslidden state. Why? Well because he's looking at life and he's questioning. Why is it that young people don't value that they have this energy, that they can exercise effort? And that old people when it's too late you know I wish I could, you know I really want to you know some day.

He says isn't that frustrating? Isn't that meaningless? Mark Twin put it this way, why is it youth is wasted on the young? I love that. Why? Have you ever thought that way? Why is it youth is wasted on the young? People that are really young most of the time, they only have half a brain. And what ends up happening is your kid at five, six years old he's bouncing off walls. He's going every which direction, but he doesn't know where he's going.

Then finally when you reach an older age in life and you actually know where you're going, you can't get there. There you are, I want to get over there, and here comes a five year old, boom. And then you are, I'm on my way. No. Wouldn't it be great to reverse that?

Oh, wouldn't it be great if little kids, very slow. Mom, I'm on my way, I'll be right there. And when you get to be seventy, there you are boom, boom, hey where do you want to go? Hey, over there, want a bite to eat? Come on, let's go. You know what I mean? Wouldn't it be wonderful?

Now, I realize for some of you senior saints you listen to Ecclestiastes twelve and you go, hey thank you very much preacher. No, no, no if you're a seasoned saint, here's what you're saying. Your saying preach it God. Why? Because some of you have got to that time in your life when you go I wish I could, I wish I would, if I only had.

Because when it's gone, it's gone. Your life? Yes. Your time? Absolutely. Your money? That to. So if in fact you're a steward and you are why be a steward? Three reasons they begin with the letter "R" if you're taking note. It is in my opinion, the most responsible thing you can do with your life, with your time and with your money. Responsible?

Yeah, go with me to Luke chapter twelve, in Luke chapter twelve, we're going to draw your attention to the thirteenth verse, and as we do you'll understand why it's such a responsible thing, a reasonable act. As you purpose to behave with your life, with your money with your time. Look at the way it reads, Luke twelve and thirteen.

Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, (Listen to the words of Christ) "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, (watch this line) "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

Now some of you need to underline verse fifteen and more specifically circle the word consist. In the original language, man's life does not rest in, it does not lie in, it does not exist in, it does not dwell.

Here's another word, it does not need. Your life is not a matter of your needs. Here's why. Because the things that matter most in life money cannot buy. Oh you can buy lust, that's cheap it's a girl down the street. But you can't buy love someone who's willing to abide with you and walk with you and even push you around in a wheel chair after you've been married sixty seven years.

That's not going to happen, you can't buy that. In the same way you might be able to buy a house but to have a home, a place where there's refuge and peace and sanctuary, a place where you're really looking forward to going to after a hard day at work. You can't buy that.

Oh you might be able to buy very fancy car, but doesn't mean you can buy friendships. I know a lot of people with fancy cars that drive them all by themselves. And I can't think of a more lonely thing to do is to have a really nice set of wheels and be all by yourself. Oh that's sad, just to say it is sad.

But listen to this; you don't need a fancy to be alone. You can have a beater and be alone. But money can buy beaters. What's that? Christian listen. Is it a matter of your house? Is it a matter of your car? No. It's a matter of your heart, the peace the joy the meaning in life. Jesus is focusing on this simple fact. That when it comes to the matter of what you have. Don't find yourself involved in silly stupid squabbles. Why?

Because this argument of who gets what and why is an argument we can many find, find ourselves pre occupied with. Oh why do they get? Well how come they have that? How come? It's like yesterday, Saturday.

Typically on Saturday we're allowed as the Coy clan is sugar cereal. That's the one day we can have as much sugar cereal as we want. So we stock up for this man, I mean we're pouring it out and we're gobbling it down. And I happened to notice as I pour out my cereal how many marsh mellow bits I have. Now I notice how many marsh mellow bits my son has, and I think he has more.

Hey looks like you got more marsh mellows. Now why is it in me that I'm comparing how much he has with how much I have. And why is it we do that not just with cereal but with everything in life. You can look at your neighbor he can get a new car. Hey when did you get that? How much does that cost?

Hey look they put new flowers in their front yard. How much does that cost? And pretty soon everything in life becomes a matter of evaluation and money. And you can't even hear the word without seeing dollar signs flash before your eyes as you think. Now wait a minute, how much is that? Why do they have that? Why is it theirs, why is it not mine?

And the only thing always on your mind is money. He says Jesus said get away from that. Just take that out of your brain, and here's why. Look what he reads, verse sixteen.

He says He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. "And he thought within himself, saying, (Now watch all the personal pronouns) 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'

"And he said, 'I will do this: and I will pull down my barns and build greater, there I will store all my crops and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." '

"But God said to him, 'Fool! Now if that's not simple enough. You have a pencil handy? Your reading the next verse, come on stay with the Pastor. Circle the word for fool. Close by you can write these four words, stupid, it's what it says in the Greek dictionary. Mindless, ignorant, egotist. Why you stupid mindless ignorant egotist. Now continue. This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

What's that? God says if your right there at Calvary Chapel on this Sunday morning and you have not been rich toward God, can I employ this word concerning you, you stupid mindless ignorant egotist? He says yeah it makes no sense at all here's why. Do you ever wonder all this stuff that you've working for, all this stuff you've really sweated for. What happens when you die?

Oh Christian maybe this illustration will help I hope it does. We have here before you two treasure boxes. And one treasure box is you box for here, and the other treasure box is your box for there. And the difference between two of these boxes? Well the one that's here has a bunch of stuff on it, and you have a bunch of stuff.

You say will Pastor Bob I don't know if this describes me because I really don't have that much stuff. I said no, no, no remember what we learned last Sunday? If you live in the United States of America you have a whole bunch more stuff than a lot of other people have. So you already got a full treasure box. Its here, and it's yours and it's your treasure.

He says now, if you are not rich toward God, placing anything there, here's what's going to happen. Some day you're going to die, and guess what? Everything that's here is going to stay here. You get it? I'll illustrate it to you this way. Rockerfeller had just passed, and he had an accountant by his side. And the accountant walked out of the back bedroom. Somebody jumped up walked over to the accountant and said this. "How much did he leave behind?" To which the accountant quipped quickly, "All of it."

How much did he leave behind? He left everything behind. Why? Because it's all here, do you understand? Now the worse thing about it being here for those of you who have something is whose is it after I'm gone? And that's the very thing that concerned Solomon so much. Listen to this Ecclesiastes two and eighteen, don't need to turn there. He says, I hated all my labor. In other words I looked at all my work and I hated it because I toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. He says this is, is also meaning, meaningless.

I worked really hard to get all that. I'm going to die and the minute I'm dead I have no control over it whatsoever. And in losing control over all my stuff I don't know whose going to actually have control over it and here's the rub.

He says the problem is if that's a wise man, he can take my stuff and then put it into the kingdom and he'll get my reward in the kingdom. I won't get my reward because I left it here on planet earth. If however the guys a fool, he's just going to waste my money and I never got a chance to use it or put it in the kingdom account.

Oh, this does frustrate you doesn't it? Especially those of you who right now are holding on to something and you think I'm just a hot bag of wind. You got dragged here by your wife and your sitting there going would he just turn it off. Well, wait, wait, wait, be careful here's why.

If your wife is a little more spiritual than you are, and sometimes they are. You're going to die and she's going to call us. Listen to this, she's going to say my husband left a lot of stuff and I really don't know what to do with it. Well what do you mean? Well he's got some tools in the garage. Did you say tools? Now I don't do this and I've never done it. But the possibility exists that I could actually go over to your house and is in your garage and look at your stuff and decide what to do with it.

You can't do anything because you're dead. It's my stuff I'll put it in a document, I'll, I'll make sure that my will says you can't touch any of it. Listen, your wife will find an attorney that will easily work this way out of your will.

I don't like this at all I'm leaving. Can I get up now? Well it would be obvious if you got up now. You say Pastor Bob you mean to tell me? I mean to tell you listen to this and now very, very sincerely. If your going to die and leave it all behind. Wouldn't you rather put something in a kingdom because knowing that when you get there it is yours to enjoy?

That's why and I reiterate, we learned last lesson, don't store up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth eats and rust destroy. Put it in the kingdom, he said put it in the kingdom. It's the most responsible thing you could do. Now listen on the same point responsibility you either are good or bad, but you are still responsible.

When I say hey this is an important Bible study about why to be a steward. You go well I don't want to be a steward. No, no, no, if you're a Christian you already are a steward. The question is are you a good steward or a bad steward? You're either a bad steward or a good steward. Your either right now storing something for yourself in kingdom causes, or your hanging on to it all yourself. But it doesn't mean your not a steward, it just means your an irresponsible steward. Do you see the point?

And that's why Jesus more than a thousand times in the word of God spoke on that very specific subject. Because he didn't want you to be embarrassed when you got to the kingdom thinking you had it all here. And only to discover you don't have anything there. No, don't make that mistake.

So it's very, very responsible behavior. But it's more than that. Second "R" letter word if you're taking note, its also very, very reasonable behavior. Reasonable? Go with me to 2nd Corinthians chapter nine, 2nd Corinthians chapter nine, we're going to draw your attention to verse six and now you will see the reason or both sides of why in the fact we would be a steward.

2nd Corinthians nine and six. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. Now watch verse eight.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work.

As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and that's of course God. And bread for food, (that's of course God) supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. What are we saying here?

Here's what we're saying, come on back. We're saying we start first with the practice and this is so elementary. This is just so basic, he says, does a farmer so a cob a corn to get acres of corn in return? He said no, the more seed you sow, the more your going to get in return. Here's why. He said, it's my way, my way of working in your life.

You see if in fact you're in partnership with God and God has given you specific responsibilities to do. He equips you to do those responsibilities. I'll give you an example.

We have receptionists here at Calvary Chapel and their job of course is to answer the phone. Now imagine last week we hire a receptionist we sit her down we say, "Hey it's your job to answer the phone." She says, "Okay, um, where's my phone?"

Well I don't know we don't have a phone for you. Can you share the phone of the girl sitting next to you? Well that's going to be hard saying Hi welcome to Calvary Chapel at the same time? Won't it be? I mean if more than one line rings at the same time?

Well yeah it will probably be hard. You mean you can't work without a phone? Not if you want me to answer the phone. Now stay with me and connect the dots. God wants you to give to a kingdom cause. Now if he wants you to give to a kingdom cause and you want to give to a kingdom cause. Do you think he's going to supply you enough seed to sow into kingdom causes?

If he wants you to he will right? Pastor Bob, I want to, I know he wants me to. But I can't, I don't have anything here to give to him here. Oh really? No, no, no remember what we already learned? Again last lesson, if ten percent of what's here according to his word belongs to him here. And instead of you giving him what belongs to him, you've been taking from him and putting it here. Let me ask you a question? How long do you think this is going to work?

It would be like this. Well tell you what I'll do. I'll give you a phone today and now you can answer it. And the next day she shows up at work and says um, I can't answer the phone. Why not? Um, I don't have the phone. I gave you a phone yesterday what did you do with it? I took it home. Wait a minute. You took home the phone I gave you to answer the phone at Calvary Chapel?

Yeah I need a new one. I can't give you a new one. Where's the phone I gave you? Exactly. You take money from God that belongs to Him and then you say I want more. God says how can I possibly give you more if you keep on taking what I already gave you? Let me tell you the problem we learned last lesson. You're under a curse. And that curse my friend is simply declared in the word of God look, see with me. Haggai chapter one. You said Haggai? Where's that in the Bible?

Well it must be close to Malachi because they kind of rhyme right? Go with me to Matthew turn left you'll find Malachi then a few more pages to the left you'll find Haggai, draw your attention to verse three.

Haggai chapter one and verse three we read: Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, and you do not have enough; You drink, and you're not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; (and watch this) he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!

I want to read that to you again, this time New Living Translation, sometimes just ads a little bit more description. Listen to this. So the LORD sent this message through the prophet Haggai: "Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the LORD Almighty says: Consider how things are going for you! You have planted much but harvested little. You have food to eat, but not enough to fill you up. You have wine to drink, but not enough to satisfy your thirst. You have clothing to wear, but not enough to keep you warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! "This is what the LORD Almighty says: Consider how things are going for you!

What's that? I don't know about you but have you ever discovered in your life that there's just never enough? Politicians know that typically we spend our money as much as we have, as much as we'll spend. So a popular typical politicians point, are you living paycheck to paycheck? Are you living paycheck to paycheck?

And here's what we say in America. Yeah I'm living paycheck to paycheck. And you know why you're living paycheck to paycheck? Here's why. Because everything you ever get you keep. And when you keep it your keeping what belongs to God. So you take his away and he says tell you what. I'm going to make sure that whatever happens in your life you never really have enough because you are expecting to do something with me and instead you're only doing something for you.

He says, I'll show you the difference. The difference? You don't need to turn there but I want you to jot down Deuteronomy twenty nine and five. Deuteronomy twenty and five and here's what the Bible says. I have lead you for forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out and your sandals have not worn out there either. What's that?

In the economy of God now you've got to tune into this. In the economy of God he is able as we have learned in 2nd Corinthians chapter nine and verse eight; let you abound in all sufficiency in all things.

And if in fact you're doing the thing he wants you to do with his money he says, I'll take care of the rest. And it won't just be a matter of money it will be a matter of time, it will be a matter of life, it will be a matter of healing. Why? Because now you're in partnership with God. And in partnership with God what happens?

Well as your partner, hey God I need a little help here. I'm right here what do you need? Why? Well because we're partners do you understand? That there are people who give generously? And because God so sufficiently takes care of them, they can get more than ten, twelve fifteen thousand miles out of a set of tires?

Do you know what I'm talking about? Do you ever have a problem with something in your life and you go, I have this problem. Listen; if it belongs to God it's not your problem if it's a possession. Because it's his possession. It was John Wesley that was busy preaching from place to place and one day as the story is told his house burnt down. And somebody ran up to him and said, John Wesley, John Wesley you've got to come home, you house has burnt down.

And John Wesley laughed he said, no you mean God's house has burnt down; I've got to keep on preaching. What do you mean Pastor Bob? I'm saying that when you are faithful to the Lord he gives you the grace that abounds in all sufficiency. So much so do you have a car that won't die? And you'd like it to die? Do you know what I'm talking about? God's got his hand on your car. I got a brother in law he's a faithful giver, and he now on his GMC truck has got two hundred and six thousand miles. He would love it to die. He hates that truck, but God's hand it on it, he's going to have to shoot it to get a new one. I'm just sick of you, boom. Do you know what I mean?

Now, here's the problem. In America because we're bombarded with, "You've got a new truck." He will see ad after ad after ad telling him he needs a new truck. Now does he need a new truck? My old one is still working. Now, no, no, no. That's a revelation concerning the condition of your heart because many of us want something new just because we like new.

Do you have a walk in closet? Did you possibly even today walk into your closet, look at everything and say, "I don't have anything to wear." Isn't it amazing, you can walk into a closet and there's all your shirts and there's all your pants and there's all your shoes and go I don't have anything to wear. No.

You do have things to wear, they're not new. So here's what you say, I need something new. Now here's the crazy thing about it. Some of you will go out and buy something that new and it looks a lot like what you had that was old. But here's what you'll say, "it's not exactly the same. The old pair of shoes had a strap that went this way, now this one has a strap that goes way. And it's a little different than this because it's this."

What was wrong with the pair that had a strap that went like that? Well nothing was wrong with them but their old. Are they broken? No they're just old. And here's what happened. While we're busy buying everything everyone tells us we need to have. We are forced to keep what belongs to God in our stash.

And now we have a whole rack of every kind of strap and style, every kind of print and look, every kind of. And we have the audacity to walk in and say I don't have anything God, and I can't give to you. Hey you might hear him knock on your heart. He might say, "Sell some shoes." He might say stop buying them. Now the brothers are saying amen, amen. What? No. I'm just saying it's an amazing thing but we all medicate all of us in a little different way.

Some people man its lust and that's where they gravitate. They feel down if they could just see some pornography, somebody else man I need to have a drink. Some people man it's shopping, I just feel so sad. I got to go to the mall. What is that? Let me tell you what that is. That's a deeper issue of the heart. And you've decided to rid yourself of that problem by spending money that's not yours.

And when you don't have, and you continue to find yourself frustrated even to the point where you say with the prophet Haggai. Well wait a second its like I got holes in my pockets and the money just goes out and I buy food and I'm not really satisfied. And I live in a house and it's big but I don't have a home. And that the problem. And he goes well don't do that anymore. Why?

Well because I have the power and I have the capacity if in fact you'll practice this you'll find its purpose and from its purpose you'll see the promise. And then you do that and now you say, well then that's just, I mean that's the most reasonable thing I could do.

Yeah it is responsible it is reasonable last "R" letter word. It is also very, very rewardable. Rewardable? Is that even a word like that Pastor Bob? Well it is for our study, here's what I want you to do. I want you to see the reward with me, go please to Proverbs chapter fourteen, Proverbs chapter fourteen.

And as you make your way to Proverbs fourteen here's what we're going to do. We're just going to walk through kind of like meandering or wondering and we'll stop at this Proverb and we'll think about it.

And then we'll move a couple of more verses a couple of more chapters and we'll stop at this Proverb and we'll think about it. And then we'll move over to this Proverb and we'll think about it. And each time we stop at a Proverb, God is going to be saying something to us about our heart and weather its generous, weather it's other centered. Weather we care, or are concerned about the needs of someone else.

So here we are Proverbs fourteen and thirty one. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Now just let that sink in. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. Now lets meander seventeen and five. He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Now let's keep on walking. Nineteen seventeen. He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

Do you see the promise from God? Now was it a promise for? Its a promise for this, your attention we've got a couple more stops to make. Its a promise for this. Its a promise for discovering life is not a matter of what you have. Life is a matter of who you are with what you have. And if you're a generous person, he says if you're sad, broken, grieved, someone's in need. He says if you give to that person, I'll give to you, God's promise. Why?

Because he knows what a difference a Christian makes in the life of somebody who has needs. Twenty one thirteen. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Now some of you need to stay there a little longer and I'll tell you why. Because when we talk in terms of who is poor you probably have an image in your mind. And it's going to be somebody in a foreign field that really loves God, that's hardly or barely getting by. And that's the person who you are willing to support. I want to ask you a question.

Is the person standing on a street corner with a cardboard sign saying he will work for food. Is that person poor? Well that person that's his own fault. Let me tell you something, those guys just crack me up and I. Wait, wait a second you said if you make light of their calamity well wait, well wait a minute. Let me ask you a question.

If you think that's a racquet them holding the cardboard sign and that they actually can rack up and I've told you in the past thirty five. I know one guy where he's at seventy dollars a day. But listen to what he's doing with that money. He's wasting it.

So I'm wondering in the back of my mind. What has happened to this man's life that he would actually lose so much self respect? Not have any sense of dignity whatsoever that he would be willing to endure the ridicule light after light after light. Holding a cardboard sign. What happened in his life?

You see. I think I like you have been one to judge sometimes you go. Oh look at those guys, that's it. Well wait a minute what happened? Why is he standing out there as the sun is beating down upon his back with a cardboard sign. Why is he doing it? I'll tell you why he is doing it. Because he is hoping for enough spare change to drink his problems away. What is his problem though? Have you ever wondered, what is his problem?

Could it be he was the dad driving, and in the back seat his kids. Makes a dumb decision and in a moment he looses his family and he can't get the guilt out of his mind? Is it possible that he left to a foreign country? Served faithfully our freedom. He came back for us to ridicule him? And he decided because I saw things I just can't even live with and I did things I feel so condemned over. That I just got to check out of life and stand here?

Could it be that we pass these people by all day long. And then we stand before God and say, "Hey God I have a need." And God says you know I got a promise in my word if you blow off poor people I'll blow you off. God, that's not even a dignified way to put it Pastor Bob.

Let me tell you something. I've blown them off. My wife has more compassion. Always has a bottle of water and a dollar. Has a little Bible track she keeps in her glove box. This is from the Lord and this is for you. Please don't spend it on alcohol, the Lord loves you.

But you might even have next week in your own God gifted economy and go, "I want to know what happened." My Pastor he, he exhorted us all I want to know what happened. What happened dude? Do you really want to work or is this just a game? Can I help you in any way?

No you see that would require involvement. That would require true Christian faith. It's much easier to pass him by and blow him off. God convicted me. Twenty two and nine. He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

And then even though it's back tracking, I want to conclude. Twenty two and one: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches loving favor rather than silver or gold. What's that?

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Why? Because again it's not a matter of what you have it's a matter of who you are with what you have. Oh we can all recall a Christmas Carole and there's Ebonizer Scrooge and now as the ghost of Christmas past and present and future leads him through life. He is many time aghast he's flabbergasted because now he sees who he is in the light of someone else.

And although he sees himself as a generous caring successful business man, he is the laughing stock of his own family because the way he handles his money. You see again this is stewardship. It's not a matter of, "Did you give your tithe to the Lord this week?" It's not what it's a matter about. It's can we actually bring this box over here? God when I think of everything you've done for me and how much I count on you for everything else that happens in my life.

For me to withhold anything at all from you at all. How embarrassing, how frustrating it must be even for God to know not our ministry but certainly many ministries who have great needs. And there goes the stingy Christians on the way to the mall to buy themselves more stuff to cram in the closet that already full.

And what happens sadly is then God knocks on your heart and says, hey there's a food drive can you get some food together for some poor people? Oh you bet I can get food together for poor people. Let me go and we go into the panty and what do we do? Here's the question I've asked and here's the question you've asked. What will I never eat ever? That's what we ask.

They want food for poor people let's get them whatever they need. What do we got here? We've got a can of black olives that's what we've got. Why? Because every time we go to the store we can't remember do we have one? Do we not? We need recipe we pick one up now we've got six.

We did a little deeper and then we've got some okra. Why did I buy okra? It's for those people. Then you go to your closet you go we're doing a close drive. You go in the closet you go what will I never ever, ever wear? Ever, ever? Oh that narrow jacket from High School homecoming. No, I'll save that. Why? I'd still like to have it.

Here's what happens. You travel over to a foreign country and you meet the people. And then they are eating black olives and okra and wearing narrow jackets and. You know they're getting ministry from America, huh?

You see here's the deal, we all laugh, but isn't it really sad? Of course it is. It's the kind of thing that I'm sure breaks your heart when you slow down long enough to say. Do I really need that? Shouldn't I be putting something in my kingdom box? Yeah.

And yet I, I have a long way to go. You see I have goals in my heart like you might have goals in your heart. And your in the second part of this four parter and you go, man I'm starting to grasp this thing. Let me tell you something, I, I don't know that I have it. But I do know a few who do and did. I'm going to draw your attention for a closing little two minute on John Wesley.

And when you hear his heart concerning the needs of others I think we will have a human hero if you will that will be this thing called generous giving into perspective. Can I draw your attention to the big screen?

(John Wesley, may I not do what I will with my own money? Well here lies the ground of your mistake. It's not your own, it cannot be unless you are Lord of heaven and earth. John Wesley was a man of discipline. In the course of his ministry Wesley would travel over two hundred and twenty five thousand miles mostly on horse back. Preach over fifty thousand sermons and write some two hundred and thirty three books.

The discipline of John Wesley and his followers was captured in the word Methodist. Which describe the rigor or method by which they lived their faith? The foundation for this discipline was laid at the University of Oxford. Here John his brother Charles and twelve others would embrace a Christian lifestyle of extraordinary discipline. They called themselves "The Holy Club" and it was so radical in its commitment that they experienced extraordinary opposition. But it wouldn't be their zeal that inspired the fiercest conflict. IT would be their generosity.

Besides the University the city of Oxford was home to a prison known simply as "The Castle." Wesley learned that many were prisoners for unpaid debts. Some owing little more than a few pounds. For that small price he realized he could set a man free. It was a notion that forever shaved Wesley's perspective on giving.

As the years followed, Wesley began to experience financial success. Though somewhat ironically. He had desired to furnish the poor with books. So he wrote small tracks costing only pennies. Sales however were so great that he later wrote, "I unawares had become rich."

As his income grew however Wesley's lifestyle always remained the same. It was so far below his income in fact that a tax commissioner that he once wrote him that he must of been stowing away silver. Wesley wrote back, "I have two silver spoons and I shall not buy more while so many want bread."

In 1791 John Wesley died at the age of eighty eight. He left behind 780 preachers, the Methodist Church and a few coins found in his pockets and dresser drawers. Everything else he had given away. John Wesley he lived a generous life.

That is the kind of spirit we've been describing and the kind of spirit we see patterned for us in the word of God. Now I realize that for some of you its kind of knee jerk thing and the reason it is in some circles of the church giving has had one goal and that's to get from God.

And that is a misrepresentation of what we learn in his word. But because in those circles there is that sense, you give you get, you get rich and we turn God into Smith Barney or Charles Schwab. What happens? Well now everyone misunderstands the motivation between the heart of a generous giver and the good grace of God. No, no, no I understand there's different models out there.

Oh I'm away of a popular preacher who contacted the guy who donated the fish tank in our hallway and wanted to have a larger than that fish tank put in his home. You can spend your money however you choose to spend your money. And you can put nothing in the kingdom of God or you can put everything in the kingdom of God.

But some day your going to die and I want to make sure that you have done this thing called stewardship not just with your money but with your time and with your life for it does if you are a Christian truly belong to God. And your act of stewardship is simply a declaration of that. Amen?

Closing Praye

Father we come to you now in Jesus name at the close of our time together and Lord only you truly do know what's happening in our heart. Whether there's resistance, whether there's reluctance, whether there's a hesitation that would cause us to still horde and hold what we believe is ours and mine.

Please God if we have had a tight fit on those things that truly do belong to you let us loosen that and let us sense the joy of being at liberty, honoring you in all things and watching you bless our life.

Thank you God for gifting to us an opportunity to grow in this grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Shall we stand?

Next week we'll take a look at the how to be a steward and it will be a lot of practical advice um assisting you in a some of what the scripture has to say about doing this thing called being a steward. And I would hope and I would pray that as last week you had a charge you know lets take a look at what you have and what don't have, what your goals are.

This week we kind of looked at the reason why and had a chance to consider our own box in the kingdom and whether or not we're even interested in kingdom causes. You know it's an interesting thing but I can typically tell who tithes in the ministry because those who do give to a ministry are interested in their investment.

I mean I do have a small retirement account and I check it from time to time. And the reason I check it is because I'm putting money there I want to see what its doing.

Well in the same way, I'm interested in how many people get saved every weekend here at Calvary Chapel. Why? I'm also putting a larger part of my retirement in the house of God; I want to see how my investment is doing. Are people getting saved? Are people getting changed? Is ministry taking place?

If your investment is here then you're interested in what happens here. If your investment is not here you really don't care why? Because we learned where your treasure is there your heart also will be. Amen? Amen. Amen.