SoulShift: Consumer to Steward
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What do you think of when you see this? - hold up the dollar
Why do you think that way?
How many of you have heard a sermon on money?
How many of you listened to the sermon?
Why do you think it is that preachers talk about money?
Or, why do you think that preacher’s don’t talk about money?
One of the reasons that preachers should talk about is money, is that Jesus did!
According to Howard Dayton in “Your Money Counts” points our that “Sixteen of [Jesus’] 38 parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. Indeed, Jesus Christ said more about money than about any other subject. The Bible offers 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,350 verses on money and possessions. The Lord said a lot about it because He wants us to know His perspective on the critical area of life”. - Howard Dayton
The fact of the matter is that money matters.
Now money itself isn’t as important as what it can reveal and what it can accomplish.
The authors of Soul Shift write “To him [Jesus], money was not a symbol. It was a lever to get something done. It had no inherent value apart from the opportunities it could create.” - Steve DeNeff and David Drury
If this is true, then it is is something that should be talked about. How we view, handle, desire, and steward our money and possessions, matters in the kingdom of heaven.
The truth is, we Americans are consumers.
According to information put out by WSU:
Americans constitute 5% of the world's population but consume 24% of the world's energy.
On average, one American consumes as much energy as
2 Japanese
6 Mexicans
13 Chinese
31 Indians
128 Bangladeshis
307 Tanzanians
370 Ethiopians
Americans eat 815 billion calories of food each day - that's roughly 200 billion more than needed - enough to feed 80 million people.
We live in the wealthiest nation in the world. We have access to the best resources in the world.
We are also the world’s leading consumer.
This goes to show that by nature, when we have access to resources, we like to use them in abundance.
Sadly, this can be true of christians as well!
Even the disciples were in shock at the words of Jesus is today’s story.
In:
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
The disciples were amazed at His teaching.
It was difficult for them, even though they had given up everything to follow Jesus, to understand what He was talking about.
The disciples themselves needed a shift in their thinking.
So, if the disciples needed a shift, do we?
Do we need to change our view of money?
Quiz Time
Quiz Time
Do I see other people’s stuff and become critical or bored with my own?
Do I shop for recreation?
Do I buy compulsively (because I feel like it) without thinking first of my budget or of my need?
Is my circle of need getting bigger (such as cell phones, iPods, larger homes)?
Do I complain a lot about how much I make (such as my salary or tips)?
Do I feel self-conscious when I am around rich people?
Do I give less than 10 percent of my income to the ministry of the church?
Does it annoy me when the preacher talks about money?
If your answer is yes to one or more of these, it is likely that you need a soul shift. You need to shift from
Consumer to Steward
Consumer to Steward
According to the Google Dictionary, a consumer is:
a person who purchases goods and services for personal use.
And a Steward is:
a person employed to manage another's property, especially a large house or estate.
or a “caretaker” or someone who looks after someone else's stuff.
You see, a consumer is interested in having their own stuff.
A steward is interested in taking care of someone else’s stuff.
As a consumer, we feel entitled to own our own things.
As as steward we realize that nothing that we buy is actually ours, but on loan from God.
A consumer is worried about their possessions on earth, a steward is concerned about their treasures in heaven.
As a consumer, we think the point of:
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
is to “go, sell everything you have and give to the poor”
When the truth is the important thing is “you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.”
Remember the rich man’s question: What must I do to inherit eternal life?
That is the question that Jesus is answering.
We often lose focus of the original question and push the idea of selling all your possession on people. Or, we deny the words altogether.
When the truth is somewhere in the middle!
The main idea of this passage isn’t the possession, but the journey to finding eternal life.
What Jesus is pointing out here is that this man was a consumer. He was too concerned with what He had to do what he needed to do to follow Jesus.
One of the quotes that I read in preparation this week hit me like a ton of bricks:
“If you think giving up everything is too hard, you should try following Jesus while holding onto everything.” - Steve DeNeff and David Drury
Jesus won’t let you do! He is going to ask you to give things up to follow Him!
It is going to require sacrifice and sometimes, going without.
You are trading what you are attached to for things that are eternal.
The shift from consumer to steward is saying that I will give up everything in an instance to follow Jesus.
Or, even better, I will use whatever God has given me to serve Him and His kingdom.
So, what are you attached to?
What are you trying to build for yourself, and not allowing Him to use?
As we shift from consumer to steward, there are some mini-shifts that take place as well.
1. From Spending to Saving
1. From Spending to Saving
Maybe you need to challenge yourself to save rather than spend all that you earn.
Start with the discipline of cutting back and not spending all that you have.
Then Shift:
2. From Saving to Giving
2. From Saving to Giving
Sociologists have noticed for a long time that people who have more often give less.
It is a confusing thought initially, but when we get down to it, it makes a bit of sense.
Those that have nothing, have nothing to lose. They know what having nothing feel like. And, they know what it is like to be blessed in a huge way.
Thus, they often give more.
The first place to give is to the church. The Biblical principle is a tithe which means “10%.”
Give 10% of your money to the ministry of the church.
If you can’t give 10%, start with less.
You will see that as you begin to trust God with everything, including your income, He will provide, and usually, He provides above and beyond!
And the third mini-shift is:
3. From Giving to Blessing
3. From Giving to Blessing
This is above and beyond your tithe. This is where you can truly find freedom is helping others out.
This is where you give to other ministries, not associated with the local church that you attend.
This is where you truly begin to know and see God working in huge ways.
Here is where you truly see yourself as a servant of what God has given you and you are willing to go out of your way to bless.
People to what shifted to blessing are generous people.
They are simple givers.
They give without strings attached to their money.
They don’t wrestle over gross or net.
They see God as the giver and themselves as the stewards. Thus, it’s easier to give it away.
As you shift from consumer to steward, some thoughts begin to shift as well.
Things like:
As a consumer, wealth is evidence of God’s blessing (it makes you secure.) But as a steward, wealth is an obstacle to God’s grace (it makes you self-reliant).
As a consumer, possessions are owned. As a steward, possessions are borrowed.
As a consumer, giving up pur possessions is a risk, investment, sacrifice, or going without. But, as a steward, giving up our possessions is an upgrade. The payback is something money can’t buy.
Worship Team and Deacons
To shift from consumer to steward, begin with defining “enough.”
When do you have enough? Are you content with what you have, or do you need more?
Determine what you need to live on and give the rest away.
For some, that won’t be much, if any at all.
For others, that is a lot.
Practice disciplined giving. Give your tithe and bless beyond it.
Develop habits of generosity. When you receive extra money that is unexpected and unneeded, ask yourself “where should we give this money.”
As stewards, we are responsible for what God gives us!
This morning, as we move into communion, I encourage you to think about what is weighing you down.
Maybe it’s money or possessions. Maybe you find yourself attached to the things that you have.
Now is a good time to ask for Jesus to forgive you and help you move towards being a steward.
Maybe it’s something internal.
Maybe it’s sin and you need to be forgiven. Confess your sins to Him and He will forgive you.
Maybe is pain or brokenness. Accept Jesus’ offer to cast your cares upon Him!
No one knew this pain more than the disciples on the night that their Lord was arrested after telling them He would be handed over and killed.
Before He was arrest He was dining with His disciples and He took the bread.