Money Matter$
Generous, 8 March 2026
08 03 26
Generous
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
March 8, 2026
2 Corinthians 9:6-12
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
What makes you happy?
Can money buy happiness? Yes it can. If you give me some, I’ll prove it!
The problem is the happiness money buys is temporary. But as I said last week,
You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
We live in one of the most consumeristic, selfish societies in the history of the world. We’re told, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins,” “It’s all about you,” and even the fantasy that we can somehow have our “own truth.” Even today, most people around the world depend upon the support and generosity of others, whether it’s family, friends, or neighbors. We were created to exist in community, and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit model it perfectly for us.
There are countless stories of wealthy people living miserable lives, some even taking their own lives in despair, because money can’t buy lasting happiness, but generosity can!
A 20089 study by Harvard and the University of British Columbia found those who spend money on others reported greater happiness than those who spent it on themselves. Researchers have discovered acts of giving stimulate the reward center of the brain, something called the “helper’s high.” Those who regularly practice generosity have lower depression rates, stronger social bonds, greater life satisfaction, and even better physical health markers,
This should come as no surprise given Jesus’ words that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
You’ve probably never met a happy, content selfish person!
You probably know the golden rule:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Those were Jesus’ words, not mine. He also said,
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.” (Luke 6:37-38)
Once again, this isn’t a fundraising pitch. It’s not what I want from you but what I want for you…what God wants for you…the happiness, the joy, the thrill of being generous.
In week one of this series, we said everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. It’s not my stuff, but His. We will all one day stand before God and give an account of what we did with our money, time, and gifts. This is not simply a financial issue, but a spiritual issue. How we earn, spend, give, save, and invest our money is a discipleship issue. Greed is not part of the fruit of the Spirit!
Last Sunday we said God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people…and what a joy it is to give, to invest in God’s Kingdom, to bless others, whether it’s an offering of a handful of rice as we saw in the video or a million-dollar gift. God’s math means whatever we offer to Him will be multiplied and impact lives for eternity.
Even if you’re a poor college student, a young family waist-deep in debt, or simply crushed under the weight of medical bills of no fault of your own, you can experience the joy of generosity. I want to challenge you to take a step of faith…not a leap, but a step of faith. Go ahead and take God at His word:
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 there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
Tithe simply means ten percent. That’s less than what you probably pay in taxes. That should be less than you tip a waiter or waitress! Ten percent is a good place for beginners. If you’re not giving ten percent, you’re missing out! You may be saying, “I can’t afford to give ten percent.” I’m saying you can’t afford to NOT give ten percent…as a starter, as a step of faith. If you just can’t imagine God providing and honoring your generosity, start with 5%. I dare you to trust God! The great thing about percentage giving is it adjusts to your income. We all have something we can give.
If you find yourself in debt, struggling to make ends meet, unsure of how to create a budget, or just want to grow in your understanding of finances, I want to encourage you to sign up for Financial Peace University. It will be held here on Wednesday evenings beginning March 25 and since it’s during Encounter, you can bring your kids!
This is not just a personal issue. As a church family, I’ve encouraged our leaders to create mission plans (that’s another name for a budget!) that require God to show up! We never want to be foolish or greedy, but I want us to remain on our knees, desperate for God.
I’m always struck by this passage in Proverbs, the book of wisdom:
“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)
I know what it’s like to be desperate for God. As many of you know, Heather and I spent years on our knees praying for our kids and their various challenges. When our daughter was in remission, I prayed to the LORD, “I don’t want to lose this urgency and desperation. I don’t want to get busy and comfortable. I want to turn my prayer requests and petitions into praises,” and I’ve tried to do that.
I know He’s calling me to take steps of faith, to step out of my comfort, to be more generous. As John Ortberg famously said, “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.”
We briefly looked at this text from Paul to one of the first churches in Europe. The church in Jerusalem is struggling financially, and Paul encourages those in Corinth to help.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)
This is a win-win-win…a win for the church in Jerusalem, a win for God who is glorified, and a win for the givers who receive blessings.
So What?
I challenge you—I dare you—to ask God what to do with this sermon, with this series. What is your next step. Maybe it’s to sign up for Financial Peace University. Perhaps you simply need to volunteer an hour a week—here or with one of our local ministry partners. Maybe it’s time to start giving ten percent or five percent…or even a dollar! See if God doesn’t honor and bless you. It’s possible God wants some of you to add a percent—or a zero—to your current giving. You can’t outgive God.
Last year I gave away copies of Randy Alcorn’s classic The Treasure Principle. If you didn’t get one, I’d love to give you a copy, but I must warn you it is challenging.
Jesus summarized the entire scriptures by saying love God, love your neighbor as yourself. Do you believe that? Prove it! How we use and steward our time, our talents, and our treasures is the real measure of our faith, our obedience, our spiritual maturity.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
A life of generosity is a key to true satisfaction and happiness.
I pray that He says to each of us someday, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
March 8, 2026
2 Corinthians 9:6-12
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
What makes you happy?
Can money buy happiness? Yes it can. If you give me some, I’ll prove it!
The problem is the happiness money buys is temporary. But as I said last week,
You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
We live in one of the most consumeristic, selfish societies in the history of the world. We’re told, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins,” “It’s all about you,” and even the fantasy that we can somehow have our “own truth.” Even today, most people around the world depend upon the support and generosity of others, whether it’s family, friends, or neighbors. We were created to exist in community, and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit model it perfectly for us.
There are countless stories of wealthy people living miserable lives, some even taking their own lives in despair, because money can’t buy lasting happiness, but generosity can!
A 20089 study by Harvard and the University of British Columbia found those who spend money on others reported greater happiness than those who spent it on themselves. Researchers have discovered acts of giving stimulate the reward center of the brain, something called the “helper’s high.” Those who regularly practice generosity have lower depression rates, stronger social bonds, greater life satisfaction, and even better physical health markers,
This should come as no surprise given Jesus’ words that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
You’ve probably never met a happy, content selfish person!
You probably know the golden rule:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Those were Jesus’ words, not mine. He also said,
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.” (Luke 6:37-38)
Once again, this isn’t a fundraising pitch. It’s not what I want from you but what I want for you…what God wants for you…the happiness, the joy, the thrill of being generous.
In week one of this series, we said everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. It’s not my stuff, but His. We will all one day stand before God and give an account of what we did with our money, time, and gifts. This is not simply a financial issue, but a spiritual issue. How we earn, spend, give, save, and invest our money is a discipleship issue. Greed is not part of the fruit of the Spirit!
Last Sunday we said God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people…and what a joy it is to give, to invest in God’s Kingdom, to bless others, whether it’s an offering of a handful of rice as we saw in the video or a million-dollar gift. God’s math means whatever we offer to Him will be multiplied and impact lives for eternity.
Even if you’re a poor college student, a young family waist-deep in debt, or simply crushed under the weight of medical bills of no fault of your own, you can experience the joy of generosity. I want to challenge you to take a step of faith…not a leap, but a step of faith. Go ahead and take God at His word:
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 there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
Tithe simply means ten percent. That’s less than what you probably pay in taxes. That should be less than you tip a waiter or waitress! Ten percent is a good place for beginners. If you’re not giving ten percent, you’re missing out! You may be saying, “I can’t afford to give ten percent.” I’m saying you can’t afford to NOT give ten percent…as a starter, as a step of faith. If you just can’t imagine God providing and honoring your generosity, start with 5%. I dare you to trust God! The great thing about percentage giving is it adjusts to your income. We all have something we can give.
If you find yourself in debt, struggling to make ends meet, unsure of how to create a budget, or just want to grow in your understanding of finances, I want to encourage you to sign up for Financial Peace University. It will be held here on Wednesday evenings beginning March 25 and since it’s during Encounter, you can bring your kids!
This is not just a personal issue. As a church family, I’ve encouraged our leaders to create mission plans (that’s another name for a budget!) that require God to show up! We never want to be foolish or greedy, but I want us to remain on our knees, desperate for God.
I’m always struck by this passage in Proverbs, the book of wisdom:
“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)
I know what it’s like to be desperate for God. As many of you know, Heather and I spent years on our knees praying for our kids and their various challenges. When our daughter was in remission, I prayed to the LORD, “I don’t want to lose this urgency and desperation. I don’t want to get busy and comfortable. I want to turn my prayer requests and petitions into praises,” and I’ve tried to do that.
I know He’s calling me to take steps of faith, to step out of my comfort, to be more generous. As John Ortberg famously said, “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.”
We briefly looked at this text from Paul to one of the first churches in Europe. The church in Jerusalem is struggling financially, and Paul encourages those in Corinth to help.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)
This is a win-win-win…a win for the church in Jerusalem, a win for God who is glorified, and a win for the givers who receive blessings.
So What?
I challenge you—I dare you—to ask God what to do with this sermon, with this series. What is your next step. Maybe it’s to sign up for Financial Peace University. Perhaps you simply need to volunteer an hour a week—here or with one of our local ministry partners. Maybe it’s time to start giving ten percent or five percent…or even a dollar! See if God doesn’t honor and bless you. It’s possible God wants some of you to add a percent—or a zero—to your current giving. You can’t outgive God.
Last year I gave away copies of Randy Alcorn’s classic The Treasure Principle. If you didn’t get one, I’d love to give you a copy, but I must warn you it is challenging.
Jesus summarized the entire scriptures by saying love God, love your neighbor as yourself. Do you believe that? Prove it! How we use and steward our time, our talents, and our treasures is the real measure of our faith, our obedience, our spiritual maturity.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
A life of generosity is a key to true satisfaction and happiness.
I pray that He says to each of us someday, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Provider, 1 MArch 2026
01 03 26
Provider
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
March 1, 2026
Genesis 22:6-14; Philippians 4:19
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people.
There was a man whose town began to flood after days of relentless rain. The river crested its banks, streets filled with water, and emergency sirens wailed through the night.
The man stood on his porch as the water rose to his knees and prayed, “Lord, I trust You. Please save me.”
A neighbor paddled by in a small rowboat and shouted, “Jump in! I’ll take you to safety!”
The man replied, “No, thank you. I’m praying. God is going to save me.”
The water kept rising. He climbed onto his roof and prayed again, “God, I know You’re faithful. Rescue me!”
Soon a rescue boat came by. “Sir, this is your last chance. Get in!”
He shook his head. “No. I have faith. God will save me.”
Finally, with the water at the chimney, a helicopter hovered overhead. They dropped a rope ladder and yelled, “Grab on!”
But he called back, “No! I’m waiting on God!”
Moments later, the waters overtook him.
When he stood before the Lord, he asked, “God, I trusted You. Why didn’t You save me?”
And the Lord said, “I sent you a rowboat, a rescue team, and a helicopter. What more were you waiting for?”
God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people.What do you need today? In 1943, Abraham Maslow wrote a paper that diagramed a hierarchy of needs.
I’m not here to debate the merits of the pyramid, but rather to note we all have needs. Some need food and water. Others struggle with health and safety. When our more basic needs get met, friends, achievement, and meaning enter the picture. Regardless of what you need today, God is able to provide, and it’s usually accomplished through His people. Paul wrote to a church in modern day Greece,
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
God does not promise to provide our every want and desire. That’s a job for prosperity gospel preachers! He promises to meet our needs. He is a provider.
Once upon a time, God told Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. This was the son that took 100 years for God to provide! I can’t imagine the thoughts and feelings going through his head, but Abraham obeyed. Genesis 22 says,
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?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (Genesis 22:6-8)
The Hebrew word for provide is raah. It can mean “to see” or provide.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:9-10)
Can you imagine?
But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
“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.” (Genesis 22:11-12)
I bet Abraham uttered the loudest sigh of relief in history!
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:13-14)
The LORD Will Provide in Hebrew is Yahweh Jireh. Some have pronounced it Jehovah Jireh.
Centuries later, the LORD provided the ultimate sacrifice for us, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Jesus Christ. Thousands of years later, God is still providing for His people. He gives us everything we need for what He’s called us to do.
What has He called us to do?
Love God. Love neighbor as self. Go and make disciples.
Last Sunday we said
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
He loves to use His people to provide, to answer prayers, to participate in His Kingdom.
The opening story is a joke, but it delivers a truth. Imagine you owned a boat or helicopter and could save a life. How great would that be? Yet every one of us has been invited into God’s Kingdom to not only dwell but serve.
I asked, “What do you need?.” Now, what do you have? We all have something…money, cars, homes, skills and talents, time, energy, health, etc. How are you stewarding those gifts, those blessings.
Imagine someone in this room needed a set of golf clubs and you had two sets. How great would it be to provide for them?
Imagine someone in this room needed childcare for one hour this week and you were available. How great would it be to provide for them?
Imagine someone in this room prays for healing and you are a doctor. How great would it be to provide it for them?
Last week I said I wanted a bag of gold and someone provided for me!
Paul reminds us of Jesus’ words.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35)
This is so true. I love receiving gifts, but giving them is a blast, whether it’s a birthday gift to a grandchild, buying someone at Dietsch’s, or writing a check to College First. It’s a joy to be generous!
Paul again, this time to the church in Corinth:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
You can’t outgive God. He provides, and He has provided for me and my family in some incredible ways. For example,
- We needed $100 one week and $50 came in the mail and $50 from a relative
- We needed help with our furnace and someone from CF fixed it
- We prayed for a minivan and received one hours later!
- When we moved to a new city, we needed friends…and found them
In every case, God used someone to bless us, to provide for us…and they had the thrill of being used by God. You can’t buy that!
What do you need?
What do you have?
As the church, we are to love one another and one way we can love is by providing for the needs of one another, offering a ride, a room, or a repair. The second chapter of Acts describes a beautiful picture of what a church should become.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:44-45)
That sounds fun! That sounds like the Church in action.
So What?
What do you have? What do you need? It’s hard to manage the resources of hundreds of people at College First, but you can begin by thinking about your gifts.
Some of you have time to give, and volunteering here and/or at another ministry in the area will do far more for your heart and soul than watching bad news on TV! You can scoop ice cream, build a house, teach children, serve food, coach sports, count money, pack gifts, sing, clean, sew, cook, garden, ring a bell, mow…or even preach! If you tell me what you like to do, I’ll get you connected to opportunities. I had a man years ago tell me he loved racing cars, so we started a church auto racing team! It was great!
If your gifts are financial, you can give online, via check, or in person. Your investment in God’s work at College First is producing fantastic fruit, including baptisms, healed marriages, and a NextGen ministry of students we can barely contain on our physical campus. To those of you who give 1% or 5% or 10% or 90% of your income, thank you. I cannot imagine a better investment than College First which is why the largest check we write each month is to College First. The dividends are eternal! You can give to our benevolence fund, NextGen leadership endowment, or any number of other things. You can give stocks, bonds, and other non-cash gifts, too, such as livestock or real estate. You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people. What do you have? Don’t hoard it. Invest it. You’ll never regret it!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
March 1, 2026
Genesis 22:6-14; Philippians 4:19
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people.
There was a man whose town began to flood after days of relentless rain. The river crested its banks, streets filled with water, and emergency sirens wailed through the night.
The man stood on his porch as the water rose to his knees and prayed, “Lord, I trust You. Please save me.”
A neighbor paddled by in a small rowboat and shouted, “Jump in! I’ll take you to safety!”
The man replied, “No, thank you. I’m praying. God is going to save me.”
The water kept rising. He climbed onto his roof and prayed again, “God, I know You’re faithful. Rescue me!”
Soon a rescue boat came by. “Sir, this is your last chance. Get in!”
He shook his head. “No. I have faith. God will save me.”
Finally, with the water at the chimney, a helicopter hovered overhead. They dropped a rope ladder and yelled, “Grab on!”
But he called back, “No! I’m waiting on God!”
Moments later, the waters overtook him.
When he stood before the Lord, he asked, “God, I trusted You. Why didn’t You save me?”
And the Lord said, “I sent you a rowboat, a rescue team, and a helicopter. What more were you waiting for?”
God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people.What do you need today? In 1943, Abraham Maslow wrote a paper that diagramed a hierarchy of needs.
I’m not here to debate the merits of the pyramid, but rather to note we all have needs. Some need food and water. Others struggle with health and safety. When our more basic needs get met, friends, achievement, and meaning enter the picture. Regardless of what you need today, God is able to provide, and it’s usually accomplished through His people. Paul wrote to a church in modern day Greece,
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
God does not promise to provide our every want and desire. That’s a job for prosperity gospel preachers! He promises to meet our needs. He is a provider.
Once upon a time, God told Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. This was the son that took 100 years for God to provide! I can’t imagine the thoughts and feelings going through his head, but Abraham obeyed. Genesis 22 says,
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?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (Genesis 22:6-8)
The Hebrew word for provide is raah. It can mean “to see” or provide.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:9-10)
Can you imagine?
But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
“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.” (Genesis 22:11-12)
I bet Abraham uttered the loudest sigh of relief in history!
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:13-14)
The LORD Will Provide in Hebrew is Yahweh Jireh. Some have pronounced it Jehovah Jireh.
Centuries later, the LORD provided the ultimate sacrifice for us, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Jesus Christ. Thousands of years later, God is still providing for His people. He gives us everything we need for what He’s called us to do.
What has He called us to do?
Love God. Love neighbor as self. Go and make disciples.
Last Sunday we said
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
He loves to use His people to provide, to answer prayers, to participate in His Kingdom.
The opening story is a joke, but it delivers a truth. Imagine you owned a boat or helicopter and could save a life. How great would that be? Yet every one of us has been invited into God’s Kingdom to not only dwell but serve.
I asked, “What do you need?.” Now, what do you have? We all have something…money, cars, homes, skills and talents, time, energy, health, etc. How are you stewarding those gifts, those blessings.
Imagine someone in this room needed a set of golf clubs and you had two sets. How great would it be to provide for them?
Imagine someone in this room needed childcare for one hour this week and you were available. How great would it be to provide for them?
Imagine someone in this room prays for healing and you are a doctor. How great would it be to provide it for them?
Last week I said I wanted a bag of gold and someone provided for me!
Paul reminds us of Jesus’ words.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35)
This is so true. I love receiving gifts, but giving them is a blast, whether it’s a birthday gift to a grandchild, buying someone at Dietsch’s, or writing a check to College First. It’s a joy to be generous!
Paul again, this time to the church in Corinth:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
You can’t outgive God. He provides, and He has provided for me and my family in some incredible ways. For example,
- We needed $100 one week and $50 came in the mail and $50 from a relative
- We needed help with our furnace and someone from CF fixed it
- We prayed for a minivan and received one hours later!
- When we moved to a new city, we needed friends…and found them
In every case, God used someone to bless us, to provide for us…and they had the thrill of being used by God. You can’t buy that!
What do you need?
What do you have?
As the church, we are to love one another and one way we can love is by providing for the needs of one another, offering a ride, a room, or a repair. The second chapter of Acts describes a beautiful picture of what a church should become.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:44-45)
That sounds fun! That sounds like the Church in action.
So What?
What do you have? What do you need? It’s hard to manage the resources of hundreds of people at College First, but you can begin by thinking about your gifts.
Some of you have time to give, and volunteering here and/or at another ministry in the area will do far more for your heart and soul than watching bad news on TV! You can scoop ice cream, build a house, teach children, serve food, coach sports, count money, pack gifts, sing, clean, sew, cook, garden, ring a bell, mow…or even preach! If you tell me what you like to do, I’ll get you connected to opportunities. I had a man years ago tell me he loved racing cars, so we started a church auto racing team! It was great!
If your gifts are financial, you can give online, via check, or in person. Your investment in God’s work at College First is producing fantastic fruit, including baptisms, healed marriages, and a NextGen ministry of students we can barely contain on our physical campus. To those of you who give 1% or 5% or 10% or 90% of your income, thank you. I cannot imagine a better investment than College First which is why the largest check we write each month is to College First. The dividends are eternal! You can give to our benevolence fund, NextGen leadership endowment, or any number of other things. You can give stocks, bonds, and other non-cash gifts, too, such as livestock or real estate. You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people. What do you have? Don’t hoard it. Invest it. You’ll never regret it!
Stewards, 22 February 2026
24 02 26
Stewards
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
February 22, 2026
Deuteronomy 10:14-22
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
A few years ago, the Major League Baseball club in Cleveland made news when they announced their search for a new, politically correct name. Not being from Ohio and failing to understand the history, I was surprised when they adopted the name Guardians. I later learned there were guardian sculptures on the nearby Hope Memorial Bridge, symbolically offering protection and safety. Their website states, “We hope that wearing the name Guardians will make our fans proud to protect and preserve all that we love about this city.”
I didn’t plan to talk about guardians, but it appeared in a thesaurus search under “stewards,” our topic today. Like a guardian, a steward manages the property, affairs, or finances of another person, one who is put in charge of something valuable.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. His guardians.
We’re going to spend the next few weeks looking at the subject of money. Few topics are more relevant. Money impacts everything from our marriages to our worship. Money matters!
Some people get nervous when money is mentioned in church. Are we beginning a fundraising campaign? No. Thanks to the generosity of many of you, College First is paying its bills. This is about discipleship…helping you follow and obey Jesus. Jesus talked about it more than heaven and hell combined! This is not about what I want from you but rather what God wants FOR you.
In what may be the first book of the Bible written, Job says,
and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21)
Job had lost most everything in his life. At the end of the book, he gets most of it back…and then some. Even in the midst of unbearable suffering, Job understood…
Everything we have belongs to God.
It’s all His. Everything. Our bank accounts. Our 410(k). Our talents. Our bodies. Our health. Our future. Our family. Our friends. Our homes. It’s all His.
This is a problem for many. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard some say, “I earned this. I built this. I deserve this. I own this. I accomplished this…” To quote a famous line from Finding Nemo…
Mine, Mine, Mine!
But it’s not. Nothing is truly yours. It all belongs to the LORD.
Recently, I’ve heard more acknowledgements of God in an interesting place…athletic press conferences! I find it refreshing to hear sports stars give God credit and glory for their accomplishments. Did God score the winning touchdown? No. Did God lace up skates and win a medal? No. Do athletes win championships without effort or training? Hardly. But I take notice when people recognize God is the one who creates our bodies, gifts us with abilities, creates opportunities, provides protection, and has a will and plan for each of our lives. Moses wrote,
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. (Deuteronomy 10:14)
I see the stars/I hear the rolling thunder/Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
But it’s not just the heavens that are his. The earth and everything in it belong to the LORD.
When I was a young boy, I played with G.I. Joe. I had a Jeep for him. I had a cool space capsule for him. I had different military outfits. But at no point did Joe turn to me and say, “This stuff is mine!”
I realize it’s a silly example, but it’s tempting for us to look at our stuff and say, “Mine!” At any moment, you could lose anything and everything, beginning with your very life. Everything belongs to the LORD. It’s a wonder we can have a relationship with Him. Moses continues,
Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (Deuteronomy 10:15-16)
God is so good!
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. (Deuteronomy 10:17)
This is our God! He is greater than any prime minister, president, or prince. He has more wealth than every billionaire combined. He is stronger than any power or force. Yet He is pure, honest, and love.
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
This is our God. He is not fair. Grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love are never fair. But He’s good! And He wants us to follow Him. It’s important to notice the context: the people were slaves in Egypt and have been liberated.
And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:19)
How quickly we forget our past, God’s grace, how far we’ve come.
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. 22 Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. (Deuteronomy 10:20-22)
What do the people owe God? Everything!
What do we owe God? Everything!
Everything we have belongs to God. We are his stewards. We are his guardians.
Please take out your wallet. Look inside. It belongs to God. All of it. The debit cards, the savings account, the 401(k), and the checkbook, too.
When you invest money with a banker or financial planner, they don’t keep them money. It’s not theirs. It’s on loan to them for the purpose of keeping the money safe and watching it grow. If you put $100 in the bank, you don’t expect them to say, “We lost half of it so here’s $50. If it’s a saving or investment account, you hope to be able to withdraw more than $100, in time”
Growing up, my dad had a company car. Then a company van! He had several Dodge vans over the year, filled with catalogs he would take to various sales calls. The van did not belong to dad, yet he took very good care of it. He would eventually trade it in for a newer model. The nice thing was the company was responsible for the purchase and expenses. If it broke, dad would go to the company and ask them to repair it.
This is true for all of our stuff. It belongs to the LORD. We are to steward and guard our possessions. We are to ultimately use them for God’s glory. We are to invest.
During our new year orientation of church leaders, I told everyone there is no money available to spend. We are only to invest budgeted funds…in loving, equipping, and sending.
Jesus told a great parable about three men who were given bags of gold. The first man was given five bags of gold. He invested them and doubled his money for the master.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21)
The second man was given two bags of gold. He also invested it and received the same response.
The third man was given one bag of gold and instead of investing it went to Starbucks and drank it all away! No, he hid it in the ground.
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (Matthew 25:26-27)
“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:28-30)
So What?
Jesus’ half brother wrote,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
We have all been blessed with freedom in this country, life, and fellowship together. Many of you have cars, homes, education, friends, talents, health, and money. Capital One asks, “What’s in your wallet?” These gifts are not to be used. They are to be invested. One day, we will all stand before God and have to give an account for how we guarded and stewarded our gifts. What a sobering thought! What will God say to you? What will He say to me? I pray He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
February 22, 2026
Deuteronomy 10:14-22
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
A few years ago, the Major League Baseball club in Cleveland made news when they announced their search for a new, politically correct name. Not being from Ohio and failing to understand the history, I was surprised when they adopted the name Guardians. I later learned there were guardian sculptures on the nearby Hope Memorial Bridge, symbolically offering protection and safety. Their website states, “We hope that wearing the name Guardians will make our fans proud to protect and preserve all that we love about this city.”
I didn’t plan to talk about guardians, but it appeared in a thesaurus search under “stewards,” our topic today. Like a guardian, a steward manages the property, affairs, or finances of another person, one who is put in charge of something valuable.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. His guardians.
We’re going to spend the next few weeks looking at the subject of money. Few topics are more relevant. Money impacts everything from our marriages to our worship. Money matters!
Some people get nervous when money is mentioned in church. Are we beginning a fundraising campaign? No. Thanks to the generosity of many of you, College First is paying its bills. This is about discipleship…helping you follow and obey Jesus. Jesus talked about it more than heaven and hell combined! This is not about what I want from you but rather what God wants FOR you.
In what may be the first book of the Bible written, Job says,
and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21)
Job had lost most everything in his life. At the end of the book, he gets most of it back…and then some. Even in the midst of unbearable suffering, Job understood…
Everything we have belongs to God.
It’s all His. Everything. Our bank accounts. Our 410(k). Our talents. Our bodies. Our health. Our future. Our family. Our friends. Our homes. It’s all His.
This is a problem for many. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard some say, “I earned this. I built this. I deserve this. I own this. I accomplished this…” To quote a famous line from Finding Nemo…
Mine, Mine, Mine!
But it’s not. Nothing is truly yours. It all belongs to the LORD.
Recently, I’ve heard more acknowledgements of God in an interesting place…athletic press conferences! I find it refreshing to hear sports stars give God credit and glory for their accomplishments. Did God score the winning touchdown? No. Did God lace up skates and win a medal? No. Do athletes win championships without effort or training? Hardly. But I take notice when people recognize God is the one who creates our bodies, gifts us with abilities, creates opportunities, provides protection, and has a will and plan for each of our lives. Moses wrote,
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. (Deuteronomy 10:14)
I see the stars/I hear the rolling thunder/Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
But it’s not just the heavens that are his. The earth and everything in it belong to the LORD.
When I was a young boy, I played with G.I. Joe. I had a Jeep for him. I had a cool space capsule for him. I had different military outfits. But at no point did Joe turn to me and say, “This stuff is mine!”
I realize it’s a silly example, but it’s tempting for us to look at our stuff and say, “Mine!” At any moment, you could lose anything and everything, beginning with your very life. Everything belongs to the LORD. It’s a wonder we can have a relationship with Him. Moses continues,
Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (Deuteronomy 10:15-16)
God is so good!
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. (Deuteronomy 10:17)
This is our God! He is greater than any prime minister, president, or prince. He has more wealth than every billionaire combined. He is stronger than any power or force. Yet He is pure, honest, and love.
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
This is our God. He is not fair. Grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love are never fair. But He’s good! And He wants us to follow Him. It’s important to notice the context: the people were slaves in Egypt and have been liberated.
And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:19)
How quickly we forget our past, God’s grace, how far we’ve come.
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. 22 Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. (Deuteronomy 10:20-22)
What do the people owe God? Everything!
What do we owe God? Everything!
Everything we have belongs to God. We are his stewards. We are his guardians.
Please take out your wallet. Look inside. It belongs to God. All of it. The debit cards, the savings account, the 401(k), and the checkbook, too.
When you invest money with a banker or financial planner, they don’t keep them money. It’s not theirs. It’s on loan to them for the purpose of keeping the money safe and watching it grow. If you put $100 in the bank, you don’t expect them to say, “We lost half of it so here’s $50. If it’s a saving or investment account, you hope to be able to withdraw more than $100, in time”
Growing up, my dad had a company car. Then a company van! He had several Dodge vans over the year, filled with catalogs he would take to various sales calls. The van did not belong to dad, yet he took very good care of it. He would eventually trade it in for a newer model. The nice thing was the company was responsible for the purchase and expenses. If it broke, dad would go to the company and ask them to repair it.
This is true for all of our stuff. It belongs to the LORD. We are to steward and guard our possessions. We are to ultimately use them for God’s glory. We are to invest.
During our new year orientation of church leaders, I told everyone there is no money available to spend. We are only to invest budgeted funds…in loving, equipping, and sending.
Jesus told a great parable about three men who were given bags of gold. The first man was given five bags of gold. He invested them and doubled his money for the master.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21)
The second man was given two bags of gold. He also invested it and received the same response.
The third man was given one bag of gold and instead of investing it went to Starbucks and drank it all away! No, he hid it in the ground.
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (Matthew 25:26-27)
“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:28-30)
So What?
Jesus’ half brother wrote,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
We have all been blessed with freedom in this country, life, and fellowship together. Many of you have cars, homes, education, friends, talents, health, and money. Capital One asks, “What’s in your wallet?” These gifts are not to be used. They are to be invested. One day, we will all stand before God and have to give an account for how we guarded and stewarded our gifts. What a sobering thought! What will God say to you? What will He say to me? I pray He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
It All Belongs To God
13 03 12
Big Idea: Money brings happiness...for a while. We need to pursue that which brings true satisfaction—Jesus.
Introduction
Money seems to be on everyone’s mind this time of year. My vision for the series was to address the subject of money between the Christmas credit card bills and taxes. How many of you have done your taxes?
Actually, money seems to be on our minds throughout the year. The news is filled with economic news, recession statistics, fluctuating gas prices, get-rich-quick schemes, big sales at the mall, investment strategies, charity fundraising, mortgage refinancing, savings accounts, Groupons and Living Social deals,…
Money is not a newly-popular topic. Jesus said more about money than heaven and hell combined!
Why?
Our culture says that money will make you happy, and being happy is the ultimate goal. You’re heard that he who dies with the most toys wins, right?!
Does money buy happiness? Yes...for a while. Think about it. Do you remember how you felt when you got that first paycheck, the raise, an unexpected check in the mail, a gift of cash for your birthday, ... It feels great to get money!
Some people have a negative attitude toward money. They think it’s the root of all evil. Money itself is not a problem. It is a tool like time, talents, our bodies, technology, and other resources that can be used for good or not so good purposes. 1 Timothy 6:10a says
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
We are to be good stewards of the gifts that we have been given. Make no mistake—we have been given much.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
Stewardship is wisely using those gifts.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
Tithing
If you were looking for a guilt-inducing message today on giving, you may be disappointed. We are not in the middle of a building campaign. There is no thermometer on the wall that we are filling to reach a goal. Our church budget is not even in great trouble. There’s no hidden agenda for this series except to help you use money well.
Often churches talk about tithing. Tithing literally means 10%. Its history dates back to Abraham giving ten percent of his wealth to Melchizedek the priest after receiving a blessing in Genesis 14:18-20.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18-20)
Following, there are multiple Old Testament references to giving God ten percent. Many Christians are taught to give God ten percent of their income.
Were you taught as children to give God ten percent? One commonly taught formula is give 10%, save 10%, and keep 80%. There’s just one problem. 100% is God’s!
An Experiment
Several years ago I gave a message about stewardship and each person in attendance received an envelope with cash. I’m sorry, today is not that day! Each person received a different amount, some $5, some $10, and others $20 since God distributes gifts differently. We all have different talents, strengths, incomes, intellect, etc.
The purpose of the cash was not to buy everyone drinks at Starbucks, but instead to challenge each person to do something with God’s money and report back on how they used it to bless others, to invest in the Kingdom of God. One friend of mine who received a $20 bill told me he was really struggling with what to do with “God’s money.” I told him to take his decision seriously, but to also recognize that every dollar in his wallet, bank account, and retirement account also belonged to God.
Everything we have belongs to God. He is just loaning it to us.
Some of you faithfully give 10% of your income to Scio Community Church, which is great. We have to pay to keep the lights on, support missionaries, feed the pastor’s kids (!), ... but for some of you, 10% is nowhere near enough. While it is true that Jesus didn’t mention tithing explicitly, He always took the Old Testament commands and made them more challenging, not less.
In fact, He summarized God’s view of money quite succinctly when He said
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33)
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Note: that phrase is also recorded in Matthew 6:21.
Where is your treasure? Is it in your 401k? Your garage? Your house? Your electronic gadgets?
Those things are fun. They make us happy...until they break, go out of style, get replaced by a better one, or cause us yearning for more.
I want to challenge you to be more generous. I didn’t say give more money to Scio—we already took the offering! I want to challenge you to earn more and spend less on yourself. We talked at Christmastime about not only special opportunities to change the world through providing clean water overseas and food through Hope Clinic locally, but also the Radical Experiment, sacrificially giving our money for a specific purpose.
Did you catch that word—sacrificially? For many of us, 10% is not a sacrifice. We give Lansing and Washington far more than that! If you make $100,000 a year, you can probably live off $90,000 okay! There are many wealthy people that give 90% and live off 10%.
For some of you, you’re not even close to 10%. What are you waiting for? More income? The beauty of tithing is it’s a percent, not an amount. Kids, begin by tithing your allowance, but don’t stop at 10%. Remember, it is all God’s! Every dime! Be generous!
Why?
Paul wrote to his protege’, Timothy, and said
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time —God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:6-16)
Conclusion
Money can make us happy, but only for a while. When we see our lives as conduits of blessing with money rather than containers to hold onto riches, we will experience true contentment and joy.
The first two commandments—no other Gods and no idols—speak directly to our temptation to love money. Those commands were not an ego trip for God. He knew that money and wealth and toys will not last. We will always want more.
Our pursuit of an all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing, ever-creative God will bring peace, joy, and satisfaction like nothing in this world.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Introduction
Money seems to be on everyone’s mind this time of year. My vision for the series was to address the subject of money between the Christmas credit card bills and taxes. How many of you have done your taxes?
Actually, money seems to be on our minds throughout the year. The news is filled with economic news, recession statistics, fluctuating gas prices, get-rich-quick schemes, big sales at the mall, investment strategies, charity fundraising, mortgage refinancing, savings accounts, Groupons and Living Social deals,…
Money is not a newly-popular topic. Jesus said more about money than heaven and hell combined!
Why?
Our culture says that money will make you happy, and being happy is the ultimate goal. You’re heard that he who dies with the most toys wins, right?!
Does money buy happiness? Yes...for a while. Think about it. Do you remember how you felt when you got that first paycheck, the raise, an unexpected check in the mail, a gift of cash for your birthday, ... It feels great to get money!
Some people have a negative attitude toward money. They think it’s the root of all evil. Money itself is not a problem. It is a tool like time, talents, our bodies, technology, and other resources that can be used for good or not so good purposes. 1 Timothy 6:10a says
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
We are to be good stewards of the gifts that we have been given. Make no mistake—we have been given much.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
Stewardship is wisely using those gifts.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
Tithing
If you were looking for a guilt-inducing message today on giving, you may be disappointed. We are not in the middle of a building campaign. There is no thermometer on the wall that we are filling to reach a goal. Our church budget is not even in great trouble. There’s no hidden agenda for this series except to help you use money well.
Often churches talk about tithing. Tithing literally means 10%. Its history dates back to Abraham giving ten percent of his wealth to Melchizedek the priest after receiving a blessing in Genesis 14:18-20.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18-20)
Following, there are multiple Old Testament references to giving God ten percent. Many Christians are taught to give God ten percent of their income.
Were you taught as children to give God ten percent? One commonly taught formula is give 10%, save 10%, and keep 80%. There’s just one problem. 100% is God’s!
An Experiment
Several years ago I gave a message about stewardship and each person in attendance received an envelope with cash. I’m sorry, today is not that day! Each person received a different amount, some $5, some $10, and others $20 since God distributes gifts differently. We all have different talents, strengths, incomes, intellect, etc.
The purpose of the cash was not to buy everyone drinks at Starbucks, but instead to challenge each person to do something with God’s money and report back on how they used it to bless others, to invest in the Kingdom of God. One friend of mine who received a $20 bill told me he was really struggling with what to do with “God’s money.” I told him to take his decision seriously, but to also recognize that every dollar in his wallet, bank account, and retirement account also belonged to God.
Everything we have belongs to God. He is just loaning it to us.
Some of you faithfully give 10% of your income to Scio Community Church, which is great. We have to pay to keep the lights on, support missionaries, feed the pastor’s kids (!), ... but for some of you, 10% is nowhere near enough. While it is true that Jesus didn’t mention tithing explicitly, He always took the Old Testament commands and made them more challenging, not less.
In fact, He summarized God’s view of money quite succinctly when He said
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33)
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Note: that phrase is also recorded in Matthew 6:21.
Where is your treasure? Is it in your 401k? Your garage? Your house? Your electronic gadgets?
Those things are fun. They make us happy...until they break, go out of style, get replaced by a better one, or cause us yearning for more.
I want to challenge you to be more generous. I didn’t say give more money to Scio—we already took the offering! I want to challenge you to earn more and spend less on yourself. We talked at Christmastime about not only special opportunities to change the world through providing clean water overseas and food through Hope Clinic locally, but also the Radical Experiment, sacrificially giving our money for a specific purpose.
Did you catch that word—sacrificially? For many of us, 10% is not a sacrifice. We give Lansing and Washington far more than that! If you make $100,000 a year, you can probably live off $90,000 okay! There are many wealthy people that give 90% and live off 10%.
For some of you, you’re not even close to 10%. What are you waiting for? More income? The beauty of tithing is it’s a percent, not an amount. Kids, begin by tithing your allowance, but don’t stop at 10%. Remember, it is all God’s! Every dime! Be generous!
Why?
- God commands it.
- It feels great.
- It blesses others.
- It destroys the money monster that says you need more.
- It is an eternal investment, storing up treasures in heaven
Paul wrote to his protege’, Timothy, and said
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time —God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:6-16)
Conclusion
Money can make us happy, but only for a while. When we see our lives as conduits of blessing with money rather than containers to hold onto riches, we will experience true contentment and joy.
The first two commandments—no other Gods and no idols—speak directly to our temptation to love money. Those commands were not an ego trip for God. He knew that money and wealth and toys will not last. We will always want more.
Our pursuit of an all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing, ever-creative God will bring peace, joy, and satisfaction like nothing in this world.
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