What's Important?

If you want things too much, you'll go too far to get it. 

God will not add things to you that will take you away from Him.  

We must rid ourselves from the love of things.  

It's got to come freely.  It's got to go freely.  We must be a conduit.  If it's always flowing out, it's always full.

Luke 12  (ESV)

22 And he (Jesus) said to his disciples, 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

 

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 

If we are worried about our lives, we are not in faith, and that is disrespectful to God.

  

25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 

26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 

29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 

30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 

31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.   

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 

Your blessings are to flow in and out.  

Talking about money reveals people's hearts.

In this world, money is ability.  

What's more important saving money or saving people?

Treasure is a heart revealer.   

The first murder was over an offering.

Cain killed Abel over his offering (Genesis 4).  

Abel brought the best.

  

He brought the most expensive. 

God received Abel's offering, but He wouldn't receive Cain's offering.

People who love God and are givers show up people who don't love God and don't give.

1 John 3:12 (ESV)

12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. 

And why did he murder him? 

Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

We have to get free from the love of money for God to entrust more to us. 

 We must not love things, but we must love God and people.

  

34 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  

Where's your treasure.  

Your heart will always be where your treasure is. 

God cares about your treasure because it controls your heart.

  

If you want to know your priorities, look in your checkbook.  God must be first in our checkbook. 

  

God is not in the business of keeping you broke. 

Matthew 6:33  (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We all know this, but do we do it? 

We must create a God account.  Whenever money comes in, we are to take 10% and allocate it to God first. 

If you want things too much, you'll go into debt for it, and the interest will eat up all your money.  

Sacrifice to put God first, and watch God supply your needs miraculously.  

You must not put yourself first or your kids first.  If you do, you're training your kids wrong.

What kind of price can you put on people getting delivered?

Luke 16:10-11 (ESV)

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  

If you won't obey God will $5, you don't qualify to handle true riches.  

God is big on stewardship.  

If you can't handle money, God won't trust you with what's more important.

  

If you won't tithe, it shows your heart.  If you won't help the poor, it shows your heart.  

It does matter how you handle the money that God has entrusted to you. 

If God can trust you with $5, He will trust you with more.  

Some people fail when they get more money to manage.   

Money and things are a heart revealer.

God won't entrust you with eternal things if you can't manage money and things.  

Luke 16 (ESV)

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him (Jesus).

15 And he said to them, 

“You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. 

For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

If you are in awe of a large amount of money, you are a lover of money.  There is no amount of money that will save your soul, or make you right with God.  

Money won't buy you peace of mind or joy.  It is a tool to reach people for Christ and to take care of your family.

We must obey God in this.  

Lord Jesus, I surrender to you my everything, including my money.  

Amen! 

  

Keith Moore, Faith Life Church
https://flcmedia.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/FLCSarasota/MP4/2018/HD/180902Video.mp4