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WHY SHOULD WE HAVE STEWARDSHIP MONTH?

1. The Bible Talks So Much About Money

Jesus talked about money in 16 of 38 parables. 
One out of 10 verses in the Gospels deal with money.
The Bible devotes some 500 verses on prayer, less than 500
verses on faith, but over 2000 verses on money and
posessions!

2. Stewardship Training Produces Spiritual Growth

Stewardship is Lordship
Stewardship deals with:
	the PERSON not the PURSE
	the MASTER not the MONEY.

I found an interesting figure pertaining to church giving. In the
Average church, 
·	10 people give  one third of the income,
·	the next 100 contributors give the next third, and
·	everyone else makes up the last third.

It has been my experience that it is not usually the ones who
make the most money that give the most, but those who have
learned the blessings of giving.

In our church last year 167 people gave.
Of those 99 gave less than $1,000.

This tells me that we have room to grow in faith in this area!
I want to challenge you to learn the blessings of giving to God
what He requires.


Truths That Develop Good Stewards

1. The 100% Principle
This is the understanding that God is the owner, and I am the
manager.
A steward is one who owns nothing but manages everything!
If you make $500., How much is God’s?  $500.
The Bible says the kingdom of God is like a merchant looking
for fine pearls.  When he finds the pearl of great price, he
sells everything he has and buys that pearl. 
	Jesus is the pearl of great price and man the merchant. 
So when man finds Jesus, it costs him everything.  Jesus has
happiness, joy, peace, healing, security, eternity.  Man
marvels at such a pearl and says, "I want this pearl.  How
much does it cost?" 
   The seller says, "It's too costly." 
   "But how much?" 
   "Well, it's very expensive." 
   "Do you think I could buy it?" 
   "Oh, of course.  Anybody can." 
   "But you say it's too expensive.  How much is it?" 
   "It costs everything you have -- no more, no less -- so anybody can buy it." 
   "I'll buy it." 
   "What do you have?  Let's write it down." 
   "I have $10,000 in the bank." 
   "Good, $10,000.  What else?" 
   "I have nothing more.  That's all I have." 
   "Have you nothing more?" 
   "Well, I have some dollars here in my pocket." 
   "How many?" 
   "I'll see:  30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120 -- 120 dollars." 
   "That's fine.  What else do you have?" 
   "I have nothing else.  That's all." 
   "Where do you live?" 
   "I live in my house." 
   "The house too." 
   "Then you mean I must live in the garage?" 
   "Have you a garage, too?  That too.  What else?" 
   "Do you mean that I must live in my car, then?" 
   "Have you a car?" 
   "I have two." 
   "Both become mine.  Both cars.  What else?" 
   "I have nothing else." 
   "Are you alone in the world?" 
   "No, I have a wife, two children.... " 
   "Your wife and your children too.  What else?" 
   "I have nothing else, I am left alone now." 
   "Oh, you too.  Everything. 

	Everything becomes mine:  wife, children, house,
garage, cars, money, clothing, everything.  And you too.  Now
you can use all those things here but don't forget they are
mine, as you are. 

2. Stewardship begins with LOVING not GIVING.
We can give without loving, but you can’t love without
giving.

It is true that if God gets our hearts, he will have our pocket
book too!

3. Practicing stewardship causes Christians to grow.

Giving enables us to:

         a. Increase in faith - (Mal 3:10)  Bring ye all the tithes into
             the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and
             prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not
             open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
             blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

         b. Become spiritually sensitive - When we hold back from
             God, it causes our heart to be hardened. We know we are not
             listening to the savior and always have something separating
             us from God!
	This is why people get mad when you teach on money! ..

         c. Be trustworthy stewards - (Luke 16:10-11)  He that is
             faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he
             that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore
             ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who
             will commit to your trust the true riches?

         d. Be a blessing to others -(Phil 4:15-19)  Now ye
             Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel,
             when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated
             with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16
             For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my
             necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that
             may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I
             am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which
             were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice
             acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply
             all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

         e. Make a lasting contribution - (Mat 6:20)  But lay up for
             yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
             doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
             steal:

Conclusion: Stewardship is important for your spiritual growth!!!
It is also important for the Church.