Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, June 11, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

LET'S GLORIFY GOD IN OUR FINANCES

By Michael D. O'Neal                  Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                  Albany, Georgia


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Text: 1 Timothy 6:16

1 Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Introduction: The Bible says in 1 Cor. 10:31 that we should do EVERYTHING that we do "to the glory of God." Last Sunday I showed you from scripture how we should glorify God in our families. This morning I want you to consider with me how we should glorify God in our finances.

Yes, that's right. We should glorify God with our money!

Do you know that the Bible says more about MONEY than it does ...

Water baptism?
The Lord's supper?
The Rapture?

The word, "money," is found in 123 verses of scripture. "Riches" occurs in 95 verses, and "rich" shows up in 80 verses! "Wealth" is in 27 verses of the Bible. "Gold" is found in 361 verses, "silver" in 282 verses, "treasure" in 35 verses, "treasures" in 55 verses, "spoil" in 106 verses, "wages" in 17 verses, and those are just SOME of the references in the Bible to money.

Each of you, as believers living in America, have more money than MOST people in the entire world! Of course, you may THINK, you're poor, but few people are REALLY broke these days. Here is how you know when you're REALLY broke:

SIGNS YOU ARE BROKE

  1. American Express calls and says: "Leave home without it!"
  2. Your idea of a 7-course meal is taking a deep breath outside a restaurant.
  3. You're formulating a plan to rob the food bank.
  4. You've rolled so many pennies, you've formed a psychic bond with Abe Lincoln.
  5. Long distance companies don't call you to switch.
  6. You look at your roommate and see a large fried chicken in tennis shoes.
  7. Your rob Peter...and then rob Paul.
  8. You finally clean your house, hoping to find change.
  9. You think of a lottery ticket as an investment.
  10. Your bologna has no first name.
  11. You give blood everyday...just for the orange juice.
  12. Sally Struthers sends you food.
  13. McDonalds supplies you with all your kitchen condiments.
  14. At communion you go back for seconds.

Considering that we have so much of it, relatively, and considering the amount of space that God gave the subject in His manual for our lives, the Bible, it behoves us to consider what the Bible does say about MONEY.

Right in the middle of this passage which deals with the subject of money, the Bible speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, "to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Tim. 6:16) The Bible gives instructions about money, and then it says we should honor the Lord. After saying that we should honor the Lord, the Bible gives more instructions in the chapter about money.

You know, we only live here on earth for a limited time. We come into this world with no money in our hands. We live this world, and take no money out. Realizing that "you can't take it with you," let's consider how to glorify God with our money.

First,

I. LET'S GLORIFY GOD IN HOW WE DRAW IT IN

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Jeremiah 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

A. Let's EARN it by hard work

B. Let's earn it by honest work

C. Let's earn it by holy work

  1. Devote yourself in your job to the Lord.
  2. Do it for Him.

Illustration: Today in the Word, December 17, 1992

What's the most outrageous thing you would do for $10,000 cash?
That's the question posed recently by Chicago radio station WKOX, which attracted responses from more than 6,000 full-tilt crazies. The eventual winner: Jay Gwaltney of Zionsville, Indiana, who consumed an 11-foot birch sapling -- leaves, roots, bark and all. For the event, he donned a tux and dined at a table set elegantly with china, sterling, candles and a rose vase. Armed with pruning sheers, the Indiana State University sophomore began chomping from the top of the tree and worked his way, branch by branch, to the roots. His only condiment: French dressing for the massive birch-leaf salad. The culinary feat took 18 hours over a period of three days. When it was all over, Gwaltney complained of an upset stomach. Evidently the bark was worse than his bite.
- Campus Life, December 1980, Page 19

Second,

II. LET'S GLORIFY GOD IN HOW WE DEVOTE OURSELVES TO IT

1 Timothy 6:8-10 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

A. Money should not be our goal

  1. It is not the end; it is the MEANS to an end.

B. Money should not be our god

  1. If your job keeps you from attending your church faithfully, your job is an idol.

C. Money should not be your guide

  1. For your career
  2. For your children
  3. For your church
  4. For your companion - who she or he will be, where you will live, etc.

CONTENTMENT? (no title)

He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much;
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.
Fulness to such a burden is
That go on pilgrimage;
Here little, and hereafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.
--John Bunyan

Third,

III. LET'S GLORIFY GOD IN HOW WE DEPEND UPON IT

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

A. Don't trust it for happiness

B. Don't trust it for health

  1. 1. King Asa, powerful and rich, died with diseased feet. Yet, the Bible says that in his illness he sought NOT unto the Lord, but unto the physicians.

C. Don't trust it for heaven

Fourth,

IV. LET'S GLORIFY GOD IN HOW WE DISTRIBUTE IT OUT

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

A. Our deliberation about spending should honor the Lord

B. Our degree of spending should honor the Lord

  1. Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
  2. I read a report this week that said that most households tend to spend 10 percent MORE than their present income level!

C. Our direction of spending should honor the Lord

  1. Church - tithes and offerings
  2. Expenses
  3. Others - Destitute family members, household of faith

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