10-03-10 AM Sermon - Using My Affluence

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Luke 16:11

Repeat after me, “I am richer than I thought!”

Psalm 24:1 (Living) “The earth belongs to God! Everything in the entire world is his!”

Few things test our faith and maturity more accurately than how we use money. 

Luke 16:11(NLT) “If you are untrustworthy about handing worldly wealth who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” 

I.  You must first avoid the pitfalls of money.   

1 Tim.  6:9-10, “People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptation and traps.  The love of money causes all kinds of trouble.”  Circle the phrase “the love of money.” 

God wants you to love people and use things.

Pitfall #1.  Thinking that having more will make me happy.


Proverbs 27:20 (NCV) “People will never stop dying and being destroyed, and they will never stop wanting more than they have.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) “Those who love money will never have enough.  How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness.  The more you have the more people come to help you spend it.” 

John Taylor has written a book called Enough is Enough. 

Pitfall #2 Thinking that having more will make me more important.

 Luke 12:15(LB), “Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.” 

Pitfall #3 Thinking that having more will make me more secure. 

Proverbs 23:5 (TEV) “Your money can be gone in a flash as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.”

Job 36:19(CEV) “Your reputation and your riches cannot protect you from distress.”

II. Apply the purposes of money.

(Worship, fellowship, personal growth, ministry and mission) 


1 Timothy 6:17-19 (LB) “Tell people to use their money to do good.  By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven.  It is the only safe investment for eternity.” 

You can’t take it with you.  But you can send it on ahead. 


1.  Use your money to express worship.
“Trust Fund”

Proverbs 3:9(LB) says, “Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income.”

Matt 6:21 (NIV) “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” 

 “The purpose of tithing is to teach you to put God first in your life.” 

Luke 12:31 (Living) “He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”


Malachi 3:10 (NIV) “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 you will not have room enough for it.”

2.  I want you to use it to encourage fellowship.  “Mutual Fund”


Romans 12:13 (GW) says this “Share what you have with God’s people who are in need and show hospitality.” 

Romans 12:10 (NRS) says “Love one another with mutual affection.” 

“You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.” 

Hebrews 10:24 (TEV) “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another, to show love and to do good.” 

3. Use it to enhance your life.
“Growth Fund”

Proverbs 10:16 (NLT) “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives but evil people squander their money on sin.”

“Instead of trying to get people into heaven we should try to get heaven into people.”

Proverbs 23:23 (Msg) “Buy truth and don’t sell it for love or money.  Buy wisdom.  Buy education.  Buy insight.” 


1 Kings 3:9 (TEV) “Give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?"


4.  You use it to extend your ministry, to make a difference in other people’s lives. 
“Equity Service Fund”

Ministry is: simply meeting the needs of others in Jesus’ name. 
There are emotional needs.  There are financial needs.  There are physical needs. 

Proverbs 11:24 (Msg) says, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger.  And the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”


“Believe” – used 272 times in the Bible
“Pray” – used 371 times in the Bible
“Love” – used 714 times in the Bible
“Give” – used 2,162 times in the Bible

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” 

Proverbs 28:27 (TEV) “Give to the poor and you will never be in need.  But if you close your eyes to the poor many will curse you.” 

Proverbs 19:17(TEV) “When you give back to the poor it’s like lending to the Lord.  And the Lord will pay you back.”

5.  God wants you to use your money to extend your mission.  “Global Fund”

 “We make a living by what we get. 
But we make a life by what we give.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 “You will honor God through this genuine act of service.  Because of your commitment to spread the good news of Christ and because of your generosity in sharing.” 

Lu 12:15 (ASV) “A man’s life is not in the abundance of things he possesses.” 


Action Steps with my Affluence

1. _____ I have not been tithing but will take that step.
2. _____ I have not invested in my self spiritually but will seek out Christian material to help me grow.
3. _____ I have not pledged money to missions or any of the projects here at the church but I commit to doing that.
4. ____ I have not reached out to the poor in our community or around the world but I will commit to doing that.
-Maranatha Ministries Food and cold weather shelter in town
-Our own Bountiful Blessings food pantry 
4. ____ I have never gone on a missions trip, but will commit to doing that.
5. ____ I have not given offerings to bless the work of this ministry but I will commit to doing that.