March13 2005

By Ivan Sharp Stewardship Resources Specialist

Matt. 6:19-21

Who am I – what do you expect from me

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The joy of salvation

The joy of giving

The joy of seeing your part in God’s plan and work

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The Top 10 Reasons Why The Average Christian Can’t Play Baseball

10. Doesn’t practice all week, but expects to start on game day.

9. Gets upset when every ball that’s hit doesn’t come directly to him.

8. Never swings at a pitch because, “this pitcher doesn’t throw like the last pitcher. The game’s just not the same since he left.”

7. Wants to run home before going to first base.

6. Chatters in order to keep his own teammates from hitting the ball.

5. Doesn’t come to the game unless the coach personally calls him on the phone, each week, and invites him to show up.

4. Won’t run after the ball if it’s more than three feet away. After all, surely somebody will get it sooner or later.

3. Thinks baseball cleats are for leaving neat designs on his teammates backs.

2. Gets upset because the phone line to the bull pen doesn’t have call waiting. If it did, he could gripe about how bad the pitcher is doing, and yet never miss out if someone wanted to talk about the catcher.

1. Thinks the game will last so long, that the concession-stand will be closed before it’s over.

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John 3:16 - Salvation – then what?

Have you ever noticed how Jesus called each of His disciples to join with Him in ministry. It was similar for each.

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Simon & his brother Andrew – mark 1:16-17

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James & John = mark 1:19

Matthew – matt 9:9

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Matt 8:18-22

I read a book recently titled “The Kingdom Assignment 2” – it reports the results of a Coast Hills Community Church in southern California.

In California the buzz word is SUCCESS – Hollywood’s message is always MORE,

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more is always better, more money, more stuff, more real estate, more car, more popularity, MORE… MORE…. MORE…

But the pastor of this church urged his congregation to consider replacing the “S” word, the desire for the worlds definition of SUCCESS and replace it with a desire for the

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 Lord’s “S” word, SIGNIFICANCE.

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The congregation was challenged to consider this question: What is the one thing you really treasure in your life? – What is your “Just One Thing”.

This is the bible story that challenged them:

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Just One Thing

Mark 10:17-22

Now for most of us there it may be difficult to compare ourselves to this RYR. He had wealth, he had position, power. He was equivalent to today’s Donald Trump. He could buy virtually anything he wanted. He was also religious, observing the commandments.

He knows he cannot buy eternal life. It is beyond his reach but he also recognizes that Jesus is the answer.

At first Jesus tells him he should obey the commandments

He lists 6

6Murder, 7adultery, 8steal, 9lie, 10do not covet, 5honour father and mother

It is interesting to note the ones he omitted from his list (Jesus was way ahead of him)

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      No other gods before me

      Shalt not bow down to any graven image

      Shalt not misuse the name of the Lord your God

      Keep the Sabbath

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Just one thing! – “One thing you lack”

“Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me”

Now here is the million dollar question – although you may not have extreme wealth (according to the world), fancy cars or multiple mansions – you need to consider what one thing are you hanging on to. Is there something that you haven’t totally surrendered totally to the Lord?

For some it may be money – that’s what everyone expects me to talk about – but practicing good Stewardship is about much more than money. It’s about every part of your life. Everything the Lord has entrusted to you, as his Steward.

For some it may be your talent, your career, your family, your love life. Maybe it’s your home, your car, your hobby, your time, your amusements, the TV. For some it is definitely their pocketbook, for some it’s their worry because they feel their financial burdens closing in around them, and they continue to hold it tight, because they are desperately concerned about losing control of it. Whatever it is – that ONE THING – it stands between you and your stronger relationship with God.

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God can take our little lunch offering and turn it into a feast to feed thousands.

Your “ONE THING”, my one thing ….. they keep us from doing the things God really wants for. They get in the way of prayer (because it will take us away from our one thing), they stifle our bible study (because it will take us away from our one thing), we pass by an opportunity to help someone and miss the chance to share the gospel (because we cherish our one thing). We don’t share the gospel (because we believe it will impact our one thing). It’s amazing how one thing can have such a negative impact our our growing relationship with our Lord.

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Jim Eliot – 1950’s – Auca Indians – “Gates of Splendor”

“He is no fool, who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

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When billionaire J. Paul Getty died, from a crowd of inquiring reporters came the question “How much money did he leave behind” to which another in the crowd answered “all of it”.

I guess I’m the guy to bring this stewardship message today because the Lord recently began to work on me and my ONE THING.

OK – years in the church – Sunday school offering – knew the teaching of tithing and heard many of the scriptures to support it.I gave as I could, from what I had – promising

the Lord that when He gave me more I would be able to give more to Him too. As my income increased my giving didn’t increase at the same level (after all – it seemed like a lot of money).
When my income decreased, due to job loses or a bad economy, my giving decreased by a greater proportion. I still gave “what I could” but my faith wasn’t strong enough to give up what little power and control the money I had could provide. Oh me of little faith.

This was my giving practice. This was my commitment to stewarding what God had put in my care. In actual fact I had no right to this, it was not mine but His. I am the steward. I was literally stealing for God.

For years God attempted to get through to me. My faith couldn’t grow if I couldn’t let go. God had so much more but my hands were busy hanging on to this world’s treasure so I couldn’t accept what He had to give me.

When I first took a position to minister the message of Christian Stewardship, I thought I was a fairly good giver. After all, I gave more than many. In my own mind I had even convinced myself with my own financial accounting skills that I was tithing (in fact more than 20% of Christians claim to tithe but statistics show that only 3% actually do). Then the Lord began to share the truth with me. As I read scripture and stories of changed lives. I quickly realized that I had a decision to make. MONEY – my ONE THING – was I willing to give him 10% of my first-fruits. Not what was left but straight from the top? Money was tight, bills were piled high. Could I do it? NO – but I did. That first Sunday in my financial rut, I raised up and for the first time in my life I honoured the Lord with the first-fruits, 10% of what the 100% that He had entrusted me with.

NOW THE GOOD PART – on Monday morning, the next day, as I picked up my voicemail messages – I listened to a message left late Friday evening. It was an offer for a brand new contract for a fabulous opportunity that I had already been denied. I had been stewing in my disappointment for a month – and now this. Quickly I realized that God had responded to several of my prayers all at one time. Amazingly, one of the first joys that popped into my heart was the thought that I would be able to give more to God’s work. My tithe would increase. I would be able to have more impact on ministries and saving souls. It is not about success, it is about significance.

Last weekend at youth together, the Lord began to work on another ONE THING for me, my prayer time. So, I fell to my knees in the lonely prayer room, and prayed as the Spirit lead. Within one hour of that prayer I witnessed the Lord begin to answer very specific prayers about four of the young lives that I had prayed for. My faith was strengthened, my relationship with God is growing and I am experiencing pure joy as God allows me to be part of His ministry.   

Is there something missing in your life? Do you question why God doesn’t use you, or make a difference in the world around you? Are you seeking a closer walk with Jesus? Are you waiting to see answers to prayers?

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What is the one thing you really treasure in your life?

Just ONE THING could be getting in the way – and only you and the Lord know what it really is.

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Matthew 6:19-21

God can take our little lunch offering and turn it into a feast to feed thousands.