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Hello everybody. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We are so thrilled and grateful and thankful for all of you that tune in every single week. We really do consider it an honor that you would join us.
I hope and pray that today's message is an encouragement to you as we start a two-week series on finances. Uh, not generosity, not giving, not tithing, but how do we steward the money that God has given us? We know that all of it belongs to God. And I think for too long, we've let the world define what success looks like with that. And we're looking at from the word of God what stewarding the money that God has given us looks like. And I hope and pray that we consider our ways that we can look at what we're doing, how we're doing it, and how we can be more effective with it. I hope you'll get your Bible, bring an open mind and an open heart, and let's let God change us from the inside out. God bless you. Have a wonderful day. Tune in with us. Thank you. Matthew's chapter 6 and verse 21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. You ready? Let's read it again. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Father, in Jesus name, I pray that you would help us, strengthen us, encourage us, give us what we stand in need of today. I pray you'd speak to our hearts concerning this area of scripture. And Lord, we'll be very careful to give you the praise, the glory, and the honor. For it's in Jesus name we pray. and all God's people said, "Amen." And amen.
Uh, this week and next week, I'm going to be preaching a two-week series on kingdom finances. Uh, the theology of money. Uh, it is not my goal to preach on generosity. It is not my goal to preach on tithing or giving in any way. I want to preach on biblical stewardship principles of money and what it means to God. So you can relieve yourself and say, "Well, preachers here trying to get in my pocketbook. That's not what I'm trying to do." I I will say this, there was a poll that went out last year about the reason that people do not give. And in honesty, one of the things people gave is because they feel like they don't have anything left to give. And I feel like the church does a poor job overall worldwide at almost the time seeming to beg for people's money when in reality I think the church should do a better job at teaching their people how to steward money properly in a way that pleases God. And uh, some of you older folks in the room that have figured this out, I'm going to need you to help me encourage some of this younger generation on how to do this right. Uh, say amen.
Uh, things like this that if you um uh the average car payment is $726 a month, uh, yeah, if you were to take that same amount of money and put it in an IRA from the year from the time you're 25 years old to the time you're 65 years old, that money would equate to $7 million. I hope you enjoy that car that you bought. Right? Uh, there are biblical ways and stewardship ways and smart ways to handle the money. I believe there are biblical ways that we're called to steward the money that God has given us. You say, "Why do you use the word steward?" Because here's what we believe. We believe that everything we have belongs to God. >> Don't make me do this by myself this morning. Uh, I said everything we have belongs to God. And God has called us to be stewards of what God has given us. The Bible said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." And before I get into the theology of money, let me tell you the towns and way of the of money. My the way my dad taught me uh from the time I was a kid, my dad's favorite verse in the entire Bible uh was in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 and verse 10. He quoted this at me and my brother time and time again where here's what the Bible said. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. >> My dad all the time, he'd tell us, "Go take the trash out." He'd tell us, "Go do this." And he'd always say, "Man won't work. Man won't eat. Don't think he going to do not do the chores in my house and sit at my table and eat my food. That ain't the way. Y'all ain't ready for Kenny Towns analogy. I promise you. All right. Uh, if a man won't work, a man won't eat. Uh, my dad taught us to work hard from the time I was a little kid. And if anybody knew my dad even to the time he died, my dad was a hardworking man. He would go to bed about 7:30 or 8:00 at night. He'd wake up at 3:30. He was the very first one even being the pastor. Uh, he he would get there and my my my dad didn't really need a church staff because he had sons. And we we carried out trash. We vacuumed carpet. We had a table carrying degree. Uh, my whole life was raised around the church, working around the church. And uh, my dad taught us to cut grass. My dad taught us to uh clean gutters out. My my dad was busy about making sure that we uh were out working. I'll never forget in the summertime, it drove my dad crazy when we're out of school and he'd go off to work or do stuff and he would in his mind think we was all just sitting at home. And many times I would wake up and dad would have cut the cable to the TV and said, "Y'all man don't work and man don't eat. Get outside and do something. Don't sit in the house all day long." Uh, but he taught us to work hard. And I think that is a good principle to live by in this day. Don't you? Uh, that we're to work hard. My dad taught us to pay what you owe. Uh, Romans 13:7 said, "Render therefore to all their duties." Uh, I I believe you ought to pay your bills. Somebody say amen right there. Uh, my dad taught us to live within your means. Proverbs 21:20, uh, there is treasure in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up. Uh, live within your means.
Um, number four, God gives give God the first fruits. Uh, I remember being just a little kid and uh, go having a birthday party and and I think I remember getting like $75 from all my friends. I learned that the more people that I invite to my birthday party, there's a more probable chance I might get a little bit more money for my birthday, you know. And uh, my dad taught me if I got $75, whether it's birthday cards or whatever, my dad would say, "Now, son, what are you going to do with 10% of that?" And I said, "I'm going to buy me some bubble gum, you know." And my dad taught me, "No, no, no, no, no. The from my childhood, my dad ingrained in me uh that 10% of that goes to the Lord." uh, the Proverbs chapter 3 and verse 9, honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase. And then one of my dad's last principles, he said, even after all that, we honor God with everything that we have. 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and 31, whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. My dad taught me these principles in order to say this, that if you live by God's principles, you'll never be controlled by money. If you live by God's principles, you'll never be controlled by money.
Here's just a good old-fashioned principle that I'm going to need some of you older folks that have lived this and understand this to say amen and help me to encourage some of the younger to practice this. Here is a good old-fashioned principle and I need to see all if you're if you're 40 years old or younger, I need you to have a pen out and write this down. Uh, listen to me. Here's a good old-fashioned principle. It's called the 10-10-80 principle. It's simple. It's biblical and it's proven. 10% goes to God. That's the tithe. 10% goes to yourself. That's your savings you're paying yourself. That's if you be paying that instead of to that car payment, you'd have a lot of money stored up. And then 10 then the 80% is what you live on. And I know you think, man, I can't do that. I I promise you. I I promise you that you can. If more families lived this way, there would be less stress, there would be less debt, and there'd be fewer fights. The divorce rates today say that 36.7% of divorces happen because of finances. There's far more peace. I believe that the problem in America is not a money problem. I believe it's a management problem. And I believe it's a master problem. Uh, we we try to practice this within our church even. We we just this past week the finance team met and we were talking about the 2026 budget and and a principle that we've kind of ingrained in our budgeting process is that we we will never budget more than 90% of the previous year's revenue. Which means if this money is this much money comes in in 2025, we're only going to budget for 90% of that the next year. Why? Because I don't ever want to stand here on a Sunday and have to beg and manipulate y'all to give so we can just make budget, >> right? We want to live within our means. Not we don't want to just preach to you to live within your means. We as a church want to live within our means and give God a chance. We believe that this creates margin uh and it creates uh peace with everything that we do.
Uh, so so when we dive into the theology of money, if you have a Bible, I want can you find the book of Hagi? I'll be honest, it's not the most e it's not the easiest book in the Bible to find. Throw me a water, Chris, please. Uh, the book of Hagi, chapter number one and verse 5. I'm not doing a sword drill because um, if it took me a while to find Hagi, it's going to take y'all a while. Um, but look look what the book of Hagi chapter 1. I still hear y'all turning pages. It's all good. Here's what the Bible says in Hagi chapter 1 verse 5-7 as we dive into the theology of money. Now therefore saith the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. Ye have sown much and bring in little. You eat, but you have not enough. You drink, but you're not filled with drink. You clothe you, but there is none warm. And he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus sayaith the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. As the pastor today, that's all I'm asking is that we all for a few moments consider our ways. That we think about how how how is my family stewarding and handling the resources that God has given us. Is there a smarter way? Is there a better way? Can I get better at stewarding the dollars that God gives me? I think if we're honest, we could all say yes.
Um, the theology of money. When you Jesus spoke about money more than heaven and hell combined. Why? Because money is deeply spiritual. 16 of the 38 parables that Jesus talked about uh were about money and possessions. Uh, 500 uh were about uh faith and prayers and over 2,000 verses were about possessions because money is spiritual. It's not neutral. It's not harmless. It's not just math because money touches your heart. It touches your trust. It touches your priorities. It touches your worship and it touches your obedience. Billy Graham said this that if a person gets their attitude toward money straight, it will straighten out almost over every other area of their life. Why? Because number one, today money reveals your heart. >> Money reveals your heart. Look what the Bible said. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Jesus did not say where your heart is, your treasure will follow. That's not what it says. It says where your treasure is, your heart will follow. Your money is the steering wheel of your heart. Many times I remember hearing my dad preach and he would say this that if you really want to tell everybody what you really care about, show us your checkbook. Because if we see what your bank account has been given to, we instantly see what you care the most about. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Uh, where your where your treasure where where you place your treasure, your heart runs, your affections run, your attention runs, your energy runs. Uh, money says if you get enough of me, you won't need God. Did you hear that? Uh, money says if you get enough of me, you won't need God. So, we see that money reveals your heart. And at the core of the issue, we've got to agree that money is spiritual. The dollar bill itself may not have a heartbeat and it may not have a brain, but you've got to admit that money can be spiritual. You ever heard somebody say this? If I could just win the lottery. You ever heard somebody say that? Let's not talk about somebody else. How many of y'all have You have said, "If I just won the lottery, somebody said, "Preacher, if somebody won the lottery and they won the tithe, would you accept it?" I said, "The devil done had it long enough, baby. Come on in Jesus name. If I just won the lottery, listen to these stats I dug up yesterday. 70% of lottery winners go bankrupt within 3 to 5 years. I thought if you won the lottery, everything would be perfect. 70% of lottery winners go bankrupt within 3 to five years. Many lottery winners report less happiness after winning. With lottery winners, divorce is at a higher rate. With lottery winners, they often become isolated and depressed. Uh, crime, violence, and addiction skyrocket among winners. I remember when I was growing up, Bill, you remember this? A guy named Jack Whitaker in West Virginia won the lottery. $315 million. That guy won. Everybody was trying to get Mr. Whitaker's phone number. Everybody knew who he was. and and I remember the story. All of West Virginia, a very poor state. Jack Whitaker uh won $315 million. His daughter eventually died of an overdose. His granddaughter died. His home burned down. There was arrest, affairs, a divorce. He lost everything. And one of the last quotes we have from Mr. Whitaker was this. I wish I had torn that ticket up within your heart.
The theology of money. Money makes you think, "If you got more of me, I would fix all of your problems." But ladies, I'm I'm here to tell you, money will not fix your problems. >> Money has no ability to fix the the deep inward desires of your heart. Money reveals your heart. Money competes for the throne of your life. Here's what the Bible says in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24. No man can serve two masters. >> Money is not passive because it pulls, it pressures, it influences, and money always tries to become a master. You say, "How how is money trying to become my master?" Well, let's just be on this. If it wants to dictate your decisions, isn't that a master? Money. Money dictates where you live, what jobs you take, what you fear, how you think, what keeps you up at night. That sounds like a master to me. Uh, money tries to rule your emotions. It It tries to rule your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, your marriage, and your future. Why? Because money makes promises that only God can fulfill. It It tries to make promises that only God can keep. And ladies and gentlemen, you've got to be smarter than you than you think you can be. And understand this that that money cannot fulfill the inward desires of your heart. Uh, here's listen to the contrast here. Money promises security. Have you ever felt like that? If I just had x amount of dollars in the bank, then I can have the security that I need, the security blanket. But but listen, only God can give you the protection and the security you're looking for there. Uh, Psalm 91:2, he is my refuge and my fortress. Your dollar bill and your bank account is not your refuge and your strength. The money that you have in the bank, how many you have learned all that can go away. It's shifting sand in a crazy world. Money can go away very quickly. It has no ability to protect you. Only God can protect you. >> Money promises security, but only God protects. Be money promises identity, but only God defines you. You think, "Man, if I just had more money, if I just if I just got more in this bank account, uh, but but but then I would be somebody. Then I would be accepted. I could be at a certain status." BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COULD I tell you that only God can give you the identity that you need to have. Money has no ability to give you the identity that you need to have. It is a lie hatched out of hell that says that money can give you the identity that you need. Money promises peace, but only Christ can give that peace. >> John 14:27, "My peace I give unto you." >> It's not the world's peace. The world doesn't make it, and the world can't give it, and the world can't take it away. And the and money says, "If you have more of me, I'll give you peace." What an absolute lie. when that peace can only be given by and through Jesus. Money promises satisfaction. Money says, "If you have more of me, you'll be satisfied." Um, how many of y'all can remember a day when there was a time when you thought, "If I just had $100." Yeah. I'll go further than that. There was a growing up there was a little uh video store right down the road back when we didn't have Netflix and we didn't have all that crazy stuff. You would literally go down the road and when I wanted to play my little Sega games or my little Nintendo games, I could go down the road. I could walk to it. It was a little trailer and inside they had um y'all remember Blockbuster? This was even prior to Blockbuster back in the day. Uh, you could go and you for $2.12. I'll never forget 2.12. She'd hit the little button and me and my brother would rent a little game to go home and play it for two days and we had to take it back or they'd charge us a late fee. Anybody remember that at all? Uh, yeah. And I I would go I feel old. Um, and I I we go rent that thing and I remember there were days I thought if I just had $2.12 I'd be happy if I just had $2.12. I would go to the car and scavenge every single dime and nickel I had trying to get me and my brother. I'd go to my daddy's drawer trying to find what I need to get that $2.12. And then I then I remember uh when I when I graduated and and things and I thought if I just had $20 to put gas in my car, I'll be happy. How many of y'all know that number continues >> to increase? THE THE THE THE THE PRODUCT OF SATISFACTION IF IT'S DEPENDING upon money will will be an ever continuing battle that you'll never suffice. There are people in this room that are super wealthy that what they need this week pales in comparison to what they used to need. But the the happy person in this room is the person that understands satisfaction does not come from a dollar amount that's in my bank account. >> Y'all don't want me to preach. Look here. Satisfaction does not come from a dollar amount that's in my bank account. Satisfaction comes from laying my head on my pillow at night knowing that everything's right between me and God. Knowing that I did my neighbors right. Knowing that I did God right. Knowing that I treated my wife right. Knowing that I paid my bills on time. Knowing that between me there's no odd between me and another man. That everything's right between me and God. That is where satisfaction comes from. I need somebody to help me give God praise. That we know satisfaction comes through Jesus. Money promises significance but only God gives purpose.
We see that money reveals your heart. We see that money competes for the throne of your life. Ain't we having fun today? Number three, money operates under a spiritual influence. In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24, uh Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon." >> You ever heard that before? You cannot serve God and mammon. He didn't say you can't serve God and money. He said you can't serve God and mammon. Uh, this is where the spiritual battle over money uh becomes vividly clear because uh money itself is neutral. But the spirit behind your money is not. There are only two uh influences over your finances. The spirit of God and the spirit of mammon. Why exactly is that? Because Mammon Mimonus uh is the Syrian god of riches. Uh, its origin was from from Babylon which means sown in confusion. And and we see here that this Mammon is uh the Syrian false god of of riches that has been sown in confusion. Uh, have you ever felt like your life or especially your finances were in confusion? Have you ever felt like the math didn't math? Remember that verse I read in the beginning about consider your ways? I wonder today as we as we dive into this for just a moment, could it be possible that the spirit of man mammon is influenced in your finances and you don't even know it? Could it be possible that a spirit of confusion handling finances in a worldly, secular, cultural way could be casting pure chaos. Mammon is the spirit of greed. It is the spirit of self-sufficiency. It is the spirit that makes money pretend to be God. The spirit behind fear and hoarding and comparison, impulsive spending and anxiety over finances. Mammon is not money, but mammon is the spirit that rests on money that has not been surrendered to God. How do you recognize the the spirit of mammon at work? Well, uh when when when your finances feel confusing or chaotic or crushing or unstable, overwhelming, fear-driven, pressure field, you never have enough. Uh, the Bible says this in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 and 33, for God is not the author of confusion. I don't believe it's the will of God for our money and the finances that God give us to be in confusion. But where there is financial confusion, there is usually the spirit of mammon. Mammon has one mission, that is to make you depend on money instead of God. If I just had money, more money, I'd feel secure. If I had more money, I'd be somebody. If I had more money, my marriage would be better. If I had more money, I'd finally have rest. If I had more money, life sure would be better. Ladies and gentlemen, Mammon never delivers what it promises. Mammon consistently makes promises that only God can keep. God, help us to examine our own lives. Mammon turns money into a tyrant while God turns money into a tool >> that God can use. When money is submitted to God, it becomes a blessing. But when money is submitted to mammon, it becomes a burden.
Fourth, money exposes who you really trust. Who when you're singing that I trust in God, my savior, the one, who do you really trust? If God was to open your heart and show the whole world who you really have your trust in, would the percentage be that you have more trust in an almighty dollar or an almighty God? Wasn't it easier to give when you didn't have nothing? Do you remember the day when you thought, "I could literally give every dime I have right now and trust God with it. And now God's given you a couple dimes and you ain't said that in a long time. I trust in God. Who do you trust in today? Money exposes who you really trust. Your bank statement is not financial. It's spiritual. It answers questions like who do I trust? Who is first in my life? Who do I depend on? What directs my decisions? Proverbs 3 and 5 trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Psalm 207, some trust in chariots, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. If God owns it, peace follows. If Mammon owns it, pressure follows. If God is first, confidence comes. If Mammon is first, fear comes.
Then lastly, and I'm done. Money shapes your eternity. Oh, come on, preacher. Are you saying my money determines whether I get into heaven or not? That's not what I'm saying. I am saying that your money doesn't just affect earth. Your money affects eternity. Here's a thought that should direct your giving. Is what you're giving going to show up in heaven? Is what you're giving to going to show up in heaven? Matthew 6:19 talks about storing up and laying up treasures. Uh, not not just storing them on earth, but laying up treasures in heaven. And I don't know about y'all, but me and Becky, when we decide what we're going to give to, I want to give and and and and be generous to things that are going to show up in heaven. I don't want to give to things that are just going to be a part of moth and dust corrupting and just falling and burning up on this earth one day. I want to give to things that are helping get people into heaven. >> That's what really matters, right? Uh, I don't want to just give to stuff uh just to say I gave to stuff. I want to give to something that's going to help get people to Jesus and help get people into heaven. And we we did faith promise missions this year. And I'm so proud of our church has given over $300,000. We're on course to meet that the budget over over $300,000 to uh worldwide missions and to support missionaries and do all kinds of projects and send mission teams across the world. And we're ramping up our efforts for next year. And I'm so proud. But why? Because here's what I believe. I believe when we give money to missionaries, I believe when we give money to missions and we support things that are gospel-centered missions because we believe that one of these days we're going to go to heaven. And here's what I believe. You may have gave, you may have pledged $100 to faith promise giving and you say, "Well, that wasn't very much, but God knows how much it was to you." And and maybe you'll get to heaven and somebody that got saved on one of those trips or somebody that somebody reached over to mission, they may come to you and say, "I want to thank you for giving because today I'm in heaven because you sent that missionary to my village." We believe that eternity has that kind of impact that we can really make that kind of eternal impact on the souls of people because we're giving to stuff and giving to things that's going to show up in heaven. I DON'T WANT TO JUST give to stuff that's going to waste and burn up one day. I WANT TO GIVE TO STUFF THAT'S GOING TO MAKE AN impact on somebody's eternity. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN First Timothy 6:19, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation that they may lay hold on eternal life. Money becomes eternal when it flows into souls. When it flows into missions, when it flows into ministry, the poor, the gospel, and the kingdom. Money is not evil, but loving it is. Money is not evil, but trusting it is. Money is not evil, but serving it sure is.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Bible said today that we need to consider our ways. Are you giving? Uh, consider your ways. You have sown much and bring in little. You eat, but you have not enough. You drink, but you're not filled with drink. You clothe you, but there is none warm. And he that earneth wages earneth wages to put into a bag with holes. He's just saying that some of us got holes in the very thing we're trying to store up what we have. And today, as the preacher, all I'm asking you to do is listen to this and say, "Lord, where am I missing it at? Where can I get smarter? Where can I get wiser? As my wife and I plan for 2026, what can we do better in 2026 than we did in 2025?" And I believe if you'll go at your finances, the theology of money in a way that pleases God and make it a part of your prayer life this week and the next week and say, "God, what areas of our of our finances would you like us to be better?" My dad always tried to make it practical. And this weekend, next week is not about tithing or giving, but I don't think there's any way to really dodge it completely. My dad said, "Start somewhere. If you never give anything, start by giving something." I read a story last night about a man and his wife. They got in the car after church on Sunday. And the man was just complaining. The music wasn't good enough. He didn't like the sound of the singer that was singing. They didn't like the song that they sung. Just negative, negative. Sound was too loud. Just everything's terrible. About that time, the little boy in the back seat said, "Daddy, I thought it was pretty good show for that $1 you put in the offering plate." Yeah. If you don't give nothing, start by giving something. If you give and you've never tithed, or if you just prayed, "Lord, I want to try you and prove you. Don't I don't be a tither. Prove God."
A father wanted to teach his son something about value. There was an old watch that he had. He was trying to teach his son a lesson. He said, "Son, I want you to take this watch down to the pawn shop and see what they'll give you for it." The son comes back. He said, "Oh, daddy." They looked at it. They loved it. They offered me $20 for that watch. Been in the family for his for for years and years and years. The dad smiled, laughed. He said, "Well, we're not going to sell it to them for $20." He said, "Now, take it to a jewelry store and see what they'll give you for it." Sure enough, he takes it to the jewelry store. They look at it. The boy comes back. He said, "Daddy, you ain't going to believe this. The jewelry store offered me $500 for this stopwatch." Not a stopwatch, whatever that what kind of pocket watch they would in the old days. Finally, the father said, "Now, I want you to take that same watch and I want you to take it to this collector downtown." The little boy took that same watch to that collector. Said that collector looked at it and eyes got real big. The boy ran back said, "Daddy, that collector just offered me $50,000." The father looked at the son and said, "Son, the value of something is determined by the one to whom it belongs." And the collector knew how valuable this was. The jeweler didn't know fully and the pawn shop didn't have a clue. What are you trying to say? Your finances in your hand is not very valuable. Your finances in mammon's hand is useless. But when you put your finances in God's hands, it becomes more valuable than you could ever imagine. That little lad brought a couple pieces of fish and a couple pieces of bread to the Lord. And he said, 'Lord, I don't have much, but I'm putting it in your hands. And God took the little that that boy had. He broke it and blessed it and multiplied it. And God can do more with what you have when you put it in the hands of God and let him bless it than you could ever dream. Somebody help me give God praise.