Luke 16:1-12 January 13, 2002 a.m.

Question: Could you manage better if you had more money? Could you manage someone else’s money better than you do your own?

DO YOU OWN OR MANAGE WHAT YOU HAVE? "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. – v 1

In the Story Jesus told... The “rich man” is God That makes you the “manager.”

Think you’re the owner? What did you bring into the world? What do you plan to take with you?

The way we view our possessions reflects our concept of God? Thinking of ourselves as owners denies the Sovereignty of God. When life ceases to be a partnership with God, we become susceptible to fear and worry.

That’s why God speaks to us about material possessions. He desires for us to use and enjoy possessions. All God’s wonderful provisions were placed here to enrich and enlarge our lives. But the Owner expects us to be good stewards.

Aba (Father) says: Deut. 10:14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Hag. 2:8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. Isa. 54:16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work.

PREPARE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, – v 2

God clearly says: Rom 14:12 "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." Heb 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." In the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, Luke 16:2 "So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'"

It’s more than ‘Bottom Line’ It helps me see how generous God has been. It reflects my character, discipline and priorities. It reveals indiscipline of appetites or greed. It may reveal a basic dishonesty, carelessness, or laziness.

God prescribed several ways by which I am to account. Tithe - A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. -- Lev. 27:30

Secondly… Firstfruits -- "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine (grape juice).” -- Prov 3:9- 10

Thirdly, Sabbath keeping - If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, I you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if your honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. Isa 58:13-14

UNDERSTAND WHY IT MATTERS if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? – vs 11-12

Would you like to be trusted with “True Riches?” God can't trust us if we steal from Him. Nor will He bless us if we cheat each other.

Take a backward glance over your shoulder Were you any better off when you didn’t Tithe? Did you have more health problems than usual during times when you did not tithe? Stealing from God puts us and everything we have under a curse !

Here’s What We Can Do Get a New Start early in the year.

Take these three steps: 1.Commit to being a faithful Steward – do it near the first of the year. 2.If you have not been Tithing or owe God back tithes, Confess that you have been robbing God. 3.Purpose to be a faithful steward giving an accurate account -- begin with the Tithe.