Stewardship, Week 4
“Building a Heart”
This is our final week on stewardship. The stewardship of our resources doesn’t “just happen.”
REVIEW: All I have has been given to me by God. He entrusts to me what I have. I have a responsibility (stewardship) to use what He has entrusted to me for His purposes and to honor Him.
To do that requires planning (budgeting), diligence (tracking our budget), integrity (earning money honestly), prudence (savings and investing) and self-control (paying our bills in a timely manner, avoiding impulse buying and debt).
This week, we’ll look at how God uses the stewardship process in our lives to build our hearts.
DAY 1: God Uses Money to Build a Heart.
1. Read Matthew 6:19 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
a. What correlation is there between our approach to money and our heart?
b. What cause and effect does Jesus make in this verse.
2. Read Ezekiel 3:7
Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. Because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.
a. What FOUR problems does God put His finger on in man?
3. Read Romans 2:5
Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
a. How does Paul describe the natural state of the human heart?
b. Put in your own words the danger we face unless something is done about the natural state of our heart…
5. Go back and read Matt. 6:19.
a. Jesus says that one way your heart can change is through your approach to money. How does that strike you?
DAY 2: Building a Heart that Trusts God
1. Read Exodus 8:19
Exodus 8:19 The magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.
a. Who did Pharaoh trust with his life?
b. What happens to the human heart when it continues to trust itself?
2. Read Proverbs 11:28
Proverbs 11:28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
a. Besides trusting ourselves, what else can we put our trust in?
b. If we put our trust in money what are we promised?
c. Most of Proverbs is written in couplet form. The second line usually either compares or contrasts with the first line. This proverb is a proverb of contrast (note the word, “but”). What two contrasts does Solomon make in this verse?
* the man–
* the outcome–
3. There is a strong biblical correlation between our hearts and money.
Read Proverbs 28:25-26
25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
a. In verse 25, what contrasts does Solomon make, again, between the man and the outcomes:
* the man–
* the outcomes–
b. In verse 26
* the man–
* the outcomes–
4. What strikes you most about the verses from today?
DAY 3: Building a Heart that is Generous
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7
1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
7 But just as you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us–see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
1. This passage is striking in the attitudes of God’s people.
a. List at least FIVE phrases that depict their generous hearts!
b. List at least TWO phrases that depict their own financial struggles!
2. Verse 5 depicts an important “order” regarding generosity.
a. What is it?
b. Why is that order important, especially as related to the heart?
3. In verse 7, Paul depicts a standard of excellence for five Christian virtues.
a. What are they?
b. How does it strike you that generosity is equally equated as a virtue in which to excel?
4. From today’s study, what do you think God is working on in you?
DAY 4: Building a Heart that “Invests”
Read Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1. Jesus talks about “storing up treasures” for future use and enjoyment:
Fill in this chart:
Store up Treasures: On Earth In Heaven
v.19: THREE future consequences xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
v. 20 THREE future benefits xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Who will enjoy the treasure Will he? _____ WHO? _______
2. Jesus says both men store up treasures “for yourselves.” Someday, every believer will see his “investment” and enjoy his investment through all eternity. You may wonder if that is “selfish.” Does Jesus assess this as selfish?
3. Why is “investing treasure in heaven” not selfish?
(Hint: this man has to say “no” to himself first). How so?
4. Read Matt. 25:23
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
a. How does the conclusion of this parable parallel what we just studied?
DAY 5: Building a Heart that Rests (in the promises of God)
When the human heart insists on trusting in itself, one unintended consequences is WORRY. It now all depends on YOU! Good luck with that!
God wants our heart to “rest” in Him, to be worry-free, especially regarding money!
1. Read Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
a. Fill in the chart below. Find each verse that says to not “worry” and fill in what we are not to worry about!
| Verse | **********************What NOT to Worry About ********************** |
2. Jesus paints two visual pictures to illustrate why we need not worry.
a. What are the two illustrations?
b. What strikes you about the illustrations?
c. Pick a word below that you think Jesus would use to fill in the blank…
When you see that God can “clothe” a field with splendor, and feed “bird brains,” it is completely ________ to worry about life.
Absurd; Ridiculous; Stupid; Moronic; Arrogant; (or add your own fill-in)
3. Bonus! The following verses are some of my favorite bible promises in this area. Read as many as you can and pick one to focus on today!
Luke 6:38; 16:10-13; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Prov. 11:24-25; 28:27; Philippians 4:19;
Investing: Leaving a Legacy You Will Enjoy! (not just “LEAVING” a legacy; you are BUILDING a legacy you and others will enjoy, BOTH now and throughout all eternity)