MONEY AND

STEWARDSHIP

Whose money is it anyway?

By Irene McGough
Copyright © 2009 Irene McGough Disciples of Jesus Ministry

www.discipleofjesussite.com

This study is a hard hitting one and very thought provoking

for me too. I have a lot to learn from it
Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

Mat 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to
the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
mammon.

We would have difficulty surviving in this world today

without money, but the love of money can mess u our
priorities. God should always come first in our lives; money
can’t satisfy our deepest needs.

1Ti 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is
certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall
be content.
1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,
for which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.

Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be

content with such things as you have. For He Himself has
said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you

Psa 119:36 Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not

inflict me with love for money! (NLT)
It isn’t the money itself that is evil, it is our love of it, and it
interfering with our relationship with God.

Pro 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Isa 55:2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Do we spend our money wisely? Often we will spend money

on things that are unnecessary to fill a void in our lives. The
Bible shows us a way to have a lasting happiness that satisfies
our every need.

Psa 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his
help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Pro 11:23 The godly can look forward to happiness, while

the wicked can expect only wrath. (NLT)

Psa 106:3 Blessed are those who keep justice,

And he who does righteousness at all times!

So, instead of focussing on financial gain and love of material

things we should focus our minds on God, trust Him to meet
our needs, and live godly lives.

Pro 19:1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Mar 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the

whole world, and loses his own soul?

No amount of money is worth having if it was gained

deceptively or dishonestly. In fact the dishonest gain of
money is stealing.
What is the value of money? All the riches in this world do
not bring happiness. How often do we hear of people who
seem to have everything by this world’s standards going
through problems such as marital break-ups; searching for
answers in New Ageism or Eastern Religions; alcohol
problems; drug addictions and sometimes getting to the depth
of despair and taking their own lives?

Phi 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have

learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
Phi 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to
abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both
to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
need.
Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.

Phi 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according
to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us God will supply all our needs. Problems
arise because our definition of need differs from that of
God’s. So what do we need to do realise how we can have a
fulfilling life? First of all we need to look at the Word of God
and discover how we can have fulfilment in our lives.

Mar 12:41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw
how the people put money into the treasury. And many
who were rich put in much.
Mar 12:42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two
mites, which make a quadrans.
Mar 12:43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said
to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has
put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
Mar 12:44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but
she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole
livelihood."

1Jo 3:17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his
brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how
does the love of God abide in him?

If we learn how to give unto others we are less likely to

become lovers of money. Can we really as Christians have
plenty and watch our brothers in need?

Pro 3:9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
Pro 3:10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your
income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My
house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it. (Amp)

Luk 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure,

pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be
put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you
use, it will be measured back to you."
2Co 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also
reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.
2Co 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart,
not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful
giver.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward
you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may have an abundance for every good work.
2Co 9:9 As it is written:

"He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.

Pro 21:20 There is desirable treasure,

And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
Pro 21:21 He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness and honor.

The Parable of the Talents

Mat 25:14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man
traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and
delivered his goods to them.
Mat 25:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, to each according to his own ability;
and immediately he went on a journey.
Mat 25:16 Then he who had received the five talents went
and traded with them, and made another five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he who had received two gained
two more also.
Mat 25:18 But he who had received one went and dug in
the ground, and hid his lord's money.
Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants
came and settled accounts with them.
Mat 25:20 "So he who had received five talents came and
brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to
me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents
besides them.'
Mat 25:21 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and
faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of
your lord.'
Mat 25:22 He also who had received two talents came and
said, "Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have
gained two more talents besides them.'
Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and
faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I
will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy
of your lord.'
Mat 25:24 "Then he who had received the one talent came
and said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping
where you have not sown, and gathering where you have
not scattered seed.
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent
in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'
Mat 25:26 "But his lord answered and said to him, "You
wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I
have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
Mat 25:27 So you ought to have deposited my money with
the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back
my own with interest.
Mat 25:28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him
who has ten talents.
Mat 25:29 "For to everyone who has, more will be given,
and he will have abundance; but from him who does not
have, even what he has will be taken away.
Mat 25:30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer
darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

1Th 4:11 This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life,

minding your own business and working with your hands,
just as we commanded you before.
1Th 4:12 As a result, people who are not Christians will
respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend
on others to meet your financial needs.

God wants us to be good stewards of our money, to work

diligently, spend wisely and be cheerful givers.

Mar 10:17 As he was starting out on a trip, a man came

running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good
Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"
Mar 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked.
"Only God is truly good.
Mar 10:19 But as for your question, you know the
commandments: 'Do not murder. Do not commit adultery.
Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor
your father and mother.' "
Mar 10:20 "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all
these commandments since I was a child."
Mar 10:21 Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he
looked at him. "You lack only one thing," he told him.
"Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow
me."
Mar 10:22 At this, the man's face fell, and he went sadly
away because he had many possessions.
Mar 10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of
God!"
Mark 10 :17 -24

The Lord did not deny the possibility that a rich person can be
saved; he merely said that it is difficult. The problem though
was that money was more important to this young man than
his desire to follow Christ. He put money first before anything
else. We would be much happier if we concentrated on
accumulating treasures in heaven.

WHY DO WE NEVER SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH?

Isa 55:1 "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you
have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk –
it's all free!
Isa 55:2 Why spend your money on food that does not give
you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for
the soul!

Why is it that we so often spend money on things that we

don’t need, we don’t use our money as wisely as we could, yet
all that we have comes from the Lord? Only God and God alone can
satisfy the human soul.

All Scriptures other than indicated otherwise are from the

NKJV

Heavenly Father,
My prayer is that I will learn much from this study, hit
home the things that you need to teach me here. Help me
to be a wise steward of your money for all that I have
comes from you. Help me to be a cheerful giver and to
build up my treasures in heaven.
This I ask in Jesus Precious Name,
AMEN