Kingdom Business—Financial Stewardship
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 11/24/2019
Foundation Scriptures:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:24-34 KJV
1. God Never Told Us to Seek Anything Other Than Him.
a. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be added onto you.
b. What are the things the Gentiles seek after?
c. What are we going to eat?
d. What are we going to drink?
e. What are we going to wear?
f. In other words, possessions, stuff—houses, lands, money, etc.
g. These are all the things everybody else strives for.
2. It Is About the Journey.
a. It is not just about getting there, but it is about HOW you get there.
b. Make straight paths for your feet (Hebrews 12:13a).
c. Psalm 119:105 KJV — Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
d. We cannot do it the world’s way and expect to be blessed of God.
e. Proverbs 10:22 AMPC — The blessing of the Lord—it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].
f. Are you increased with blessings, or are you increased with sorrows?
3. Follow His Pattern.
a. The way we ensure that we are “seeking first the kingdom” is when we follow the pattern, that is set out in His Word.
b. Last Sunday, we referred to Joshua 1:7-9 and Psalm 1:1-3.
c. God promises to bless us as we obey and do His Word.
d. We cannot expect to be blessed when we are doing it the world’s way.
e. Going to church on Sunday does not make up for behaving badly during the week.
f. It is a heart thing.
g. Proverbs 20:10 KJV — Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
h. Proverbs 20:23 KJV — Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
i. Proverbs 11:1 AMPC — A false balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.
j. God hates false and unjust weights and balances.
k. The Lord hates double standards.
l. Cheating; robbing; lying; stealing.
m. God‘s Word is our handbook for living.
n. Why do Christians expect to be blessed and yet they are doing it the world’s way?
o. We need to rather be motivated by faith in God, and we need to trust His Word.
p. The Father tells us: Let your conduct be without covetousness…because I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
4. Seven Things God Hates.
a. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMPC
b. These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him.
c. A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others].
d. A lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.
e. A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans.
f. Feet that are swift in running to evil.
g. A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath].
h. And he who sows discord among his brethren.
i. Why do I see even people in ministry doing this?
j. As James said: My brethren, these things ought not so to be (James 3:10).
k. I see God’s children behaving like the world.
l. Stepping on other people to get where they are going.
m. Misrepresenting themselves—presenting themselves as something that they are not.
n. Using and abusing people; coveting; stealing; lying.
o. People do all these things because the motivation of their heart is fear and covetousness.
p. Remember, you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7).
5. The Way Down Is the Way Up.
a. I must decrease; He must increase.
b. Don’t try to take something that belongs to someone else.
c. Get your own from God—there is more than enough to go around.
d. Purpose in your heart today to make sure there’s no leaven in your life.
e. Do not be attached to material things.
f. Walk in honesty and integrity.
g. Prefer one another—serve one another (Romans 12:10).
h. Help one another—bless one another—be a giver not a taker—go the extra mile.
i. And you will see the blessing of heaven upon your life.