"The Boomerang Effect"
October 30, 2005

The New Testament Lesson: Luke 18: 18 - 24

To inform people that their stewardship has it’s greatest impact on them!

I.  The Biggest Impact of our Stewardship is our own natures
   A. Some of you know our service is now televised every Sunday
        1. Thanks go to John Terril for that.
            a. We are on Telemundo at 8:30am!
            b. 30 minute presentation with music and sermon, invitation.
        2. I told my family that I’m now a TV Star!
            a. Dad immediately wanted to know what channel so he could watch
            b. I was sorry to say that it wasn’t national.
            c. I also had to promise him, I wouldn’t be selling praying hands.
            d. He hates those TV preachers!
        3. Frankly, I’m not fond of those appeals either!
            a. depending on the show, you can get praying hands, flying Eagles or signed copies of the preacher’s books
            b. And they say you’re doing stewardship as well!
            c. But that’s not true because they are appealing to your desires!
   B. Jesus was actually a proponent that you get more out of stewardship than you give.
        1. But it is not in the sense that many take it.
            a. The “receiving 10 fold” is bad theology.
            b. The idea that you will be materially rewarded is wrong.
        2. The reward is how our good stewardship effects our spirits.
        3. Jesus’ conversation with the rich ruler is a perfect case in point.
            a. The young man was out to know how to be close to God.
            b. He was pretty sure of the right answer: follow the commandments.
            c. He was already doing that, but wanted to know if there was more
            d. Hint: never ask Jesus a question if you don’t want the answer.
        4. Sell all you have, give it to the poor and follow me!
            a. Scripture tells us he hung his head and slunk away.
            b. The reason:  he was VERY rich.  He was holding on tightly!
        5. In order to follow Jesus, you can’t be encumbered.
            a. Everything that we own places a demand on us!
            b. If we own it, we have to take care of it.
            c. If you really want to be close to God, you must detach yourself.
        6. Jesus really liked this young guy.  He had potential.
            a. But true followers of Jesus must be sold out.
            b. You can’t hold things back!
            c. Jesus asks us to let go of everything and follow!
   C. Stewardship does have a boomerang effect: draws us close to Jesus!
        1. Riches are showered upon us.
            a. They are the riches of a right relationship with God!
            b. We get into contact with what really matters in this life.
        2. We begin to understand the way God wants us to live.
        3. And these riches are the kind that follow us into eternity!
        4. Real Stewardship only takes place when we are sold out to Jesus.
        5. The greatest impact of Stewardship is really on us!

II.  This is only possible when we realize we owe everything to God!
   A. Are you a sold out Christian?
        1. Have you let go of your possessions in order to follow Jesus?
        2. It’s not likely that we will actually sell all we own.
            a. Most of us need places to live.
            b. Most of us have to take care of our families.
            c. We need transportation, clothing and so on.
        3. But it is possible to give these things to God in our heart.
            a. We can hand them over and say, “whatever you want is yours”
            b. I am positive that God will leave most of it in our hands.
            c. God knows want we need.
            d. But God will also test us by asking us to give something up.
            e. When we give it joyfully, we know we are detached!
   B. Many people are really holding back.
        1. They think of the things they own as really belonging to them.
        2. Their stewardship consists of giving a part to God through church.
            a. They might even give very generously by the world’s standards.
            b. They just might be the people we rely on to operate.
            c. But they aren’t stewards.
        3. A steward is a person who takes care of what belongs to someone else
            a. They don’t own it, they just take care of it.
            b. They know that one day, they will be called to account.
   C. You can only be a steward if you recognize your debt to God!
        1. You have to know that you are saved by grace!
            a. Without the work of Jesus, you would be lost!
            b. You were once a person who was considered an enemy of God.
            c. You were destined for destruction.
        2. God intervened, becoming a human and dying, and you are saved.
            a. Saved from your own destructive ways.
            b. Saved from death.
            c. Saved from eternal darkness.
        3. You also must know that everything that exists belongs to God!
            a. God is the creator and his serial number is stamped on everything.
            b. Whether we realize it or not, everything we “own” is God’s
            c. When we give away possessions or money, we are giving back.
        4. We are like stock brokers for God.
            a. God is the one who holds the assets.
            b. We just manage the funds.
            c. We are supposed to invest them the way God tells us.
        5. For doing that, we get a great commission: relationship with God.
            a. That is worth so much more than any material gift.
            b. It is the gift of meaning, purpose and worth

    What I am suggesting to us is that we all hold a Fire sale!  It doesn’t matter if you are a tither and giving 10% to God.  It isn’t enough if you are giving 20 or even 30% to God.  Go ahead…give away half of what you own!  It still doesn’t make you a steward!  To become a steward, you need a whole different perspective.  You need to realize God owns everything you’ve got…including you!  You are simply taking care of it.  You distribute it as God wishes.  Now you’re a steward!  But your reward is far greater than anything you give away.  You’re reward is being in good with the Master of the Universe.  What more could you ask?

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!