During his lifetime Daniel Webster was known as one of the greatest Americans. 25 special people had gathered to honor Mr. Webster for his contribution to the United States of America. He was a great lawyer. He was a statesman. He was an orator. He was a politician. He was a great man. He was a leader of men. And 25 of the nation's finest had gathered to honor Mr. Webster on this special occasion. They’d gathered for a banquet, and during the banquet one of the man engaged Mr. Webster in a conversation. And he asked of him this very important question. He said to Mr. Webster. "What is the greatest thought that has ever entered your mind?" Mr. Webster responded without hesitation. "The greatest thought that has ever entered my mind is my responsibility to God." And as Mr. Webster spoke, he teared up. In fact, he got emotional about it, and actually had to excuse himself from those men and go out and compose himself and then when Mr. Webster returned to those men, those great men, those leaders of men, some of the greatest in the nation, he expounded to them for 30 minutes about their responsibility to God.
Now I don't know if your responsibility to God is the greatest thought that’s ever entered your mind or if you ever even consider what was the greatest thought that's ever entered your mind, but the fact is that your responsibility to God is very clear from the Word of God, isn't it? We are all responsible to God. In fact, part of that responsibility involves the stewardship that is part of our responsibility before God. All of you are a steward, good or bad, whether you acknowledge it or not. When we take that first breath, that breath that’s provided by God, we become a steward of all of the blessings that God has given to us, because everything belongs to God, doesn't it?
The cars you gave belong to God. Your houses belong to God. Your talents belong to God. The time belongs to God. Your resources belong to God. There's not anything on this planet that you could name that doesn't belong to God, that you are responsible in managing for Him because He owns it all. And so we don't just decide to become a steward, we are a steward. And the word of God, First Corinthians chapter 4 and verse two said, "Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful."
Now this morning, even though there are many aspects of stewardship, I think for example about the environment. I believe that we are responsible to God for the environment, don't you? I believe that when people throw their trash on the roadside that I have to clean up, they shouldn't throw their trash there. I don't believe that a Christian, a person who takes the name of Christ would do such a thing as that, because they're responsible, they're throwing trash on God's property. I believe that we ought to be responsible for the time, because all of us have 24 hours in every day. It's the equalization of stewardship because we all have that amount of time that we’re responsible for. God has gifted all of us in various talents and abilities that we are responsible to God for. And so all of these aspects of stewardship are definitely a part of our everyday life. And all that we attempt to do as we accept the responsibility of God in being a faithful steward.
But this morning I'd like to focus our attention a little bit for just a few minutes as we have this time this morning on the aspect of God's resources. On the finances that God has provided for each and every one of us. And I'd like you to turn in the Word of God to Luke the 12th chapter as we consider this important aspect of our stewardship. Luke chapter 12 where Jesus tells a very interesting parable relating to finances. Luke the 12th chapter and we’re going to begin reading there with verse 13. Luke chapter 12, and beginning with verse 13.
Let me set a context for you. The context actually begins in verse one. The Word of God says that in the meantime when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so it says that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all. So you get a picture here Jesus is speaking to a multitude, an innumerable number of people and yet He focuses His attention on the disciples, and then gives them instructions through the first few verses of this chapter. He speaks about and warns about hypocrisy. He talks about the fact that the hairs of their head are numbered. He speaks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He goes through a number of issues and topics here as He addresses the disciples, and then in the midst of this innumerable throng and in the midst of all of these people who had gathered to listen to Jesus, one person asked a question, makes a comment. Notice what it says, verse 13.
Then it says, "One from the crowd said to Him. ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But He said to him, ‘Man, who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And He said to them, ’Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’ Then He spoke a parable to them saying, ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully, and he thought within himself saying, ‘What shall I do since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods, and I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease. Eat drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool, this night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God."
In the midst of this innumerable throng, as Jesus is cheering with His disciples, a man comes from the crowd and asked a question regarding inheritance and about fairness with his brother. Jesus, as you note, responds very clearly by enunciating to us a biblical principle that will always be the same. It will never change. That one's life does not consist of the abundance of the things that he possesses. That will never be any different. And so in response to the question that is asked of Christ, He gives to us an everlasting principle of life. That life does not consist in the abundance of the things that you have, or that you possess. It is not there. And then in addition to that, in order to punctuate the point that He has just made, He tells a parable about a man whose crops are plentiful to the extent that he has to build greater barns. That he has to provide place to store all of what he has been blessed with. And as He does so Jesus drives the point home. He says, "Fool. This night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided?"
Is it all right for Jesus to call someone a fool? That's what He did as He spoke this parable. And then He makes it even more clear. Verse 21. "So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." So the person who lays up treasure for himself and decides that earthly goods are where it's at, that person, He says, is just like this man who built the larger barns intending to live a life of ease and merriment. That person is just like him. And Jesus called him a fool.
Are you aware that 15 percent of everything that Jesus said is related to money and possessions? 15 percent. Our Lord made more reference to money and possessions than to either prayer or faith. Are you aware that He spoke about money and possessions more than heaven and hell combined? It seems that maybe money might be a problem to some. That possessions could trip people up. You’ll remember that on the parable of the sower and the seed, that when Jesus spoke that parable, that the person who had sowed his seed among the vines, that it choked out that person's life, and it was the riches, it was the possessions, it was the cares of this life that did so. The Bible is very clear about our relationship to God and the stewardship and responsibility that God has extended and blessed us with and given us an opportunity to do.
If you look at Psalms chapter 24 and verse 1, it says that the earth belongs to God. That's a familiar text of Scripture for you, one we've read a number of times. Psalm 24. Notice what it says there, beginning in the very first verse. "The earth is the Lords and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell therein. For" it says, "He has founded upon the seas and established upon the waters." And the 50th chapter of Psalms even makes it additionally clear. Psalms 50 beginning verse 10. "For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on" how many hills? "A thousand hills." He says, "I know all the birds of the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are Mine," and then He said this, verse 12. "If I were hungry I would not tell you because the world is Mine and all its fullness." So everything belongs to God. It doesn't say some things, or part of the things, or most things. It says everything belongs to God. And then God gives us an absolutely wonderful example of giving because it says, that “He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” And so God takes the lead. He is the divine blueprint. He is the example of giving. And He gave Jesus, and when He gave Jesus, He couldn't have given anymore than what He did, when He gave His only begotten Son.
And so we love God because He loved us. We give because He gave. Giving should be a response to God's love. It's not about money, it's about love. It's about where our allegiance is. It's about what's important to us. It's about what our priority is. Whether they're in possessions or in love to God and a building up of the Kingdom of God on this earth.
Someone said you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. And so the Bible has numerous principles of giving. Some of them you're familiar with. Probably all of them you're familiar with. Acts the 20th chapter verse 35, quoting Jesus, that it's more blessed to give than to receive. Luke chapter 6 verse 38 says "Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over." I believe that, don't you? The Word of God makes it clear. Deuteronomy chapter 16 and verse 17 says, "Give as you are able." First Corinthians, chapter 16 and verse two says "Give as God prospers you." Second Corinthians chapter 9 and verse seven says "Give with a cheerful attitude." And Proverbs chapter 3, verses nine and 10 says
But God separates the tithe from discretional giving. From he who is able, and he who has prospered. He makes a separation, and I'd like you to look our text of Scripture that we read this morning. Leviticus, chapter 27, and verse 30. Because God makes an absolutely wonderful statement here about tithe. We're looking again at Leviticus chapter 27 and noticing together verse 30. "All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lords." it says. "It is holy to the Lord." Do you see that? Holy. And so God makes a separation, He makes a distinction here of the tithe. He makes a proclamation of the holiness of the tithe. The fact that the tithe is holy.
Have you ever given thought to the things that are holy that are declared to be such an the word of God? For example, as you think about the Christmas season, there was the star in the East that showed exactly where the Son of God was. There were the Angels that made a proclamation to the shepherds about the good news of the fact that Christ was born. That manger in the presence of Jesus became a holy place because the Son of God was there. Emmanuel, God with us. But there are numerous things listed in the Word of God that are holy. Have you thought about the fact that Leviticus 19 says there's a holy God. Ephesians says the Holy Spirit. Exodus says a holy nation. Matthew says holy angels. Revelation declares the holy city. Exodus says there's a holy place and a most holy place. And First Kings says there are holy vessels. Exodus says there are holy garments. Leviticus says there’s a holy convocation and Psalms declares a holy oil. Exodus says holy ground because Jesus’ presence was there. Romans says the holy Word and Romans says the holy law. And Psalms declares His name to be holy. And holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit in Second Peter, chapter 1. And Psalms says there's a holy temple. And Isaiah says there's a holy mountain. And Exodus says there’s a holy Sabbath. And Leviticus says that the tithe is holy. Set apart. Special. Belonging to God.
And so we don't give tithe. We return it. The Biblical Research Institute made this comment. Quoting. "Tithe belongs to the Lord." The most important theological statement about tithe is recorded in Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30. ‘It belongs to the Lord. It is holy to the Lord.’ This is a clear definition of the very nature of tithe. It is holy. God placed something holy in our hands, and if we handle it properly, we also are sanctified by Him. Can you imagine, God put holiness in your hands. Gave you a responsibility. A stewardship responsibility for the holiness of the tithe that He puts in your hand. “The holiness of the tithe”, it goes on to say, “resides in the fact that it is not ours to use as we please. It belongs to the Lord. And since tithe is holy by nature, we don't make it holy through a vow or an act of consecration. It's holy because God has declared it to be holy.”
Ellen White makes this comment. “The Lord calls for His tithe to be given in His treasury strictly, honestly and faithfully.” She said, “Let this portion be returned to Him. Besides this, He calls for your gifts and offerings. No one”, she says, “no one is compelled to present his tithe or his gifts and offerings to the Lord. God” she says, “has given special direction as to the use of the tithe. He does not design that His work shall be crippled for want of means. That there be no haphazard work and no error, He has made our duty on these points”, she said, “very plain.” And so Abraham gave a tithe. Jacob gave his tithe. Jesus of course gave His special credence to the giving of tithe, and faithfulness in tithe.
Helen Rennert lived in Akron, Ohio. She had passed away, and it was discovered… She had been living in filth and squalor. They had condemned her home because the health authorities had come in and it was in such deplorable condition that it really wasn't fit for human habitation. And so they had decided that she had two choices. And they gave Helen two choices. They said you can either go to jail, or you can go to the hospital and get some care for yourself. Well Helen chose to go to jail. But she didn't stay there very long because her health had deteriorated, and she needed to move on with her life, and they took her out of the jail and put her in the hospital. After she had passed away, they went to her home to try to clean it up and see what kind of assets might be there. And as they were looking around her home they began to find, tucked away in certain places in her house, cash money. They found more than a thousand dollars. They found more than $5,000. They found more than $10,000. They found stashed away in Helen Rennert's home, $80,000 in cash. And here was a woman who lived in squalor and filth And went to jail instead of choosing to go to the hospital, initially. Some of the money they found had not been in print since 1914. She’d been sticking money away for years, probably her whole life. Somehow, in her life, she’d lost sight of the purpose for which money could be used. Think about what she could have done with that $80,000 she stuck away and hid in various parts of her home. Think of what it might have done for someone else even, in addition to Helen Rennert. But it had become meaningless to her, and for some reason she wasn't able to get it together enough to use the money for herself or for anyone.
There is a tendency for persons to hoard possessions, and lose the meaning and the purpose for which they bought them. Sometimes items gather dust and serve no worthwhile cause while the persons, now wealthy, are living in poverty. The Bible gives us a resounding, clear statement and warns about the deceitfulness of riches, that rob life of true value and meaningful existence. It was the Lord Jesus Himself who said that he who lays up treasure for himself is a fool.
How you spend your money, what your checkbook and Visa card look like, is an indication of what is most important to you, for where your treasure is there your heart will be also. May God bless us and help us to be faithful stewards in recognizing our responsibility before God.
Let's respond by turning in our church hymnal to number 86, How Great Thou Art, and we’ll stand as we sing the closing hymn together.
Return to McDonald Road Sermons Index
Sermon at McDonald Road transcribed by Steve Foster
12/19/07
Hymn of Praise: #88, I Sing the Mighty Power of God
Scripture: Leviticus 27:30
Hymn of Response: #86, How Great Thou Art
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