Jan 14th Stewardship of Money

Scripture Ephesians 5:15-21

Dissipation = One who spends too freely on what flatterers tell him he needs. One who spends too easily on his lusts, appetites, and desires.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.
The command to not be drunk with wine is not solely an admonition to not being drunk, although it is that. It is an admonition to not allow anything to possess and control you that is not God. If there is an outside controlling influence it leads to dissipation. Being one who spends to freely on what flatterers tell him he needs. One who spends too easily on his lusts, appetites and desires.
Dissipation is a problem in American lives. The saving rate in America is at the lowest level in 60 years5.5 million addicted gamblersOver 1 million bankruptcies a yearMore people go bankrupt each year in America than graduate from colleges and UniversitiesAverage Christian household only gives 2.5 of their income to churchworse than during the depression!The average church member only gives $20.00 to missions, but spends $1,174 in gambling.Churches have ignored the topic all together, while there are over 2,350 verses and 2/3 of scriptures speak of stewardship.64% couples argue over money and 54% it is the #1 reason for divorcetill debt do us part!
It reminds me of a quote I recently read, “Let’s all live within our means even if we have to borrow to do it.”
The mantra of the American religion of materialism is “Charge It.”
Consider the scenario of Tom and Susan need a new washing machine, the find one at Sears for $299. They get a Sears charge card and make the minimum payment each month. By the time the washing machine is paid off, how much will Tom and Susan actually pay? $1,199!
Proverbs says, “The borrower is slave to the lender.” It doesn’t mean don’t ever borrow, but it does warn us to be wise to the realities of what it will mean.
Let’s be honest though it is tough to live in our society when all around us we are bombarded with the siren call of materialism. Ads pour through TV screens proclaiming our need for everything, they fill the Sunday paper, magazines. Then your neighbor brings home new cars, TV’s, computers, clothes and other stuff. Everywhere we look we have materialistic stuff crammed down our throats. It makes it tough.
The reality is how we treat money is the most decisive test of the controlling influence of our lives.
Do not be controlled by outside influences, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We know what materialistic living looks like. It is everyone else who has anything more than we have. Honestly it is all around us and we get caught up in it if we are not careful. It is allowing anything other than God to determine what we spend and how we spend it. We know the consequences maybe even have felt them or are feeling them now. The consequence of excess living it is especially tough to work for money you have already spent for something you didn’t need.
Dissipation leads to ruin. Materialism leads to financial struggle which leads to poor decisions, which lead to relational struggles, which lead to great difficulties in life. Being controlled by outside influences lead us to making poor financial decisions, which lead us to struggles in life.
Spirit led financial life leads to freedom, contentment, peace, and enough.
How do I know if I am living a life of dissipation or being Spirit led?
What controls your financial decisions, money and the desire for gain, or the Holy Spirit?
How do you determine what to spend and on what?
How much do you invest in eternity? (You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.)
Do you make kingdom investment decisions on faith or on financial facts? (The average Christian household only gives 2.5 of their income to church worse than during the depression!The average church member only gives $20.00 to missions, but spends $1,174 in gambling)
Do you know what you want to do with your financial life? Do you have a plan?
Have you ever set a goal for giving? Starting point is 10% build from there. Tithing is not the ceiling for giving it is the floor, it is not the finish line it is the starting line in our financial life. The one sure fire cure for materialism is generosity. The way to become generous is to be led of the Holy Spirit.
Steps to control in your life.
First, confess that you have been out of control financially.
Second, invite God to be the controlling influence in your life again.
Third, establish a plan.
Fourth, set some goals for kingdom investing and do it religiously.
Fifth, pray and recheck the first four regularly.

Conclusion:
How did you do answering the questions? Can you answer them with certainty that you are Spirit led? If not it is time to make the move confess the reality, and invite God to be the controlling influence of your life. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine (Don’t be controlled by outside influences) which is dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
God longs to fill you with His Holy Spirit it is His will. His will is that He would be the controlling influence of your life. Will your future be determined by God’s leadership or outside influences? Come as we sing.