1. Power, Love and Self-discipline: Money Matters Matthew 6:19-21, 25:14-30 and Luke 14:25-33 Money We deal with it all the time But we try not to talk about it… In the church we receive mixed messages about money We often deal with money fearfully

2. 2 Timothy 1 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

3. Matthew 6 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

4. “Do not store” does not mean… Do not use, plan or manage well Do not store money thinking it will last forever Money is a tool Money is not to be our master

5. 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

6. Luke 14 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

7. We are to be wise Want to build Think things out Plan Estimate Finish

8. Matthew 25 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.

9. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

10. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

11. 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

12. 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

13. 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

14. How do we manage our money? Assumptions… Money is not just spent Money is not to be hidden Money is to be useful Money makes money

15. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

16. 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

17. How do we manage our money? Assumptions… Doing nothing with money is inconceivable Not managing our finances is… Wicked lazy

18. If we don’t learn how to manage our money… It will manage us Create in us an attitude of fear Will be lost to others who can and will manage it

19. 28 “ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

20. Money is not an evil as long as it is a tool and not a master As a tool we are to use it wisely… Planning Estimating Building Managing Investing

21. Practical calculation $10 Earning 4% Over 40 years Nearly $12,000 $50 Earning 4% Over 40 years Nearly $60,000 $100 Earning 4% Over 40 years Nearly $119,000 $200 Earning 4% Over 10 years Nearly $30,000

22. Money is a fact of life We have to deal with it all the time We are not to let it control us We are not to be afraid if money We are to dream, plan and build Manage our finances

23. Flood Car Boat Helicopter