The richer you are in stuff, the richer you should be in service. Dr. Tony Evans reminds us that pay it forward isn't a modern notion. You should be searching for opportunities to do good work because of how good God has been to you. This is the alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr.
Tony Evans. Money, treasures, possessions. The Bible has plenty to say about what constitutes true wealth. And today, Dr. Evans explains why banking on our belongings is simply a bad idea.
Let's join him in 1 Timothy 6. A kingdom steward is a Christian. who faithfully executes the responsibility. to protect and expand The resources, time, talents, and treasures That have been entrusted to them, and to do so on God's behalf. We have established the principle that you own nothing.
Nothing. The Bible declares God owns everything. The earth is the Lord's, the fullness thereof, the world, and all them that dwell in it. You own absolutely nothing.
However, God has decided to entrust into mankind collectively and to you individually a sphere of management. Paul writes, Pastor Timothy, he's the senior pastor at Ephesus Bible Fellowship. And he writes, Pastor Timothy. And he tells Pastor Timothy, I want you to teach the people this perspective. He lays out his fundamental principle in verse 6.
Don't miss it. It's the key to everything else. Godliness Plus Contentment. Equals Great game. If you want to be truly rich, stay with me.
If you really want to be rich, great gain. He says you must mix Godliness with contentment. And when you stir those two things together, Wealth becomes the result, which he calls Great game.
Now stay with me. First of all, he says godliness. Godliness is simply a lifestyle that seeks to please God. Godliness is a lifestyle That reflects consistently the character of God, where you are seeking to live in light of God's. Presence.
Godliness, he says, must have a mate. This mate is called contentment. The two must work together if you're going to have great gain, real wealth, true wealth. Godliness plus contentment. is great Dang.
The Navy has ships and the Navy has submarines. Ships are on top of the water. and therefore are subject to the weather. How much they rock and roll, how much they go back and forth depends on how hard the wind is blowing, how hard the waves are moving. That determines how the ship is doing.
However, submarines go deep in the water and are unaffected by the weather outside and on top of the water. Because they're going deep and because they go deep. It doesn't change the weather, but it changes how the weather affects them. Too many Christians are bouncing with the waves because they're like ships on the water rather than submarines going deep because they have married godliness with contentment. until that marriage occurs.
you will not have great gain. Because godliness plus contentment brings great gain.
Now, how do you get that?
Well, you don't get it overnight. Paul says in Philippians chapter 4, Verses 11 to 13, I had to learn to be content. I have learned to be a based. And abound. In other words, I learned to have more than enough.
And I learned to have not enough. What is he saying? The way God teaches you. to learn contentment. is to not allow you to have abundance for too long.
He will let situations come into your life. You think you're on top of the world today, boom. He does something that drops you low tomorrow. To let you know that without me, you can't stay riding high all the time. He lets you float.
from content to discontent. Because he will keep you in a place of dependency to remind you. And get this: if you don't get the lesson the first time, he believes in retesting.
So he'll go over it and over it and over it. The way God taught Paul to be content was to let him have high days and to let him have low days. In Hebrews chapter 13, 5 and 6, he says this. Be content, be satisfied. With what you have as long as your needs are being met.
Food, clothes, and shelter. He says, be content with what you have. And then he says something that is easy to miss. He says Because the Lord has promised... to help you and not forsake you.
Now, why do you need to know that second verse? Because if godliness is matched with contentment, then God will come to your aid. God will not forsake you.
So let me say it the other way. If you're ungodly and discontent, don't go to God for help. Because God will not help you in your ungodliness and your discontent, because that means you're not grateful for Him meeting your basic needs.
So a lot of people who want to be ungodly and discontent still want to go to God to fix the problem. And Hebrews 13 says, no, he promised to not forsake you, but in the context of your contentment. You're being satisfied, that is being at ease with needs being met.
Okay? He says The reason why this must be your mindset. is because we brought nothing into the world. And we're not going to take anything out of it either. You came in broke?
You gonna leave broke? Because whatever you have, you can't take it with you. There's a lady in Jet magazine a few years ago who was buried in her Ferrari. Just in case you didn't know it, it's still there. She hadn't driven it anywhere.
Because you can't take it with you.
So his point is be content and understand you don't own it because you're going to leave it. You don't get to decide it as far as you are concerned. We have to have a steward's mindset. that marriage, godliness and contentment. And does not let the desire to be rich cause us to fall in love with the enemy of God.
Because loving money is the enemy of God. And when the spiritual It's secondary to the material. That money has become your source, your talent has become your source, your education has become your source, and once they're your source, that's an idol. And once you have an idol, the true God backs away. No matter how much gold you go to church and how much you pray.
When you look at the amount of divorces that take place over money. The debt. The confusion, the arguments. Then it becomes clear. That we have misaligned ourselves and we're not stewards.
Instruct those verse 17 who are rich. The folks who are rich. Let me define rich in the Bible. Rich in the Bible means to have an abundance. It means That which you have over and above essential needs, food, clothes, and shelter.
Now obviously there are different levels of rich.
Okay, some people have a little bit over the knees, some people have a middle amount over the knees, some people have. Maximum above their needs, okay? Nothing wrong with that, and there's nothing wrong with being rich. I can show you all through the Bible where God made people rich, He made Solomon rich, said He gave more money than He could ever spend. Abraham talked about how rich Abraham was.
So the Bible is not against rich. If it's righteous rich. He says, instruct those who are rich, who have an excess. Beyond needs being met. There are exceptions, but most of the people right here would be classified as rich.
against the backdrop of the world. If you make $40,000 or more, then you make more than most of the world.
Now, that doesn't mean you're as rich as you want to be, but that means you're in the category of rich just based on accumulated wealth. If you can take a vacation, You are rich.
Okay? You can take a vacation, you are rich. If you work five days a week and not six days a week based on the world, you are rich.
So while that may vary from person to person and situation to situation, we are at varying levels of richness. That is, with the exceptions of those who are eking out a living with their basic needs being met.
So he says, tell those, instruct those, and teach them. Why do rich people need to be taught? because rich people have a wrong view of their wealth.
So he says, let's give them a biblical view, a kingdom stewardship mindset of their wealth. Instruct those who are in this present world, watch this, not to get saddie. The word he uses here is conceited. Not to get the big head. Not to think they all that in a bag of chips.
In other words, Wealth has side effects. It has side effects. It can make you think wrong. It can make you think more highly of yourself than you ought to think. It can make you think you are better than you really are.
It can make you think that you are somebody when you're not. In other words, don't let your network Confuse you about your self-worth. Because just because you got high net worth doesn't mean you worth. Much. Because there are a lot of folk that have stuff.
who are good for nothing. But they got stuff. They got a dollar here and a dollar there. They got a bunch of cars and a bunch of homes. But they are no good people.
And he says, and don't you get conceited. Don't you think you're all that? Because when your time comes, you're going to be as dead as the poor man.
So don't think you are better. We had a guy many years ago in our church. He's very wealthy, very wealthy guy. He came to our church. And after a while, He approached me about being a leader.
I said, well, you know, this is our process for being a leader here. He says, I don't think you understand. Yeah. I can do a lot for this church. Oh, I appreciate that.
And um You probably want me in leadership. I said, excuse me, yeah, you want me in leadership because I can bring a lot of attention, I can bring a lot of people, I can bring a lot of money, I can bring a lot of influence.
Well, I said we have a process and we have a standard and you need to go through that. He said, no, you don't know who I am. You know. And then he hit me with the big one. He says, and there are churches all over this community.
who would love to have me as a member. I said, well, you better go start visiting. What he wanted to do. was he wanted to use money to buy influence. Illegitimately.
And he wanted because of what he could bring to the table to set aside God's standards in order to facilitate his money and his influence. It wasn't bad that he had money, that he had a successful business, but he was trying to use it when he didn't qualify because of his conceited mentality, okay? Because of what he thought. I said, no, you want to become a leader here? You got to do it the old-fashioned way.
You got to earn it. You just can't buy it. What he is saying is, tell the folk who have it. It's not bad that they have it. It's not wrong that they have it, but it has side effects because you can get the wrong view of yourself.
Just because you live in a certain place, drive a certain thing, wear a certain style, and get people calling you Mr. this or Miss That or Doctor this or Professor this, you can get the big head. Because you got stuff. He says, you teach them. to not watch this fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches.
He said, because it can be here today and gone tomorrow. It's uncertain. And if God is ready for it to go, it doesn't matter who you know. It's uncertain. So don't fix your hope on that.
but fix your hope on God. See, the issue of a steward is God is the owner and God is the source.
So I'm looking to God. Yes, he uses the business. He uses the opportunities. He uses the education. He uses the expertise.
Yes, he uses that. And praise God when you maximize that. But he says, don't you bank on that. Don't you look at that? You better keep your eyes on God because there will come a need.
when you will need what money can't buy. You get sick enough. And the doctors can't Fix it. You lose your mind. And the psychologist can't help you.
Your relationship is falling apart. And you can't buy something to fix it. There is coming a time when you need what only God can do.
So you better keep your eyes. Fixed on God. Dr. Evans will return in a moment with more about riches and righteousness. But first, if you'd like to learn more about finding true wealth, Get in touch with us for details on Tony's book, Kingdom Stewardship.
You'll discover the deep satisfaction and rewards that come from managing God's resources God's way. Right now, for a limited time, we're offering a copy of Kingdom Stewardship as our gift to you. when you make a contribution in support of Tony's ministry. But that's just where it starts. We'll also include all 12 full-length messages in Tony's current teaching series, plus the study guide, leader's kit, and access to downloadable video teaching sessions from Dr.
Evans. This Kingdom Stewardship Resource Bundle makes a great addition to your home library. and it's perfect for use with your fellowship or study group. Get details right now at tonyevans.org. or give us a call at 1-800-800-3222.
I'll repeat that contact information for you after part two of today's lesson. Here's Dr. Evans. It's okay to enjoy whatever God gives you. If you have an abundance, whatever that level of abundance is.
It's okay to have it if you got it legitimately and you're using it righteously. And it's okay to have fun with it. To enjoy it. Life has enough problems of its own for you not to enjoy the good things that are available for you to enjoy.
So you maximize your enjoyment as long as God is your source and you didn't get the big head about what you have. And how do you know you're handling it right? He tells you in conclusion here. Look. Instruct them to do good.
These are the folks with an abundance. Most of the folks in here at some level. to be rich in good works.
So here's the principle. The richer you are in stuff, the richer you should be in service. Don't tell me. I got so much money that I don't have time to serve the Lord. I've been blessed so much that I can't give any of my time, any of my talents, and any of my resources to the kingdom of God because I'm just out here enjoying my blessing.
God expects more if he gave more.
So he says, instruct those who have the abundance that they should be equally abundant in good works. I ran across a homeless guy just the other day. I ran across him and he said, Look, I'm really hungry. And can you give me, can you help me to get something to eat? And so, so I wanted to make sure, because there's a lot of, you know, a lot of trickery out there.
So I wanted to make sure. I said, okay, can I buy you the food? Because I want to make sure he wasn't getting it for drugs or for drinking.
So I said, can I buy you the food? He said, oh, yes, okay, it's real. You're really hungry and you want something to eat.
So I went and I got him something to eat. By the way, can I pray for you? Yes.
So I prayed with him right there. Then I asked him, Did he know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior?
So I mixed the spiritual with the physical because I have been blessed to do that. That should be happening all over with every member of this church who has that which goes beyond your need. You should be searching for opportunities to do good work because of how good God has been to you. And you're so grateful for what God has done to you that you're looking for opportunities to do that same for others. And as God just brings people across your path and you expect nothing else.
In return, because the moment you expect something in return, that's called business. That's not a good work. That's a business deal. A good work is something you do for someone in need. It doesn't have to be financial, it could be physical, it could be helping a person fix something, but you are doing a good work.
Because you have been. Blessed with an abundance that above the need. Instruct them to be generous and then verse 19 in closing. Storing up. Storing up.
How many folk can have Have an off-site storage. To keep junk. You got stuff that don't fit in the house.
So you got an off-site storage. Aye. We've been so blessed. That we can't even fit all the stuff we have in a house. We got to have offs.
Site storage.
So he says, if you really want a storage, Verse 19, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation. For the future. Oh. For the future because it ain't over There is a future. He says, Buy yourself a storage room.
Don't buy it. He says, make yourself a storage room. of good works. Here it is. Every time.
You use your time and your talent and your treasure. As a good work, and you attach it to God. That's why we pray for them and we try to witness to them. And you attach that thing to God, God puts something in your storage room. He says, so why don't you build up a storage room?
for the future. Because when you meet God, he's not going to ask you how much you made. He's not going to ask you about your net worth. He's not going to ask you about what bank you banked in. He's not going to ask you about what degree you had.
He's going to see how much stuff is in your storage bin. How much did you use the time and the talents and the treasures for eternal purposes? What will be the reward in time and eternity? The last part of verse 19.
So that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. Oh, no, you didn't. He talks about life. Indeed. The word indeed means show enough.
Okay? Far real. That's what it means. God will make an exchange with you. If you use what he gives you properly.
And you keep him as your source. and you're content where you are until he gives you more, he will give you an indeed kind of life. You won't just be living, you'll be living indeed. When Jesus arose, From the dead. And they came back and they saw the tomb was empty.
You know what they said? He has risen indeed. He showed enough not here. Guess what Paul said? You tell all them people to build our storage up through their good works.
to build that storage up. Because then when life falls apart, And they need life indeed. When the doctor says it's terminal and they need hope indeed. When it says that there is no future and they need a solution, indeed, God says, I'm gonna look at that storage bin. And I'm gonna see what they put away to benefit others for not my name's sake.
And when I see that their storage building is filled. I will give them life indeed in time and in eternity. Psalm 62 verse 10 says, If you get rich, don't set your heart on it. Ecclesiastes 5, 18 to 20 says, Yes, God has given you everything rich to enjoy, but he says, make sure that you don't waste your life. By living in discontent.
By being tricked by the devil to give money a weight it was never meant to have. But you can enjoy it as long as you use it with eternity in mind. Dr. Evans will share a final thought on stewardship and God's goodness. when he returns to wrap up our program in just a moment.
First though, I want to remind you that if you make a contribution right now to help us keep Tony's teaching on this station, We'll send you a copy of his powerful Kingdom Stewardship book as our thank you gift. and along with it, you'll also get his current two-volume teaching series, an in-depth study guide, and access to downloadable video teaching sessions from doctor Evans. The Kingdom Stewardship Resource Bundle is one of the largest collections we've offered. and it's only available as a special offer here in the first half of January.
So contact us today at tonyevans.org to make the arrangements. Or call 1-800-800-3222. where the friendly people on our resource team are available day and night to help you. That's 1-800-800-3222 or or online at tonyevans.org. And one more quick mention, this October our listeners will have the opportunity to journey through Israel with Tony Evans.
Standing in places like Jerusalem, Nazareth, and the Sea of Galilee as a way of bringing God's Word into clearer focus. You can find out more when you visit us at tonyevans.org. When it comes to giving, some people can obviously afford bigger gifts than others. But on Monday, doctor Evans points out that what you give Matters less than why you give. Right now, he's back with this Perspective-Changing Counsel to close out today's lesson.
So here's your assignment in preparation for the right perspective. Go to a junkyard. Just go to a junkyard. Because that's where everything winds up. Don't put your hope in stuff that's gonna wind up in a junkyard.
Maximize your potential. Enjoy the goodness of God in your life. But don't become conceited. Don't become discontent. Be grateful and be helpful and give God all the glory so he can give you all the life.
you were meant to have.
