Biblical Finance part 9 - Idolatry
Idolatry: The Enemy of Stewardship
I. INTRODUCTION
Why does God call Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac?
The enemies of stewardship: various forms of idolatry
II. HOW GIFTS BECOME IDOLS
"These men have taken their idols into their hearts." -Ezekiel 14:3
An idol "is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give" - Tim Keller
Ill. WHY IDOLS ARE EVIL
Idols are enemies of stewardship; idols are enemies of God.
Parable of the talents: the actions of the servants mattered not because of the money at stake but because the Master's glory was at stake.
Viewing stewardship through a lens of results vs. a lens of faith.
Implications:
A warning
An encouragement
IV. HOW CAN I FIND IDOLATRY IN MY HEART?
Normal means of grace: Scripture, Holy Spirit, Church, Circumstances, Behavior (fruit of the Spirit).
Some questions to ask:
Can I imagine being content if things turn out differently than I hope?
Is my fear out of proportion to the situation?
Am I a faithful steward today?
Do I feel I'm better than others because of my stewardship?
Do I feel God's cheated me out of what was rightfully mine?
What are my most unyielding emotions?
Where am I not being a good steward?
V. FIGHTING IDOLATRY
Reactive: Repentance
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people' Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."7 Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Recognize
Desire to Disappointment (verse 2a)
Disobedience (verse 2b)
Adultery (verse 4)
Act
Submit (verse 7)
Confess (verse 8b)
Result
Exaltation (verse 10)
Proactive: Faith and Enjoyment Faith
Trusting God in times of deprivation
Generosity
Enjoyment
"Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer." - I Timothy 4:4
