The Principle of Provision

Matthew 6:19-21 NLT
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and
rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your
treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and
thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there
the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:24 NLT
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the
other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot
serve both God and money.”
3 Types of Thinking in the Body of Christ as It Pertains to
Money:

1. POVERTY THEOLOGY
2. PROSPERITY THEOLOGY
3. STEWARDSHIP THEOLOGY
   Ecclesiastes 9:16 NKJ
   Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor
   man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
   Proverbs 22:7 NKJ
   The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the
   lender.
   Matthew 25:14-30 NKJ
   “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far
   country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to
   them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another
   one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on
   a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded
   with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had
   received two gained two more also. But he who had received one
   went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long
   time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
   So he who had received five talents came and brought five other
   talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have
   gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him,
   ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few
   things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of
   your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said,
   ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more
   talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and
   faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make
   you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Then he
   who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to
   be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering
   where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and
   hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But
   his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you
   knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not
   scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the
   bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with
   interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who
   has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he
   will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he
   has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the
   outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

3 Things to Understand About Stewardship:

1. God gives us money according to our abilities to handle it.
2. God expects us to use our talent to produce an increase.
3. God will take our talent away if we don’t use it and give it to
   someone who will.

4 Practical Stewardship Rules to Operate in God’s Provision:

1. You must develop a skill that matches your gifting with something
   that meets a need relevant to the times.
   Proverbs 13:4 NKJ
   The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the
   diligent shall be made rich.
   Proverbs 10:4 NKJ
   He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent
   makes rich.
   Proverbs 21:5 NLT
   Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts
   lead to poverty.
   Proverbs 22:29 NKJ
   Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings;
   he will not stand before unknown men.
2. You must develop a lifestyle that is simple and sacrificial in the
   early stages.
   Proverbs 21:17 NLT
   Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and
   luxury will never be rich.
   Pattern of Truly Wealthy in God:
   • Frugal – live below their means
   • Have a plan a follow it
   • Vocationally aligned
   • Not trapped by social status (not trying to flaunt wealth)
   Proverbs 13:7 NIV
   One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to
   be poor, yet has great wealth.
3. You must develop a financial strategy that makes your money work
   for you and not against you.
   Proverbs 21:20 TLB
   The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends
   whatever he gets.
   Proverbs 13:11 NIV
   Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by
   little makes it grow.
   What Happens When You Invest:
   at age 21
   • $5,000 yr. invested for 44 yrs.
   • by age 65 = $220,000 plus interest $832,079 = $1,052,029.00
   at age 31
   • $5,000 yr. invested for 34 yrs.
   • by age 65 = $170,000 plus interest $365,918 = $540,918
   at age 41
   • $5,000 yr. invested for 24 yrs.
   • by age 65 = $120,000 plus interest $140,000 = $260,397
4. You must establish a lifestyle of generosity that keeps God’s hand
   in everything you’re doing.
   Proverbs 11:24-25 NLT
   Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
   The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves
   be refreshed.
   Proverbs 22:9 NIV
   The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food
   with the poor.
   2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NKJ
   But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he
   who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each
   one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
   for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace
   abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in
   all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is
   written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His
   righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to
   the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you
   have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness…