Striking the Cord?
What is the Most Shunned Bible Subject? And Why?

Many pastors do not want to teach on this topic and if they do teach it, it’s usually reluctantly, unless they are the covetous beguilers who “make merchandise of you” that we are warned us in God’s Word (2 Peter 2:1-3). The reason God-fearing under-shepherds do not wish to teach this Bible subject is that when they do they will inevitably be falsely accused by those whose hearts are struck with conviction.

The fact that beguilers have used their place of leadership to garner illicit gains from their audiences does nothing to negate what God’s Word teaches about stewardship or His promises for those who obey Him in being generous givers (Proverbs 11:24-26, etc.). Like it or not, the Bible is the most complete, authoritative, severe, exciting, and inviting resource on the planet concerning stewardship. The One who owns all and before whom all shall stand to give account will mete out the severest of judgments on those who squander their resources and eternal and abundant rewards for those rightly steward.

In seeking to disclose the full-counsel of our LORD’s Word, we are blessed teach on literally dozens of biblical subjects – subjects addressed by GOD Himself in HIS Word (Acts 20:20, 27). In fact, there are 150 categories on this ministry site. Yet, there is one particular subject, addressed over 2,500 times in God’s Word that strikes a cord with certain people. When a person dares to preach from the very Word of God on stewardship, some who are serving mammon and not Christ explode. A cord is struck inside them. Conviction hits them as the light of truth exposes their greed, hoarding, and idolatry. Why? – Well, you have touched that which is most important to them – their money. Greed idolaters have the “Don’t you dare touch my mammon. It’s MINE!!!!! I worked hard for it!!! It’s a “MINE, MINE, MINE!!” complex. They guard what is most important to them – their money. God will judge (James 5:5-7; Mark 10:23-25; Luke 12:13-31; 15:19-40, etc.).  Their obsession with money clearly points to their idolatry of self in lieu of Christ. THIS is why God spoke so very often of this truth of stewardship!

God has a perfect plan and we see that plan in action in the earliest of His saints. Go look here – Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35.

When we individually steward our resources the way God has laid out very clearly in His Word, there will be no lack and eternal rewards will abound to all who participate (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8-9).

The humble repent and hearken and conform in obedience to Christ’s truth.

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” Proverbs 1:5

Increasing learning and growing in Christ requires that we hearken to His correction, purging, and chastening (John 15:1-6; Hebrews 12:5-12; Revelation 3:19).

“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. ³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” Proverbs 15:31-32

Being corrected is a way of life for true disciples:

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 6:23

If we dare to cover our sins, vainly seeking to hide from He who sees all, instead of repenting of them, there will be dismal results, stunted growth, and pending judgment.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

In fact, the righteous will rejoice and count it a blessing to be rebuked by God’s Word and messengers:

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”  Psalms 141:5

When cords are struck in us, it’s because they need to be struck. When a cord is struck in a person due to the preaching of God’s Word, they usually attack the messenger and yet, that doesn’t change the divine truth nor will they escape the Judge of their eternal souls who told us that those who do not rightly steward their lives will hear from Him – “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels … And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:40-46)

Just what did Jesus teach about this? Well, He taught much and it’s all over the Gospels. Here’s a sampling:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ²² The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye (focus) be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. ²³ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! ²⁴ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24

The way an individual spends his money is a direct reflection of the priorities of that person’s heart and life.

It’s simple: Either we take control of our finances OR they will continue to control us and be out of control!

Bad stewardship always points to self-idolatry.
Satan is all about self and so are those who put self first instead of putting the LORD Most High first priority (Isaiah 14:12-15).  Our worship is proven in who gets the first portion of what God allows them to earn. What does “FIRST” mean in honoring God in Proverbs 3:9-10? Who’s truly first in your life?

WHO’s first when you get paid? Is it YOU or is it the ONE who gave you that money? Are you forgetting God?  (Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalms 9:17; 50:22)

WHY is this subject evaded? It’s evaded by some because it touches the depth of who they really are and who they are truly serving and who they are denying. Stewardship tests a person’s loyalty, allegiance, and salvation. Our financial expenditures reveal our true allegiance. – “For WHERE your treasure is (where you put your money) THERE will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16

Evading This Biblical Topic will not Make it Go Away – That’s Right. We are all going to stand before God to specifically give account for our stewardship – for omission and commission. Read Matthew 24-25 and Luke 12 and 16.

As you read these words of the Son of God, consider how all these things are connected – stewardship, trusting God and not worrying at all about provision for the future, and being ready for Christ’s soon return. Take these words and warnings to heart and do them:

“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. ¹⁴ And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. ¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹ So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. ²² And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. ²³ The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? ²⁵ And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? ²⁶ If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? ²⁹ And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. ³⁰ For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. ³¹ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. ³² Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵ Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; ³⁶ And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. ³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸ And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹ And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰ Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:13-40

Giving to God FIRST, right off the top of our finances, always brings the blessing of a clear conscience and the divine promise of being blessed (Proverbs 3:9-10). The happiest people I know are those who do this. The LORD Jesus is watching (Mark 12:41-44). Try it!

Stewardship

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