God and Money: Five Principles for Handling Our Possessions (Offer Thanks)

As we leave this holiday season, a lot of people find themselves facing some finance stress as they enter the new year. And for that reason, we’ve started a five-week sermon series entitled God and Money: Five Principles for Handling Our Possessions. Using the Bible as a  guide, we’ll focus on the following actions that God calls us to take as we consider the material possessions he’s given us. 

• January 14 - Offer Thanks
• January 21 - Give Generously
• January 28 - Seek Contentment
• February 4 - Work Hard
• February 11 - Stay Humble

During the first service, we talked about how we can offer thanks to God for what we have and are able to earn. The text and recording of the sermon is below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Now for us, Christmas has been over for a few weeks now. And since last Sunday, the church has been de-decorated for the most part, and even though one of the de-decorators said that taking it all down is a lot easier than putting it all up, let’s get real, it’s not nearly as fun. And even though, as Debbie, Maggie and I fought through all the snow coming down on Friday evening driving to New Bethlehem because Maggie wanted to have dinner at Joe’s, even though as we went, we passed a few houses that still had their Christmas lights up and on, those houses were few and far between. For the most part, Christmas has been taken down and packed away. Man, even Walmart has shifted to Valentines Day. As a matter of fact, there really seems to be only one tangible reminder of the 2023 holiday season. And of course, I’m talking about all the bills that still need to be paid. I guess you can say that, like the Jelly of the Month Club, bills really are the Christmas gift that just keeps on giving. 

And I’ll tell you, for that reason, I thought this might be a perfect opportunity to spend a little time talking about a topic that’s generally avoided in most churches, except, that is, during what’s called stewardship season, and I’m talking about the topic of God and money, and specifically, what the Bible has to say about how we might handle our material possessions. And even though this focus often makes some Christians pretty uncomfortable, when you look at scripture, it’s actually really appropriate. I mean, did y’all realize, there are well over 2,500 verses in the Bible that talk about money and wealth and possessions. And remember, not only did Jesus focus on money in about 15% of all his preaching and in 11 of his 39 parables, he also said these famous words that most church-goers know by heart:

You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money. [Matthew 6:24, CEV]

Now according to Jesus, that’s just the way it is. Let’s just say, how we handle our material possessions is a big deal in the Bible. And so, with that in mind we’re going to look at five Biblical principles that I think just might help us as we consider all the stuff that we have. 

And this morning, we’re going to start by looking at what may be the most important of them all, and right now, I’m talking about how we should offer thanks for all the stuff we’ve already received. And to do that, we’ll follow a structure that we’re going to use for the next five weeks. I mean, first, we’re going to look at the why, why it’s important to offer thanks for our material possessions. And then, second, we’ll focus on the how, you know, how we can actually do it. Now that’s the plan.

And like I said, we’ll start by looking at why offering thanks is really important. In other words, as we look at all the stuff we have, why should we show gratitude to God at all? And you know, when you think about, in a world that emphasizes that there really shouldn’t be anything like a free lunch and that we really should get what we pay for and that financial success really should be the result of a sharp mind and a strong back and hard work, I mean, that’s what capitalism is all about,  right? Man, if that’s what I believe, well, giving thanks for what I’ve earned myself, well, that just seems wrong, probably socialistic. And yet, as we’ll see, giving thanks to God is a big deal in the Bible. And you know, I think that’s the case, because giving thanks actually affects us in three really important ways.

For example, first, according to what it says in Scripture, I believe offering thanks to God can focus our attention. You see, it can sort of direct our minds and our thoughts to something that’s beyond ourselves. As a matter of fact, it can actually force us to recognize that there’s something far greater than us, something which gives us the ability to do and to be and to earn. And I’ll tell you, I think that’s exactly what King David, a guy who literally had it all, recognized when he led the people in saying this:

I praise you forever, Lord! You are the God our ancestor Jacob worshiped. Your power is great, and your glory is seen everywhere in heaven and on earth. You are king of the entire world, and you rule with strength and power. You make people rich and powerful and famous. We thank you, our God, and praise you. [1 Chronicles 29:10b-13, CEV]

You see, for David, it was God who deserved both thanks and praise. But this kind of focus wasn’t just for kings. Just listen to one of the songs that ordinary people would sing as they approached the Temple in Jerusalem:

Shout praises to the Lord,

    everyone on this earth.

Be joyful and sing

as you come in

    to worship the Lord!

You know the Lord is God!

He created us,

    and we belong to him;

we are his people,

    the sheep in his pasture.

Be thankful and praise the Lord

    as you enter his temple.

The Lord is good!

His love and faithfulness

    will last forever. [Psalm 100, CEV]

You see, in both passages, the very act of giving thanks and praise became a testimony to God, didn’t it? And I’ll tell you, that can be the same for us. Why; because offering thanks to God can focus our attention. And for me, that’s the first reason why it’s important.

And second, I believe it can also strengthen our faith. And you know, that just makes sense. I mean, the more we focus our attention on God and the more we make the decision to direct our gratitude to him and the more we recognize that God is the ultimate source of everything we have, the stronger our faith is going to become. In other words, as we appreciate everything that God has done and is doing for us, the easier it’ll be to trust him right now and to trust him as we move into the future. And I’ll tell you, I think that was something the Apostle Paul understood when he wrote this to Colossians:

You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful. [Colossians 2:6-7, CEV]

You see, for him, gratitude and faith were linked. And based on what he wrote to the Philippians, our thoughts and feelings are also tied up with our thanks. Just listen to what he said:

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. [Philippians 4:6-7, CEV]

You see, not only does thanks focus our vision, it also reinforces our ability to trust. Why; because offering thanks to God can strengthen our faith. And in my opinion, that’s the second reason it’s important. 

And third (and I’ll tell you, this one is really interesting), I believe every time we offer to God our thanks, it can change our attitude. In other words, I think it changes the way we feel on the inside. And because of that, it changes the way we’re seen from the outside. For example, I believe that thanking God for who we are and what we have can move us from grumbling to gratitude. And it can move us from being extremely dissatisfied to being more content. I mean, it can move us from complaining and griping and moaning about what we want to acknowledging and appreciating and treasuring what we already have. You see, we are changed when we decide to give thanks. And you know, I think that’s why Paul could write this, again to the Philippians:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless. [Philippians 2:14-16, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul wrote. And I believe this is also the reason he could say this to the Thessalonians:

Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, CEV]

I’m telling you, I really believe that food actually tastes a little better and that work actually becomes a little easier and that friends and family are valued a whole lot more, when we thank God for the stuff and the abilities and the people he’s brought into our lives. Why; because offering thanks to God can change our attitude. And along with focusing our attention and strengthening our faith, that’s why it’s important. 

And as to the how, you know, how we can offer thanks for our material possessions, well, I think there are two pretty clear ways we can do it. For example, on one hand, we can certainly express our gratitude to God through the words that we use. I mean, we’ve already read some scripture about giving praise and thanks verbally as we consider everything God has done and is doing. You see, thanks is something we can say; in fact, it’s something we can shout. And I’ll tell you, that verbal expression can come in a variety of ways and can be offered in several different forms. And although we can certainly thank God all by ourselves, whether through singing or praying or even preaching, I think worship is the perfect time and place for letting God know how much we appreciate him. For instance, just listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything. [Ephesians 5:19-20, CEV]

And according to what he said to the Colossians:

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him. [Colossians 3:15-17, CEV]

Now that was what Paul wrote about offering thanks, and I’ll tell you, there are all kinds of other examples. As a matter of fact, throw a dart at the Psalms; there’s a better than even chance you’ll hit one about offering praise. You see, on one hand, we can certainly offer our thanks to God through the words we use. 

But you know, on the other hand, I think there’s another way to show God just how thankful we are and to be completely honest, it’s one that we might be tempted to overlook. You see, I think we can also express our thanks to God through the works that we choose to do. And even though the expression is directed toward God, the actual work is done right here, for and with the people whom God has led into our lives. And I’ll tell you, that just makes sense. I mean, remember, in his letter, James wrote this:

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show you really do have faith? Can this kind of faith save you? If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn't just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! [James 2:14-17, CEV]

I guess, it’s pretty much impossible to be truly thankful to the one whom we trust, if we stand still and silent in the face of human need even though we have the ability to help. In fact, we become no better than Marley’s ghost who, as y’all might remember, was not only burdened with chains; he was also cursed to see pain and suffering while lacking the power to make a difference. Faith without works is dead. And you know, that probably explains why Peter wrote this in his first letter:

Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen. [1 Peter 4:10-11, CEV]

Now that was what Peter wrote. And I’ll tell you, when we decide to use our talents, and when we decide to use our time and when we decide to use our possessions in service to others, I believe we’re showing God just how much we appreciate the gifts that he’s given. You see, it’s through the words we use and the works we do, that’s how we can offer our thanks to God.

Of course, this is just one Biblical principle that can shape how we look at what we have. In the coming weeks, we’ll talk about some other suggestions I think we can find in scripture. But like I said a little while ago, showing gratitude may be the most important, because it can focus our attention and strengthen our faith and change our attitude. And as we’ve seen, we can actually express our appreciation through the words that we use and the works that we do. And so, as we consider how we might handle our material possessions, let’s decide that, intentionally and enthusiastically, we’re going to offer thanks.