"Every Good Thing..." Date: November 1, 1998 Series: "Financial Freedom God's Way" Message: "Financial Freedom-God's Part" Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34 Time: About 5 minutes Concept: Two men talking at work...one boasts about his new vehicle. The other comments how thankful he must be to have something like that, leading to the first saying it was all by his own effort. The resulting conversation shows how every good thing we have is ultimately a gift from God... Scene: Break room at work... Steve: (entering) Morning, Tom! Tom: Morning, Steve! How come you're so bright and chipper today? Steve: Come over here by the door and look! (they walk over to the "door" where they can look out) Look at that baby! On-the-fly four wheel drive, heavy duty hauling package, racing stripes...ah-ooo! Look at my new mean machine! Tom: Nice looking pickup, Steve! You'll have to give me a test ride this weekend. Bet having a nice rig like that sure makes you count your blessings. Steve: Count what blessings? Tom: Count your blessings, as in being grateful to God to be able to have it. Steve: Wait a minute...I earned and paid for that truck with these two hard-working hands. Nobody did it but me. If I'm going to be grateful, I've got only myself to thank. Tom: I know you worked hard to earn the money to be the truck, Steve. You're a good worker...I'm just saying that every good thing we have is ultimately a gift from God to be thankful for. Steve: I don't follow...what does God have to do with my money and my new truck? Hey...my money is my money...God doesn't have anything to do with it. Tom: Really?! (points up) Look up there, Steve. Who makes sure that sun comes up every morning? Who makes sure the rains come to grow the crops to feed us? Who's given us this beautiful creation to enjoy riding around in our 4 wheel drive pickups? Steve: OK, you got a point there. I can see God at work in nature-the sun, moon, stars and all that stuff. But what does a God Who's way out there somewhere have anything to do with my life? Tom: Great question. Who designed these bodies we've got so our heart beats and we breathe regularly without even thinking about it? Who gave you a brain to think with--most of the time, at least--and those strong hands to do your work so you can earn your money so you can buy your truck so you can enjoy His great creation? He's given you all those gifts whether you use them to honor Him or not. Like I said, every good thing is ultimately a gift from God. What we do with those gifts is our choice...and even our ability to choose is a gift from Him. Steve: OK, I can see where you're coming from. God gave me the ability to work...I guess that's something to be grateful for. Tom: Just think how easily we could lose that ability...I'm grateful every day just to be able to walk and talk and get around. But even if I couldn't, I'd still be grateful. Steve: You would? How come? Tom: Because God's gifts go beyond my material possessions and physical health. He loves me no matter what...and His greatest gift to me is His gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Our houses and pickup trucks won't last forever... Steve: That's for sure. This truck probably won't even last as long as my payments to the bank. Tom: Yup. But God's gifts do. The One who hung the stars in space and calls every one by name loves us and cares about our lives. Steve: You really know God like that? You really think He cares about how we live and spend our money and what we do with our lives? Tom: I didn't always know God...but I've come to know Him...and I'm finding out how much He really cares about me and my life. He cares about you and your family, too, Steve. Steve: (thoughtful) Wow...hadn't really thought of things like this before. Guess I do have a lot to be grateful for. (looks up) Hey God...thanks for giving me the ability to work so I could buy that truck. (turns to Tom teasingly) Hey, you don't think He'd like to go 4 wheeling with me, do you? Tom: (smiles) Bet He would. Why don't you ask Him? -end- 2 2