The sermon titled "God Owns the Whole Pie" is part of the "Give Thanks" series at Refinery West McKinley. It emphasizes that stewardship is not merely about managing money but is fundamentally about discipleship. The central idea is that everything belongs to God, and recognizing this shifts our perspective on life, leading to a posture of gratitude.
The sermon draws from Psalm 24:1-6, highlighting that the earth and everything in it is the Lord's, and from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, illustrating the responsibility of stewardship.
1. **The Responsibility of Stewardship**:
We are called to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us, whether it be money, time, or talents. The parable of the talents teaches that God rewards faithfulness and expects us to use our resources wisely for His glory.
2. **The Reality of God’s Ownership**:
Understanding stewardship begins with recognizing God's ownership of everything. King David's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty serves as a model for us to see all we have as belonging to God.
3. **The Response of Trust**:
Stewardship is integral to the Christian life. We are to be trustworthy stewards, managing God's resources faithfully. This includes prioritizing God over money and not allowing ambition or the pursuit of wealth to become our master.
The sermon challenges listeners to evaluate their lives and decisions, asking whether they reflect loyalty to God or to worldly success. It encourages redefining success to value generosity, rest, relationships, and spiritual growth over constant productivity. The application frame shifts the question from "What should I do with my money?" to "God, what do You want me to do with Your money?"