THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
FEBRUARY 11TH, 2007
A HEALTHIER AND WEALTHIER LIFE
Introduction: Solomon emphasizes to his son the importance of a God-centered life on a person’s health and wealth.
I. A God-centered life will make you healthier than a self-centered life.
A. “Be not wise in thine own eyes.” (7)
1. Don’t allow worldly wisdom to make you conceited.
2. Worldly wisdom can effect the way you view yourself.
- “in thine own eyes.”
3. The irony of worldly wisdom is that it can make you unwise when it comes to your view of yourself.
B. “Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” (7)
1. A healthy respect for God produces holy living.
2. “Depart from evil” means a willful decision to leave the presence of sin.
C. The result of not being wise in your own eyes, fearing God, and departing from evil, is physical health.
1. The term “health to thy navel” refers to a medicine.
2. The term “marrow to thy bones” refers to your body structure.
D. These are general principles that teach us that a godly life has healthy benefits.
II. A God-centered life will make you wealthier than a self-centered life. (9-10)
A. “Honour the Lord with thy substance.” (9)
1. Your material possessions should honour the Lord.
2. What you have, and how you take care of it, should bring honor to the Lord.
B. “with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” (9)
1. Solomon is referring to the Old Testament tithe of giving 10% back into the work and worship of the Lord.
2. Jacob did this in Genesis 28:22.
C. If you honor the Lord with your possessions, and give back to the Lord a portion of what He has given you, then God promises to take care of you. (10)
III. In the New Testament, honoring the Lord with your substance is called STEWARDSHIP.
- see I Corinthians 4:1-2
A. What is stewardship?
- Managing what you possess but God owns.
B. What do you possess that God owns? (The 5 T’s)
1. Time (Psalm 90:12)
2. Talents (Ephesians 4:7-13)
3. Temple (body) (I Corinthians 6:19)
4. Testimony (Revelation 1:2)
5. Treasure (money and the things money can buy) ( Proverbs 3:9-10)
C. Matthew 6:33 is the New Testament equivalent of Proverbs 3:9-10.
1. “These THINGS shall be added unto you.”
- Time, Talents, Temple, Testimony, and Treasure
2. Christian leadership is using your 5T’s to help other Christians reach their potentials.
Conclusion: A God-centered life, as described by Solomon, is the best life you can live.