Momentum in Our Finances Part 5

(I am taught three sessions at a local Christian Conference called Momentum on March 19.  The first session dealt with our finances and using them for God's Kingdom.  I have broken the talk up into 5 different sections.  This is part number 5.)

In these uncertain economic times it is hard to trust God.  There are always seems to be more bills to pay than there is money to pay them.  Yet I believe it is  only by trusting God can we experience momentum in our finances.  To have momentum in our finances means that we have the financial freedom to use our money for the good of God's Kingdom.  This requires that we will be good stewards of what God has blessed us with and that we will be generous with His resources.

To build up momentum in our finances doesn’t begin with creating a budget or making the right investments, though those things are important, but it begins by having a new perspective on our finances. Ultimately our finances aren’t about satisfying our needs and wants, but it is about using our finances in the light of God’s Kingdom. This is the big idea that I want you to take away from this series of ponderings: Our finances are an avenue through which God enables us to bless other people. God has made us stewards of this wealth so we will manage it well and bless the world with it.

I know that this is difficult to do when we see all the financial obligations, the needs, and even the wants before us. We want to know how to increase our wealth, and I think God is telling many of us, “Learn to manage what you have now well.” It will not be easy and it will go against our instincts, but that is our responsibility. That is why it comes back to trusting God to provide for our needs. If we do not trust God to provide, then we will never experience momentum, using our wealth for God’s Kingdom, in our finances. Instead we will find ourselves enslaved to debt, desire, and fear. I want to leave you with the words of the apostle Paul to Timothy:

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19; NLT)

Only by experiencing momentum in our finances can we truly use our financial resources for good in this world.

Momentum in Our Finances Part 4

(I am teaching three sessions at a local Christian Conference called Momentum on March 19.  The first session deals with our finances and using them for God's Kingdom.  I have broken the talk up into 5 different sections.  This is part number 4.)

To have momentum in our finances means to have the financial freedom to use our money for God's Kingdom.  In these tight and troubling economic times it is difficult to feel like we are able to do that.  Financial freedom begins with trusting God.  There are two thoughts connected with trusting God with our money.  The first thought is that we have been called to be stewards.  Too many of us see ourselves as consumers rather than stewards and so we don't live disciplined financial lives and we pile up debt.  Remember we are managing God's wealth.

The second thought is: We are called to be generous. Followers of Jesus Christ are not to hoard the gifts we receive from God, but we are to share those gifts with other people. As responsible stewards we are to direct God’s resources so they can benefit other people. This is what we see in Acts 2:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47; NLT)

These early Christians shared what they had with one another so the people who were in need would not be in want. The reason they lived this way was because they didn’t see what they owned as their personal property, rather it belonged to God. So the extra coat in the closest wasn’t their coat, but it was God’s coat, and they were responsible for making sure it was put to good use.

The concept of being generous is tied to our giving. One of the commands God has given to His stewards is to give. Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount said; “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow” (Matthew 5:42; NLT). It isn’t up to us to ferret out the swindlers from the truly needy (though I do think wisdom needs to be involved in our giving, but it is better to error on the side of being duped), it is up to us to give to those in need. That doesn’t mean that we give the person exactly what they ask for, but rather what we can afford to give or what we think will best meet their need. Peter and John didn't have money to give to the crippled beggar (Acts 3:6), but through the Holy Spirit they had the ability to heal the man. So maybe it is buying groceries for the person rather than simply giving them money or giving a person a ride rather than allowing them to use your extra car. They might reject your help, but that is on them and not on your lack of generosity.

We also give to share in the work of the Church. We are not all called into the same level of ministry, and that is okay, because we are all part of one big body, and the body needs the talents, gifts, and resources of each member. It is proper then for people not called into paid ministry to provide for those who are. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 reads:

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” (NLT)

It is not a bad thing to have a ministry staff that gets paid for their efforts. In fact it is a very beneficial thing because it provides for a division of labor. The person who is paid is freed to use their time teaching, preaching, studying, and praying. It is in this manner that we can become partners with those people doing the work of ministry. In Philippians 1:3-6 Paul writes:

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,  for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (NLT)

The primary way the Philippians have partnered with Paul in his mission is through their financial support. They gave the fruit of the labors to Paul so Paul could spend his time preaching, teaching, and praying. So while we might not be gifted in these areas of service, we can make it possible for those who are to focus their lives in doing ministry.

So how much should we give? That is the question we want to know. There are many thoughts out there on this topic, and I will share mine. The standard for giving that runs through Scripture is generosity. The Law laid out that this generosity began with a tithe, 10% of the first fruits of a person’s labor, but there was other giving required according to the Law so the poor would be taken care of, the needs of the priests met, and sins atoned for. Remember a sacrifice was an additional expense families had to pay in order to worship God.

I think a good rule of thumb would be 10% of our income be given to our local church families for the purpose of supporting the ministries they have decided are important (local ministries and mission work), but that our are giving also includes supporting missions, ministries, and organizations that we think are important.

This concept of generosity is also tied to our hospitality. Peter writes; Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay (1 Peter 4:9; NLT). Paul writes; When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13; NLT). We need to open up our homes and set a table for people so they can share in the abundance that God has given to us.

 In God’s Kingdom our homes do not become our castles where we hide behind the walls from the rest of the world, instead they become places of rest and refuge for people traveling through the world. We should pray that our homes be a place of love, light, truth, and rest so that the people who visit us will be blessed by being there. We need to be willing to open our homes to other people, because we remember our houses are not ours but rather God’s property.

Why can we generous with what we have? Because we trust that God will provide for our needs. Paul writes to the Philippians:

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:18-19; NLT)

God is able to provide for all of our needs through His glorious power. When we are generous we are able to experience that power at work in our lives providing for what we need.

Momentum in Our Finances Part 3

(I am teaching three sessions at a local Christian Conference called Momentum on March 19.  The first session deals with our finances and using them for God's Kingdom.  I have broken the talk up into 5 different sections.  This is part number 3.)

In these uncertain economic times, when prices get higher and our bank accounts get lower, it is important to trust God.  Only by trusting God can we experience momentum in our finances.  What do I mean by that?  When we trust God we discover the freedom to use our financial resources for the glory of God's Kingdom.  What does it look like to trust God with our finances?  Let me give you two thoughts.

The first thought is: We are called to be stewards. We are the recipients of a number of great blessings from God. Paul wrote:

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (Romans 12:6-8; NLT)

The apostle Paul tells us that God has given each of us gifts and our responsibility is to use those gifts to the best of our ability. Peter has this same thought in 1 Peter 4:10-11:

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. (NLT)

In essence this is what stewardship is all about. Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care, and that is exactly what the two apostles tell us to do with the gifts that we are given, which includes our money.

The key to this is remembering that the things in our possession are ultimately not ours, but they are on loan from God, for everything is His. It is up to us to use what we have been given for His purposes. Now stop and consider for a moment what that means, not only for your money, but all your possessions. Yes, some of these things are necessary for life, but that doesn’t give us the freedom to be wasteful or sinful with what we have. The bottom line is that many of us struggle with our finances because we forget that we are just stewards of God’s resources.

That is why the #1 thing we must do when it comes to being good stewards of God’s financial resources is to live by a budget. What happens when we don’t live by a budget, and I know this from personal experience, is that our money slips through our fingers in small but non-essential purchases. A budget gives us the ability to direct our money to go where we want it to go, in a prayerful and thoughtful way, rather than letting it go through impulse or immediate gratification.

If we are going to be good stewards of God’s resources not only do we need to live by a budget, but we also need to avoid debt. The major contributor to our present economic crisis is debt. We are under the false impression that a healthy economy requires many consumers, and that even if people go into debt in order to consume it is a good thing because the money that will flow from the consumption will cause job creation.

One of the reasons we know this to be false is because a lifestyle of credit and debt is unsustainable. We cannot continue to spend tomorrow’s money today without having to face the consequences of those decisions. Debt is what happens when we see ourselves as consumers rather than stewards. As God’s people we are called to avoid debt. Consider this from Proverbs: The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender (Proverbs 22:7; ESV). In other words when we are in debt, when we have used money that was not in our possession, our time and money belongs to the person who lent us the money, and usually the privilege of borrowing comes with a fee (interest). How much of your monthly budget goes to pay-off past obligations that you are now responsible for?

Debt restricts how we can use the financial resources God sends our way. No wonder the apostle Paul wrote: Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law (Romans 13:8; NLT). Now we might want to justify ourselves and say that we need to have credit in our society, but that just isn’t the case. Yes, much of our society is now built on the assumption of people using credit, but we do not have to live that way. In fact, what God wants us to understand is that good stewards refuse to go into debt, let alone allow the debt/credit cycle be a way of life.

Just as an aside, since this reality isn't something we consider, is that credit also inflates prices.  In other words the easy availability of credit makes things more expensive then they need to be. The reason it does this is because easy credit creates artificial demand. That is in part what happened to the housing market, easy credit was extended to people which enabled more people to buy houses, which created what seemed to be this huge market for houses, so existing house prices skyrocketed in value and new homes were built to satisfy this apparent demand. The reality was that there wasn’t enough real money to support that demand, and thus you had the housing market bubble burst. The best thing to do is buy with your savings, which is the essence of free market capitalism.

God has given us the gift of wealth and we are to be good managers of that wealth. That means we are to use it for His purposes first and foremost and it also means that we should not be wasteful of it. Our money ultimately isn’t ours, but it is a loan from God. May we manage it well.

Momentum in Our Finances Part 2

(I am teaching three sessions at a local Christian Conference called Momentum on March 19.  The first session deals with our finances and using them for God's Kingdom.  I have broken the talk up into 5 different sections.  This is part number 2.)

In this climate of economic uncertainty we need to take to heart Jesus’s teaching on wealth:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:19-34; NLT)

I think three truths should pop out at us from this passage. The first is that material wealth is not the most important thing, because they are just temporary. The second is that we can trust God to provide for our needs, just as He provides for the needs of flowers and birds. The third truth is that we don’t need to be worried about tomorrow, rather we should seek God’s Kingdom above all else. If we are going to have momentum in our finances it begins at this point: Trusting God.  You don't know what tomorrow holds, but we can know the One who holds tomorrow.

What I want to do with the rest of this series  is to offer two thoughts that flow out of trusting God in the realm of our finances: (1) We are called to be stewards.  (2) We are called to be generous.