WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.660 In our study through the book of Acts, we came 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:07.860 to that challenging portion at the end of chapter 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:11.919 4, which records the generous, spontaneous giving 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:16.480 of those early believers filled with the Spirit 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:21.019 of God. And it seemed to lead us into a study 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:26.160 of biblical principles regarding finances. So 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:30.559 many are struggling with matters of finance, 00:00:30.890 --> 00:00:34.750 that there is not the kind of freedom there ought 00:00:34.750 --> 00:00:38.210 to be, in many lives at least, to respond to 00:00:38.210 --> 00:00:42.729 the Holy Spirit when He leads one to give generously 00:00:42.729 --> 00:00:47.369 to a cause. Today we're going to finish the message 00:00:47.369 --> 00:00:52.090 on God's principles of family finance. You will 00:00:52.090 --> 00:00:54.070 recall that there's a great deal in the Bible 00:00:54.070 --> 00:00:57.590 about this subject of money. It is said that 00:00:57.590 --> 00:01:02.280 two -thirds of the Marital and family problems 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:05.599 are related to it. And so since the Word of God 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:09.060 has so much to say about a problem that is so 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:11.840 common, it is good for us to at least take a 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:15.359 couple of weeks to see what God says regarding 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:20.340 finances. With apologies to Bill Bright, who 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:23.359 made this statement, or one like it, popular. 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:27.340 We begin by saying this, that God loves you and 00:01:27.340 --> 00:01:32.159 has a wonderful plan for your finances. God's 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:36.579 plan for your finances can be summarized in certain 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:40.379 principles that we have looked at together. We 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:44.519 have seen four of them. The first one is that 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:47.079 all of us possess wealth and that God gives it 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:51.340 to us. We have defined wealth as whatever God 00:01:51.340 --> 00:01:54.980 entrusts to us. It does not refer just to those 00:01:54.980 --> 00:01:59.500 who are rich as we count riches, but all of us 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:03.879 have some wealth. It may be tangible or it could 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:07.760 be intangible, but anything that has measurable 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:11.860 value can be called wealth. God gives wealth 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:16.080 to us. All of us possess it. God doesn't condemn 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:21.780 wealth. In fact, He gives us the ability to gain 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:26.860 it. through work, through investment, and through 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:30.300 inheritance. The second principle that we've 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:33.900 already studied is that God uses our wealth for 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:37.699 several purposes in our lives. God uses our wealth 00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:43.240 to bless us. God is not stingy. God does not 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:46.979 delight to watch us be miserable. Rather, God 00:02:46.979 --> 00:02:49.860 wants our best, and He delights to bless us, 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:54.340 and He does by increasing our wealth. Secondly, 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.659 God purposes through our wealth to test us on 00:02:57.659 --> 00:03:03.199 occasion, for we are stewards of what belongs 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:08.819 to Him. So He uses our wealth, or sometimes He 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:12.520 withholds our wealth, to reveal our maturity, 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:17.349 our trustworthiness, our wisdom. Thirdly, God 00:03:17.349 --> 00:03:21.969 uses wealth for the purpose of teaching us, teaching 00:03:21.969 --> 00:03:26.770 us of His faithfulness, teaching us of His trustworthiness, 00:03:27.310 --> 00:03:31.830 to teach us about patience on our part. Certainly, 00:03:31.849 --> 00:03:34.250 it is through the giving or the withholding of 00:03:34.250 --> 00:03:37.210 money that God can get our attention real quick. 00:03:38.009 --> 00:03:41.050 So, God uses our wealth for that purpose, to 00:03:41.050 --> 00:03:44.509 teach us lessons. And finally, God uses wealth 00:03:44.509 --> 00:03:48.389 in our lives to make us channels to meet other 00:03:48.389 --> 00:03:53.169 people's needs. He purposes to use us so that 00:03:53.169 --> 00:03:57.069 we can help those who have needs in their lives. 00:03:57.449 --> 00:04:01.330 We then become channels of his resources to his 00:04:01.330 --> 00:04:05.710 people. The third statement or principle that 00:04:05.710 --> 00:04:07.949 we studied regarding finance, and this is where 00:04:07.949 --> 00:04:11.550 we stopped the last time, is that we must beware 00:04:11.550 --> 00:04:15.250 of the dangers of wealth, for there are dangers. 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:18.300 There are three of them that we have counted 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:24.079 together. First, gaining it can become the focus 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:28.939 of our lives. That is a danger. It can become 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:33.660 the controlling, dominating force in our lives, 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:40.220 thus subverting our morality, causing us to use 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:44.120 and manipulate people. to be tempted to destroy 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:48.399 anyone or anything in our way, and above all, 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:53.180 causing us to forget God. Gaining it can become 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:55.540 the focus of our lives. That is a danger that 00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:59.680 we must beware of. A second danger that we've 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:03.800 studied is that possessing it can create anxiety, 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:08.920 or the old word that we're used to, worry. Possessing 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:12.310 it can cause us to worry. The rich man worries 00:05:12.310 --> 00:05:14.490 that he will lose what he has and the poor man 00:05:14.490 --> 00:05:18.329 worries that he won't have enough. We must beware 00:05:18.329 --> 00:05:22.350 of anxiety. Worry about money can destroy our 00:05:22.350 --> 00:05:27.750 minds, our bodies, our souls. It can also create 00:05:27.750 --> 00:05:31.810 tremendous family problems due to stress because 00:05:31.810 --> 00:05:35.649 of the lack of money or to overwork because of 00:05:35.649 --> 00:05:39.160 trying to get enough of it. So possessing it 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:42.360 can, if we allow it to, create anxiety in our 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:46.740 lives. Beware. Then a third danger of wealth 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:51.160 is that failure to manage it can bring one into 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:56.100 bondage. That is, to debt. Now we define debt 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:59.579 as the inability to repay what has been borrowed. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:04.160 If one is meeting his obligations on a loan arrangement, 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.259 that is not debt in the biblical sense. It is 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:11.240 an obligation that one has, but debt occurs when 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:16.379 one has overextended himself. That is financial 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:20.819 bondage, when the liabilities that one has exceed 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:27.399 the assets that one possesses. Debt results in 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:31.899 frustration, unfulfilled needs, and once again, 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:37.050 worry. The question I want to ask as we get started 00:06:37.050 --> 00:06:40.389 this morning after that quick review is how can 00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:43.910 one escape these dangers that we've talked about? 00:06:44.509 --> 00:06:48.370 How can one escape them? Let's talk first about 00:06:48.370 --> 00:06:52.230 the love of money or what the Bible calls covetousness. 00:06:53.250 --> 00:06:57.589 How can one escape loving money? The answer to 00:06:57.589 --> 00:07:03.600 that is by learning to be content. Turn once 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:06.660 again, as we did last time, to 1 Timothy chapter 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:11.160 6. We have here in the final chapter of this 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:15.120 first epistle to Timothy some excellent words 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:19.360 regarding the love of money and how to overcome 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:24.740 that. Paul is speaking about some of the false 00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:29.579 teachers of that day who were after money, and 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:35.300 he says in verse 6, actually is a means of great 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:41.560 gain when accompanied by contentment. Godliness 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:46.000 is its own reward. And he says it is a great 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.879 gain when it is accompanied by contentment. For 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:52.639 we have brought nothing into the world, 1 Timothy 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.920 6, 7, we have brought nothing into the world, 00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:59.420 so we cannot take anything out of it either. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:04.550 And if we have food, covering, that is clothing, 00:08:05.209 --> 00:08:12.670 with these we shall be content. Content. How 00:08:12.670 --> 00:08:16.550 many people do you know who are truly content? 00:08:18.129 --> 00:08:22.370 What does it mean to be content? I think the 00:08:22.370 --> 00:08:26.649 basic Institute on Youth Conflicts has a fine 00:08:26.649 --> 00:08:31.550 working definition of contentment. They say realizing 00:08:31.550 --> 00:08:36.610 that God has given me everything I need for my 00:08:36.610 --> 00:08:42.450 present happiness is contentment. Realizing that 00:08:42.450 --> 00:08:47.750 God has given me everything I need for my present 00:08:47.750 --> 00:08:53.830 happiness, that's contentment. Contentment is 00:08:53.830 --> 00:08:58.259 a sort of self -sufficiency. Not centered upon 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:01.519 oneself, but it is sufficiency within oneself 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:07.620 apart from exterior circumstances of life. That 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:12.500 is contentment. The apostle goes on here in the 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:16.440 word to warn us that those who want to get rich, 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.879 that is those who are not content with what God 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:25.769 has provided, fall into temptation. and a snare, 00:09:25.970 --> 00:09:30.049 and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge 00:09:30.049 --> 00:09:35.149 men into ruin and destruction. For the love of 00:09:35.149 --> 00:09:40.970 money is a root of all sorts of evil. Think of 00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:46.049 how many evils in the world are the product of 00:09:46.049 --> 00:09:50.990 the love of money. Right now, our government 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:54.960 is deeply concerned about what can be done with 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:00.139 the horrendous drug problem in our society. One 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:02.700 of the reports I saw in that this last week said 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:07.000 that a problem they face presently is that whenever 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.600 they arrest the leaders of a group, that there 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:12.919 are immediately people standing in the shadows 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:18.379 who step forward to fill their places. And why 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:27.370 is that? Because of the lucrative results that 00:10:27.370 --> 00:10:30.549 come from preying upon the weaknesses and the 00:10:30.549 --> 00:10:37.049 miseries of sad and tragic people. But the love 00:10:37.049 --> 00:10:40.970 of money causes people to desire to be involved 00:10:40.970 --> 00:10:45.629 in that sort of thing. It is the root of all 00:10:45.629 --> 00:10:49.210 sorts of evil and some by longing for it have 00:10:49.210 --> 00:10:53.230 wandered away from the faith. and pierced themselves 00:10:53.230 --> 00:10:55.450 with many a pang. They can't blame anybody but 00:10:55.450 --> 00:10:58.909 themselves, says the Bible, for the kind of pain 00:10:58.909 --> 00:11:01.289 that they endure. They have pierced themselves 00:11:01.289 --> 00:11:04.070 because of the love of money. How can one escape 00:11:04.070 --> 00:11:08.649 this? Let me give you four suggestions. One can 00:11:08.649 --> 00:11:13.149 escape from covetousness, first of all, by identifying 00:11:13.149 --> 00:11:18.470 his real needs versus his wants. That's a struggle 00:11:18.470 --> 00:11:21.379 for all of us, isn't it? Because it's so easy 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:24.179 for us to put our wants into the category of 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:29.419 what we need. But if we're going to escape covetousness, 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:33.580 we have to be rather ruthless about this thing 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:36.740 as we judge it in our lives and decide what it 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:41.320 is that we really need and what things are there 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:45.620 that we would like to have. The must haves versus 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:50.190 the would likes. I think the way to determine 00:11:50.190 --> 00:11:54.629 one's needs is the answering of this question. 00:11:55.809 --> 00:12:00.509 What must I have to live and to serve the Lord 00:12:00.509 --> 00:12:03.990 Jesus Christ in the place where he has called 00:12:03.990 --> 00:12:08.850 me? The answer to that will vary with the individual. 00:12:09.929 --> 00:12:12.769 I cannot judge the needs of anyone else in the 00:12:12.769 --> 00:12:17.840 congregation. The answer to the question is personal. 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:22.759 It is customized. What must I have to live and 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:25.659 to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the place where 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:29.980 He has called me? As I evaluate the response 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:32.600 to that question, I come close to finding out 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:36.120 what my needs are. Once you know your needs, 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:39.259 let your needs determine your basic standard 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:42.580 of living. Don't allow your standard of living 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:45.840 to fluctuate. with your income as it increases. 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:50.860 But be harsh and disciplined with yourself and 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:53.159 determine that you will establish your standard 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:56.279 of living based upon your needs, not the income 00:12:56.279 --> 00:13:02.480 that you have. Second, discipline yourself to 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:05.899 live on what you have. If you want to escape 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:08.899 the love of money, discipline yourself to live 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:11.279 on what you have. To do that, you have to have 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:15.110 a budget. And you have to develop what is called 00:13:15.110 --> 00:13:22.789 sales resistance. Sales resistance. It is a good 00:13:22.789 --> 00:13:25.870 thing I am married because I have a difficult 00:13:25.870 --> 00:13:29.529 time resisting a salesman. I know the statements, 00:13:29.730 --> 00:13:32.389 I know the tricks to close the sale, and I fall 00:13:32.389 --> 00:13:36.629 as a sucker for it every time. And I tend to 00:13:36.629 --> 00:13:40.269 be an impulse buyer. At least I used to be, worse 00:13:40.269 --> 00:13:44.320 than I am now. An impulse buyer, you have to 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:47.820 be aware of that kind of purchasing. One has 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:51.240 to deny self -indulgence and extravagance. Discipline 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:55.980 yourself to live in what you have. Third, if 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.460 you want to escape covetousness, learn to give 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:04.220 money away. That's the real test. You'll find 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:07.799 out real quickly how much the love of money has 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:10.679 a hold of you. When it comes to the point of 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:12.820 giving it away now want to go on to say learning 00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:18.679 to give it away wisely not foolishly Don't be 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:20.679 a sucker for everything that comes along asking 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:24.340 for your money be wise about how and where to 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:30.419 whom you give your money and fourth Pray about 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:37.860 your desires Let God fulfill them if and as he 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:44.539 sees best You've already discovered your needs. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:48.299 Now your wants. Let God determine how to fulfill 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:51.960 those. Remember, the contentment is not found 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.580 in the possession of things, but in resting in 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:59.919 the providence of God, knowing that He will bring 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:04.100 to me what He sees I need and what He sees is 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:08.090 best. I have some good friends who live in California 00:15:08.090 --> 00:15:10.809 and they've been desiring for, oh, I suppose 00:15:10.809 --> 00:15:14.809 two or three years to come out to Minnesota to 00:15:14.809 --> 00:15:18.129 visit us. I called them a couple of weeks ago 00:15:18.129 --> 00:15:19.649 and I said, hey, when are you making that trip 00:15:19.649 --> 00:15:23.450 to Minnesota? And they confessed that they had 00:15:23.450 --> 00:15:25.909 just paid off their vacation from last summer 00:15:25.909 --> 00:15:29.309 and had learned a lesson from that, not to borrow 00:15:29.309 --> 00:15:32.350 money to go on vacation. And so they said, we're 00:15:32.350 --> 00:15:35.480 praying about it. And they said, why don't you 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:37.539 pray with us because there's a radio station 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:42.700 there having a contest. And the third prize are 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:45.059 two round -trip tickets on Western Airlines wherever 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:48.120 they fly. So you pray with us that if God wants 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.899 us to come to Minnesota, we'll win the third 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:53.200 prize. Well, that's what you call praying about 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.799 your wants. I got a call this week they won the 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:04.210 third prize. One out of 30 ,000. So they'll be 00:16:04.210 --> 00:16:05.950 here in June. I'll be glad to introduce them 00:16:05.950 --> 00:16:16.070 to you. That's how we escape covetousness. Four 00:16:16.070 --> 00:16:20.990 suggestions at least. Let's talk about the second 00:16:20.990 --> 00:16:24.230 danger, worry. How does one escape from worry? 00:16:25.029 --> 00:16:26.769 Now of course that's something most of us don't 00:16:26.769 --> 00:16:29.950 experience, right? So we need to learn this for 00:16:29.950 --> 00:16:31.889 other people, but let's learn it so we can pass 00:16:31.889 --> 00:16:36.500 it along. What's the answer to worry? Very simple. 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:42.500 Learn to trust God. That's too simple, isn't 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:46.240 it? We think, but it boils down to that very 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.539 simple statement. I can overcome worry in my 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:51.500 life, whether it be about money or anything else, 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:54.519 by learning to trust God. Turn to Luke chapter 00:16:54.519 --> 00:17:08.150 12. The Lord Jesus says in verse 22, for this 00:17:08.150 --> 00:17:11.890 reason I say to you, do not be anxious, do not 00:17:11.890 --> 00:17:15.109 worry for your life as to what you shall eat, 00:17:15.589 --> 00:17:18.190 nor for your body as to what you shall put on. 00:17:19.630 --> 00:17:22.950 He says, don't worry about your basic needs, 00:17:24.890 --> 00:17:28.109 for the life is more than food and the body than 00:17:28.109 --> 00:17:31.890 clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither 00:17:31.890 --> 00:17:36.589 sow nor reap, and they have no store room nor 00:17:36.589 --> 00:17:40.430 barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable 00:17:40.430 --> 00:17:46.170 you are than the birds." Does God miraculously 00:17:46.170 --> 00:17:50.569 provide for the birds? No, not really. Through 00:17:50.569 --> 00:17:54.569 the cycle of nature and through what He has built 00:17:54.569 --> 00:17:59.259 into them, their needs are provided for. So Jesus 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:01.740 is not necessarily saying here that God is going 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:04.460 to miraculously, supernaturally drop out of heaven 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:08.900 what you need for your life. But he's saying 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:13.240 that God has given us abilities, God has given 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:16.660 us industry and our character so that we can 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:19.099 go out and work, and normally it is through that 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:24.559 means that God will provide for our needs. He 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:29.930 goes on to say, In verse 29, do not seek what 00:18:29.930 --> 00:18:33.869 you shall eat, what you shall drink, and do not 00:18:33.869 --> 00:18:38.769 keep worrying. For all these things the nations 00:18:38.769 --> 00:18:43.130 of the world eagerly seek, but your Father knows 00:18:43.130 --> 00:18:46.990 that you need these things. But seek for his 00:18:46.990 --> 00:18:49.829 kingdom and these things shall be added to you. 00:18:50.609 --> 00:18:53.190 So Jesus is simply saying here that if you and 00:18:53.190 --> 00:18:56.779 I will make The Lord and His work in the world 00:18:56.779 --> 00:19:01.140 and in our lives are number one priority. God 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:04.299 will see to it our needs are met. We can learn 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:08.059 to trust Him. Our Father knows our needs. He 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:13.319 has committed Himself to provide for them. We 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:15.700 should not deny Him the opportunity to prove 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:21.819 Himself or to direct us by providing or withholding. 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:26.980 Worry doesn't do any good anyway, does it? And 00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:29.500 in fact, worry destroys our testimony because 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:31.779 what it says is that our Father either doesn't 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:37.039 know, or He doesn't care, or He can't meet our 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:42.619 needs. That's what worry testifies. Someone has 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:49.000 said, worry is interest paid on trouble before 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:54.400 it is due. Don't worry. Leave your needs with 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:59.039 God. Trust in Him. Worry is like a rocking chair. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:02.000 It'll give you something to do, but it won't 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:06.299 get you anywhere. I guess all of us have heard 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:09.259 the poem, said the robin to the sparrow. I should 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:13.200 really like to know why these anxious human beings 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:17.019 rush about and worry so. Said the sparrow to 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:20.009 the robin. I think that it must be that they 00:20:20.009 --> 00:20:23.250 have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you 00:20:23.250 --> 00:20:27.829 and me. If you and I really want to get the victory 00:20:27.829 --> 00:20:31.630 over worry, then it comes by learning to trust 00:20:31.630 --> 00:20:36.890 our Father. Then the third danger that comes 00:20:36.890 --> 00:20:42.390 with wealth is that of bondage or debt. What 00:20:42.390 --> 00:20:46.720 is the answer to debt? Learning to live within 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.740 God's provision. The reason that we get into 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:53.519 debt is that we are not content to live within 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:57.420 what God provides for us, and so we go out and 00:20:57.420 --> 00:21:02.920 we borrow in order to get. You say the real problem 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:05.559 I have is not knowing that. I think I've learned 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.740 that. My problem is how do I get out of debt? 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.619 I suppose there are many of us today who are 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:16.809 facing that. How can one escape financial bondage 00:21:16.809 --> 00:21:20.250 where we've gotten in over our heads is the real 00:21:20.250 --> 00:21:23.910 point. And we're not able to keep now the obligations 00:21:23.910 --> 00:21:28.470 that we have made. How can we regain the peace 00:21:28.470 --> 00:21:31.930 and the freedom, the release that we once knew 00:21:31.930 --> 00:21:34.910 before we got into this kind of bondage? I want 00:21:34.910 --> 00:21:37.509 to suggest six things very, very quickly. Number 00:21:37.509 --> 00:21:42.890 one, you can begin by transferring the ownership 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:48.339 of all you have to God. Now that is a mental 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:53.980 and spiritual maneuver that is significant. It 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:58.539 takes time and work to do that. But you must 00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:01.539 begin by transferring the ownership of all you 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:08.400 have to God. Recognize that it is His, all you 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:11.960 have is His, not just the 10 % that we sometimes 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:15.500 hear about. By the way, if you have never heard 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.839 or read the Pineapple Story, you need to get 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:20.960 a hold of that book from somebody who has it 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:24.259 or from the Basic Institute on Youth Conflicts 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:27.440 and read it. The Pineapple Story is a fantastic 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:30.579 story of a missionary who learned what it means 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:33.700 to give ownership to God of all that he had. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:39.460 Number two, give something to God as a token 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:43.279 of your sincerity. In other words, begin immediately 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:48.180 to give to his work. Evidence his preeminence 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:50.880 in your life as a step of faith and obedience. 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:54.700 You say, yes, but my debts, listen, your first 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:58.579 debt is to God. Your first obligation is to him. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:03.059 So evidence in some tangible way his priority 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:05.619 in your life. That's step number two. Number 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:13.970 three, begin buying on a cash. only basis. Destroy 00:23:13.970 --> 00:23:17.529 your credit cards, what someone has called those 00:23:17.529 --> 00:23:20.710 plastic gods that we carry around with us who 00:23:20.710 --> 00:23:26.009 meet our needs. Destroy them. You know, buying 00:23:26.009 --> 00:23:30.269 on credit can become habitual and addictive as 00:23:30.269 --> 00:23:34.829 much as drugs. So my counsel to you, if you are 00:23:34.829 --> 00:23:37.490 in financial bondage, is just to quit cold turkey. 00:23:37.549 --> 00:23:40.829 Take a pair of scissors and cut those cards up. 00:23:41.930 --> 00:23:45.630 Our society is based upon credit. Far, far too 00:23:45.630 --> 00:23:48.809 much for its own health. Perhaps you, like me, 00:23:48.890 --> 00:23:51.410 have received letters in the mail. You have already 00:23:51.410 --> 00:23:55.750 been approved for $3 ,000 or $5 ,000 or $500 00:23:55.750 --> 00:23:59.549 credit. All you have to do is return this form 00:23:59.549 --> 00:24:01.849 to us and we'll immediately send you our card. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:04.759 and you can go out and buy whatever you need. 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:10.240 How tantalizing that is. How alluring and deceptive. 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:13.619 For one almost begins to think that that's free 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:18.799 money, but it's not. It's not. Begin buying on 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:21.019 a cash -only basis if you really want to get 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:23.740 out of debt. If you are in debt now, you're in 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:26.140 financial bondage at this point, you will never 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:31.740 get out as long as you use a credit card. You're 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:34.880 in debt because of credit. Now, there may be 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:36.900 a time in the future when you will be able to 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:41.400 use a credit card and make it your tool, instead 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:44.319 of it dominating you. But for right now, you 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:50.140 must get rid of those cards. Number four, attempt 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:53.900 to arrange for possible payments with your creditors. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:56.279 And we're talking about someone who's way in 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:58.819 over his head. who can't keep his obligations, 00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:00.759 who's getting letters and phone calls saying, 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:04.240 when are you going to pay? Number four then, 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:07.859 attempt to arrange for possible payments with 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:11.119 your creditors. Most creditors, if they sense 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:14.940 you are sincere about it, will work with you 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:19.920 and will help you to get out of debt. There are 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:22.099 what I think some unscrupulous people around 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:24.299 who encourage even further debt. We had one man 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.940 in our church who was in over his head. He got 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.779 a letter from his finance company that said, 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.740 we know that you're having trouble meeting our 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:33.579 payments. Let us loan you some more money so 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:40.059 you won't have so many problems. You say, well, 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:43.339 what about bankruptcy? Is that a possibility? 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:47.380 This is my opinion, and I'm sure that there are 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:49.240 some who might disagree with me on this, but 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:53.420 I believe that bankruptcy can be used, but only 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:58.440 if absolutely necessary. and then not to escape 00:25:58.440 --> 00:26:02.380 responsibility for what is owed, but only to 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:04.839 protect one's assets so that he can pay back 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:10.339 what is owed in full, ultimately. We had a man 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:14.039 in a church that I pastored who was in partnership 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:17.359 with some unsaved men, and they got themselves 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:19.599 into real financial bondage and the other two 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:22.880 skipped town. Leaving him with the shambles of 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:25.099 the business and this humongous debt. He had 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:29.539 no choice but to file for bankruptcy He learned 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.779 a lesson number one that you don't go into business 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:35.700 with unconverted people and He has remembered 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:39.619 that now over these I suppose some Perhaps 20 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:45.700 years since that occurred He declared bankruptcy, 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:49.720 but his purpose was not to be relieved of his 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:52.339 obligations, but only protect what he had. And 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:54.400 he went back over a period of time and paid back 00:26:54.400 --> 00:27:00.259 in full every creditor of their business. And 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:02.440 God has honored him because of that. His business 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:06.319 has flourished. And indeed today he's even on 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:10.990 the board of a bank in that city. Now, when you 00:27:10.990 --> 00:27:12.970 declare bankruptcy, if you feel that's a tool 00:27:12.970 --> 00:27:15.089 you must use or something you need to realize, 00:27:15.170 --> 00:27:17.349 there are certain consequences that can occur 00:27:17.349 --> 00:27:24.369 to your credit future. Attempt to do everything 00:27:24.369 --> 00:27:26.690 you can to bring your payments down so that you 00:27:26.690 --> 00:27:29.750 can pay all of your creditors off given time. 00:27:30.690 --> 00:27:34.950 Number five, write out a budget and learn to 00:27:34.950 --> 00:27:40.019 stick with it. That's not going to happen accidentally. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:43.039 It's going to require discipline on your part. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:48.420 But do it anyway. Write down a budget. What your 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:50.500 income is on one side of the page, on the other 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:53.339 side, where that money has to go. And balance 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:56.859 it out and do not go beyond that. Enforce it 00:27:56.859 --> 00:28:01.359 on yourself. And number six, seek legitimate 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:07.240 ways to increase your net income. Your net income. 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:10.140 Now one of the things that often happens is, 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:14.460 well, my wife is going to have to work. It may 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:16.940 be that you will not increase your net income 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:20.299 by very much when that happens. You better investigate 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:22.559 that, look at it real carefully, all the additional 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:27.539 costs involved when your spouse works. It may 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.779 involve getting a second job yourself, or it 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:32.740 may involve getting a different job. But seek 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:35.380 legitimate ways to increase your net income. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:39.099 so that you can get yourself out of bondage as 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:43.119 quickly as possible. I've spent too long on that, 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:45.259 but let me rush ahead now to the number four 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:48.259 principle. We've talked about three principles 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:51.119 of family finance found in the Word of God. Principle 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:54.279 number four is that God wants us to make the 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:58.940 most of His gifts. He really does. Whatever God 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:01.359 gives to us, He wants us to make the most of 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:04.990 it. See, how can I make the most of what God 00:29:04.990 --> 00:29:07.869 has given to me? Let me give you again six suggestions. 00:29:08.349 --> 00:29:10.990 I will attempt to be more brief than I was before 00:29:10.990 --> 00:29:14.970 on those last six. Number one, if you want to 00:29:14.970 --> 00:29:16.910 make the most of what God has given you, beware 00:29:16.910 --> 00:29:20.490 of swindlers. That's rather reasonable, isn't 00:29:20.490 --> 00:29:24.210 it? Investigate carefully the promises that sound 00:29:24.210 --> 00:29:26.809 too good to be true because they usually are. 00:29:28.190 --> 00:29:31.450 Reject those promises of a fast buck that you 00:29:31.450 --> 00:29:35.480 hear about. Beware of swindlers. Number two, 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:40.519 be a wise shopper. Look for the best buy. Delay 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:44.700 some purchases until there is a sale. I have 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:46.839 a little thing that I hate to buy a book for 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:51.759 full price. And in my ministry, of course, books 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:55.680 are the tools that I use. But I despise paying 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:58.339 full price for a book and always look for sales. 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:02.720 Use coupons. Some of you may feel that's too 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:05.460 much trouble. You can save literally hundreds 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:10.000 of dollars a year if you're wisely used coupons. 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:14.700 Attempt to buy at a discount. The number three, 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:16.839 if you want to make the most of what God has 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:21.000 given you, do not sign, rather co -sign on a 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:25.460 loan agreement. Because that leaves you responsible 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:28.079 in case of a default of the other person. Listen 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:30.079 to some of the verses from the Word of God about 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:35.319 this. Proverbs 17, 18, a man lacking in sense 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:39.559 pledges and becomes surety that is a co -signer 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:42.660 in the presence of his neighbor. The word of 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:46.279 God says you lack in sense if you co -sign alone. 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:51.500 Proverbs 22, verses 26 and 27, do not be among 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:55.039 those who give pledges, among those who become 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:58.819 sureties for debts. If you have nothing to pay, 00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:01.480 why should he, that is the creditor, take your 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:06.539 bed from under you? You say, well, does that 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:09.259 mean never help another Christian? No, it doesn't 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:12.420 mean that at all. You can help another Christian. 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:16.619 But when you do, don't loan money, don't cosign 00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:20.859 a net, give money. Give with no expectation at 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:24.720 all in return. And if that believer repays you, 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:27.170 then fine. If not, then... You've given it to 00:31:27.170 --> 00:31:30.890 the Lord. I believe the Word of God gives this 00:31:30.890 --> 00:31:32.970 principle, too, that you should not charge interest 00:31:32.970 --> 00:31:36.289 of another believer. So you can help other believers. 00:31:37.210 --> 00:31:41.250 But when you, quote, loan them money, in your 00:31:41.250 --> 00:31:44.529 mind make it a gift so that there does not develop 00:31:44.529 --> 00:31:48.549 a rift between you and that brother. Consider 00:31:48.549 --> 00:31:51.630 whatever you give as a loan to the Lord. Proverbs 00:31:51.630 --> 00:31:55.789 19, 17 says, He who is gracious to a poor man 00:31:55.960 --> 00:32:00.440 lends to the Lord and he will repay him for his 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:07.059 good deed. A fourth suggestion as to how to make 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:09.720 the most of what God has given you is to borrow 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:14.900 money wisely if you must borrow. Not beyond what 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:17.500 is essential. Not for beyond what is essential. 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:22.299 And not for impulse buying. And I think it's 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:25.920 a good principle never to buy on your first contact 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:29.980 with a salesman. Now, I apologize to you salesmen 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:32.759 who may be here who won't like that, but I think 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:35.960 that's good counsel nonetheless to never buy 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:38.759 that first contact. In fact, one of my friends 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:41.819 told me this week that his principle is that 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:45.279 he tells the salesman, there are two things I 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:46.880 must do. First of all, I have to think about 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:49.380 this 24 hours. Number two, I have to tell my 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:53.970 wife. And he said, by that time, he usually doesn't 00:32:53.970 --> 00:33:01.730 buy. Do not borrow for depreciating items, items 00:33:01.730 --> 00:33:05.970 that lose value in time. Do not borrow beyond 00:33:05.970 --> 00:33:10.490 what can be repaid. As I've suggested already, 00:33:10.829 --> 00:33:14.250 rather than borrowing, allow God the opportunity 00:33:14.250 --> 00:33:18.329 to provide or to redirect you or to deny your 00:33:18.329 --> 00:33:22.430 concern for this moment. Don't allow yourself 00:33:22.430 --> 00:33:25.930 the luxury of becoming indulgent and running 00:33:25.930 --> 00:33:31.309 ahead of God with an independent spirit. When 00:33:31.309 --> 00:33:35.410 you consider borrowing, understand the true nature 00:33:35.410 --> 00:33:39.589 of interest and how that increases the cost of 00:33:39.589 --> 00:33:43.970 the item that you may be buying on sale. In the 00:33:43.970 --> 00:33:46.130 long run, you may be paying more because you 00:33:46.130 --> 00:33:49.690 borrowed money to buy the item on sale. instead 00:33:49.690 --> 00:33:51.849 of waiting and paying perhaps even full price 00:33:51.849 --> 00:33:55.470 when you had the cash. And notice whether it's 00:33:55.470 --> 00:33:59.329 simple interest or compounded interest. And never 00:33:59.329 --> 00:34:02.829 buy without figuring the actual cost of the item 00:34:02.829 --> 00:34:06.269 over the term of the contract of your borrowing. 00:34:09.610 --> 00:34:12.730 Suggestion number five as to how to make the 00:34:12.730 --> 00:34:15.809 most of what God has given you. Prepare a will. 00:34:17.009 --> 00:34:21.369 to protect your assets and your family. Every 00:34:21.369 --> 00:34:25.849 person ought to have a will. I must confess to 00:34:25.849 --> 00:34:28.989 you, mine is woefully out of date. And so as 00:34:28.989 --> 00:34:31.530 I preach this, there is this stab in my own heart. 00:34:32.469 --> 00:34:34.750 If that's your case, or if you don't have a will, 00:34:35.250 --> 00:34:38.369 please see a professional who can help you draw 00:34:38.369 --> 00:34:41.750 one up. Because if you don't have a will, the 00:34:41.750 --> 00:34:48.400 government has one for you. And number six, invest 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:53.639 some of your money in a wise manner. Invest some 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:56.340 of your money in a wise manner. Don't gamble 00:34:56.340 --> 00:35:03.820 in a high -risk scheme. And don't become bondage 00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:06.579 to worry over the investments that you make. 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:09.440 But if you want to make the most of what God 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:12.480 has given you, then learn to wisely invest some 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:15.440 of it in some manner. I think all of us need 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:19.239 to realize that character is revealed by one's 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:22.500 money management. By that I don't mean that a 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:26.119 person who gets rich or one who is miserly has 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:28.860 good character. That's not the point. But the 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:31.659 point is how one does handle or manage his money 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:36.619 does reveal his true character. But someone says, 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:40.980 I never seem to have enough money. Maybe a lot 00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:44.670 of us can identify with that. I never seem to 00:35:44.670 --> 00:35:48.530 have enough. It never goes far enough. And if 00:35:48.530 --> 00:35:50.329 that goes on long enough, the question comes, 00:35:50.489 --> 00:35:56.550 then why doesn't God meet my needs? Right? John 00:35:56.550 --> 00:36:01.530 MacArthur suggests four questions to ask when 00:36:01.530 --> 00:36:04.090 you are thinking about that first one. I never 00:36:04.090 --> 00:36:08.429 seem to have enough. Why not? Four questions 00:36:08.429 --> 00:36:13.489 are, number one, do I really need more? Do I 00:36:13.489 --> 00:36:19.010 really need more? Number two, is God testing 00:36:19.010 --> 00:36:26.170 my faith? I need to consider that. Number three, 00:36:26.989 --> 00:36:32.429 did I already misuse what he gave me? And therefore 00:36:32.429 --> 00:36:37.530 it seems I don't have enough. Number four, have 00:36:37.530 --> 00:36:43.599 I violated biblical principles? And he lists 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:46.340 some of the principles. The principle regarding 00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:50.139 stinginess. Proverbs 11, 24 says, There is one 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:52.659 who scatters, yet increases all the more. And 00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:55.539 there is one who withholds what is justly due, 00:36:55.880 --> 00:37:01.760 and it results only in want. Stinginess. The 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:04.360 violation of the principle of generosity, really 00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:07.460 is the principle, can cause us not to have enough. 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:13.969 We may be guilty of hastiness. There are some 00:37:13.969 --> 00:37:16.530 of us who are impulse buyers, as I've already 00:37:16.530 --> 00:37:20.750 suggested. Proverbs 21 .5 says, everyone who 00:37:20.750 --> 00:37:26.929 is hasty comes surely to poverty, may be guilty 00:37:26.929 --> 00:37:29.690 of stubbornness. There are some people who have 00:37:29.690 --> 00:37:32.090 the idea they're going to do whatever they want 00:37:32.090 --> 00:37:34.590 to with their money, and they don't care what 00:37:34.590 --> 00:37:39.170 God says. Proverbs 13 .18 says, poverty and shame 00:37:39.170 --> 00:37:44.349 will come to him who neglects discipline. There 00:37:44.349 --> 00:37:45.750 are some people who don't have enough because 00:37:45.750 --> 00:37:50.730 of laziness. Proverbs 20 -13, do not love sleep 00:37:50.730 --> 00:37:53.929 lest you become poor. Open your eyes and you'll 00:37:53.929 --> 00:37:59.150 be satisfied with food. Proverbs 23 -21, drowsiness 00:37:59.150 --> 00:38:04.969 will clothe a man with rags. Some may be guilty 00:38:04.969 --> 00:38:07.449 of indulgence and therefore they don't have enough. 00:38:08.010 --> 00:38:11.489 Proverbs 23 -21 says, for the heavy drinker and 00:38:11.489 --> 00:38:15.389 the glutton, will come to poverty. How many have 00:38:15.389 --> 00:38:20.530 sadly learned that? And so, my friend, if you 00:38:20.530 --> 00:38:22.489 feel that you don't have enough money, it may 00:38:22.489 --> 00:38:25.190 be because you violated one of those verses in 00:38:25.190 --> 00:38:32.409 the Word of God. Well, in this brief detour regarding 00:38:32.409 --> 00:38:36.110 biblical finances, I've only been suggestive, 00:38:36.110 --> 00:38:39.829 not exhaustive, in what I've said. If you need 00:38:39.829 --> 00:38:46.260 more detailed or personal help if you need more 00:38:46.260 --> 00:38:50.519 instruction in this way. Then let me encourage 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:55.360 you to take the course on finances that's being 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:57.940 offered next quarter in the Grace Center for 00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:59.880 Biblical Studies. That's being offered in one 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:03.440 of the two hours this quarter and the next quarter 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:05.619 will be offered the opposite hour so that within 00:39:05.619 --> 00:39:08.480 the next three months you may be able to take 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:11.369 it at least. Because there you will spend 12 00:39:11.369 --> 00:39:13.909 or 13 weeks talking through these things that 00:39:13.909 --> 00:39:16.730 we've talked over quickly in just a few weeks 00:39:16.730 --> 00:39:21.530 If you want help before you can get to that Then 00:39:21.530 --> 00:39:24.469 let me encourage you to get the book Christian 00:39:24.469 --> 00:39:29.449 financial concepts by Larry Burkett Actually, 00:39:29.489 --> 00:39:32.889 this is a workbook That you go through it is 00:39:32.889 --> 00:39:36.539 a Bible study course to help you to understand 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:39.139 what the Word of God says regarding your finances. 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:43.440 Christian Financial Concepts by Larry Burkett. 00:39:43.559 --> 00:39:49.380 B -U -R -K -E -T -T. Our finances and how we 00:39:49.380 --> 00:39:52.900 handle them are important. They are a measure 00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:58.840 of our maturity and our character. But my friend, 00:39:58.940 --> 00:40:02.519 as important as finances are, let us never forget 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:06.369 that they shrink. in relation to our spiritual 00:40:06.369 --> 00:40:10.110 concerns and our relationship with God. Now sometimes 00:40:10.110 --> 00:40:13.409 our finances reflect our relationship with God, 00:40:13.449 --> 00:40:17.010 don't they? But if you're here today with the 00:40:17.010 --> 00:40:18.969 impression that somehow what you do with your 00:40:18.969 --> 00:40:23.070 money or how much you give or so on makes you 00:40:23.070 --> 00:40:26.050 acceptable with God, let me tell you now, clearly 00:40:26.050 --> 00:40:31.250 without any hesitation, that we become right 00:40:31.250 --> 00:40:34.869 with God, not on the basis of our money whether 00:40:34.869 --> 00:40:36.690 how much or how little we have, but on the basis 00:40:36.690 --> 00:40:41.010 of our faith in Jesus Christ. If you have never 00:40:41.010 --> 00:40:43.570 trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, that is 00:40:43.570 --> 00:40:46.929 your heart's need. That is the resource that 00:40:46.929 --> 00:40:50.530 you're lacking right now in your life. Of all 00:40:50.530 --> 00:40:52.409 men, whatever your bank account says, if you 00:40:52.409 --> 00:40:55.909 don't have Jesus, you're impoverished, you're 00:40:55.909 --> 00:40:59.869 poor. But if you'll receive Him today, He will 00:40:59.869 --> 00:41:02.610 pour into you the life of His spiritual riches. 00:41:03.509 --> 00:41:06.429 And if you have problems in finances or in any 00:41:06.429 --> 00:41:08.269 other area of your life, he will begin working 00:41:08.269 --> 00:41:12.010 from the inside of you to correct those problems. 00:41:13.630 --> 00:41:15.190 You say, well, I'm trying to get those things 00:41:15.190 --> 00:41:17.369 cleaned up before I do that. Listen, don't do 00:41:17.369 --> 00:41:19.250 that. That's doing it in reverse. That's putting 00:41:19.250 --> 00:41:22.550 the cart before the horse. Let him come into 00:41:22.550 --> 00:41:25.889 your life and then work through you to enable 00:41:25.889 --> 00:41:28.449 you to help you with those difficulties that 00:41:28.449 --> 00:41:37.039 you face. Let's bow together in prayer. Lord, 00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:39.900 you say so much in your word regarding this important 00:41:39.900 --> 00:41:43.579 subject, and we have, it seems so very quickly, 00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:47.139 but skimmed the surface, and yet I pray that 00:41:47.139 --> 00:41:51.360 there will be some help here for us so that we 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:55.980 may be wise and godly in the handling of our 00:41:55.980 --> 00:42:01.219 finances. Lord, if there are today some tough 00:42:01.219 --> 00:42:06.019 decisions some of us need to make, the right 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:11.179 prioritizing of our lives to reflect the true 00:42:11.179 --> 00:42:15.099 values that there are, then I pray that we'll 00:42:15.099 --> 00:42:18.360 make those decisions. Give us the courage to 00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:21.159 do that and the discipline to stick with it. 00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:26.079 For Lord, we want to be responsive to your spirit 00:42:26.079 --> 00:42:30.139 and be able to handle our finances as you direct 00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:34.710 us. And Father, I pray that if there would be 00:42:34.710 --> 00:42:39.710 one here today who doesn't know Christ, that 00:42:39.710 --> 00:42:42.329 that one would understand the simplicity of receiving 00:42:42.329 --> 00:42:47.909 Him and come to know Him to whom to know is life 00:42:47.909 --> 00:42:53.190 eternal. In Jesus' name, amen.