Money

I've been thinking about money lately. Not in that greedy, "man, I wish I had more of it", kind of way. And not in the "I wish people would send in their money so I can go the mission field" kind of way. But, it just seems that over the past couple of weeks, I have had conversations about money, read something about it, or heard sermons on money. It seems everyone is talking about money.

For instance, a few weeks ago, my brother was explaining his desire to downsize his house to have more financial freedom. My in-laws are doing the same thing - selling their house to have more freedom to spend more time doing short term missions. It seems they were really impacted by a book written by David Ramsey. I will probably get the book.

Then, last weekend we participated in a missions conference at Center Grove PCA in Edwardsville, Illinois. They did an outstanding job focusing their attention on the principles of giving - both money and talents. The missions committee encouraged the congregation to work through FAITH PROMISE a devotional by Dr. Paul Kooistra, MTW's Coordinator (my BOSS!). It had an amazing impact on the congregation. After the worship service Sunday, they collected the Faith Promise cards, tallied them, and reported the findings. They nearly doubled the number of people making Faith Promises and nearly doubled the giving to missions in one year! Praise the Lord.

Finally, I was reading an article from Sound Mind Investing that talked about stewardship. It was a fantastic article and I have included it at the end of this post. It really got me to thinking about my own stewardship habits. They have not been very good until a few years ago. It seems that God had to send me to the mission field to teach me a thing or two about money.

As I gave Him "everything" - my house, my practice, my vehicles, my retirement, and so on, He has taught me the blessings that come from good stewardship. Although we have less income now, we have given more tithes and offerings than we ever have before - and it is awesome! I say this to give GOD the glory! He is showing me that He is faithful to the principles of giving in the Bible.

So, my friends, I hope you will start thinking about money - the way we are to look at it - Through God's eyes. I hope my links to some of these resources will be of help to you. Blessings.

By the way, here is the article from Sound Mind Investing.

Our Part in Stewardship By Crown Financial Ministries © Sound Mind Investing | March 2004 [A personal highlight during 2003 was starting Crown Financial Ministries' Biblical Financial Study at the church I attend. Every participant has remarked at what a difference it has made in expanding their understanding of finances and true biblical stewardship. Austin and I believe in this study; so much so that we asked Crown's permission to run a series excerpting some of the study's core concepts for the benefit of SMI's readers. If you have a heart to see others experience the blessing of financial freedom through handling money God's way, I strongly encourage you to investigate leading a Crown small group study. It requires no financial expertise, and you'll get to watch God's Word come alive in the hearts of your students. You'll be glad you did! — MB] Our responsibility is summed up in this verse: “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Before we can be faithful, we must know what we are required to do. Just as the purchaser of a complicated piece of machinery studies the manufacturer’s manual to learn how to operate it, we need to examine the Creator’s handbook—the Bible—to determine how He wants us to handle His possessions.

As we begin to study our responsibilities, it’s important to remember that God loves and cares for us deeply. He has given us these principles because He wants the best for us. Most people discover areas in which they have not been faithful. Don’t become discouraged. Simply seek to apply faithfully what you learn.

There are two elements of our responsibility that are important to understand:

1. Be faithful with what we are given. We are to be faithful regardless of how much He has entrusted to us. The parable of the talents illustrates this. “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent” (Matthew 25:14-15).

When the owner returned, he held each one responsible for faithfully managing his possessions. The owner praised the faithful servant who received the five talents: “Well done, good and faithful [servant]. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). Interestingly, the servant who had been given two talents received the identical reward as the one who had been given the five talents (see Matthew 25:23). The Lord rewards faithfulness, regardless of the amount over which we are responsible.

We are required to be faithful whether we are given much or little. As someone once said, “It’s not what I would do if $1 million were my lot; it’s what I am doing with the $10 I’ve got.”

2. Be faithful in every area. God wants us to be faithful in handling all of our money. Unfortunately, most Christians have been taught only how to handle 10 percent of their income God’s way — the area of giving. And although this area is crucial, most have learned how to handle the other 90 percent from the world’s perspective. As a result of not being taught to handle money biblically, many Christians have wrong attitudes toward possessions. This often causes them to make incorrect financial decisions and to suffer painful consequences. Hosea 4:6 reads, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

BENEFITS OF HANDLING MONEY FAITHFULLY
A faithful steward enjoys three benefits:

1. More intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ. Remember what the master said to the servant who had been faithful with his finances: “Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). We can enter into closer, more intimate fellowship with our Lord when we are faithful with the possessions He has given us. When I began to apply these principles, I experienced a dramatic improvement in my fellowship with the Lord. Each of these principles is intended to draw us closer to Christ.

2. The development of character. God uses money to refine character. As David McConaugh explained in his book, Money the Acid Test (written in 1918), “Money, most common of temporal things, involves uncommon and eternal consequences. Even though it may be done quite unconsciously, money molds people in the process of getting it, saving it, spending it, and giving it. Depending on how it’s used, it proves to be a blessing or a curse. Either the person becomes master of the money, or the money becomes the master of the person. Our Lord uses money to test our lives and as an instrument to mold us into the likeness of Himself.”

All through Scripture there is a correlation between the development of a person’s character and how he or she handles money. It is regarded as an index to a person’s true character. You have heard the expression, “Money talks,” and indeed it does. You can tell a lot about a person’s character by examining his or her checkbook and credit card statement, because we spend our money on the things that are most important to us.

3. Having our finances in order. As we apply God’s principles to our finances, we will begin to get out of debt, spend more wisely, start saving for our future, and give even more to the work of Christ.

PRINCIPLES OF FAITHFULNESS
1. If we waste possessions, the Lord will remove us as stewards. “There was a certain rich man who had a manager [steward], and this [steward] was reported to him as squandering his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management [stewardship], for you can no longer be [steward]’” (Luke 16:1-2).

Two principles from this passage are applicable to us. First of all, when we waste our possessions it becomes public knowledge and creates a poor testimony. “This [steward] was reported to him as squandering his possessions.” Secondly, the Lord may remove us as stewards if we squander what He has given us. This principle is applicable today. If you waste the possessions entrusted to you, you may not be given more.

2. Faithfulness in little things. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10).

How do you know if your son is going to take good care of his first car? Observe how he cared for his bicycle. How do you know if a salesperson will do a competent job of serving a large client? Evaluate how he or she serves a small client. If we have the character to be faithful with small things, the Lord knows He can trust us with greater responsibilities. Small things are small things, but faithfulness with a small thing is a big thing.

3. Faithfulness with another’s possessions. In some measure, faithfulness with another’s possession will determine how much you are given. “If you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:12). This is a principle that is often overlooked. One of the most faithful men I know rented a vehicle from a friend. While driving the vehicle, he was involved in an accident. After explaining the situation to the owner, he took the vehicle to the owner’s mechanic and instructed him, “Completely restore this vehicle. Make it better than it was before the accident, and I will be responsible for the bill.” What an example!

Are you faithful with others’ possessions? Are you careless with your employer’s office supplies? Do you waste electricity when you are staying in a hotel room? When you borrow something, are you careful to return it promptly and in good shape? Some people have not been entrusted with more because they have been unfaithful with the possessions of others.

Crown Financial Ministries' Biblical Financial Study is helping people across the world understand and embrace God's financial principles. The study is very practical. Graduates of the study have confirmed that marriages are strengthened and individuals are getting out of debt. They also are becoming consistent savers, generous givers, and prudent consumers. Most importantly, people are entering into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. The first step to begin using this dynamic study in your church or community is to receive small group leader training. For details, visit Crown online or call 1-800-722-1976.