Sermon Notes - March 13, 2005
"Thinking Clearly About Your
Finances"
Thinking Clearly, part 4
I.
Introduction – Today we continue our sermon series on Clear
Thinking with this reminder.
A.
From Romans 12:2 – “Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
1)
That means that in order to become like Christ and think
clearly about our lives we need to change the way we think.
2)
We can learn all the techniques, all the practical steps, all
the application, but unless we allow Christ into our lives to begin to
reshape us – it’s all for naught.
B.
That’s why when we look for “clear thinking” we have to
turn to the Bible and see what God’s word says to us.
1)
So after looking for clear thinking about our relationships,
about stress, and about our problems, we turn our attention to everyone’s
favorite topic.
2)
Today, I want to encourage you to think clearly about your
finances.
C.
If there’s one area of our lives where we are in desperately
in need of clear thinking, it is in the area of our finances.
1)
Most of us are used to thinking about our finances as a purely
worldly concern.
2)
In fact, God has a lot to say about money.
We just don’t like hearing it.
a)
I think it’s pretty obvious why we don’t like to hear God
talk about money.
b)
Because we know what God will say and we know that we aren’t
handling our money well. And we
just don’t want to hear it.
D.
Let’s see if together we can’t break through our natural
defensiveness about the subject and look to what God says about finances.
1)
Rather than talk to you about tithing this morning, thinking
clearly means that we step back and look at the big picture – how does God
want us to use all of our finances.
a)
Not just the 10% we give as a tithe.
b)
But how we use the other 90%.
E.
Because the Bible says that how you handle your money
determines how much God can bless you.
1)
That’s what Jesus said, how you handle your money betrays
your spiritual maturity.
2)
Luke 16:11 says, “So
if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust
you with true riches?
3)
Finances are a test of our character.
F.
Let’s begin by looking at 5 habits that lead to financial
freedom.
II.
Earn an honest living.
The keyword here is: Work!
A.
2 Thessalonians 3:12 says, “Such
people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn
the bread they eat.”
1)
There are some super
spiritual people who insist they are “waiting for God to provide.”
2)
I want to scream
“get to work.” God has
already provided for you by giving you energy, gifts and talents.
Use them.
B.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “If a man will not work, he shall
not eat.”
1)
That doesn’t mean if he can’t work, he doesn’t eat.
2)
It says if he won’t work.
If it’s a matter of character, you’re just lazy.
III.
Plan your spending.
The keyword is Budget!
A.
Set some financial goals and stick with them.
Don’t do what you’re doing now – fumbling around in the dark,
spending, guessing, not really knowing where your money’s going or what
its going to.
1)
Proverbs 27:23-24 says,
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to
your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for
all generations.”
2)
In today’s language
Solomon would say, “Know where your money is.
Know where it’s going.”
B.
How do you do that?
1)
First, keep good
records. Keep track of what you
make and what you spend.
a)
If you’ve ever
said, “I just don’t know where it all goes.” – that’s a big red
warning light that says you’re not keeping good records.
b)
Money doesn’t talk
– it just quietly slips away.
2)
Second, plan your
spending.
a)
Do a budget. Plan
where your money is going to go and what you will spend it on.
b)
It’s not a lot of fun, but if you ever what financial
freedom you need to live on a budget.
IV.
A third principle is: Save for your future.
The keyword is Investing!
A.
Proverbs 21:20 says, In
the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man
devours all he has.
1)
To be wise is to plan
for the future.
2)
God wants His
children to be wise.
B.
Saving is an
important snapshot of your future.
1)
Most baby boomers
will be broke in retirement because of lack of savings.
a)
Most European workers
save 17%.
b)
Most Japanese workers
save 25%.
2)
Studies show that
most Americans only save 5% of their incomes, not nearly enough.
C.
Sometimes I think it
comes to easy for us.
1)
Living in the most
prosperous nation on earth.
2)
Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest
money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it
grow.”
V.
Return 10% back to God.
The keyword is Tithing!
A.
I know, I know. I
said I wasn’t going to talk about tithing.
But I said, I wouldn’t talk about “only tithing.”
1)
We have to talk about it, because tithing is an important
statement about the use of our finances.
2)
We tithe for at least three reasons:
a)
Out of gratitude for our past.
It’s not about our money, its about our heart.
It’s putting God first.
b)
It proves that God is number one.
It proves that our priorities are in the right order.
c)
It’s a statement of faith.
You’re saying, “God I believe your promise.
I believe that you will take care of me.
That you will provide for what I need.”
B.
There are at least two other reasons:
1)
God said to. If
that’s not enough there’s another reason.
2)
1 Corinthians 16:2
– “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a
sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come
no collections will have to be made.”
a)
The other reason we
do it is because it is an act of worship.
b)
One with a promise
attached: Proverbs 3:9-10. “Honor
the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then
your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with
new wine.”
c)
Why?
Because God is a giver and he wants you to be like him.
He wants you to become more like Christ.
The greatest giver of all.
VI.
Enjoy what you
have. The keyword is Contentment!
A.
Ecclesiastes 6:9
says, “Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
1)
In other words,
better to be satisfied with what you have than always be wanting something
else.
2)
Do you think this
verse is being violated in Frederick? Not
satisfied with what we have, always wanting something else.
a)
So busy getting more
and more that we don’t have time to enjoy what we have.
b)
Our yearnings exceed
our earnings.
c)
Our homes are filled
with discontented children and absentee parents.
3)
Let me say this
really clearly: kids don’t need things.
Kids need parents. Kids
don’t need things. Kids need
attention.
a)
They don’t need
quality time. They need quantity
time.
b)
With our lifestyle of
hustle, hustle to make ends meet, we are teaching our kids that more is
better. And it’s not.
4)
And we know it, but
we rationalize by saying, “It’s only temporary.
We’re hustling now, but it only temporary.”
a)
It’s not: its
become a permanent lifestyle.
b)
We say, “one of
these days when things settle down…”
a.
They’re not going
to settle down.
b.
At least until you
choose to settle them down.
c.
If you wait for it to
happen on its own, your kids will be gone and its too late.
VII.
Does all of this
work?
A.
They definitely do
– with two caveats:
1)
You have to do them.
2)
You have to put them
in the right order.
B.
The problem is that God’s way that all of this goes together
is quite a bit different than the way we try to put it together.
C.
Here’s the world’s order:
1)
First, they earn it.
2)
Second, they enjoy it. They
spend it all.
3)
Third, they repay it. If
they have anything left over.
4)
Fourth, they save it. If
they have anything left over.
5)
Fifth, they return it. If
they have anything left over and they feel like it.
D.
Here’s God’s intended order:
1)
First, you earn it.
2)
Second, you return it. You
tithe to the Lord.
3)
Third, you save it. You
pay God first and then you pay yourself.
4)
Fourth, you repay it. You
get out of debt, slowly but deliberately.
5)
Fifth, you enjoy it. Enjoy
not just the results of your work, but the results of your faithfulness in
the first four things.
VIII.
Be reminded: you will never ultimately be satisfied by things.
A.
Isaiah 55:2 – “Why spend money on what is not bread, and
your labor on what does not satisfy?”
1)
The greatest things in life aren’t things.
2)
The root of our financial problems is a matter of values and
trust.
3)
What do you value and who do you trust?
B.
Job 31:24 says, “If
I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’
if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had
gained, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been
unfaithful to God on high.”
1)
I want each family
represented here to be financially free.
2)
God wants each of you
to be financially free.
a)
This isn’t a guilt
trip. This is a freedom train.
b)
That’s why this is
so important!
C.
I want to close by
praying to together for those of you who are in financial difficulties, in
financial stress.
1)
God wants to help but
you have to do your part.
a)
First, do a little
self-evaluation. Which of these
principles are you already doing? Which
do you need to start doing?
b)
Second, start doing
them. Commit it all to prayer
and get started.
2)
Let’s pray
together.