“Relief From The Financial Squeeze”
Mike Harris
April 18, 1999
Intro: G.M….. We are learning how to manage the maze of our lives – in this series… Last week-- managing-sex drive…. Today—managing our finances….
None of us here today would say—finances or money is not a major part of our lives…. It is a major part of our lives.. isn’t it? And there’s nothing wrong with that….
As we learned last week-- God has given us these things for our good-- but we also learned that in all the good things that God has given us-- those things also have the potential to be disastrous in our lives if mis-handled or mis-managed…
And our finances or money is no exception.
Gallop poll recently: 64% of all couples argue over money issues….
And … this is also the #1 cause for all divorces… 54% of all divorces are over money issues…
What these couples ought to be saying is “till debt do us part…” J
I read another survey that said that … majority of Americans are dissatisfied with how much money they make….
…doesn’t it feel like the truth—no matter how much you make ----its never enough…
And as is always the case here at Bay Pointe… no matter what subject or topic we are talking about—you’re going to hear me say that God has a plan that works--- God’s plans are always the best for us…
Now—you may be surprise that God cares about and understands your money or financial concerns…
Now—you may have thought before you came in here—that God could give a rip about your finances…. Or for you (for that matter…)
But that is simply not the truth-- You matter to God—and so do your finances… because your finances are an important part of your life…
And God understands this so much … that in the Bible – there are 2,350 verses that deal with money or finances…
In fact—Jesus talked about money more than he did about Heaven… hell … love…. More than any other subject….
Why-- because God understands how much POWER money can have over our lives---if its not managed right.….
And God wants us to manage our finances well--
----in fact did you know that God uses money as a test for spiritual maturity…
(taught in several places.. but Jesus said in …)
“If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Luke 16:11 (NIV)
(true riches—spiritual blessings… real wealth…) he’s saying… if you cannot manage (handling) your finances-- why would I trust you with REAL wealth—spiritual blessings….?
So—God wants us to learn how to manage our finances--- so that this works well in our lives…. But he doesn’t just leave us out in the dark….hanging…
n wondering how to do it…
He shows us how in the Bible…. (that’s what we’re going to look at this AM…)
In the Bible – Solomon--- wisest man…. Also wealthiest man (if alive today—his net worth would make Bill Gates look like a poor man)…
--- Solomon in all his wisdom – wrote a book in the Bible—Proverbs…(wisdom)--- look at some of this wisdom---
God’s 5 Financial Principles For Financial Stability:
1. Keep good records. (Principle of accounting)
(this is especially a good principle to be on top of this year—in light of some of the computer glitches they are working on)
“Riches can disappear fast…so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your flocks and herds.” Proverbs 27:23-24 (LB)
Ranching was the primary business in those days…. (that’s why he said … know state… condition of your flocks…)
If he were writing this today—“know the state of your STOCKS…”
n This is the starting point…
Now—have you ever felt like this? “I just don’t know where my money goes?” ---- Warning lights….
Reason that many people are in big trouble today is …
SPENDING MORE THAN THEY ACTUALLY MAKE…
--- and easy credit – is one of the biggest causes…
Here’s a formula to think about: “Ignorance + Easy Credit = Disaster”
4 things (experts) we ought to know about our finances:
(1) what we own-- record and value…
(2) what we owe – how much debt..
(3) what we earn—
(4) where it goes—
So – God’s path to financial stability begins with GOOD RECORD KEEPING.
(2nd principle…)
2. Plan your spending (Principle of budgeting)
Someone once said—“Insanity = doing the same ol’ thing you’ve always done and expecting different results to happen…”
God has better advice….
“Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough.” Proverbs 21:5 (GN)
KEY: Financial freedom is not based on how much you earn—Its based on how you spend it…
--key is to develop the habit of spending less than you make!
Illust: Recent Book: “The Millionaire Next Door”-- what we can learn from the habits of the affluent…”
---“ #1 RULE for becoming wealthy-- live well below your means.”
One milionaire: “If your motive is to make more money to spend money on the good life—you’re never going to make it.”
Underline the phrase in the verse we just looked at “if you act too quickly…you’ll never have enough”
--- you know what this is talking about? IMPULSE BUYING
buying something based on emotions—seeing something and saying, “Oh, I just have to have that!”
--have you ever bought something… got it home.. and regretted it?
Illust: Several years ago-- I couldn’t sleep one night—so –TV—infomercial- piece of exercise equipment – “Gravity Edge” (lifted your own weight)
--I’m watching this thing—in a matter of 30 minutes- I was so convinced that I HAD to have this thing—I got on the phone – ordered it!
--Should have seen the look on Beth’s face when they delivered this contraption to our house…
---guess what—sits in the corner of our basement and collects dust!
Advertisers know what they are doing-- they want you to buy-- based on EMOTION—not budgets…
They’ll use one thing to get you to buy impulsively--- they use a word… this word for some is almost irrisistable… when you hear this word .. you get in your cars…back out of your driveways… and head to the stores…. Some are addicted to this word…. THIS WORD IS…. (pause) … SALE
(---Oh – you know this word J )
---some of you cannot resist a sale…. (justify) “look at how much I saved…”
Look at this next verse—in fact—lets all read … w/ great enthusiasm)
“…stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.” Proverbs 21:20b (GN)
n you wanna know what God’s IQ test is??? (right here J )
If you’re spending everything you have—God has 1 word for you—STUPID
Now—How do you break the habit of impulsive buying? How do you spell relief? B-U-D-G-E-T
n a budget is simply “planned spending”
--telling your money where to go—rather than wondering where it went.
Everyone needs a budget---and I feel so strongly about this—that we are in the process of putting together a financial seminar-- something we want to offer to anyone who wants to come—a seminar on how to set up a budget—and to apply God’s principles to your specific financial picture…
--not exactly sure of dates… but if you are interested—CR card…sending you info…
(3rd principle…)
3. Save for the future (Principle of saving)
“The wise man saves for the future…” Proverbs 21:20a (LB)
Did you know:
--avg. Japanese family saves—25% of income
--avg. European family-------- 18 % “ “
-- avg. American family -- only 5%….
Why—because we’re too busy spending to “keep up” with whoever we think we need to keep up with—or living out what we see as the “American Dream”
“Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow.” Proverbs 13:11 (NCV)
n this is talking about value of saving…
We ought to be setting some goals on what we are going to save…. No matter what comes…
American Demographics Mag. “the avg. Baby Boomer is going to be in big trouble come retirement—why? Not saving for the future…”
Why do we do this? One of the reasons… ENVY!
--we keep looking around and seeing what everyone else has-- but truth is—they’re probably not saving anything either…
This is pretty tough isn’t it? Living in Oakland County--- we’re always comparing ourselves with other people….
--no matter what we have--- we always see something else we want more…
Illust: Just recently Beth & I had a bout with this… several months ago- we made decision—Beth go back to work full time—(kids are older now)
(financial goals)
-- 1st time in awhile—we’re making some extra money--
--own a little ranch in L.O.—fixing it up…
--about a month ago—we got bit with the bug to go sell—look for something a little bigger – a little nicer…
--But—the next step up (or at least what we thought we needed) – was going to put us back into the position where we wouldn’t have any extra money…
--BUT—we had been bitten….trying to rationalize , etc..
Finally—I came downstairs and said—“You know—I’m feeling a little un-easy about this” Beth “I’m so glad to hear you say that—me too.”
n stay where we are-- keep working on our financial goals, etc…
Was this easy? NO.. But we believe it was the right thing for us—and we felt proud of ourselves for doing it-- why? (because a lot of why we were looking was based on ENVY…)
If we’re going to experience financial stability-- we have to stop living by other people’s standards--
(4th principle…)
4. Return 10% to God (Principle of tithing)
“Bring to My Storehouse a full tenth (tithe) of what you earn… Test me in this, says the Lord. I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.” Malachi 3:10 (NCV)
Now—why is this important? (3 reasons…past-present-future)
Past: it is a statement of gratitude. “T.Y.--it all comes from you God.”
Present: statement of priority. “right now—I am putting you first…”
Future: statement of faith. –belief that God will take care of me.
Notice—“test me in this.” Here is the Pepsi challenge verse….
One of the few times God says – “Look—put Me to the test and see if I keep my promise.”
Illust: Now—I can tell you from personal experience that this works.
---Beth & I have practiced the principle of tithing now for many years-- and we have seen God open the windows of heaven for us and pour out the blessings we needed.
Now I have learned that whatever I want God to bless—I need to put Him first in that area. – If I want God to bless my family—put Him first.
--If I want God to bless this church—put Him first…
n and this has proven to be true in the area of my finances as well…
“Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and (notice the promise) He will fill your barns…to overflow!” Proverbs 3:9-10 (LB)
Think about this for a minute-- does God need our money? NO…
--does God want your money? Not really…
**What He’s really after is your heart….. Bible says “where your treasure is-that’s where your heart is also…”
(that’s the 4th – the 5th…)
5. Enjoy what you have (Principle of contentment)
“It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to always be wanting something else.” Ecclesiastes 6:9 (GN)
Isn’t this our biggest challenge??
Isn’t our biggest challenge that our yearnings exceed our earnings???
So – what do we do—we can’t afford it—but we buy it anyway (want it)—and then—we’re hustling to make ends meet—and over a period of time—a lot of stress builds up--- and pretty soon – our families are feeling the stress—and the things that really matter—our relationships-- begin to crumble…
And what are we really teaching our kids-- that more is better??!!
Joke: I heard about a family who was having a family portrait taken.
Photographer says to the son—“put your hand on your dad’s shoulder—that’ll look natural.”
Dad said to the photographer—“If you want him to look natural—have him put his hand in my pocket…”
“Be content with what you have…” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
"Why spend money on what does not satisfy?” Isaiah 55:2 (NIV)
Friends—guess what – No Thing is ever going to really satisfy you…
So—God says “Look—let me save you a bunch of disappointment—learn the value of contentment.”
OK—those are God’s 5 Principles for Financial Stability…
1. Keep Good Records
2. Plan your spending
3. Save for the future
4. Return 10% to God
5. Enjoy what you have.
Now—let me just give you a couple of thoughts in closing…
The key ingredient in our journey to know and be in a relationship with God—is TRUST…
Can we trust God? … Is what He says reliable for me?
Now—some of you are learning what it means to trust God… and for some of you-- you’ve been taking your time with this whole thing--- that’s OK…
I like what a guy in the Bible by the name of JOB said … this guy really got it!
“If I have put my trust in money, if my happiness depends on wealth…it would mean that I denied the God of heaven.” Job 31:24, 28 (LB)
I.O.W.’s-- he said – if it all comes down to trust--- I’m going to put my trust in God….
