Resetting Our Financial Health

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 2, ESV)

Finances are a tool, a test, and a trust.

Paul Mentions Two Distinct Challenges Of Having An Abundance of Resources In This Present Age

• Arrogance

It can be easy to confuse our net worth with our self-worth

Every blessing that we don’t turn into Praise has the potential to turn back into Pride

• Misplaced Hope

“A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.” (Proverbs 18:11, ESV)

You can have hope and riches, but it is another thing altogether to have hope In Riches

Key Question: How are my finances Shaping My Heart?

Key Thought: I will not trust in riches, but in Him who richly provides! (6:17)

It is not primarily about what I have.  What I do with what I have will count either for me or against me in the kingdom of heaven.

Biblical Guidelines for Managing God’s Money

1. Seek wise counsel

“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22, ESV)

2. Keep good records

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,” (Proverbs 27:23, ESV)

4 things you need to know:

• What you Own
• What you Owe
• What you Earn
• Where it Goes

3. Develop a written plan

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5, ESV)

Plan in the presence of God

4. Honor God first

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;” (Proverbs 3:9, ESV)

Whatever you want God to bless in your life, put Him first!

Without A Strategy, I will be a 3S Giver:

• Spontaneous
• Sporadic
• Sparing

The Solution Is To Become a 4P Giver:

• Priority Giving
• Percentage Giving
• Progressive Giving
• Prompted Giving

Giving is not God’s way of raising money; it’s His way of raising people with surrendered, trusting hearts.

5. Pay taxes

“He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”” (Luke 20:25, ESV)

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:7, ESV)

6. Save for the future

“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” (Proverbs 21:20, ESV)

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6–8, ESV)

7. Avoid debt

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7, ESV)

8. Live on the rest

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5, ESV)

Key to financial success: Spend less than you earn

9. Practice contentment

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11, ESV)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

Making It Personal:

• God’s richest provision for us is eternal life found only in Jesus Christ. The beginning point for being rich in things that really matter is being in a right relationship with God by responding to his grace through repentance and faith.  Is this foundational relationship a reality in your life?
• Seek God about His priorities and plans for my money
• Prayerfully develop/modify a plan for managing my money under the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Commit it to writing)
• Spend time reviewing and reflecting on the major points of this teaching. What will it look like to apply these truths in your life?
• Who can I share these truths with? 

Ready to take your Next Step?

• Text Next to 803-637-8484
• Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”