“Get Your House In Order Financially”
Text: II Kings 20:1
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”
Introduction:
This morning’s message is the third main part of our series entitled “Get Your House In Order” This part is about getting your house in order financially. Financially problems in the home can and are very stressful. It can cause tension between members of the family and especially between husband and wife.
It is amazing that in the Bible we find only 500 verses on prayer, around 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 verses on money and possessions. Out of the 38 parables found in the Bible 19 of them Jesus stresses about money and possessions. Jesus said more about possessions than heaven and hell combined. Jesus know how touchy this topic would be to people. When our financial perspective is out of balance, every area of our life suffers. Statistics show that around 80% of divorces that take place are caused by some time of financial problem.
I would like us to take a look at some biblical principles concerning finances.
God’s Part:
1.We need to know that God owns everything; we only possess some of it. Not just 10% but 100%
Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Psalm 50:7-12 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”
A. If we think we have ownship rights, we are in direct conflict with God.
B. Every financial decision becomes a spiritual one.
C. There is freedom in letting go.
2.We need to remember that God has promised to meet all of our needs.
Philippians 4:19
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what
ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the
body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow
not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than
they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit
unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil
not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he
not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore
take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after
all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no
thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof.
(KJV)
He has promised to meet our needs, not our greeds.
A. A need is anything required to sustain life. (Shelter,
Water, Food, Clothing, and Love)
B. A want is anything beyond a need.
3.We always lose when we compare ourselves with others.
4.Two things not to worry about:
A. Things we cannot control.
B. Things we can control.
Our Part:
1.We need to remember that we are Stewards of what God
owns.
Psalm 8:3-8
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”
An owner has rights; a steward had responsibilities.
2.We need to remember we are to be trustworthy for everything entrusted to us.
I Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
3.We need to remember we are accountable (responsible).
Matthew 25:14-30
II Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
4.We need to remember stewardship develops and reveals Character.
“Money is an exact index to a man’s true character.”
--Richard Halverson, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate
“Show me your calendar and your checkbook and I will tell you
what your priorities are.”
5.Proper stewardship deepens our spiritual life.
6.Proper stewardship leads us to Contentment.
Conclusion:
Remember God owns and controls everything. We are the caretakers of all that He owns. We need to realize how blessed we are to be God’s caretakers.
I hope that so far this series has been a help and a blessing to you in getting your house in order.
