Part 4 series on money
Australians are increasingly finding themselves in debt.
According to the Sunday times newspaper
IF you’re an average Australian you’re worth just over $250,000 have a house valued at $458,488, a mortgage of $341,000 , credit card debt of $3085 and earn $1124.50 a week.
Mortgage stress
According to the experts if you’re an average Aussie, then chances are you’ll technically be experiencing housing stress. This is when a household spends 30 per cent or more of its income on housing costs.
Someone earning the average weekly wage of $1100 would be hard pressed to pay off an average mortgage – which according to brokers Australian Finance Group is $341,000.
Repayments on that amount over 30 years at current interest rates would take up 60 per cent of an average pay packet. Two people contributing to an average-sized mortgage would still have to hand over 30 per cent of their combined income to meet repayments.
More debt
Home loans are not the only stress facing the average Australian. As a nation we’ve racked up $43 billion in credit card debt, according to the Reserve Bank. That works out to an average credit card debt of $3085. If you’re paying a fairly conservative interest rate of 15.5 per cent, you would need to throw $150 a month on your card to pay it off within two years.
What does this say about our attitude to money?
Two thirds of the stories that Christ used in teaching deal specifically with finances. The financial principles given throughout God’s Word are not there to see if we’re strong enough to live by them – they’re given because God knows that they are the best for us. God’s principles of finances are not a random set of rules to keep us under control – they are a loving Father’s wisdom to those who will listen and trust Him.
1) Obedience to God does mean a blessing
2) Common myths about money
3) Financial burdens must be broken
4) God’s plan for you is financial freedom!
Matthew 6:19-6:24
2 Thessalonians 3: 6 - 15
1) Obedience to God does mean a blessing
I am still looking for the modern equivalent of those (Christian) Quakers who ran successful businesses, made money because they offered honest products and treated their people decently... This business creed, sadly, seems long forgotten.
Anita Roddick
English, Businesswoman, owner of the Body Shop
Christ never said money or material things were problems. He said that they were symptoms of the real problems. He constantly warned us to guard our hearts against greed, covetousness, ego, and pride, because those are the tools that Satan uses to control and manipulate this world. Christ warned us a great deal more about materialism than He did any other sin. “And He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
Satan has taken the very riches provided by God to enhance our lives and bring others to salvation and has diverted them for his use. Today, even some Christians evaluate others on the basis of how much they have and how successful they are in worldly terms. The poor are thought to be losers – while the wealthy and successful are thought to be the spiritual winners. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Bible has much to say about material wealth – let me read you an example from Leviticus Chapter 26: 4-28.
The principle I want you to see here is that total obedience to all (v.14) God’s commands will result in blessing. And “blessing” here means financial security, physical safety and overall well-being.
Many of us believe the myths about money such as, “It takes breaks to get ahead” or “It takes money to make money” or “You can’t be too honest and get ahead today”
These sayings are false for the Christian because it is God that is the source of our situation. God gives you your earning capacity and potential. God gives you your mental and physical ability to earn a living. God gives it all, and the moment we step back and say, “Oh, look what I have done, look what wealth I’ve accumulated,” we’ve stepped out of God’s will and into the trap of pride. The same trap as King Nebuchadnezzar when one day he looked out over his kingdom with pride in his heart and God taught him a lesson.
Listen to what Daniel chapter 4 says happened to King Nebuchadnezzar: 29 “Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.”
As we will see today, it is attitude not ability, that God honours. The gaining of wealth as an end in itself is a very poor investment of a life. First, it requires a great deal of time to the virtual exclusion of everything else including family, friends, hobbies, relaxation and recreation.
Second, there is no correlation between wealth and happiness. That is an important key!
But, there is a great difference between God and Satan in our finances. Proverbs 10:22 says, “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” So, if you are experiencing worry and anxiety where your money is concerned, it’s not from God.
2) Common myths about money
a. Poverty is next to spirituality.
b. Money brings happiness.
c. To be wealthy is a sin
d. Money is the root of all evil.
If you're going to be at a job environment, you should love it. You shouldn't do it just for money. You should do it because you love it. And the money comes naturally.
Debbi Fields
Multi-millionaire American, Businesswoman
Let me dispel some of the religious nonsense that surrounds the subject of money.
a. Poverty is next to spirituality. Wrong! The Bible never once relates spirituality to poverty. In Romans 12:5-8 He describes the gift of giving. You can’t give unless you produce wealth, so the whole idea that poverty is spiritual is nonsense.
Romans 12:5-8
5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[a]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
b. Money brings happiness. Wrong! If that were true, James Packer would be a happy man, instead the Australian Media regularly reports him to be a man chasing his personal demons. Though money can bring some happiness, it is only temporary and superficial. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
c. To be wealthy is a sin. Wrong! Having money is not a sin. As a matter of fact, many times when God finds someone with the proper attitude, He blesses them with great riches. Psalm 8:6 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
d. Money is the root of all evil. Wrong! This is a misquote of 1 Timothy 6:10, what it actually says is, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” This is God’s perspective, that when you begin to love money you put money first and everything, including God, second and that is idolatry.
3) Financial burdens must be broken
Isn't it a shame that future generations can't be here to see all the wonderful things we're doing with their money?
Earl Wilson
American, Baseball player (1934 – 2005)
As we have seen from my opening article, money is increasingly becoming a master of Australians.
As we look in the Bible, it becomes obvious that excessive debt led to burdens. If a man who owed money to a creditor could not repay his obligations, then the lender has the right to imprison him until he could pay up every cent. The lender then owned everything that had once belonged to the debtor – his wife, kids and all of his possessions.
In Australia people are experiencing mental and physical aspects of financial bondage.
Every year thousands of families are torn apart because of financial bondage. Millions of people encumber themselves with debts beyond their ability to repay. Unfortunately Christians become involved in the world system just as much as non-Christians and begin to purchase goods and services on impulse. Credit cards have supplied the means of buying on impulse, allowing everyone to burden themselves far beyond their ability to repay.
Financial bondage can also exist through an abundance of money. Some Christians have been supplied a surplus of money and have misused or begun to hoard it. The accumulation of wealth and material pleasures of life can be an obsession that will destroy a Christian’s health, fragment the family, promote separation from friends, and block God’s will for their lives.
God wants us to save money and keep some in reserve, but there is a distinct difference between saving and hoarding money.
An unknown Christian once said, “Lord, I ask but two things from You: first, help me to never tell a lie; second, give to me neither riches nor poverty because in my poverty, I might steal, and in my riches I might become content without You.” The wealthy have a great responsibility to understand why God gave them money and to avoid hoarding it.
At the same time, God will not use money to allow us to satisfy our every whim and desire. It is important that we begin to adjust our lifestyle to be compatible with Christian principles.
Just what are the symptoms of financial burdens?
a. Overdue Bills:
b. Investment Worries:
c. A Get-Rich-Quick Attitude: Prosperity foolishness.
d. No Gainful Employment:
e. Deceitfulness:
f. Greediness:
g. Covetousness:
h. Family Needs Unmet:
i. Unmet Christian Needs:
j. Over commitment to Work:
k. Money Entanglements:
l. Financial Unfairness:
m. Lack of Commitment to God’s Work
n. Financial Resentment:
a. Overdue Bills: Christians are in financial bondage when they experience anxiety produced from overdue bills. Larry Burkett says that 80% of Christian families today either suffer from overspending or have suffered from in the past. That is partly because most families have no plan for their finances and continue to borrow beyond their ability to repay.
b. Investment Worries: If you are overly concerned with your investments, you are a Scrooge McDuck. If you have to read the financial page every day to see how your investments are going, then you have a problem. Jesus said you can’t serve two masters – you can’t serve both God and money.
c. A Get-Rich-Quick Attitude: There is some truth in “Prosperity Preaching,” but it has been exagerated out of proportion and now boarders on foolishness. This get-rich-quick attitude is characterized by attempts to make money quickly with very little effort. An investment is a “get-rich-quick” program if an individual must assume excessive debt, borrow the money to invest, or deal deceitfully with people. Most multi-level marketing programs fall into this category.
d. No Gainful Employment: Financial bondage also exists when there is no desire for gainful employment. Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat.”
e. Deceitfulness: A Christian is in financial bondage if he is dishonest in financial matters.
f. Greediness: Financial bondage will also result from greed, which is reflected when someone always wants the best or always wants more. Someone who is never able to put others first, never able to accept a necessary loss, or is always looking at what others have and comparing themselves to them suffers from greed. A Christian who cannot put his or her own wants aside to satisfy the needs of others suffers from greed. The rich ruler in Luke 18 suffered from this problem. He had put an idol, his money, before God, and he could not give up that idol, even to follow Christ.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Luke 18
g. Covetousness: A Christian is in financial bondage if she looks at what others have and desires it with a “keeping up with the Joneses” attitude. Young married couples often fall into this trap. They want everything the Joneses have and they want it now, so the go into debt to get it. Too bad they couldn’t first look inside the Joneses’ house and see the strife when the paycheck comes in and there’’ never enough to satisfy all the creditors. Or the anxiety that takes place when a notice comes from a collection agency taking them to court. Or the despair of a housewife when a creditor calls at 10:00 am asking for money.
h. Family Needs Unmet: You are in financial bondage if, because of your past buying habits, your family’s needs cannot be net. The reasons for unmet needs can be many: you may refuse gainful employment; be shackled with debts to the point that creditors take necessary family funds; or your standard of living may allow “luxuries” to deprive your family of needs. Things like a new boat, sports car, fancy vacation, kitchen remodel, 4 wd drive car and such. None of these things are wrong, but when you put them in front of meeting your family needs, you’ve got a problem.
i. Unmet Christian Needs: If you are not meeting your obligation of tithes and offerings because of indebtedness, you are in trouble.
j. Over commitment to Work: You are in financial bondage if both husband and wife have to hold two or three jobs just to make ends meet. You are in financial bondage if you only have one job but you are married to that job. If everywhere you go your work follows you and most of your conversations are about your work – you have a problem. Listen, God’s plan for work is to excel at your work, not to burn out. Excess in work is a problem.
k. Money Entanglements: If you, “have too many irons in the fire” and are trapped by entanglements that cause you to be so stretched out that you are continually applying financial “Band-Aids” you are in bondage.
l. Financial Unfairness: If someone owes you money and you discover someone in need and force them to borrow money or you take advantage of widows or the underprivileged, then you have a big problem.
m. Lack of Commitment to God’s Work: You are in financial bondage is there is no financial commitment to God’s work. This principle is basic to Christian financial management. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” It is only by honouring the Lord from the first part of our incomes that God can take control. We are stewards; God is the owner. The tithes that we give to God are a testimony of His ownership. The Christian who fails to give a minimum testimony to God never acknowledges that He is the owner.
n. Financial Resentment: You are in financial bondage if you believe God has not given you what you deserve or desire. Not only do you covet what others have but also, basically, you are resentful toward God for your station in life. Listen, it is dangerous to ask God to give you what you deserve. He might do it!
If you think you have it bad, just consider that Australians have one of the highest incomes in the world compared with the rest of the earth’s population.
4) God’s plan for you is financial freedom!
It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It's God's will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt.
Joel Osteen
American, Clergyman pastor of Lakewood church
Not only do you need to recognize the symptoms of financial bondage, gut you also need to know how to achieve financial freedom. Financial freedom manifests itself in every aspect of the Christian’s life – relief from worry and tension about overdue bills, a clear conscience before God and before others, and the absolute assurance that God is in control of your life.
How can we achieve financial freedom? What must we do to live according to God’s plan?
There are two steps; a. We need to transfer ownership of every possession to God; and b. We need to get out of debt altogether.
Transfer of Ownership: A Christian must transfer ownership of every possession to God (please note I am not saying the church). That means money, time, and family, material possessions, education, even earning potential for the future. This is essential to experience the Spirit-filled life in the area of finances.
There is absolutely no substitute for this step. If you believe you are the owner of even a single possession, then the events affecting that possession are going to affect your attitude. God will not force His will on you. You must first surrender your will to Him.
If, however, you make a total transfer of everything to God, He will demonstrate His ability. It is important to understand and accept God’s conditions for His Control. Deut 5:32-33 says, “So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land…” Listen, God will keep His promise to provide every need you have through physical, material, and spiritual means, according to His perfect plan.
It is simple to say, “Lord, I make a total transfer of everything to You.” But not so simple to live out. At first, we may experience some difficulty in consistently seeking God’s will in the area of material things because we are so accustomed to self-management and control. But financial freedom comes from knowing God is in control.
What a great relief it is to turn our burdens over to Him. Then, if something happens to the car, you can say, “Father, I gave this car to You; I’ve maintained it to the best of my ability, but I don’t own it. It belongs to You, so do with it whatever You would like.” Then look for the blessing God has in store as a result of this attitude.
Freedom from debt:
As Australians we are drowning in debt. The average Australian owes credit card debts of $3085 dollars. For a married couple that would be $6,000. As a Christian is this acceptable.
There are 8 steps that will get you out of debt:
1. Make a written plan: What is your budget?
2. Stop any expenditure that is not absolutely essential for living. Learn to conserve. Begin by eliminating expenditures that are not essential. You must begin to assess what things you can do for yourself or with the help of other Christians. Once you begin to do these things, it will become fun and will help stabilize family life.
3. Think before buying. A Christian who is in debt (and even those who are not) should think before every purchase. You should ask yourself questions like, Is it a necessity? And, Is this the very best buy I can get?
4. Discontinue Credit Buying! A Christian in debt should also begin buying only on a cash basis. Often someone in debt doesn’t realize how much money they lose each year in interest. If you owe $5,000 you will probably be paying something over $1,000 per year in interest alone. If you are in debt from the misuse of credit, stop – totally stop – using it! Then start buying solely on a cash basis. It hurts.
5. Avoid Leverage. Borrowing money on some quick rich scheme will lead to trouble.
6. Begin to practice saving: A Christian should practice saving money on a regular basis. This included those who in debt. Even if it is only $5 a month, develop a discipline of saving.
7. Establish the Tithe: Every Christian should establish the tithe as a minimum testimony to God’s ownership. I am not saying you have to give it to our church. I am saying you have to put it aside for God’s ministry.
Sorting out your finances can be scary. I know for my wife and I we are on two incomes but we are starting to live like we are on one income. We have savings but we don’t want to touch them.
21 “Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things. Be not afraid, O wild animals, for the open pastures are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. ’I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.” Joel chapter 2
Give God the first part of your income as a testimony of His ownership. Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
8. Finally, Accept God’s Provision: God will bless you and you need to recognize and accept that God’s provision is used to direct our lives.
1) Obedience to God does mean a blessing
2) Common myths about money
3) Financial burdens must be broken
4) God’s plan for you is financial freedom!
I would like to close by a focus upon God.
We get into debt when we fail to live the disciplined way God wants us to live. God’s laws are not to punish us, we will still get into heaven no matter how much we owe on the credit card, but our life will be more difficult here on earth.
To treat money seriously can release us from all sorts of worry. Freeing us to focus upon the more important things of life like God, family and helping others. It is not easy, but it is worth doing.
Let us pray
