SPEND YOUR MONEY WISELY
LUKE 15:11-24
INTRODUCTION:
Intro: Shania Twain song and power point: “Ka-Ching.”
“All we ever want is more, a lot more than we ever had before so take me to the nearest store.. Can you hear it ring it makes you wanna sing. It’s such a beautiful thing.. Ka-Ching!” That Shania Twain “tongue-in-cheek” song may speak volumes about our spending habits. Many understand the line about spending it foolishly and blowing money we don’t possess. In fact, in our more honest moments many are like former PGA golfer Doug Sanders who talked about his flamboyant lifestyle. He said, "I’m working as hard as I can to get my life and my cash to run out at the same time. I figure if I can die right after lunch next Tuesday, I’ll have it just about right." We find our money running out before our life does and in-between we have all kinds of problems. We can’t give to the Church the way we want too, we can’t save for the future the way we know we should, we can’t help others in a way that we’d like because we are under heavy financial stress. USA Today reported that 300,000 Americans seek help with credit counseling every month! Probably the most important topic we can discuss is not how we increase our earning power but how we discipline our spending habits.
The best example, in the Bible, of someone who spent unwisely is that of the prodigal son. We find his story in Lk. 15. It’s about a young man who took his Father’s inheritance and headed for the far country. A lot of time this story is used to warn us against rebellious living or illustrate the love of the Heavenly Father and both those applications are correct and useful. But today I want us to look at this story from a different angle and see that it gives us a proper perspective on spending. Here’s a man who learned lessons on sinful spending the hard way. I want us to see 4 mistakes he made in his spending & then 5 corrections he took to right himself & his relationship with his father.
I. THE MISTAKES HE MADE:
The 1st mistake he made was that he overestimated the importance of wealth. Jesus said in Lk. 12, "Beware of greed. A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things that he possesses."(NIV) But apparently this young man didn’t believe that. Somehow money mattered more than his family relationships or his own integrity. He has an attitude of: "It’s mine, I’ve gotta have it!" So he says selfishly to his Father in vs:12- "I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.." His share was the most important thing to him.
But Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs that there are at least 5 things that are more important than money..
(1) Is wisdom. Prov. 3:13- "Wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you could want is equal to it.."(NCV) (2) Another commodity more important than money is harmonious relationships. Pro. 15:16- "It is better to be poor and respect the LORD than to be wealthy and have much turmoil. It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than to eat steak with those who hate you." (3) A 3rd is integrity/truth. Prov. 20:15- "Gold there is, & rubies in abundance, but lips that speak the truth are a rare jewel." (NIV) (4) Another thing more important than wealth is your reputation. Prov. 22:1- "Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold." (5) A fifth more valuable asset is discipline & understanding. Prov. 23:23- "Buy the truth and don’t ever sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and discernment." We might add to that list, freedom, loyal friends, good health. Jesus added salvation. He asked in Mt. 16:26- "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? Is there anything worth more than your soul?(NCV)
But even though we know that there are a lot of things in life more important than money we have to be reminded of it repeatedly. Because we are surrounded by a culture that evaluates everything in terms of dollars and cents. In his book, Balancing the Tightrope, Barry Powell relates that in a survey of over 200,000 college freshman, 76% listed financial prosperity as the most important of their life goals. Is it any wonder that one of the top issues in almost every Presidential election is the economy? What has it come to when our top voting priority is our buying power? Even more important than crime, foreign policy or moral values. You see, like the prodigal son, we can buy into this world’s mind set and make the same mistake he did: that life really does consist in the things that we possess.
The second mistake the prodigal made was that he desired instant gratification. Vs:12 tells us that this boy was requesting his share of the estate, that was his inheritance. This inheritance was going to be his someday, whenever his father died, but he couldn’t wait. In essence he was saying, "Dad, I wish you were dead so I could have my money!" He cared more about the money that he could have than the loving father he had.
The Wall Street Journal carried an article about the shocking spending habits of our generation. It was entitled, "Portrait of a Young Consumer." According to that article young consumers spend far too freely on products for immediate pleasure. We’ve all heard the promotions.. "Why wait? You can go home with it today!" "You can have it and not make your first payment until 2005!" "90 days, same as cash!" People, 90 days is never the same as cash! Try it some time, say to the store, "Well, 90 days are up, is it free now?" 90 days isn’t the same as cash, it just delays the pain of payment for 3 months. And there are just not many voices encouraging you to live within your means or wait until you can afford it. I think ATM’s are a huge culprit in this. I remember vividly when my children learned that growing up we didn’t have ATM’s. They said, “What if it was Saturday and you had not cash?” I said, “We waited until Monday.” Shocked they actually said, “No way!” They couldn’t imagine not being able to “get it when you wanted it.” It is so tough to learn the concept of "delayed gratification!" Because when you combine an exaggerated value of things with a passion for instant pleasure you have the seed-bed for a lifetime of debt.
A 3rd mistake that the prodigal son made was that he spent his money on reckless activity. Vs:13 says that he went into a distant country and "There he squandered his wealth in wild living." It is interesting that the Greek word that Jesus used here for "squandered" is the word which means "to pour out wastefully." It comes from a root word which means "to abandon." Jesus is saying this young man’s foolish spending was like abandoning or just forsaking his money. How did he do that? I can think of at least two ways: (1) He just spent it unwisely by trying to impress new found friends, not saving, not working. Just spending his money recklessly, maybe even gambling it away. Now, that brings up an interesting question.
What does God and/or the Bible say about gambling? Nothing. Really, the Bible doesn’t address gambling per se. Gambling in itself if not a sin. But there are couple of spiritual principles I would like you to consider when it comes to gambling.
(1) Remember God wants your best and like a lot of things gambling can become a huge problem when abused. I remember Deb and I going on a cruise and there we slot machines on the entertainment deck. She had always wanted to try one. So, having seen some of the devastation a gambling addition can cause I said, “Take $2 (I know I”m a huge spender) and play until you run out.” So, she did and about her 3rd or 4th quarter she won $10. I said, “Ok, good now give me back your $2 and play with your $10.” She said, “Oh, that’s cool.. Now I can’t lose anything!” But when she lost her $10 very quickly she said, “Maybe just another quarter?” Of course I said in my most spiritual tone: “See, that’s what this can do.. It’s just one more quarter and one more and one more until our house is gone!” She said two words, “Oh pleeease!” And I admit that it was a little dramatic but I’ve seen people get hurt terribly because they couldn’t control their gambling. I referred a man in the last church I served to a gambler support group because he was losing $5000 a month! And it all started by clicking on one of those internet ads to play on an internet casinos! So beware! Gambling can be addictive.
(2) Another reason I don’t like gambling is because it can contradict the Biblical principle of stewardship. Remember we are stewards or managers of God’s possessions. He has given us everything and a good steward/ manager doesn’t waste the owner’s money or spend it unwisely. The latest figures I have seen is that the odds of winning the big prize in the lottery is 20 million to 1. Why the odds of getting hit by lightening are 2 million to 1. You’ve got a better chance of being hit by lightening while you go from your car to buy a lottery ticket than you do to win the “big bucks.” Someone once said, "Race tracks are the only places where windows clean people." Now, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying it’s a sin to play a slot machine or play penny ante poker. The Bible does not say gambling is a sin but.. the Bible does say that while we can spend, invest and give our money away we are not to throw it away and in some cases gambling is doing just that. So, this boy spent his money unwisely obviously without understanding the stewardship principle.
But (2) the primary way this story tells us he squandered his money was on sinful activity. Jesus called it “wild living.” Now, we’re not exactly sure how he did that but in vs:30 the older son, who is critical of the way his father received his younger brother, says, "Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have!" Maybe that’s not exactly what he did but it’s pretty clear that sin was involved in his "wild living." I think this should remind us of a terrible truth: sin is costly! That "The pain of the payment always exceeds the pleasure of the purchase. Think about the money that people squander on alcohol, drugs, pornography, maintaining a mistress. Prov. 23:21- "For drunkards and gluttons become poor and drowsiness clothes them with rags." (NIV)
Now, the fourth and final mistake that the prodigal made was that he didn’t anticipate hard times. Vs:14- “..a great famine swept over the land..” I think he could see his bank account dwindling but he told himself, "Times are good, when I run out of my stash I’ll get a job.. no problem." But suddenly, a famine hit and he was in need. Financial advisors are warning us today of the shaky state of the American economy. We’ve gone too long with deficit spending. But even if the national economy is okay there are still some personal famines to expect. James 4- "Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what will happen tomorrow?" Think of all the unplanned things that can happen. Dr. bills, car trouble, a car accident, an unplanned pregnancy, parent’s illness. There is no way you can prepare for every contingency. So, a wise planner makes some allowance for the unexpected. Prov. 21:22- "Wise people live in wealth and save, but stupid people spend it as fast as they get it.”(TEV) So, the prodigal made some major mistakes but he also took corrective action and righted himself.
II. THE CORRECTIONS HE MADE:
The 1st thing he did is he went to work. Vs:15 tells us that he took a job. It wasn’t a glamorous job. In fact, for a good Jewish boy feeding pigs, pork on the hoof, would be on the bottom rung of vocational status. When you get into financial trouble you be willing to work. Stop looking for a quick fix because that will get you into deeper trouble. Be willing to go to work even at the most menial employment if necessary. You may not see any way out, the numbers may not add up, but God honors the diligent. Prov. 10:4- "A lazy person will end up poor, but a hard worker can become rich." (NCV)
A 2nd thing he did right was he acknowledged his bondage. He got so hungry vs:16 says that "The boy became so hungry that even that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him." And then v:17- "..when he finally came to his senses.." Isn’t that a great phrase? That means that "he saw the light," or "he woke up." And he said, "Look at me, this is ridiculous, my father has servants that eat better than this. I have been so stupid." The Bible says in Prov. 22:7- "..the borrower is the slave of the lender." (NRSV) When you are deeply in debt you’re not free. You’re not free to give, you’re not free to enjoy, you’re not free to relax, you’re spending all your energies working to pay back the interest to the lender. And that bondage can be an awesome burden. Here are some tell-tale signs that you are in financial bondage. (1) Guilt- when you want to buy your child a special gift, when you spend money on entertainment that is costly, whenever you go out to eat, you feel guilty because you’re thinking that money ought to be used to pay some of the bills. (2) Another is stress. You find yourself stalling the creditors, hating to go to the mail box or answer the phone. (3) Another is preoccupation. You find yourself, a majority of the time, worried about money. You even dread it when the preacher says he’s going to be preaching a series on money. (4) Bickering- the word money is a fighting word in your home. (5)Resentment- you’re angry at God for not supplying you more.(6) Low self-esteem- there is a sense of failure and a feeling of hopelessness because you see no way out. Maybe it’s time to come to your senses. The most important step in escaping the debt trap is to admit you’re in bondage. That’s the first step in any recovery.
(3) The prodigal son developed a plan. Vs:18-19 he said- “I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” He had a plan, he used his intelligence to design a way out. Now, if you are having trouble financially and you want out you must use the intelligence God gave you and develop a plan. And there are two things that must happen. (1) First, and I know we’ve mentioned it before but it bears repeating.. You must develop a budget. Prov.21:5- "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity." According to the late Larry Burkett, only 25% of the American people operate on a budget. A budget is a spending diet. A budget guides and tells you when you’re on course, just as a road map does when you’re driving in a unfamiliar area. Even Jesus said in Lk. 14:28- “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it?”(Msg) But the 2nd word if you’re going to plan, is the word discipline. Prov. 13:18- "Poverty and shame comes to the one who ignores discipline."(GW) To experience financial freedom requires the discipline of self denial. It’s not easy for us but it is as simple as asking do I “need” this or “want” this? And let’s be honest a lot of us have a problem knowing the difference.. Like this “jerk.” VIDEO CLIP - The Jerk - 2:02
“What do you think.. He’s some kind of jerk or something?” We laugh at that but did you notice he picks up about 10 things that he “must have”? If you were told you could keep 10 things and only 10 things what would you keep? I guarantee that you would be forced to have the discipline of only picking the things that you really needed. And yet because of our blessings a lot of us have lost sight of that which we need and that which we want. We need to re-learn to say, "I’d like to have that, but I can’t afford it so I’m going to wait." OR "No, we won’t buy it now, but save up for it." Some of our financial problems are just from living undisciplined lives.
The 4th thing he did right is that he started immediately. Vs:20- "So he returned home.." There didn’t seem to be any time lapse between the time he made his plan and the time he put it into action. There is no magic formula for getting your financial situation and your spending habits under control.. start today! It may take a long time but it has been my experience that you feel better immediately when you know that you’ve made a start at getting the situation under control. The longer you wait the tougher it gets.
Now, the final step is the most important and that is that he submitted to the will of the father. Vss:20-21 tell us that he followed through with his plan. He repented before his father. But notice he didn’t even get all the way to the house before the Father grabbed him, he didn’t even get out his full speech before his Father yelled, “Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast!” Now when we really submit to the father He makes us immediately rich, regardless of our financial condition. We’re rich in promises- He promises eternal life. We’re rich in forgiveness- the past is wiped clean. We’re rich in relationships- we have new family called the church, people who really care about us regardless of our financial condition as long as we are authentic. We are rich in purpose- we have a reason for living. We are rich in generosity- we have a reason to give. We are rich in contentment- we’ve learned to be satisfied no matter what we have. May Hebrews 13:5-6- be our motto for spending. "Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you, we can boldly say, ‘God is always with me, ready to help, therefore I will never be afraid.’”(MSG) Let’s say that last phrase together with confidence.. “God is always with me, therefore I will never be afraid.”
In the internet presentation, “Interview with God,” God is asked, “What is it you wish your children on earth would learn?”God says, “To learn that a rich person is not the one who can spend the most, but is the one who needs the least.” This young man made some terrible mistakes in spending. Yet when he remembered how truly wealthy he was he submitted to the Father and was immediately made rich in the things that really mattered. For "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? Is there anything worth more than your soul?(Matthew 16:26 NCV)
PRAY
(All Scripture taken from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.)
