Honoring God with our Finances
Philippians 4:11-13, 18-19
A few of you in the congregation may have lived through the Great Depression of 1929. October 24th, 1929 became known as the Black Thursday. That’s the day when a collapse of the American economy caught most of the country’s financial community off guard. Earlier that same year Herbert Hoover in his inaugural address had predicted that, “the final triumph over poverty is close at hand.”
Trading on the stock exchange had been normal on the 24th, but by eleven that morning orders to sell seemed to take over. A sell panic swept the floor, driving down prices before a group of powerful bankers pooled their resources and bought shrewdly to restore confidence. By the closing bell the market leveled off.
Friday was normal and Hoover urged calm. “The fundamental business of the country” he said, “is on a sound and prosperous basis.” But the following week the market once again tumbled and continued to slide into November as many large and small investors went under. Banks folded, destroying people’s savings. Wages were slashed. The unemployment rate rose to 16 percent.
During the Great Depression a number of frightened businessmen jumped out of windows to their deaths. With the crash of the market came the crash of many lives. The closing bell sounded and many were terrified that they had lost it all.
People who went through the depression lived with a much more careful mindset about money than their children and grandchildren. Those who went through the Great Depression were afraid it might happen again.
Our Scripture text for today gives God’s promises on “How to Overcome Financial Insecurity.”
Philippians 4:11-13 and verses 18-19.
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
At the moment I have all I need-more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to God and pleases him. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
From this passage we learn that
I. Financial Security is an Attitude of the Heart.
The Apostle Paul could say, “I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.” Anyone with this attitude can say, “I’m okay whether I have a six or seven-figure income or I’ve been without work for a long time. “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. “I can make it not on nothing, but almost nothing. I also know how to live when it’s like the heavens just opened up and money is raining down in buckets.”
What was Paul’s secret to financial security. It wasn’t conditioned to his bank account. He had this assurance, “I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”
Financial insecurity is the fear of not having enough to provide for those who love. It is the fear of not having enough even to meet your basic needs without going further in the hole, or owing so much money you have no idea how you will ever be able to get out of debt.
How do you overcome financial insecurity? By having the same kind of heart attitude the Apostle Paul had. He did not write the Philippian letter on Mona graphed Hotel stationery. He was writing from prison. He is not fretting and moaning about his situation. He is testifying that the risen Christ is taking care of his needs.
You overcome financial insecurity with the Love of God. The song sung by children reminds us of God’s love. “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
In this passage in Philippians Paul is telling us that we need to
Learn to have an attitude of contentment.
Are we content with what God provides or do we go so heavy in credit card debt that we end up paying hundreds of dollars in interest.
Contentment is not based upon what you have or don’t have. Paul happiness was not based upon having money in the bank, a promising retirement, or a nice home. He could say, “I have learned how to be happy with a lot, and I’ve learned how to be happy with a little.”
Paul could be happy with a lot or with a little. He could be happy in both situations because his contentment was of the heart.
Paul did not say his secret was in playing the lottery, or getting involved in a “get rich quick” scheme, or even finding better financial management. His secret was in trusting Christ.
Contentment is not based upon what you have or don’t have. Our contentment and peace are not in our port folio but in the Prince of Peace.
We need to learn that our most valuable resource is Jesus.
The song “I’d Rather Have Jesus” describes what it means to overcome financial insecurity.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be his than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land;
I’d rather be led by his nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway!
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
Having financial security is evidenced by our generous giving.
Jesus stated emphatically that if it impossible to serve God as a fully devoted disciple and also allow money to be master of your life. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
When you are generous with you money you demonstrate that money is not your master. You can be generous because of God’s promise to the Apostle Paul; “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19) God will provide for our needs (not our wants) as we are learning to be content and realize that Jesus is our most valuable resource.
This passage in Philippians teaches that financial security is an attitude of the heart.
This passage also teaches that
II. Financial Security Involves Putting God First.
God will supply all your needs as you honor him and put him first. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
The Bible teaches that we put God first when we commit a tenth of our income to Kingdom ministries. To selfishly keep the tithe for personal use is to rob God. The prophet Malachi addressed the people of Israel, “Will a person rob God? Yes, you’re robbing him. You ask, ‘How do we rob God?’ ‘In tithes and offerings you are robbing God. Bring the whole tithe into my storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this says the Lord. See if I won’t open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings so much for you, that you won’t be able to take it in.” (Malachi 3:8-10)
God taught through Malachi that God’s people are to earn money ethically. No schemes, no corruption, no backdoor deals, no gray areas. You can earn a lot of money if you want – just earn it ethically. Spend it wisely, not foolishly or carelessly. Avoid destructive debt. Save money consistently for your future. Give money to help those with needs generously.
As part of the overall money management plan God laid down the principle of tithing, giving 10% of whatever increase they experienced. The people were to bring their offering to the house of worship as a symbol of their gratefulness to God. To take the tithe of the Lord and use it for personal gain in effect was robbing God.
#Have you ever been robbed? Our first experience with robbery happened in the first church we served in Kansas City, Kansas. After one Sunday evening following church we went home next door to the church and found that the parsonage had been ram sacked. Draws were opened and stuff was thrown out on the floor. Carollyn expensive flute was stolen and some other inexpensive items. We felt victimized and violated.
The detective on the case told us that having a dog would be helpful. Soon after that we got a large dog, part German Shepherd and Collie. Skipper was a great family dog and watch dog for many years.
The last person we would want to rob is God. Why would we rob God whom we say we love and serve? We wouldn’t think of breaking in and robbing from our neighbors or friends. Yet every time we selfishly use God’s tithe we are not giving God His proper honor.
Tithing isn’t fundamentally about money. It’s about the condition of your heart before God.
We sometimes sing the worship chorus: “That’s Why We Praise Him.”
He came to live, live a perfect life. He came to die so
we’d be reconciled. He gave his everything. That’s why
we praise him. That’s why we sing. That’s why we
offer him our everything.
Do we actually mean it when we say, “we offer Jesus our everything?” Jesus can have our money and not have our hearts, but he cannot have our hearts without our money.
Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasurers upon earth.” (Matthew 6:19) We need to value what God values.
You overcome financial insecurity by having the right attitude of heart and mind. You overcome financial insecurity by putting God First. You also overcome financial insecurity by understanding that
III. Financial Security Comes from the Lord.
The Apostle Paul understood what it was to work hard. He was a tent maker by trade and made tents and sold them to pay for his missionary travels.
When he wrote the Letter to the Philippian Church he was in prison and not able to pay for his expenses. He was not able to work and had to trust God and God’s people to provide for his needs. (Philippians 4:14-18)
Regular giving is a source of great blessing. Many of us had the privilege of giving to support the Mission trip Ben Jones took to Hong Kong and China. When we heard his report several weeks ago we were blessed as we listened to had their ministry had been a blessing to many others.
Proverbs 11:24-25 gives this principle of generosity: “One man gives freely yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
I Corinthians 9:6 “Remember this. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. And whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Luke 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be poured into your lap, for with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
Financial security is an attitude of the heart.
Financial security involves putting God first.
Financial security comes from the Lord.
Here are some practical steps for money management by Pastor Ray Linder from the April/May 2003 issue of Focus on the Family magazine:
1. Get a new lifestyle; spend less; cut expenses. Spend no more than 70% of your take-home income for daily living expenses. Stop using credit cards.
2. Get creative but not too creative. Hold a garage sale, add part-time income, but remember that earned money gets taxed, saved money earns interest. Be cautious when considering debt consolidation loans – you may wind up deeper in debt.
3. Get moving. Create a plan that reduces all minimum payments of your debt and leaves a surplus to pay-off additional debt on balances. Start with what you have, even if it’s the smallest balance first. Pay it off and than add that much more to your next highest balance. “It takes desire and discipline to navigate your way out of the debt maze. But the closer you get to the exit, the lighter the debt burden becomes.”
Overcome financial insecurity with financial security.
1. Financial Security is an attitude of the heart
2. Financial Security involves putting God first
3. Financial Security comes from the Lord
