Where Are the Ninety?
I Tim. 6:6-10, Prov. 23:5, Rom. 13:7-8
In our last message, “A ‘Trust’ Fund”, we dealt w/ the tithe…the 10% God asks us to return to Him. This message is about the other 90% of God’s money that He charges us to be good stewards of. God wants for us to be financially free, but He’ll allow us to live in a prison of our own making if we insist.
TOP 10 SIGNS YOU ARE BROKE
10. American Express calls and says: "Please, Leave home without it!"
9. You’re formulating a plan to rob the church food pantry.
8. Long distance companies don’t call you to switch.
7. You rob Peter...and then rob Paul.
6. You clean your house for the purpose of finding change.
5. You think of a lottery ticket as an investment.
4. Your bologna has no first name.
3. At communion you go back for seconds.
2. You can’t even pay attention!
1. McDonalds is your source for all your condiments.
Courtesy Brian Mavis
I decided to start off with something light because if you’ve ever experienced run-away debt you know how scary it can be. Life deteriorates into a juggling act of delaying until the last minute and then paying only the most crucial bill. The phone rings and you fear that it’s another creditor calling. You know things are really bad when you hide the car so the repo-man won’t find it.
Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there right now.
-Read Texts…
-Back to I Tim. 6…
v. 7 I have yet to see a U-Haul Truck following a hearse.
v. 8 Where does that say cars, houses, and things? It doesn’t. What two things are we supposed to be contented with? Food and raiment. Are you? Are you satisfied with these? No, that’s why we are in debt.
v. 9 This is not condemning being rich. Being rich is not a sin if the wealth does not affect your serving and living for God. But those who try for too much, too fast, will fall into temptation, snares, and will drown in destruction. Now we see major stress coming into the picture.
v. 10
Sixteen tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
Saint Peter don’t you call me
Cause I can’t go;
I owe my soul to the company store.
You may be like the majority of Americans in bondage to payments of all kinds. Statistically, most people in this room have $8,000 dollars worth of credit card debt. That’s on top of cars and mortgages. You haven’t gone under yet, but you feel trapped by all those ballooning bills.
If this describes you, I’ve got good news. There is a way out. It’s not quick or easy, it requires commitment and discipline, but you can be free. You can get out of debt for good.
The problem is not a lack of money. The problem is not the amount of your income. The problem is a lack of control of your desires. God said, “Thou shalt not covet.” We have a lack of contentment…A lack of satisfaction…Most are not content or satisfied to live on the level that God has supplied you with. God supplies at one level and you want to live at a higher level. Our desires exceed our means. Our “wanter” is writing checks our “supplier” can’t cash!
The BIG remedy is not more money. The BIG remedy is not a better job. The BIG remedy is a matter of getting control of our desires. We need to concentrate on and drill into our heads:
“Save, then buy; Save, then buy…
Earn, then spend; earn, then spend.”
[Too many spend and then earn.]
MONEY - it is the most important value in American society, it is absolutely essential for existence, it is one thing almost everyone wishes they had more of, it is the subject which causes more family arguments than all others combined. Solomon, the richest man in the world, made this observation: "Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings - they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." (Prov. 23:5 kjv) Or, as a "modern philosopher" said:
"That money talks, I’ll not deny, I heard it once, it said, ’Good-bye.’"
Before we can ever hope to please God financially, we must have the right attitudes toward money:
1. "God is the ‘source’ of all our resources"- an attitude of gratitude
2. "We are the stewards of God’s property"-an attitude of faithfulness
3. "Our most important investments are heavenly"-an attitude of vision
4. "We should trust God to provide for all our needs"-an attitude of faith
With these four attitudes in our hearts, let’s look at some practical applications from Proverbs, the book of wisdom:
*MONEY –
How to Secure it, How to Save it, How to Share it
I. HOW TO Secure IT
A. Work
Proverbs 14:23
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
B. Ethics
Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Proverbs 20:17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Proverbs 10:9
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
C. Dependence on GOD
Proverbs 11:28
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Proverbs 28:25
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
So this is not a "get-rich quick" scheme, it is a long-term financial plan: "Work hard with honesty and integrity, depending on God for the results….and He will prosper you!"
II. HOW TO Save IT
A. By not borrowing it
Proverbs 22:7
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Romans 13:8
Owe no man any thing…
B. By planning ahead
Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Proverbs 30:25
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
(Budgeting - what you make, what you need; balance it, follow it!)
C. By not spending it unwisely
Proverbs 6:1-2
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, [2] Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Proverbs 11:15
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
i.e. Be very careful about loaning money, co-signing, and credit card use!
Instead, pray about every purchase:
Proverbs 15:16
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
So, to keep your riches from "flying away like an eagle," don’t borrow; plan ahead; and don’t spend money unwisely.
How can we save money on things? Here’s some good advice:
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!" [but some people’s money burns a hole in their pocket…as soon as they get some financial break, they jump right back into the frying pan!]
III. HOW TO Share IT
[we dealt w/ this much more thoroughly last time, see “A ‘Trust’ Fund”.]
A. Give it to Jesus first [it doesn’t matter how well you do w/ the “other 90%” if you don’t obey God w/ the first 10%!]
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [10] So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
You have to add something to your budget, and to the TOP line. What? To add something to an already suffering budget is ludicrous! How can I suggest such a thing? Because God promises something miraculous will happen…
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
It may hurt at first, but no pain, no gain!
Philip. 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
...This promise was made to a church that gave out of their deep poverty.
2 Cor. 8:2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
The poor widow of Mark 12:42 gave out of her deep poverty, too.
I Cor. 16:2
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
B. Give to Others next. [begin w/ our own families, putting their long term needs before our “right now” greeds!]
Proverbs 14:21
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:7
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
"Give as ’twas given to you in your need
Love as the Master loved you,
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true." (Make Me a Blessing)
C. Save for Yourself and your future.
[that’s real JOY, Jesus first, Others next, Yourself last.]
Proverbs 24:27
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Luke 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Experts say: at least 10% of our income should be saved for future needs, the unexpected, for our children’s education, for our retirement, for an inheritance for our children and grandchildren. Remember, the wise person plans for the future - both materially and spiritually.
Paul tells us why a Christian should work hard:
Eph. 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
We work hard, not just to meet our own needs, but to have enough left over to GIVE to God’s work, to the needy and to our family.
Conclusion:
So, is money good or evil?
*If money is our god, it’s evil!
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
*If we use our money for God, it’s good!
Philip. 4:16-17
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. [17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
OR, TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY:
"If you love money and use people, that’s bad!"
"But if you love people and use money, that’s good!"
I believe God wants us to be FINANCIALLY FREE!
Jesus said,
John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
*MONEY - it can be the root of all evil, or the fruit of all goodness.
portions of outline courtesy Jim Westervelt
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http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhereAreTheNinety.html
Parts 1 and 3 on the first 10% of our money and on Time Management also at website.
