Summary: You can find tons of books on managing money... but not many on how to keep it from driving you nuts! Financial stability has to do with your habits with money, but financial sanity is all about your attitudes toward it. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

For a CD of over 100 of sermons by Darrell Stetler II (most complete with handouts), please e-mail darrellstetler2@sbcglobal.net.

NOTE:

I am indebted to Brian Kluth (www.kluth.org) for his excellent resources on finances and giving. Stats and illustrations in this sermon are primarily his. I encourage you to check out his site.

What special day is coming up this week? (APRIL 15th!)

I heard the other day that the IRS is actually coming out with a new tax form that’s much more simple. It has only 2 lines:

LINE 1: How much did you make?

LINE 2: Send it in.

And don’t even get me started on GAS PRICES!!!!!

I’m teaching this series on Figuring Out Your Finances. This is a 2-sermon series.

The first one: Principles for Financial Sanity

The second one: Principles for Financial Stability

I passed out a survey a few weeks ago, and asked people: “The biggest thing I struggle with in my life is. . .” Guess what the number 1 answer was? FINANCES!!! I want to be a preacher that preaches to your needs, so here I am doing a series on “Figuring Out Your Finances.”

A lot of people think that the Bible doesn’t have anything to do with life today: That’s baloney! Issues like money and possessions are ALL THROUGH the Bible. In fact, In the Bible, there are 40 verses on baptism , 275 verses on prayer , 350 verses on faith , 650 verses on love -- and 2,350 verses that relate specifically to finances and material possessions

The Bible has TONS to say about how to manage the money and blessings that God has for you. It’s the oldest and most reliable financial guide in the world. So today, I want to talk to you about the Bible’s:

Principles for Financial Sanity

...keeping money matters from driving you nuts.

Would you agree that as Americans, we have more than ever before?

- 20% of Americans have items stored in the U.S.’s 40,000 storage facilities. USA Today 2003

- $58 billion for soda products, $24 billion in jewelry store sales, $8 billion for movies theaters, $13 billion for chocolate products, $38 billion in vending machine sales, $11 billion for comp/video games, $7 billion greeting cards, $23 billion for toys, $91 billion in lawn/garden industry, $23 billion for pets. Source: Empty Tomb Research

Would you also agree that we have more stress than ever before?

- Average credit card debt per U.S. household is $8400. Source: Cardweb.com

- Americans spent more on legalized gambling ($2500 for every American) than on groceries. $650,000,000,000 ($650 billion) was spent on legalized gambling in 1997 compared to $450,000,000,000 spent in grocery stores. Source: Focus on the Family article on the 1997 US abstract reports

- 1.5 million bankruptcies in 2002 (more than the ENTIRE decade of the 1960’s).US Courts

- Financial problems are the largest contributing cause of marital stress and divorce.

God predicted this over 3,000 years ago:

“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.”

(Ecclesiastes 5:12)

In other words, more money = more stress. That’s backwards from the way that we usually think. We think “If I had more money, I could relax.” But check out these quotes:

“I was happier when I was doing a mechanic’s job.”

— Henry Ford (1863-1947), American industrialist

“Take it from me. . . fame and fortune are not what they’re cracked up to be.” - madonna

“I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness.” — John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (1839-1937), American industrialist and philanthropist

SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER? How can I find financial sanity in all of the stress?

The key to financial sanity is not getting more. Rick Warren, the author of the best-selling book, “The Purpose Driven Life” says, “The greatest myth about money is that it will make me more secure.”

They key to financial stability is your habits.

The key to financial sanity is your attitude toward money.

You may have thought when I said I was preaching on money that I was going to talk about giving – you know, TITHE? But the first thing God wants from you is not that you give money to the church. The first thing He wants is for you to take His attitude toward money and finances. So this Sunday is not money-saving tips. . . it’s an attitude check for all of us.

The Bible has lots to say about your attitudes toward money.

1. Don’t make money the most important thing.

And He said to them, "...beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)

Basically, this is what Jesus is saying: “The most valuable things in life are not things.”

What’s important to you will control how you view life:

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening.

Suddenly, the Native American said, “I hear a cricket.”

His friend said, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!”

“No, I’m sure of it,” the Native American said. “I heard a cricket.”

“That’s crazy,” said the friend.

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. “That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have super-human ears!”

“No,” said the Native American. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.”

“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”

“Yes, it’s true,” came the reply. “It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you.”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

“See what I mean?” asked the Native American. “It all depends on what’s important to you.”

What is it that’s important to you?

GREEN - YELLOW - RED Light? Is this an area you are doing well in (Green), Need caution in (Yellow), or need a major change in attitude (Red)?

2. Give to those who are less fortunate.

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)

Rockefeller The very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power and wealth. But three years later at the age of 53 he became ill. His entire body became racked with pain and he lost all the hair on his head. In complete agony, the world’s only billionaire could buy anything he wanted, but he could only digest milk and crackers. An associate wrote, "He could not sleep, would not smile and nothing in life meant anything to him." His personal, highly skilled physicians predicted he would die within a year. That year passed agonizingly slow. As he approached death he awoke one morning with the vague remembrances of a dream. He could barely recall the dream but knew it had something to do with not being able to take any of his successes with him into the next world. The man who could control the business world suddenly realized he was not in in control of his own life. He was left with a choice. He called his attorneys, accountants, and managers and announced that he wanted to channel his assets to hospitals, research, and mission work. On that day John D. Rockefeller established his foundation. This new direction eventually led to the discovery of penicillin, cures for current strains of malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria. The list of discoveries resulting from his choice is enormous. But perhaps the most amazing part of Rockefeller’s story is that the moment he began to give back a portion of all that he had earned, his body’s chemistry was altered so significantly that he got better. It looked as if he would die at 53 but he lived to be 98.

It’s not just an issue of making you feel better. . . it’s an issue of making you truly better off in the long run!

"Sell what you have and give the money; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33)

In other words, Jesus is essentially saying, “You only get to keep what you give away.”

I know that a number of you here today are very giving people, and that’s beautiful to God. As long as basic needs are met, and you’re providing for your family, saving some for the future as the Bible teaches is wise, then you’ll never find satisfaction unless you’re willing to give.

GREEN - YELLOW - RED Light? Is this an area you are doing well in (Green), Need caution in (Yellow), or need a major change in attitude (Red)?

3. Don’t worry about the future.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ ... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31)

There’s nothing like being able to relax about money. I’ve found financial sanity, and the reason I have is that

GREEN - YELLOW - RED Light? Is this an area you are doing well in (Green), Need caution in (Yellow), or need a major change in attitude (Red)?

4. View yourself as “God’s money manager.”

“Don’t you know that ... you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

The Bible’s word for “manager” is stewardship. The Bible teaches that you and I are simply managers of everything that we have.

Our health. . .

Our family. . .

Our talents and skills and gifts. . .

Our influence. . .

Our money. . .

There are 2 truths that you have to know about that:

a) God can tell me to give something, or use something for Him any time.

b) I can relax, because everything I have is His.

There’s something very relaxing about knowing that I’m not the owner of all this stuff. God is! Therefore, when something happens I can say, “God, your car is broken down.”

He has to help me find the money to fix it, because it’s not mine – I use it for Him!

GREEN - YELLOW - RED Light? Is this an area you are doing well in (Green), Need caution in (Yellow), or need a major change in attitude (Red)?

5. Enjoy and be thankful to God for what you have.

“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

“Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Some people have never learned to be content.

A rich industrialist who disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. "Why aren’t you out there fishing?" he asked.

"Because I’ve caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman.

"Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?’ the rich man asked.

"What would I do with them?"

"You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you’d have a fleet of boats and be rich like me."

The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?"

"You could sit down and enjoy life," said the industrialist.

"What do you think I’m doing now?" the fisherman replied as he looked placidly out to sea.

We sometimes imagine that the next big thing will bring contentment, and forget to enjoy the simple pleasures of what we have NOW:

- Family

- Health

- The opportunity to sit outside on a warm spring evening in OK with wind blowing. . .

GREEN - YELLOW - RED Light? Is this an area you are doing well in (Green), Need caution in (Yellow), or need a major change in attitude (Red)?

Now, maybe you gave yourself a green light on most of these, and you’re saying, “I believe my attitudes are in line with what God wants for my finances. But what practical things can I do to make sure I’ve got enough money?”

2 Practical steps you can take to become the money manager God wants you to be:

A) Wednesday night – I’m doing a budget workshop. We’re changing our regular Wednesday night for this one week.

- I’m going to share secrets of managing your money that will enable you (yes, you) to achieve financial stability!

- How to plan your spending.

- How to locate money that you can save.

B) Next Sunday AM - I’m preaching a sermon on “Principles for Financial Stability.”

Next week, you will want to be here. And, bring a friend who needs to know how to manage their finances.

______________________

HANDOUT

______________________

Principles for Financial Sanity

Keeping money matters from driving you nuts. . .

The Bible talks a lot about financial things: In the Bible, there are _____ verses on baptism , ______ verses on prayer , ______ verses on faith , ______ verses on love -- and __________ verses that relate specifically to finances and material possessions.

We have more than ever before:

-In a recent year, Americans spent: $_____ billion for soda products, $_____ billion in jewelry store sales, $___ billion for movies theaters, $_____ billion for chocolate, $______ billion in vending machine sales, $____ billion for comp/video games, $___ billion greeting cards, $_____ billion for toys, $_____ billion in lawn/garden industry, $_____ billion for pets.

We also have more stress and financial problems than ever before:

- Average credit card debt per U.S. household is $________.

- $_____ billion was spent on legalized gambling in 1997 compared to $______ billion spent in grocery stores.

- _____ million bankruptcies in 2002 (more than the ENTIRE decade of the 1960’s).

It proves the truth of this verse: “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.” (Ecclesiastes 5:12)

What is the answer to financial sanity?

The key to financial sanity is not getting more. “The greatest myth about money is that it will make me more secure.” - Rick Warren

The keys to financial stability are your ____________ with money.

The key to financial sanity is your _______________ toward money.

5 Attitudes that will help you achieve financial sanity:

1. Don’t make money the most ________________ thing.

And He said to them, "...beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)

“The most valuable things in life are not ______________.”

2. Give to those who are less ________________.

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)

"Sell what you have and give the money; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33)

“You only get to keep what you give away.”

3. Don’t ___________ about the future.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ ... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31)

4. View yourself as “God’s __________ ______________.”

“Don’t you know that ... you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

The Bible’s word for “manager” is _______________.

5. ________ and be _____________ to God for what you have.

“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

“Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Getting the tools to be a good money manager:

A) Wednesday night – budget workshop.

- I’m going to share secrets of managing your money that will enable you (yes, you) to achieve financial stability!

- How to plan your spending.

- How to locate money that you can save.

B) Next Sunday AM - “Principles for Financial Stability.”