Living Within Our Means Without Being Mean
(Romans 13:8)
Last week, we talked about why many of us struggle with overspending.
Whereas frugality is good, we are also commanded to be generous.
Lars asked Ole, "Do ya know da difference between a Norvegian and a canoe?"
"No, I don’t," said Ole.
"A canoe will sometimes tip," explained Lars.
(source: basicjokes.com)
What we have belongs to God; we only manage it for a while, and God does not want us to squander the wealth He gives us (Luke 15:13)…He wants us to enjoy it to His glory (I Tim. 6:17b), to share with others and invest in His Kingdom (2Cor. 9:6-7), to leave an inheritance for our children (Prv. 13:22), and to avoid debt (Romans 13:8).
Why handle money rightly?
• A moral issue,
• a spiritual issue,
• a matter of testimony, and a
• quality of life issue.
We sought to resurrect the adage that money cannot buy you love or happiness, but misusing it can buy you misery.
This week, we are dealing with the specifics to help prevent us from misusing the resources God gives us. But this requires us to analyze what we heard last week and to first understand why money and materialism become our drug of choice.
Many of the Proverbs really involve this principle: the wise man fears God and thinks of the long-term consequences of his choices, whereas the foolish man thinks of the short term.
"The real problem is that wisdom is offensive to those who do not want to be bound by it. Wisdom is sometimes restricting, because it focuses upon long-term consequences at the expense of immediate gratification." Pastor Ed Vasicek
Today’s sermon is an attempt to help us implement the command of Romans 13:8,
Romans 13:8, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
Although Romans 13:8 comes from the Word of God, many of my suggestions do not; they are meant to help us take Romans 13:8 out of mothballs and put it to work. Some principles have Scriptural under-girding; others are based on observation or conventional wisdom. We should feel bound by Scripture, but we have complete freedom to disagree with any suggestions not clearly derived from the Word.
These last two weeks, we have been looking at methods to implement the Word rather than expounding and explaining the Word.
Main Idea: Handling money can be a spiritual and moral issue, since its use or misuse affects others.
Let’s take a look at several considerations for you to ponder when it comes to handling money. The first two address two contrasting methods of money management, the last two considerations help with either method.
I. Law Enforced Through A BUDGET
A. Often the best for people who are STRUGGLING (I Tim. 1:8-11)
1. Relatively new way for families to handle finances
This is usually the route people in debt have to take
Proverbs 22:7, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
2. Most of us need "law" for some areas of life
Vasicek’s simple test, though far from accurate, can help you determine whether you need to operate on the basis of law or grace (the principle of thriftiness) when it comes to money management or law (a budget):
You are getting a large tax refund. As you wait, are you thinking, "What can I spend this on?" Or "What bill can I pay first?"
or do you think, "Where should I stash this away or invest it?" or not think of it at all.
If the first question comes to mind, you might need a budget. If it is the second, you probably can do well under the "mentality of thrift" or a mixture of the two.
You are remodeling a room and you save $20 on paint because it is on sale. Do you think, "Great, I saved $20," or "what can I get with this $20 to make the room look even better?"
If you pocket the money, you probably do not need a budget. If you are asking, "what can I buy with the money I saved" you do need a budget.
4. Best approach for people who think of the "now," not the "later."
5. Often necessary for the "mixed" philosophy marriage
6. Sometimes necessary when finances are very complex
B. How it works: a spending TEMPLATE
1. How can I get as many things with my money as possible without going broke?
2. Controls people’s spending against their wills
3. Usually does not conquer the "buy and make payments" mentality
C. Paper, Receipts, and RECORDS
Handling money can be a spiritual and moral issue, since its use or misuse affects others.
II. Grace Administered by A Mentality of THRIFT
A. For those who are in CONTROL in this area (Galatians 5:22-23)
Proverbs 21:20, "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
1. The older European way to handle money
2. Some of us can enjoy grace in this area, but then we probably struggle in other areas…
B. Habitual CONSERVATION
1. How can I avoid debt and save as much as possible so that I will have money for the really important things, unforeseen emergencies, and retirement – while enjoying a reasonable number of the pleasures of life along the way?
2. Based upon the "save first and then buy" mentality
3. Best approach for the futuristically minded; not good for those who want all they can have "now."
C. Principles and MODEST book keeping
1. Our church exemplifies this process: we might be able to do more, but we stay out of debt
2. We foresee a new roof in less than 5 years…
3. The sort of questions someone with this mentality asks:
• Can I live without this?
• Is there something else I need more?
• Is it worth the price?
• How much will I really use it?
• Do I have something that is doing whatever this does, even if in a different way?
• Can I borrow (like a book) or rent this (floor sander)?
• Is this an item for everyday life or luxury?
• Am I buying this on the basis of emotion, or reason?
Handling money can be a spiritual and moral issue, since its use or misuse affects others.
III. Specifics to Stretch MONEY
Romans 13:8, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
A. Separating wants from NEEDS
B. DAILY vs. seasonal
C. CALCULATED buying
waiting for sales, to make sure something is really worthwhile, and avoiding being manipulated emotionally and being hurried.
D. Avoid shopping CENTERS
E. SPLURGE on the inexpensive
F. COMPARE prices and quality
G. CONSERVE on cars, houses, and eating out.
H. Avoid CREDIT
"… The fact is, nearly 75 percent of Americans who use credit cards make only the minimum payment each month. At that rate (minimum payments) you could spend the next thirty years paying back a $3,000 credit card debt and give the financial institution $8,000 worth of interest. It’s the principle of compound interest in reverse."
(source: Sermoncentral.com, Clark Frailey)
Handling money can be a spiritual and moral issue, since its use or misuse affects others.
IV. The Benefits of Living Within Our MEANS
A. Personal PEACE
1. More time to pursue relational strength and spiritual depth
Ecclesiastes 7:12, "Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor."
2. Overspending and over-working rob you of peace
Ecclesiastes 5:10-15, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. ? And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.
"I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: ?wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand."
B. A Good NAME
Ecclesiastes 7:1a, " A good name is better than fine perfume…"
C. Providing for FAMILY
I Timothy 5:8, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
D. SHARING and GIVING (Eph. 4:28, I Cor. 16:2)
E. Eternal REWARDS (Matt. 6:19-21)
CONCLUSION
Handling money can be a spiritual and moral issue, since its use or misuse affects others.
1. But there is a spiritual debt that we all have: it is called "sin."
2. God loves us so much that He paid that debt Himself by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in our place. When He died, He shouted, "It is finished," literally, "it has been paid."
3. And this same Jesus arose from the dead, later ascending into heaven.
4. He paid our debt, but we have to receive that payment.
5. "A pastor friend recently told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than 6 months.
He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical basis and sent 17 debt canceling letters via certified mail.
One by one, the letters began to return, unsigned and undelivered.
Perhaps a couple people had moved away though not likely. 16 of the 17 letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts.
How profound! We owe a debt for our sin and God is willing to cancel it but too many people will not even open the letter that explains that."
(source: sermoncentral.com, Rick McCarley)
