The Problem With Your Finances... Series

“If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house that keeps the weather out, and own a reasonably reliable means of transportation; you are among the TOP 15% of the world’s wealthy.”

“If you have any money saved, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home; you are in the TOP 5% of the world’s wealthy.”

-From Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn

The Bible speaks of possessions more than 2350 times. This series in not just about MONEY; it’s about a change of HEART!

So, what is the PROBLEM with my finances?

P ERSPECTIVE of ownership is wrong.

“A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and its entire people belong to Him. For He laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.”

(Psalms 24:1-2 NLT, see also 1 Corinthians 10:26)

“You must remember the LORD your God, for He is the one who gives ability to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NB)

"So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” (Luke 14:33 NASB)

It is not a PARTNERSHIP, but God’s PROPRIETORSHIP!

R ATIONALE of your “needs” is skewed.

1. What are your needs?

2. What are your desires?

It is not about being REGAL, but about being RIGHTEOUS!

"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday lifewhether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds

your worries add a single moment to your life? "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "So don’t worry about these things, saying, ’What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

(Matthew 6:25-34 NLT)

O BSESSION of material wealth is futile.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness… Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

(1 Timothy 6:6-11, 17 NASB)

“The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NB)

It’s not about OWNING, but about OFFERING!

B UDGETING of money is lacking.

“A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.”

(Proverbs 16:9 NB)

It’s not just BELIEF, but BEHAVIOR that matters!

L IFESTYLE demands increased spending.

“And He said, "A man had two sons. "The younger of them said to his father, ’Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.”(Luke 15:11-14 NASB)

It isn’t about how you LIVE, but how you LOVE!

E TERNAL perspective is “in the future”.

“By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.”