Money Is Not The Most Important Thing
It never ceases to amaze me that the same people who complain about having no money this week, went out to eat multiple times and saw a movie last week. Let me be clear, I know that sometimes something can happen that no manner of savings can fully rectify the situation. However, being wise with your finances in the good times will create stability in your family during the hard times.
Money (along with everything else) Ultimately Comes From God
In reality, money is an issue of the heart and stewardship. What we choose to do with our money declares what is in our hearts. In other words, our checkbooks reveal our priorities and what is truly important to us. We must learn that we are stewards of the gifts that God has given us. As the Apostle Peter states, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10) God has given us everything we have, so, in reality, we own nothing. If we can live in this reality, then it easy to give back to God what he has given to us.
The True American Dream
The original American dream that was envisioned by our founding fathers was the right of the pursuit of happiness. In today’s culture, happiness is equated with comfort which is obtained by owning lots of stuff. Everyone wants the latest this or that. This is the true American dream that is born out of envy and jealousy.
One of the most important principles to financial stability is contentment. The author of Hebrews makes this point clear, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” We must forsake the American dream and run to Christ for our purpose and identity.
Wise Finances
Lastly, I would like to speak about practical and Biblical financial wisdom. First, everyone should have a budget. This is not a option if you want to be financially successful. Every viable business has a budget and you will not be able to function effectively and wisely without one. Proverbs 21:5, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
Second, comes the tithe. Please understand that I believed and practiced tithing long before I was a pastor at Deep Roots Fellowship, so I am not asking for your money. The tithe is not about how much money the church gets, its about your relationship with God. How much do you trust God to take care of your finances? No one can say that they are an obedient Christian and not tithe.
Thirdly, you must also save for those raining days. Laura and I just had to have both of our cars repaired in the same week. When it rains, it pours. We have had savings built into budget and this helps us prepare for the situations that we can’t see. Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
Hopefully, if you have been budgeting and saving then you will not have to go into unnecessary debt. What happens if your car brakes down or you have a water leak in your house? Going into debt is not wise, especially for small amounts of money. Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
In conclusion, keep Christ the Lord of your life and not money. View everything, especially your money, as a gift from God and learn to be content with what God has given you. Manage the resources that God has given in such a way that you honor God and take care of your family.
thanks for writing this…. these are things i already knew…. but something that i needed to hear again……