Hey guys - this last Wednesday we started a 3-part series called IT'S A GIVEN. You can basically sum up the concept like this: Stop always asking 'what can I get from God?', and start asking 'what can I give back to God?'.
It's a subtle question. I know. But it's a huge difference maker for your outlook on life. I hope that you catch the heart behind this series and carry this thinking, not only into stuff that has to do with your money, but into every area of your life. Relationships with your parents. Relationships with your friends. Thinking more about everyone else and everything else before you think of yourself. That's what IT'S A GIVEN is all about.
To put some feet to this theme that's kicking off our new year, Exelerate is donating clothes to people that don't have as much as we do. Pretty cool. And in the next week, we'll be joining forces with Compassion International (more on that in an up-coming blog). Epically cool.
And all that you just read leads me to this. Below are the notes I spoke from in last Wednesday's Exelerate service. To give proper credit, a lot of this material was taken from the Bible(!), and Pastor Kevin Moore's mini-book, Answering Your Toughest Questions About Money. From here, only the Jesus-junkies will read on...
What does the Bible say about MONEY???
We all love feeling of having a wad of money in our wallet or purse.
We all love when there’s some buffer money in our bank account.
But there are 8 important things that we really have to wrap our heads around for us to handle money the way God wants us to.
- Money comes from God.
It doesn’t grow on trees. It actually doesn’t come from a job, or a bank, or even the federal government. In fact, money, that stuff you want so bad, actually belongs to God.
Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
Basically, God owns it all.
But the cool thing is that God really doesn’t need all that money, so He promises to give you ideas and abilities that will help you earn all the cash you need.
Deut 8:18 – “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
- You are not what you have.
And we love stuff. Cool clothes, nice cars, sweet houses, swimming pools, video games, and sports equipment, just to name a few. And where we live, our closets are full of things we no longer wear, our garages are full of equipment we no longer use, and our rooms are packed with games we no longer play.
There’s nothing wrong with having lots of stuff, but your stuff can never define who you are.
“The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.”
Luke 12:15 – “Then He said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
If you are what you have, what you drive, what you wear, and so forth, then who are you when you no longer have those things? Who are you when the clothes go out of style? When the car is gone? Who are you when your stuff is no longer your stuff?
- Loving money is big mistake.
Love will cause you to do some crazy things, won’t it? (my wife and coffee…and me…and my first date story)
And doing crazy things means that you end up getting hurt. (showing off on my skateboard)
Money is the exact same way!
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
In the end, people who do anything to get money get a lot more pain than they bargained for.
- Money will never make you happy.
Money can buy a bed, but not sleep. Money can buy a wedding ring, but not love. Money can buy a clock, but not time. Money can buy an education, but not wisdom. Money can buy jewelry, but not beauty. Money can buy a house, but not a home. Money can buy insurance, but not safety. Money can buy a crucifix, but not a Saviour.
I wanted a Danny White Cowboys jersey for christmas…got it and still wasn’t happy!
Money will never make you happy…only Christ will.
Phil. 4:12-13 – “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Money will buy you a lot of things, but it will never buy you happiness.
- Guard your heart against greed.
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Greed is a monster. It gets real ugly…and it doesn’t know when to stop. (my overeating example)
Its tentacles squeeze around your heart tighter and tighter every time you see someone who has something that you want.
Psalm 37:7 – “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways.”
- Give and you will receive.
This is one of the BIGGIES you need to know about money! Because this, my friend, is a principle.
Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Give. Don’t be stingy. Don’t be afraid to buy someone’s lunch. When you go shopping, don’t be afraid to buy something for a friend of yours.
- Give God what’s His.
What’s God’s isn’t yours…so don’t get caught stealing. Stealing is BAD MANNERS!!!
Malachi 3:8-10
Basically, when you rob God (the One who created everything that you see), He doesn’t like it.
If Coldplay can tithe…then I think we can!
- Put God first.
Always…times a zillion…
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Joel 2:12 / Romans 8:27
Posted on
Fri, January 14, 2011
by garrett johnson