Money,
Its a hard issue and can be really stressful too.The fascinating thing is, that we asked the question:
From age 0-18 from where did you learn about money, money management, and lifestyle management.
Wow! did we learn a lot about the people in our small group and we were excited that to learn more. It also showed how money has its place and influence in our lives and what we allow it to control. We say this also within the context that God is our provider, not Corporate America or Washington State University, etc.
So money is tied to lifestyle, Jesus understood this concept too!
- Jesus talked about money more than He did Heaven and Hell combined.
- Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God.
- 11 of 39 parables talk about money.
- 1 of every 7 verses in the Gospel of Luke talk about money.
- 800 times in the bible money is brought up,
- Holy spirit only gets 261
So here are three major perspectives of lifestyle:
The Quiet Life
1 Thessalonians 4:6-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but [a]in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will [b]behave properly toward outsiders and [c]not be in any need.
The Middle Class Life
Proverbs 30:1-9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the [a]oracle.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man.3 Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in [b]His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know! 5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. 7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep deception and [c]lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.
Solomon’s Wealthy Life
1 Kings 10:14-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Wealth, Splendor and Wisdom
14 Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traders and the [a]wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country. 16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, [b]using 600 shekels of gold on each large shield. 17 He made 300 shields of beaten gold, [c]using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 18 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. 19 There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and [d]arms [e]on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the [f]arms. 20 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. 21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered [g]valuable in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.
23 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the [a]lowland.
What do you think of these?
The Paradox
A paradox we face is that, are some people pre-destined for making a poverty living wage? Are other’s pre-destined to be Solomons? With that in mind, do we allow ourselves to believe for stronger wealth like Solomon?
That’s an unknown, and is like pre-destination, but we do have the choice to steward what we have been given and be smart about making money to live generous lifestyles.
God also uses the poor person and stutterer just as well as a rich person and eloquent person.
1 Corinthians 1:27 New International Version
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
The problem with debt:
Culturally debt and interest isn’t allowed and land was given back to people every 50 years
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
19 “You shall not charge interest to your [a]countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. 20 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your [b]countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all [c]that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to [d]possess.
Leviticus 25:8-13
However if there were re-payment issues or issues with the land:
“… ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you… In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.”
The Point:
The fool lives for the flesh for the moment, for the now but not for the long haul
-Pastor Phil
Our desire is for you to be able to manage money, life the lifestyle God has called you to, and to be generous with all that God gives you. As you graduate school, find a job, start a family, fear can be a very powerful thing. and it can rule your life. Fear, pressure, guilt, and other things should not be the things you base your lifestyle or money management on.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosak. I absolutely recommend it. Here is why:
This is an income sheet for most Americans. By the time they do liabilities and expenses, there is no money left.
Here is a better example of Americans as a whole:
If you want to talk more about assets and things that help build wealth, let me know and I can help set you up with a financial advisor or other things.
More resources:
These are podcasts by Adrian Rogers and I highly recommend them for his biblical view on money. His voice is also AMAZING and easy to listen to.
