Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/alphon_2/7655/marriage.m10

Text File | 1992-10-29 | 20KB | 391 lines

Study No. 10                    TO THE GLORY OF GOD
                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                            FINANCE - SLAVES to WEALTH?

        Excess Debts Are Incurred Because Of:

        1.  Over-indulgence  - we  spend a great deal on the luxuries of  life
            that have no lasting value,  such as eating out  often,  expensive
            entertainment,    extravagant   hobbies,   sporting   goods   etc.
            (Prov.21:17)

        2.  Impulsive  Buying - we buy things in a time of emotional stirring,
            with  the  money  in  our hand not  taking  into  account  already
            committed funds.

        3.  Shaky Investments - we lose money on "get rich quick"  investments
            that rarely pay off.  Prov.28:20,22.

        4.  Slothfulness - we have difficulty working hard therefore we do not
            excel  in  our work and we are always seeking  expensive  luxuries
            that will eliminate work.  Prov.21:25,26.

        5.  Greediness  - we  are greedy in always desiring more than we  have
            always  (almost boastfully) insisting on the best  of  everything.
            Luke 12:15.

        6.  Covetousness  - we  are  covetous  of what  we  see  others  have,
            whether  it be by watching our  neighbours,  our  TV,  catalogues,
            other advertising.  Ps.73:2-3

        7.  Materialistic  Love - we feel that our love for our family must be
            proven, an extravagant bestowal of material things (ie. Christmas,
            birthdays, etc.) not realizing that love is demonstrated in a life
            of loyalty and commitment.

        8.  Unwise purchases - we buy because of sales pressure on low monthly
            payments    without   evaluating   the   total   purchases    (ie.
            encyclopedias, pictures, cookware, etc.)

        9.  Wrong  use of credit - we use credit cards instead of  money  when
            they should be used primarily for convenience.

        SOLUTION:   Determine to live within your means (Luke 3:14),  evaluate
        future purchases and live a debt-free lifestyle.

        DON'T BECOME A SLAVE TO BILLS.

        Make  sure  you  are  willing to work toward  the  goal  of  financial
        freedom.
        1.  Do not ignore outstanding debts. (Acts 24:16)
        2.  Set a date in which to reach "Paid in Full".
        3.  Be willing to make immediate sacrifice for long-term gain.
        4.  Be willing to discipline yourself and set guidelines for yourself.

        Note Proverbs 22:7
          "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's
          slave."

        Obviously,  the  Lord  wouldn't warn you with this fact and also  say,
        "Owe  nothing  to  anyone..." and not to borrow  and  then  leave  you
        stranded in disobedience.  God is "just."

        "Just"  means  that  He will always give you the power to do  what  He
        tells you to do.   The principle in the Lord is "don't borrow, because
        the borrower always becomes the lender's slave."  If you've ever taken
        a  loan,  and then become unable to pay it back,  you have  discovered
        just how literally true this principle is.

        EARLY CHRISTIANS WEREN'T "POOR"

        Many Christians purchased their own homes:
         ...John  Mark's mother owned hers (Acts 12:12).   She  was  evidently
            widowed.
         ...Lydia,   the  devout  woman  of  Thyatira,   converted  by  Paul's
            preaching      at  owned  her  own home  (Acts  16:40).   She  was
            evidently  a  single     woman.
            (Both of the above used their homes as churches also).
         ...Even at the Last Supper,  Judas left the table,  and the   Gospels
            record  the  disciples  thought he'd probably gone  out  "to  give
            something  to     the poor"  (John 13:29).   Evidently,  it was  a
            common  thing  for    Jesus and the disciples to  be  giving  away
            money.   Obviously,  they   weren't  "poor"  or they wouldn't have
            used the term  "giving money to  the poor."  It  stands to  reason
            that Jesus would  have led  His  followers to give in this manner.
            Jesus  lived  by  His  Father's  Book  and  lived  to  honour  His
            Father.  Prov.14:31.
         ...Very  rich people constantly gave financial support to  Jesus  and
            His Disciples and people with lesser funds helped too.

        Luke 8:3
          "And  Joanna the wife of Chuza,  Herod's steward,  and Susanna,  and
          many  others...were  contributing  to their  support  out  of  their
          private means."

        Sometimes someone will hurriedly point out that there was a time Jesus
        had  to  pay His tax "out of a fish's mouth" (Matthew  17:24-27),  but
        that  whole  episode is simply included in the Bible to  tell  us  two
        things:

        1.  Ultimately, God is our only source.
        2.  God  can  use  any means to provide our finances -- even a  fish's
            mouth!

        WHAT DOES GOD FEEL ABOUT WEALTH?

        Wealth  is  a neutral term.   It can be used in a positive way  and  a
        negative way.   There is no particular virtue in God's eyes is a  life
        of poverty nor is there any stigma attached to wealth.   It is not our
        possessions  or money or lack of possessions or money that  determines
        our relationship to God,  it is our attitude that does.   God is first
        of all concerned with our attitude.

        NOTE:   With the rich fool, God did not object to his wealth, only his
        use of it (Luke 12:16-20).

        DOES GOD DESIRE HIS PEOPLE TO PROSPER?

        YES!!!

        A.  God not only desires that His people prosper, but He promises that
            they WILL prosper.  (Psalm 1:3; 122:6)
        B.  True  wisdom  that comes to the people of God will produce  riches
            and honour (Prov.3:16-17; 8:18).
        C.  God  has  always desired blessing for His  people  (Deut.38:1-14),
            BUT,  all of God's blessings are based on various conditions which
            include:
            1.  Obedience to God (Deut.28:15-68; 19:9; Josh.1:6-8; 3 John 2.)
            2.  Placing God first (Matt.6:33; 2 Chron.31:21)
            3.  Diligence with what God has given you (Prov.21:5; 24:30-31)


        SOME WRONG ATTITUDES AND MOTIVATIONS FOR ACCUMULATING WEALTH.

        God  is  most  of all concerned about our attitudes  and  motives  for
        accumulating  wealth.   Only the individual involved can know what his
        or her true motivation really is.   Some of the wrong things that  can
        motivate us are these:

        1.  We are caught up in the spirit of the age. (1 John 2:15-17)
        2.  We are covetous. (Ps.73:2-3; Luke 12:15)
        3.  We enjoy the challenge. (Luke 12:18)
        4.  It makes us feel important. (1 Tim.6:17)
        5.  We feel more secure. (1 Tim.6:17-18; Prov.11:4,28)
        6.  We love luxury. (1 Tim.6:8; Eccl.5:10)

        THE RIGHT MOTIVATIONS FOR ACCUMULATING WEALTH.

        God  has  given us the patter and example for every good  and  perfect
        thing that we are expected to do by Him.  When it comes to giving, God
        is the greatest and highest example.   God,  who is abundant in mercy,
        shows  mercy (Titus 3:4-7).   God,  who is rich in grace,  gives grace
        (John  1:14-17).   God,  who is full of love,  extends His love  (John
        3:16).   God,  who has everything at His disposal, has freely given to
        those who are in need (1 Corinthians 8:14-15;  9:6-15;  James  1:5,17;
        John 3:16; Matt. 7:11).

        The  true motivation,  then,  for accumulating wealth,  is so that  we
        might have to give to those who are in need.   This is clearly seen in
        the life of Joseph.  Joseph was warned by God of a famine to come, was
        instructed by God to store up vast sums in big barns, was given wisdom
        in  the handling of the matter,  BUT the purpose was so that in a time
        of need he would have to give to others.

        ECONOMIC CALAMITY AHEAD?

        The  vast  majority of economists say that world chaos  is  inevitable
        very soon.   Henry Kissenger recently said,  "I cannot conceive of the
        world being around by the year 2000!"  Meanwhile, prices are going up.
        Someone  joked,  "Soon they'll be breaking into a car to steal  $30.00
        worth of groceries from the glove compartment."

        "The  last  three major depressions have been separated by exactly  56
        years -- 1817,  1873 and 1929.   These depressions occurred exactly at
        the conclusion of a 56-year period -- one seven year period more  than
        the  voluntary  limit  established  for year of  Jubilee  in  the  Old
        Testament.   It is as if God has said,  "You have seven years to do it
        My way; if not, I will do it for you."

        "When  truly  difficult times come,  it would be well to remember  the
        words  of Isaiah who wrote that there is no "safe" investment  in  the
        day of God's Wrath:

        Isaiah 24:2-3
          "And it shall be,  as with the people,  so with the priests; as with
          the  servant  so  with his master;  as with the maid,  so  with  her
          mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender,
          so with the borrower;  as with the taker of usury, so with the giver
          of  usury  to him.   The land shall be utterly emptied  and  utterly
          spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word."

        As Christians we must remember this:

          "Our treasure is in heaven where we look for a city with foundations
          whose builder and maker is God."

        GOD WANTS US TO HANDLE FINANCIAL PROSPERITY.

        God  wants us to use every talent and possession that He has given  to
        us  for  the  glory of God and the extension of the  Kingdom  of  God.
        Therefore the most valuable thing that we could do with the things  He
        has  given  to  us  is  to use  them  to  make  spiritual  investments
        (Matt.25:14-30).

        A.  We are to give to the Poor. (Prov.22:9; Luke 12:33)
        B.  We  are  to  give  to  needy  members  of the  Body  of  Christ.
            (1 Cor.8:14; 1 John 3:17-18; James 2:15-16)
        C.  We  are  to  share  with  other  family  members.
            (1 Tim.5:8; Matt.15:5-6)
        D.  We are at times to open our hands to the unsaved.
            (Matt.5:42; Luke 16:9-12)
        E.  We are to give to the ministry.  (1 Tim.5:17,18)

        This does not mean,  however,  that we are not to be discriminating in
        our giving (2 Thess.3:10-15).   There are  many people that God may be
        correcting  through  the  means of financial  problems.   For  a  well
        meaning Christian to interfere at this point may take the pressure off
        that  God wants to bring them to Him to strengthen them.   We must  be
        careful in all of our giving to seek the mind of the Lord.

        BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING WILL HELP US KEEP A PROPER BALANCE IN THIS AREA
        OF WEALTH.

        A. Everything that we have comes from God and belongs to Him.
           (Gen.39:3)
        B. True riches are not material but spiritual.
           (Prov.22:4)
        C. The whole of the material world system is passing away.
           (2 Peter 3:10-11)
        D. True satisfaction comes from being God-like.
           (Psalm 17:15)
        E. The greatest wealth is the Lord's blessing.
           (Prov.10:22)
        F. We are not to seek riches, but should be seeking the kingdom.
           (Luke 12:31-34)
        G. When  we  give to the poor,  we lend to the Lord and the Lord is  a
           debtor to no man. (Ps.19:17; Luke 6:38)

        Paul said:   "I know both how to be abased,  and I know how to abound:
        everywhere  and in all things,  I am instructed both to be full and to
        be  hungry,  both to abound and to suffer need.   I can do all  things
        through Christ which strengthen me." (Phil.4:12,13)
        God is wanting to teach His people how to abound so that when they  do
        it,  it will not be to build their own barns bigger, but to extend the
        Kingdom of God.

        CAN GOD TRUST YOU WITH FINANCES?

        Matthew 6:19-23
        19. "Lay  not  up for yourselves treasures upon earth where  moth  and
            rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
        20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,  where neither moth
            nor rust doth corrupt,  and where thieves do not break through nor
            steal.
        21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
        22. The  light  of  the body is the eye:   if therefore thine  eye  be
            single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
        23. But  if  thine  eye  be evil,  thy whole body  shall  be  full  of
            darkness.   If  therefore the light is in thee  be  darkness,  how
            great is that darkness!"

        Does  this mean that Jesus is STEPPING out of the SPIRITUAL REALM when
        he deals with WORLDLY MATTER?

        Jesus TAUGHT MORE  on money matters than anything else.

        He was VITALLY INTERESTED in that AREA of life.

        This law of Finance falls into TWO SECTIONS.

        1. STORING  UP  TREASURE  ON EARTH (VS) the value  of  storing  up  in
           heaven.

           Verses  19  - 21 centre around the word "treasure".   In the  first
           century,  gold,  silver,  precious gems and large land holdings had
           just  as  much  fascination for men as they do  in  the  twentieth.
           There may not have been as much monetary exchange then as there  is
           today,  but the exchange of time and service for payment has always
           been  the  order of the marketplace.   That is why we say money  is
           spiritual.  It represents time.  Time is life.  Life is man and man
           is God's concern.

           When a person puts twenty dollars in the offering plate as it  goes
           by, he may be putting in two hours of his life, if he earns ten per
           hour.

           The  literal translation of "lay up for yourselves" is "lay  up  in
           your  own  interest".   Does this bring the laying up a bit  closer
           home?  If our interests centre on earthly treasures and activities,
           our  time  and money will be spent in following wherever  they  may
           lead us.   If, on the other hand, we are giving to Kingdom purposes
           (not to be seen or impress anyone),  but with pure motive,  we  are
           laying  up  to our eternal interest.   Each of us  must  ask,  what
           percent  of interest are our investments bearing?   Are we  sending
           our  treasure  on  ahead  of us,  with  the  assurance  of  finding
           worthwhile  dividends?   Or  are  our treasures  showing  signs  of
           corrosion and rust?

        2. DEALS WITH CAUSE AND EFFECT.

           In 1 Timothy 6:10,  Paul reminds us,  "For the love of money is the
           root of all evil.   Which while some coveted after, they have erred
           from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

           Neither Paul nor Jesus taught that money, or treasure, in itself is
           evil.   It  is  man's  response  to  abundance  - lack  of  worldly
           belongings  - that causes the trouble.   This thought brings us  to
           the second phase of the law of finance.

           Verse  22  and  23  shift  the emphasis  in  wise  use  of  earthly
           possessions from the heart to the eye.  These two organs, which are
           of  such vital importance to man's daily welfare,  are closely tied
           in the physical as well as in the spiritual.

           ANSWER THESE URGENT QUESTION:

           *  DOES YOUR TIME REALLY BELONG TO GOD?
           *  DO YOUR TALENTS REALLY BELONG TO GOD?
           *  DOES YOUR EARNING POWER REALLY BELONG TO GOD?
           *  DO YOUR POSSESSIONS REALLY BELONG TO GOD?

           THE MAN WITH "I" TROUBLE...

           Luke 12:16-20
             "And He told them a parable,  saying, "The land of a certain rich
             man  was  very productive.   And he began reasoning  to  himself,
             saying,  'What  shall  I do,  since I have no place to  store  MY
             crops?   And he said,  'This is what I will do:  I will tear down
             MY  barns  and build larger ones,  and there I will store all  MY
             grain and MY goods.   And I will say to MY soul,  'Soul, you have
             many goods laid up for many years to come;  take your ease,  eat,
             drink and be merry.'
             But  God said to him,  'You fool!   This very night your soul  is
             required of you.  And now who will own what you have prepared?"

           NOW NOTICE VERSE 21:
             "So is the man who lays up treasures for himself and is not  rich
             toward God."

           Luke 6:38
             "Give  and it will be given to you;  good measure,  pressed down,
             shaken together,  running over, they will pour into your lap. For
             whatever measure you deal out to others,  it will be dealt to you
             in return."

           Whatever measure you give to God, that's how He gives back.

           How  much  could the man with "I" trouble take with him?   When  we
           die,  we leave behind all we have and take with us all we are!   Or
           as Proverbs 11:4 (LB) says:
             "Your riches won't help you on judgement day;  only righteousness
             counts then."

           The  man  who needed the bigger barns more  desperately  needed  to
           transfer ownership of all his possessions to God.

        GOD OWNS EVERYTHING

        Psalm 24:1
          "The  earth is the Lord's and all it contains,  the world and  those
          who dwell in it."

        WHY DOES GOD REQUIRE THE TITHE?

        Of course the CHURCH REQUIRES FINANCES,  but more important,  the Lord
        wants to TEACH US TO DEPEND ON HIM.

        THE MAN WHO GIVES TO GOD IS SAYING, "I DEPEND ON YOU".

        If  10%  isn't enough to have us THROW OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD then  try
        giving 20% and depend on Him to take care of needs.

        YOU'VE BEEN CALLED TO BE GOD'S  'STEWARDS'

        God  is looking for unselfish people who will continue to keep all  of
        His work going with the riches they receive.  He wants to give each of
        us His riches to share,  but though many are called,  few are chosen -
        only those stewards who will be faithful.

        NOTE:  YOU MUST KEEP RIGHT ON BEING COMPLETELY FAITHFUL TO GOD WHEN HE
        DOES GIVE YOU MUCH TO BE FAITHFUL OVER.

        Luke 12:28
          "...from everyone who is given much shall be required..."

        Dwight L. Moody said, "Give in proportion to your income lest God make
        your income proportionate to your giving!!!"

                                END of STUDY TEN