Faith and Finances

CJ writes, "I try to give what I can when I can; stopped trying to tithe years ago when I had larger sums of money—stepping out on faith—only to get totally destroyed financially. Last time I gave larger amounts regularly, I had a home emergency pop up that led to several overdraft charges in the checking account. I still have a joyful heart when I can give what I can."

In This Episode, We Look At:

In response:

The tithe is a spiritual issue, not a mathematical or economic one.

It is God's design that we are to be completely dependent on Him.

Deut. 14:23 that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.

The tithe belongs to God—it is His, not ours.

Lev. 27:30 it is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD

It requires faith

Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11,Heb.10:38

Our flesh fights to operate by sight, especially in finances

Who is more capable of providing finances for us? God or ourselves?

Whose ways work better? Our ways or God's ways?

Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

When we do it our way and resist God's ways; we experience poor results.

Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much, and bring in little

ye eat, but ye have not enough;

ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink;

ye clothe you, but there is none warm;

and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

Caution: Experience does not determine truth

"I tried it and it didn't work."

God's Word does not change, thus the truth does not change

Improve Your Finances:

Remember that this is a spiritual battle. Satan does not want your faith strengthened. God has designed the tithe for that very reason—the strengthening of your faith. Trust God by honoring Him and managing money His way.

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Are you hoping to receive an inheritance?

Are you putting pressure on yourself to leave an inheritance to your "children's children?"

Let's look at both; hoping to receive and planning to leave.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Hoping to receive an inheritance.

If you have family who leave assets behind, those should pass to beneficiaries as opposed to being tied up in probate.

If you are good at managing your current income, then you will likely manage an inheritance well. If you are not responsible with the income you currently manage—chances are you are in for an extra dose of stress!

Unearned riches tend to magnify one's character—to the negative as well as the positive.

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

If your hope is in the inheritance, then your hope is misplaced

It is not the answer to your financial needs.

Scripture clearly teaches the importance of labor.

Proverbs 12:27

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Proverbs 14:23

In all labour there is profit:

But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Stressing to leave an inheritance

Many Christians reference Proverbs 13:22 concerning inheritance.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:

And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, and believe that if they are to be a good man, then they need to save, avoid medical costs in their older years so that they can leave their grandchildren an inheritance

Is that what the verse means?

Not in context to the original audience who understood property ownership and farming at that time…

It meant to keep the land in the family so that they may continue to farm and therefore make a living for future generations.

As in Ezra 9:12

Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

It does not command to pass on unearned wealth to grandchildren.

When we pull a verse out without its historical context, we get different meanings, i.e. "Remove not the ancient landmark" in Proverbs 22:28.

Beginning in verse 22; Solomon is warning against robbing the poor and avoiding debts.

The landmark marked the boundary lines of land ownership. To move the landmark was to steal land because you moved the property line!

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

If you are the recipient of an inheritance, remember that you have just received an increase and honor the Lord first (Prov 3:9-10). In doing so, you set yourself up to enjoy His blessings and promises.

Seek godly counsel if you are not accustomed to handling larger amounts of money.

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People often ask me if a Christian investor can be broadly diversified and avoid immoral companies?

In This Episode, We Look At:

What factors would be utilized to determine whether a company is immoral or not

Do they sell alcohol?

Do they sell pornography or Rated R movies?

Do they support Planned Parenthood?

Do they financially promote lifestyles that God says are sinful?

Do they directly or indirectly financially support human trafficking?

Investment products aimed at screening company stocks based on morals

Are they expensive?

How much is someone paid to sell you one?

Spending your money on their products and services is much more support than owning a few shares of their stock

The shares of stock you buy today are sold on the secondary market—you are not buying them from the company.

Don't want to support immoral companies?

Don't buy pornography, alcohol, drugs, etc.

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

If you wish to have a real impact on companies that you consider moral, purchase products and services directly from them. That will have a greater impact on their financial health than owning shares of their stocks.

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The most overlooked aspect of financial health has little to do with having the right strategy, having more income, or being excellent at math. Many writers don't want to talk about it because it doesn't sell books.

We are talking about self-control.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Money is an area where many lack self-control

In his book, Behavioral Finance & Wealth Management, Michael Pompian states that The Saving Decision "…reflects an individual's relative preferences over present versus future consumption."

In other words, "Do I want to buy this now or would I rather save my money for something more important later?"

Holding onto money in savings is not exciting

There is a huge temptation to do something that is exciting or more enjoyable with that savings.

It requires self-control. Having money that is accessible is very important in life.

Some solutions to self-control problems

Negative motivation

Automate savings/paying bills

Reward substitution

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

Identify the weakness to your financial health. Is it due to behavior or an unhealthy belief? Decide on a different response to your unhealthy financial behavior.

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While I certainly recommend having up to 6 months of living expenses saved up, we ought to completely depend on the Lord and not trust in our savings.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Could you save enough to withstand a worst-case financial scenario? Should that even be the goal? We should not strive to replace the role God has in our financial life.

God's role is Provider, even when (and especially when) it seems impossible.

We may find ourselves in a devastating financial situation where we see no way out.

God's promises and His ways are beyond our understanding. God can do the miraculous.

This is where faith trumps sight—and that's exactly what God wants.

His ways may seem impossible. The last thing that would make sense during a financial crisis is to give.

In 1 Kings 17, we meet a widowed woman who has no substance and is about to make a final meal for her and her son. The solution to her dire situation, as communicated by God through His prophet, Elijah, is to feed the prophet first. Put yourself in her shoes for a second. How hard would it be to follow those counter-intuitive instructions?

She obeyed and God did the miraculous! He fed Elijah, fed the widow, her son, and continued to feed them as promised.

God often uses others to meet our needs

Paul teaches (in 2 Cor. 8) that we have financial resources to meet each other's needs. I may be used to help a believer in need. Then, I may be in a season when I am in need and another believer may be used to help meet me.

God will sovereignly work beyond our understanding to do the impossible. Col. 3:20-21

We cannot expect to handle and work through the worst of financial crisis by our own planning, strength, or wisdom.

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

Wisely steward the financial resources God has entrusted you with and trust in Him always. Look for opportunities to meet another's needs. Do so by faith in the name of Jesus. Be open to the possibility that God may meet a later need through someone else.

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The internet, developing science, and our own personal experience have turned our thinking upside down in so many areas.

In This Episode, We Look At:

We turn conventional beliefs on their ear, from cars to food; from fitness to finances.

Is sodium bad for your health? Does it cause heart disease? (We are not doctors, but we share some recent research).

Does a longer workout at the Gym equal greater health benefits?

Should we be prepared to retire by age 65?

Should we strive for the biggest tax refund?

We have fun in this episode and we hope it causes you to challenge some of your own conventional wisdom.

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The average American will easily work over 100,000 hours during the course of their working years. This is a huge portion of our lives. It should not be solely for a paycheck.

In This Episode, We Look At:

God thinks bigger!

"We must do wordly jobs, but if we do them with sanctified minds, they become offerings to God" - A.W. Tozer

God is our supervisor and rewarder. A Christian does not merely work for an earthly employer.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Col. 3:23-24

We will not always be treated well or fairly

The "Golden Rule"

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:31

Phil. 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Cultivating and working in the physical world is a powerful way to imitate our Creator, and the early Christians understood this. — Chad Hovind

Reach the Lost

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

According to the research conducted by the Christian Law Association, you have the Constitutional right to share your faith in the workplace. It is limited to non-work time such as non-paid breaks, and when there are 15 or more employees who also are allowed to talk about their personal interests.

If you are asked a question related to faith in the course of conversation with customers, you are allowed to answer.

Be mindful that you are on company time and getting paid to work; not share your faith.

Resources and Links:

Christian Law Association Audio

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

Consider your place of employment as a mission field. Remember that the Spirit of God, which raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you to give you power and guidance to live to the glory of God. Purpose to honor Him in your words and deeds.

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Why do we complicate our finances? The rules of financial health are simple.

1. Honor the Lord
2. Spend less than you earn
3. Save a portion
4. Avoid debt

In This Episode, We Look At:

It's our behavior that drives our finances.

Do we consider God when making money decisions? We remind ourselves that we work hard and that we deserve nice things. We pay now and deal with the consequences later.

We have no one telling us what to do.

We either self-destruct or flourish based on the decisions we make. Doing it our way can be expensive, frustrating, and even destructive.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov 16:25

We have no clear, written financial path to follow.

We wing it and try to do our best.

Let's look at those basic rules again, but focusing on God's ways instead of our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

Honor the Lord: Prov. 3:9-10

Spend less than you earn: Prov. 27:23

Save a portion: Prov. 21:20

Avoid debt: Prov 22:7

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Faith and Finances:

Review the Basic Rules and their supporting scriptures. Which of these are you lacking financially? Implement one missing rule into your finances this week; while seeking and trusting the Lord to guide and provide.

What Are Your Thoughts?

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Dr. Bryan Stensaas is a Vietnam veteran, church planter, has an accredited Ph.D. in education, and is a former radio host and college instructor—but most of us know him as a Veteran Missionary to Uganda.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Bro Stensaas and speak with him about some of his experiences in the field and what God has taught he and his wife, Cheri, in their 32 years of serving as Missionaries.

In This Episode, We Look At:

From the Gulf of Tonkin, to the plateau in Uganda, we'll hear the incredible story of how God orchestrated His plan for Bryan Stensaas's life.

Bro Stensaas candidly shares mistakes he's made along the way and what he believes today's Missionaries ought to do to prepare for life in the field. His story of how God greatly expanded his reach and multiplied his preaching efforts will inspire you. His financial and deputation advice will surprise you (It surprised us).

We will also hear how God used peripheral neuropathy to bring Bro Stensaas back to the States and how He is greatly using him here—far from the tropics of Uganda which has been his home for the last 21 years.

Today's Resources and Links:

Bryan Stensaas on Facebook

For a financial gift to the work in Uganda through Bro Bryan's son, Keith Stensaas: http://kstensaasfamily.com/partner/

What Are Your Thoughts?

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What comes to mind when you hear the word "rich?"

Maybe an unattainable goal?

Other people? A few select? Sin?

In the New Testament, people equated wealth with spirituality. The Pharisees were wealthy—the common folk looked up to them spiritually and were impressed with them financially.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Is God against His people being rich?

No… But neither is it His design that all His children would be rich in financial resources.

"If you have real character, money will not spoil it. Persons with genuine character can handle adversity and prosperity." S Truett Cathy

Wealth that will actually last

Riches passing through the hands of eternally minded Christians can do great things for the Kingdom of God. See Matt. 6:20

Yesteryear: J.C. Penney was saved after the Great Depression and the loss of his personal wealth. Soon after, he began giving cheerfully and sacrificially to the cause of Christ and other benevolent pursuits.

Cautions

Riches can also bring on great destruction in the life of a Christian:

comparisons, the desire for more, and love and lordship of riches.

Psalm 62:

If riches increase, set not your heart upon them

Today's Resources and Links:

Wealth, Is it Worth it? by S. Truett Cathy

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Faith and Finances:

Practice viewing the money you give to the Lord as treasure that will last forever (much longer than the things we enjoy during this life). Every day brings you further away from today's treasures and closer to heavenly treasures.

What Are Your Thoughts?

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

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