Faith and Finances

Is Capitalism a Christian system?

Gov. William Bradford made a poor decision in the early days of what would become the Massachusetts Bay Colony:

He believed that devout Christians would all work together equally for "The Greater Good."

Collectivism (socialism) failed miserably. Many simply didn't want to labor to produce food—over 50% died.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Here are a handful of freedoms granted not only in our founding documents, but in Scripture as well.

Freedom: to assemble and of religion—1st Amendment

This is often taken for granted. We have freedom in Christ (Romans 8:2) and we have individual freedoms in this great nation.

Property rights: 5th Amendment to the Constitution

In Acts 4:36-5:1-5, Barnabas "having land, sold it, and gave it".

It belonged to Barnabas and he could do as he wished. He chose to sell it and give it.

Ananias and Saphira also owned property. Whilst it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?

Incentive: also demonstrated in the Bible

"…endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

There exists an incentive to work; there is really no ceiling for income/wealth creation.

Rule of Law: (rather than the authority of man)

"The state cannot grant rights to individuals, since our rights are God-given and hard-wired into us. The role of the state is to protect God-given rights. When the state attempts to overrule God's rule as the Grantor of rights, it is putting itself in the place of God , which is evil. This is one reason why socialism is a failed economic system. It is also the reason why God opposes socialism and advances the foundations on which capitalism is based." –Chad Hovind, Godonomics

Today's Resources and Links:

Godonomics by Chad Hovind

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

Remember these wonderful freedoms afforded to us by our God and these Founding Documents. Exercise them to the glory of God.

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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I believe we start our adult lives with the erroneous and dangerous belief that revolving debt—and the interest payments that go along with it—are normal and acceptable.

In This Episode, We Look At:

The average American pays a significant amount of interest every month; profiting a lender and not themselves. They do it for the privilege of having something now and paying for it later.

The average interest paid in car loans is $895 per year ($74 per month) according to a recent Experian survey.

The average interest paid on credit card debt is $855 per year ($71 per month) according to a report by TransUnion.

The interest rate charged by the IRS for repaying taxes due is over 3%

The average interest paid on student loans is $641 per year ($53 per month).

It's worth pointing out that some households are way above average!

With approximately $200 or more per month being paid out in interest payments, we ask you: Are you earning at least $200 per month on your savings/investments?

Are you making some company profitable more than yourself?

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

Commit to change your financial course if you have revolving debt. Stop paying interest to strangers (loan companies) and start paying yourself by eliminating consumer debt.

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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Considering all the innovations that supposedly save us time—we are a people who tend to live life at a frenzied, break-neck pace.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Culture celebrates living a busy life

We have a myriad of digital notifications constantly chiming for our attention. We have habitually check multiple e-mail accounts much too often.

We applaud multi-tasking.

We have more innovation and technology than our parents had growing up

Today:

The average American works less hours, earns significantly more (adjusted for inflation), and enjoys more leisure time than those of just two generations ago.

We are able to communicate with loved ones around the globe using a device that fits in the palm of our hand.

We vacation more frequently and fly more frequently for less money than those of two generations ago.

More patients survive heart attacks and are cured of diseases that would have killed those of two generations ago.

And yet we feel as stressed and pressed for time as those two generations ago—all while sleeping less!

The missing element in our daily lives

No innovative breakthrough is going to increase our peace.

We can earn more money and still be stressed.

We can have more time on our hands and still be stressed.

Are we coming before the throne room of our Holy God and being still?

Do we drop to our knees and acknowledge His holy presence? Or do we pray silently to ourselves while we shower, dress, eat, and drive?

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God"

Psalm 4:4 "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still"

Are we doing all the talking when we pray?

Solomon admonishes, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." Ecc 5:2

May we encourage you to wake up earlier to have this sweet time with your Heavenly Father?

Mark 1:35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

We can trust that Jesus knows we are weak, tired, and need our sleep. Believe that He can provide the rest we need when we commit such time to Him.

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

Commit to giving a set time to the Lord. Make it a time when you will be still before Him and listen for His still small voice.

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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Our lives are surrounded by technology. It is at play in every aspect our lives, and yet some have not harnessed technology to improve their finances.

It's the Twenty-first Century—come on in, the water's fine!

In This Episode, We Look At:

Here are some tools we can utilize to improve our finances from the moment we receive a paycheck.

Pay Day: Set up Direct Deposit if you have not yet

Tithe/Offerings: If your church offers online giving it gets your financial gift to the church quicker and out of your checking account sooner

Bill Pay: Automate paying bills

Automate Savings: Fire and forget

Automate Investing: Beyond a company 401(k), invest monthly from your checking account to your investment account and remember the Roth IRA

Add to savings through purchases (takes the change up to the nearest dollar of purchase and sends to your savings with Acorns or your bank/credit union)

Today's Resources and Links:

Digit

Acorns

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

Schedule an hour on your calendar to automate these systems. Intentions will not get the job done.

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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We are interesting creatures when it comes to money.

Can you identify with some of these adjectives regarding money?

Affluent, Broke, Stressed, Generous, Stingy, Protective, Easygoing, Frivolous, Spendthrift, Content, Discontent, Boastful, Lavish, Conservative, Bitter, Joyful, Jealous, Grateful

All of these money attitudes stem from the heart. Scripture supports this conclusion.

There are over 2,300 verses in the Bible directed toward money and possessions.

That's twice as much as faith and prayer combined—why is that?

In This Episode, We Look At:

Our hearts are drawn to trust and love money.

Psalms 62:10

If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

Matthew 12:34

for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

When we feel we do not have enough money we worry.

When we feel we have enough (or even too much) money, we trust in money rather than God.

Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD?

Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of God in vain.

There is no money in Heaven

We either use money for God's purposes and are rewarded or we use money according to our own purposes and lose rewards.

Ecc. 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Today's Resources and Links:

Live Lighter, Love Better, by Cary Schmidt

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

Commit to de-throne money as lord in your heart; choosing rather to love and trust Christ alone.

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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I'm no fan of learning by making mistakes, but there is value in learning not to repeat that same mistake.

It's easy to remind ourselves of past money mistakes and convince ourselves that we are still that person who failed—so why try?

In This Episode, We Look At:

You can turn things around and improve your financial health

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:But the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 24:16

Change your thinking

("I'm a spender." "I just can't save" "I was born this way")

When you change your thinking, you change your money beliefs

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: qfor the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mat 12:33–35

Take appropriate and corrective action

One person in the Bible who is famous for his huge, financial failure is the young man whom we know as The Prodigal Son. He spent his inheritance on riotous living.

And, when he "came to himself" he thought up a plan and took action: "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,"

Luke 15:18

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

Practice viewing money in light of Scripture and as a means to equip you for every good work. (2 Cor. 9:8)

This can help you avoid regrets, increase your joy and peace, improve your relationship with your spouse, and greatly impact the kingdom of Heaven.

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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How easy is it for us to accept our own dishonesty?

In This Episode, We Look At:

Do we embellish our tax returns or expense reports?

Company time—If we are texting, making personal phone calls, or just chillin', while being paid, then we are stealing from our employer.

Entertainment—We do not view ourselves as pirates.

Have you found ways to watch movies without needing to buy or rent them?

Do we download free music that has not been offered as free from the owner or company that owns it?

"Everyone else is doing it" will not help us when we stand before Jesus Christ and give an account for all we have done in life. 2 Cor. 5:10

"…that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Faith and Finances: No matter how popular or publicly acceptable an activity may be, if it even "smells" like it is dishonest, run from it. Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:But the simple pass on, and are punished.

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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The just shall live by faith.

This truth is stated four times in Scripture.

We also know that "without faith it is impossible to please God."

Do we then demonstrate faithlessness if we accumulate savings and invest?

In This Episode, We Look At:

In many areas of our lives we tend to lean on faith and ignore action

We have a tendency to think that God will take care of us when considering our future financial needs.

That is true to an extent; (Matthew 6:33) but, what is our part in effort and labor?

Consider the source of your income today

It is very likely that you sought the Lord to help you and guide you concerning your present job.

An interview was conducted during which you presented yourself and your qualifications.

You had to prepare for your job or career with college education or prior work experience.

Your ability to work comes from the Lord (Deut. 8:18).

What about Pastors and Missionaries in retirement years?

We think, "Surely God will provide for their future income because they gave their whole lives to His service."

Our human minds look to a reward system in this life. But God's rewards for New Testament believers are in Heaven.

There are countless blessings in serving the LORD.

We see God do amazing works through changing lives and healing people.

None of this excuses full-time servants from the need to plan for their future income through their own savings efforts, Missions boards, or Deacons' planning.

How does planning and working for today's income differ from planning and working toward tomorrow's income?

We know that our bodies of age, weaken, and are prone to injury and disease.

We should plan now, put forth effort now, and save now, in order to have resources to provide an income LATER.

Proverbs 6:6

Today's Resources and Links:

Spiritual Leadership Conference Session, "Should Christians Save and Invest for the Future?" taught by Tim Rosen

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

Determine to put forth effort in planning and saving for your future source of income for when you can no longer work to earn a paycheck.

What Are Your Thoughts?

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

We want to help you prepare your teen for their future, financial independence—from you!

In This Episode, We Look At:

The Starting Point: Your influence

Some of you are thinking, "We're doomed!" The most impactful action you can take to help your teens is to set the best example .

Not only are they watching you; they are listening to you.

Include Them in Family Finances

Include them when you review or write the family budget and when you shop or pay bills.

Teach Them the Value of Money.

Talk about how various work efforts demand higher compensation, but that in all labor there is profit. Proverbs 14:23

Teach them the importance of learning a skill or trade.

Help Them to Live Within Their Means

Explain the Credit Industry

Credit card companies are after their own benefit and their offers are designed to cause failure and indebtedness.

While credit cards provide easy access to what teens want, there are over-limit fees which lead to much higher interest rates and late fees which quickly add up.

Today's Resources and Links:

Money Matters for Teens, Larry Burkett

The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Clason

The Wealthy Barber, by David Chilton

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

Make the decision to talk openly and objectively with your teens about money. Involve them in household finances as often as you feel is appropriate.

What Are Your Thoughts?

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

The investing experience can stir a flurry of emotions; most common are fear and greed.

There are also many traps that investors fall into. Christians are not exempt from these traps.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

In This Episode, We Look At:

Being anxious to increase wealth

God warns us of the dangers of desiring to get rich quick. In Proverbs 28 verse 20, we are made aware that, "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." And in verse 22, "He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him."

Pleasure and pain

We look at our statement and half of our portfolio is down (US Large stocks)—**Pain**

The other half is up (Bonds)—**Pleasure**

The temptation is to flee pain by dumping the one that went down and put that money into the one that went up. That is common investor (bad) behavior. Doing that breaks ALL the investing rules!

False bravado

We can feel euphoric because the markets continue going up. We think that we should be making a higher rate of return and are tempted to increase our risk level.

Stick with the written plan.

Greed

Greed can creep into our hearts. What Christian wants to readily admit that they are greedy?

Trusting money

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1 Timothy 6:17

Pride (self-sufficiency)

We can be easily impressed with what "we" have done; based on impressive sums in our financial statements.

Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Covetousness

Compared to others, we are not content with where we are in life financially.

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

Approach investing with the heart of a servant who is managing God's resources. Trust Him and guard your heart daily from worldly wisdom.

What Are Your Thoughts?

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