How to be rich

ME

We all think we know about money. Let’s take some scenarios.

1. Your grandmother or mother walks in. She says that she only has about 50$ but God told her to send it to a preacher on TV even though she likely can’t pay rent this month. What would you say?

2. A man walks in who has just maxed out every investment he has. Money is rolling in. He is looking for some new accounts or investments to open that will allow him to have the best financial year of his life. What would a good financial planner do?

3. A godly man comes in and says, I’ve been very fortunate in life and I am trying to be godly with my finances. I tithe on every dollar I make. I go to church, connect groups, study the Bible everyday. I even have a prayer group at work. I just want to know how I can maximize my money and possessions to honor God. What advice would you give him?

Let’s consider the advice that Jesus gives these people.

Mark 12- the little old lady who gives everything to the temple is commended by Jesus.

Luke 12:20-21 “20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.””

Matthew 19:21 “21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.””

Following Jesus will upend your perspective on money. Jesus was never interested in making money or having it. He spoke about it more than any other topic except the kingdom of God. So today I want to talk about money in a way that we haven’t really done in a while. How should a Christ Follower wisely handle money?

Remember these are proverbs, not promises. These are general guidelines from wisdom passed down through the centuries.

We are going to survey this topic in proverbs, lots of verses , so take advantage of the app!

GOD

What money is and is not.

Money is not our gauge of success.

Proverbs 22:1-2 “1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.”

Proverbs 15:16-17 “16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.”

Proverbs 28:6 “6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”

Money is a magnifier

Proverbs 10:4 “4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Luke 16:10 “10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Money is not the solution to your problem.

ILL. The lottery isn’t the solution to our building.

Connected Life

Broken Relationships got you into this problem. Reconciled relationships will get you out.

God, Self, Others

the Land- wisdom in how things work- you reap what you sow, etc.

How a Christ follower makes money.

EXP Some people try to take advantage of others or get rich quick schemes.

There is a wise way to wealth

Through wisdom-

Proverbs 3:16 [Concerning lady wisdom] “Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.”

Proverbs 24:4 “4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

ILL You can learn how to make money. You can be an artist or musician who makes money in real estate. Making money is a skill to be learned. I know a pastor who stopped taking a paycheck at 30 from the church and hopes to retire at 40 from all work and just be a volunteer leader. It can be done.

Godly Wealth is acquired through slow, diligent attention.

Slow- Proverbs 13:11 “11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”

know the difference in spending and saving.

If you find a pair of $200 jeans on sale for $40, how much did you save? NONE- you spent $40. Sales aren’t savings. They are spendings.

If you put $35 in cash in a drawer every month for a year, how much did you save? $420 Save = Don’t touch

Have a plan to save: a portion of everything you own is yours to keep.

managed well

Proverbs 27:23-27 “23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.”

When the economy changes and the grass is gone, you manage so that you are taken care of.

Proverbs 13:7 “7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.”

Budget-

A budget is a plan- Spend every dollar on paper at the beginning of the month.

A budget is a safety net- You prepare for bad months in the good months. (I’m buying tires this year I think!)

A budget is a communication tool- Families budget together.

A budget is a theological statement- what do you value? It is in your budget.

What to do with money.

Provide for needs- Proverbs 30:8 “8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,”

Prepare for future- Proverbs 27:25 “25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,”

ALSO Joseph saved many people in Egypt because he prepared for the future.

Give generously Proverbs 11:24 “24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”

What not to do with money.

debt- Proverbs 22:7 “7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”

Credit Cards can be paid off weekly! There is no limit on how much you pay it off.

Debt is not necessarily a sin, but it can be extremely unwise, especially if it is not part of your intentional, prayed through plan

trust in it

Proverbs 11:28 “28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”

Proverbs 18:11 “11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.”

Our savings are not meant to be a substitute for trusting God.

seek it for the sake of stuff

Proverbs 21:17 “17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”

Proverbs 28:20 “20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”

Proverbs 23:4-5 “4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. 5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”

God isn’t looking for smarter sinners, He wants to transform you not inform you . This is why a value like relationship over religion is more important than one sermon.

Jesus didn’t offer advice, he offered salvation. As a Christian we want to be wise stewards of what God has entrusted, but never miss the main thing. This life is about what we do with Jesus.

Mark 8:34-38 “34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.””