Blessings and Budgets: Navigating Finances with Faith
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6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
**Introduction:**
- **Opening Scripture:** 1 Timothy 6:6–12
- **Thesis:** Understanding and managing finances with a godly perspective can transform our lives and relationships, leading to true contentment and spiritual growth.
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**1. Examine Your Attitude Towards Money (1 Timothy 6:6-10)**
- **Contentment and Godliness:** "But godliness with contentment is great gain" (v. 6).
- **Temporary Nature of Wealth:** "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out" (v. 7).
- **Dangers of Wealth:** "Those who want to be rich fall into temptation" (v. 9).
**Key Points:**
a. **Put the Lord in Charge:**
- *Scripture:* Leviticus 27:30
- *Insight:* God first ensures money doesn't control your heart (Matthew 6:24).
b. **Gratefulness, Generosity, and Dependency:**
- *Scripture:* Proverbs 16:3
- *Illustration:* French Fry Story - Trusting God with all we have.
Examine your attitude towards money. (v. 6-10)
Put the Lord in charge.
Leviticus 27:30 (CSB)
30 “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
Be careful of valuing
b. Putting God first ensures money won’t be in Charge.
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
French Fry Illustration
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!”
“How do we rob you?” you ask.
“By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.
c. Ignoring God’s principles robs you of gratefulness, generosity, and dependency.
Proverbs 16:3 (CSB)
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
**2. Be Wary of Myths that Lead to Debt**
- **Proverbs 22:7:** "The borrower is a slave to the lender."
**Common Myths:**
a. **Manipulation by Advertising:**
- *Truth:* Recognize and resist consumerism.
b. **Immediate Gratification:**
- *Truth:* Patience and planning over impulsiveness.
c. **Minimum Payments:**
- *Truth:* Aim to live within means and avoid debt traps.
2. Be Wary of Debt traps.
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.
a. I’m not manipulated by advertising.
Algorithms. Google, Facebook, Youtube, TikTok, Apple, they are listening to you. You see your phone advertising targeting you. It’s getting to the point where LED billboards target you personally because your Apple or Google Phone’s location network has been linked.
You and I swim in materialism.
b. I must have it now.
a bigger house than we can afford.
You and I swim in the culture of instant gratification.
c. I can afford the minimum payment.
Just because you can afford the minimum payment doesn’t mean you can afford the debt. Because each month if you only pay htat minimum. Examine the cost of school. You may get accepted to the school of your choice but the financially wise decision may lead you to another path.
You may know couples that have financial stress because they both incurred school debt believing the degree would pay it off. But then they had kids and chose a work life balance that didn’t balance with the college loan. So they feel constant stress in their marriage and the calling to care for their children.
Ignorance can be trained. Greed will control.
3. Practical steps to put Money in it’s place. (v. 11)
You know if you don’t clean up your finances, they will trip you up. You will not
a. Seek a godly means of income.
23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.
b.Create a budget.
28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
c. Save wisely.
25 ants are not a strong people,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
d. Seek to be a generous giver.
Make a point to give with the Kingdom in Mind
6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
e. Invest in Eternity.
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
Who will God want to bless with more? The one who hoards his talent or the one who invests her talents in the Kingdom, others and life?
There are people who will trust God with their eternal salvation but hold their material possessions from Him. How’s that going to work?
### Blessings and Budgets: Navigating Finances with Faith
**Dr. Jim Bohrer / General**
**Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6–12 (CSB)**
---
**Introduction:**
- **Opening Scripture:** 1 Timothy 6:6–12
- **Thesis:** Understanding and managing finances with a godly perspective can transform our lives and relationships, leading to true contentment and spiritual growth.
---
**1. Examine Your Attitude Towards Money (1 Timothy 6:6-10)**
- **Contentment and Godliness:** "But godliness with contentment is great gain" (v. 6).
- **Temporary Nature of Wealth:** "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out" (v. 7).
- **Dangers of Wealth:** "Those who want to be rich fall into temptation" (v. 9).
**Key Points:**
a. **Put the Lord in Charge:**
- *Scripture:* Leviticus 27:30
- *Insight:* God first ensures money doesn't control your heart (Matthew 6:24).
b. **Gratefulness, Generosity, and Dependency:**
- *Scripture:* Proverbs 16:3
- *Illustration:* French Fry Story - Trusting God with all we have.
---
**2. Be Wary of Myths that Lead to Debt**
- **Proverbs 22:7:** "The borrower is a slave to the lender."
**Common Myths:**
a. **Manipulation by Advertising:**
- *Truth:* Recognize and resist consumerism.
b. **Immediate Gratification:**
- *Truth:* Patience and planning over impulsiveness.
c. **Minimum Payments:**
- *Truth:* Aim to live within means and avoid debt traps.
---
**3. Put Money in Its Place (1 Timothy 6:11)**
- **Pursue Righteousness and Contentment:** "But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness" (v. 11).
**Practical Steps:**
a. **Seek a Godly Means of Income:**
- *Scripture:* Proverbs 14:23–24
- *Application:* Honest and diligent work brings lasting wealth.
b. **Create a Budget:**
- *Scripture:* Luke 14:28
- *Application:* Plan finances to avoid unforeseen financial crises.
c. **Save Wisely:**
- *Scripture:* Proverbs 30:25
- *Application:* Save for future needs with wisdom.
d. **Be a Generous Giver:**
- *Scripture:* 2 Corinthians 9:6–7
- *Application:* Generosity reflects God's heart and brings blessings.
e. **Invest in Eternity:**
- *Scripture:* Matthew 6:20–21; Matthew 25:21
- *Application:* Focus on eternal rewards, storing treasures in heaven.
---
**Conclusion:**
- **Summary:** Handling finances with a godly perspective involves examining attitudes, avoiding debt myths, and placing money in its proper place.
- **Call to Action:** Commit to financial practices that honor God, reflect contentment, and prioritize eternal investments.
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**Closing Prayer:**
- **Prayer for Wisdom and Stewardship:** Ask God for wisdom in managing finances, a heart of generosity, and a focus on eternal values.