Biblical Finances

Biblical Finances Jon Gruss / General Better Together / Money / Psalm 50:10 Notes from Biblical Counseling Coalition   Money INTRO = My Goal! False Gods America = Rich!! • unemployment • credit card debt • foreclosure • the Joneses How Does the Bible View Wealth? • the Bible talks about money a lot! • testing  character  • financial problems =  spiritual  problems The  Theology  of Money Psalm 50:10 ESV For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Proverbs 10:22 ESV The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Are the wise always wealthy? • correlation between wisdom & wealth •  promises  vs  principals  • the danger of “name it, claim it” theology • the covenantal difference • the world we are in 1.  Balanced  View of Money Proverbs 30:8–9 ESV 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. a. Money can be  good  i. Many Christians  misunderstand  that money itself is neither  good  or  bad . 1 Timothy 6:10 ESV 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. ii. It is the place money holds in our  hearts  that make it a  tool  or a temptation. iii. Wealth is a hedge of protection against  calamity . Proverbs 10:15 ESV 15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. • better  healthcare  • natural disaster •  legal  help iv. We are  commanded  to use our wealth to  provide  for ourselves and others. 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. v. We are  commended  when we use our wealth to serve  God . Proverbs 19:17 ESV 17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. vi. God has given us our wealth to  enjoy  because of His love for us. 1 Timothy 6:17 ESV 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. b. Money is  dangerous  1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. i. Money is meant to  serve  us not for us to  serve  it. ii. Wealth cannot satisfy our spiritual  appetite . [money can put food on the table but not love around it] iii. Wealth can tempt us to want more and more. [all 10 commandments can be broken by the love of money] Proverbs 15:17 ESV 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. Proverbs 27:20 ESV 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. Isaiah 55:1–2 ESV 1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. iv. Wealth is dangerous because it is  fleeting , meaning we will always be chasing it. v. We can be tempted to waste  precious   time  pursuing it. Proverbs 23:4–5 ESV 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. vi. Wealth can cause us to  trust  in it rather then in  God . Proverbs 11:28 ESV 28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 2. Better Than  Gold  a. True Wealth = Wisdom of God i. God’s Word tells us that  wisdom  is better then wealth. Proverbs 16:16 ESV 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. ii. Your  character  is more important then your bank balance. Proverbs 22:1 ESV 1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. b. The Secret of  Contentment  i. God will provide for your  needs , not necessarily your  desires . Proverbs 10:3 ESV 3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 1 Timothy 6:8 ESV 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ii. God  sovereignly  distributes wealth according to his  perfect  will, therefore, we should be  thankful  and  content  with whatever He gives us. Hebrews 13:5 ESV 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Acquiring  Money 1.  Work   Hard  a. God’s way for us to gain wealth is through working hard and working  smart . Proverbs 10:4–5 ESV 4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. Proverbs 6:6–11 ESV 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. Proverbs 22:29 ESV 29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. b. Don’t expect easy money or fall prey to  get-rich-quick   schemes . Proverbs 28:19 ESV 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. c. Not everyone is able to pursue his ‘ dream   career .’ 2 Timothy 2:20–21 ESV 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. d.  Establish  your means of earning before taking on major financial  responsibilities . Proverbs 24:27 ESV 27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. 2. Don’t  Compromise  a. The person who has a strong desire to be rich will be tempted to sin. Proverbs 28:22 ESV 22 A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. b. Some pursue wealth at the expense of  family ,  worship  and  rest . Mark 8:36 ESV 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? c. Many try to get rich by  deceiving  and  defrauding  others. Proverbs 20:10 ESV 10 Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. i. It is wrong to use economic power to  exploit  the  weak . Proverbs 22:16 ESV 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. ii. The wise man pays a fair wage to his workers and a reasonable price when he purchases goods from his neighbor.  iii. The wise employee gives a  full   day’s  labor for a  day’s   pay . James 5:4 ESV 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. iv. The wise man doesn’t take advantage of the  ignorance  of others. Proverbs 20:14 ESV 14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. v. The wise man does not  hoard  a  commodity  to drive the price up so that he can extort more money from  desperate  buyers. Proverbs 11:26 ESV 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. vi. The wise man  maintains  his  integrity  because he believes God will ultimately bring about justice. Galatians 6:7 ESV 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 3.  Gambling  = Unwise a. Gambling undermines the  work   ethic  by encouraging people to hope for wealth without working for it. Proverbs 28:19 ESV 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. b. Gambling promotes  irrationality  in that the odds against winning a large prize are astronomical. Proverbs 14:23 ESV 23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. c. Gambling is motivated by a  greedy   lust  for riches. Proverbs 28:20–22 ESV 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. 22 A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. d. Gambling  exploits  those who lose. Proverbs 22:16 ESV 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. e. Gambling is  bad   stewardship  of God’s resources. i. Two outcomes • you lose = foolishly  wasted  your God given money. • you win = you have  defrauded  others by taking what was not earned. Proverbs 13:11 ESV 11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 15:27a ESV 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.  Saving  Money 1. Plan For The  Future  a. Prepare for the  winter  at the time of  harvest . Proverbs 6:8 ESV 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Proverbs 10:15 ESV 15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 2.  Invest  Wisely a. The wise person  gradually  and  steadily  accumulates savings through hard work and discipline. b. The wise person pays careful attention to their  capital   resources  and  investments . c. A wise rule for investing is that risk  increases  with  anticipated  rewards. Proverbs 13:11 ESV 11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 27:23–24 ESV 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? Proverbs 28:19–20 ESV 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 3. Leave An  Inheritance  a. The person who handles their finances with wisdom and integrity leaves an inheritance to their  children’s   children . b. The wise person must be careful to  train  their children to handle money wisely. Proverbs 13:22 ESV 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 20:21 ESV 21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. Proverbs 23:15–18 ESV 15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. 16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right. 17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. 18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.  Spending  Money 1.  Give   Generously  a. Giving to the Lord’s work should be the  first   priority  in your budget. Proverbs 3:9–10 ESV 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. b. Giving should be done out of  love  and  worship  not  compulsion . 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. c. The wise man is to be generous with the  deserving  poor. i. We are not to give to  sluggards . = Pro 20:4 ii. We are not to give to the  rich  who don’t need it. = Pro 22.16 • we are to be gracious to those who are in poverty, even if much of the fault is their own, providing they are willing to turn from folly and pursue wisdom. d. God  blesses  wise generosity. Proverbs 22:9 ESV 9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. i. This does not mean more blessing for us to  keep . ii. This does imply more blessing to be a  blessing  to others. 2 Corinthians 9:10–11 ESV 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. e. We are called to  give  even when times are  hard  for us. Luke 21:4 ESV 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2. Control Your  Expenditures  a. The wise man has a  plan  for his money. [make a budget] b. The wise man  sticks  to his plan. [stick to your budget] Proverbs 21:5 ESV 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 14:15 ESV 15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 22:3 ESV 3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. Proverbs 21:17 ESV 17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. c. The wise man  evaluates  the  motives  of his heart in  correspondence  to his expenses. Ecclesiastes 2:10–11 ESV 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. ‘spend money he doesn’t have to buy things he doesn’t need to impress people he doesn’t even like.’ 3. Stay Out Of  Debt  a. Under the Old Covenant, debt was regarded as a  curse . Deuteronomy 28:44 ESV 44 He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. b. Debt produces  bondage  to men. Proverbs 22:7 ESV 7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. c. Debt  presumes  upon the  future . Proverbs 16:9 ESV 9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. James 4:13–17 ESV 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. d. If you are in debt,  pay   it ! Psalm 37:21 ESV 21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; • When to  borrow ? • The wise do not put themselves in a position in which they might owe  more  on an item than the amount for which they could sell it in an emergency. • When to  lend ? • Generally the wisest and most loving thing we can do is  not   lend , let us remember that loaning and giving are vastly different. Proverbs 22:26–27 ESV 26 Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? Proverbs 6:1–5 ESV 1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, 2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. 4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Conclusion 1. Trust God a. In  present   hard  times. b. For your  future   needs . Matthew 6:19–34 ESV 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 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. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 1 Timothy 6:6–8 ESV 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 2. True Riches a. Make it your goal to be  wise , not  rich ! Proverbs 8:10–11 ESV 10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. • You cannot take it with you 2 Peter 3:10–13 ESV 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. • Christ  paid  your ultimate debt 2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Resource Financial Peace University Page 11. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:16 AM May 19, 2018.