THREE GOOD FINANCIAL HABITS

THREE GOOD FINANCIAL HABITS Philippians 4:10-13 February 6, 2000 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Second Corinthians chapter 8 tells an interesting story. Paul was  collecting   donations from the churches he knew for the Jerusalem church whose  members were going through a very difficult times financially. So he was  helping by doing his part--writing to the various churches he knew, asking for  contributions to help these fellow-believers in Jerusalem.  As he wrote to the Corinthian believers he included this comment (verses 1-7): And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God  has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. for I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, the urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. Who were these "Macedonians," and how did they come to the place where they could give so voluntarily, sacrificially and miraculously ("even beyond  their ability")? Well, they were the Christians at Philippi, from where Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians. Paul said these believers, poor but ready to share even out of their poverty, were the "pace-setters" in financial giving among the first century churches. Now, a few years later, Paul is in prison and he is writing a letter to the Philippian church, and we notice they are still a generous congregation, because Paul is thanking them for their generous help to him and his ministry. Read Philippians 4:10-13. Generous giving is always the mark of the Christian who is grateful for what God has done for him. Let me say clearly that generosity should be the mark of every church that loves and serves Jesus Christ. Stanford Kelly, a missionary to Haiti, provides a 20th-century example of that kind of generosity. After taking an offering in the little congregation where he served, Kelly found a gift of $13. That was the equivalent of one month's wages. The gift surprised him every bit as much as a $5,000 check would startle a pastor in a wealthier nation. The extraordinary gift prompted Kelly to search out the giver, who was a farmer. When he questioned the man about his gift, the peasant was reluctant to answer. Kelly probed until he discovered that the man had sold his horse, even though the animal helped provide the man's livelihood.Kelly asked, "Why didn't you come to church to give the gift yourself?" The farmer replied, "Because I had no shirt to wear." How does such generosity as the Philippians demonstrated get developed? I want to point out for our learning three financial habits that are mentioned in these short verses. They were the habits of Paul, who was the principle teacher and model for the Philippian church, and they were the habits of the believers in Philippi. Habit Number One: CONCERN I recently enjoyed an article in the "Christian Reader" by a lady named June Spivey: In our town's elementary school at the beginning of the year, the school secretary routinely collects the lunch money from the new kindergartners. This solves the problem of lost money. But for nervous 5-year-olds, it took a few days to understand what was happening. For two days, the secretary would come into the room and ask in a loud voice, "Does anybody have any lunch money for me?" Her question was met with no response. On the third day, one little boy came in at the bell, walked hesitantly to the teacher's desk, held out his hand and whispered, "Here is lunch money from my piggy bank for the poor lady nobody gives money to."What was demonstrated in that little boy is the very kind of instant responsiveness that Paul found among the Philippian Christians--they had a habit, a good habit, a habit of concern. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your CONCERN for me. In deed you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. Concern is a beautiful habit in the Christian's life. Not worry, but concern. What were the believers concerned about? They were concerned about two  things: Paul himself and Paul's ministry. People and ministry--these are good targets for concern. In fact, they are probably the only two things Christians ought to be concerned about when it comes to investing  financially. When we take offerings here at MECF, the money is not used to line anyone's pockets or to send off to some organization. They money you give is used  directly in ministry to people. When you give, just like when the Philippians gave, your money is supporting the outreach of this church, not only in the  St. Louis metro-east, but all around the world, from Brazil to Niger to Jericho  to Russia to Indonesia to the Philippines to Haiti--in fact, any place we feel the  Lord leading us to help in support we freely send monetary help. I want to remind you that, while it costs a great deal of money to maintain ministry here at home, it is the policy of this church to send a significant part of our collections to the work of the Lord in other parts of the world, as He leads   us. This year's budget calls for 13.5% of all our income to go out from us. Why do we do that? Because we believe in the principle of giving to concerns outside ourselves. As we teach this New Testament principle to individuals, we also corporately practice it. Back at home here it costs money to maintain our witness for Christ in this area. We pay out for the things it takes to maintain our church witness for Christ in this area: staff, facilities, program materials, utilities, advertising, printing... There are a host of expenses that are often hidden from people, but are nevertheless real. How does the Lord choose to take care of those expenses? Through the concern and giving of His people. Your offerings pay the expenses of maintaining ministry to people. I think we need to be reminded of that truth on a regular basis. As a part of this body of believers you are an integral part of this ministry--and your giving does make a difference! Let me tell you what else makes a difference--your NOT giving makes a difference as well. There is no outside agency or resource that pumps money into this ministry--only these families gathered here. Let me urge you to do your part in supporting the ministry of this church, both here and globally, with your consistent, sacrificial giving. Why? There are a number of reasons, like, *this is God's will in your life--to support the ministry that nourishes you and your family spiritually, *God wants to bless and give you increase in your stewardship and He does so on the basis of your faithfulness to Him, *without the contributions of each and every part of this church family the whole ministry suffers, but most of all, God works through the faithful giving of people who have CONCERN for His work. Habit Number Two: CONTENTMENT Look at verses eleven and twelve, and pick up on Paul's attitude, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Contentment--what a great habit of life. Martin Luther once said, "Next to faith this is the highest art--to be content with the calling in which God has placed you. I have not learned it yet." Are you content in the circumstances you are in right now? What would happen if you were to develop this habit? You would complain a lot less, right? You'd be at peace a lot more of the time, right? You would find it easier to be thankful, right? You would spend less energy and resources trying to "get ahead", right? You would be more satisfied than you ever were in your life! This is God's will for you. And it is the devil's design to get you anxious, worried about not having as much as the Jonses, craving more and striving after better all the time. Listen, I think we all need to understand that God is not unaware of where we are right now. In fact, He has approved our current state in life for reasons we don't understand yet. He's  teaching us things about ourselves and His plan for our lives. Once upon a time, there was a man who lived with his wife, two small children, and his elderly parents in a tiny hut. He tried to be patient and gracious, but the noise and crowded conditions wore him down. In desperation, he consulted the village wise man. "Do you have a rooster?" asked the wise man. "Yes," he replied. "Keep the rooster in the hut with your family, and come see me again next week." The next week, the man returned and told the wise elder that living conditions were worse than ever, with the rooster crowing and making a mess of the hut. "Do you have a cow?" asked the wise elder. The man nodded fearfully. "Take your cow into the hut as well, and come see me in a week." Over the next several weeks, the man--on the advice of the wise elder--made room for a goat, two dogs, and his brother's children. Finally, he could take no more, and in a fit of anger, kicked out all the animals and guests, leaving only his wife, his children, and his parents. The home suddenly became spacious and quiet, and everyone lived happily ever after. John Wesley was once informed that his house had just burned down. He had this reaction: "No, the Lord's house burned. One less responsibility for me!" When we learn the habit of contentment, we will be not only happier people, but people far readier for the Lord to use. When you are content with where you are and the Lord asks you to give sacrificially, you will be ready to obey, because you haven't committed yourself to your ambitions before the Lord's will. "Well, won't I ever be blessed and move on to better circumstances?" Of course, but in the Lord's timing. The scripture is full of promises to those who are faithful in sacrificial giving into the Lord's work. One promise I have always held dear is Luke 6:38 - Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Let me put a very simple question to you: would you rather live restlessly, working and striving feverishly to get yourself to where you want to be,be selfish toward God and others along the way, and never really make to any level of satisfaction---OR, would you rather live in peace, not worried about the things that burn other people out, being free to be generous to God and others along the way, and let God pour into your lap a good measure,pressed down, shaken together and running over, and all the while, feeling perfectly content? The choice is really ours. When we learn to desire and develop the habit of CONTENTMENT, we become free and generous people. What are your primary concerns today: a little bigger house, a little nicer car, a little faster computer, a little more stylish clothing, a little more of this and a little more of that? Or is your concern the simple, uncomplicated concern of the apostle Paul and the Philippian believers: a little better ministry to people through the Lord's church? Your attitude toward giving and your level of giving will be the barometer--and it will be the measure the Lord will use in heaping His blessings on you. THE THIRD HABIT - CONFIDENCE The very last part of our text is in verse 13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Now we've heard this verse quoted to support a lot of notions: when we want to encourage someone to keep trying, we quote Phil. 4:13; when we want to trust God for more power, we quote Phil 4:13; when we want to build up confidence in the face of trial or temptation, we quote Phil. 4:13 May I suggest that the most "true-to-the-context" use of this great verse may be in the realm of contentment and giving? Paul said, "I have learned a lot of lessons in my life and ministry--the New Testament records shipwrecks, beatings, harassment's and imprisonment's, all for the sake of Christ--and I have learned this: when it is time to trust the Lord in my circumstances, good or bad, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." And I've learned in my circumstances to keep serving the Lord sacrificially. This is the same kind of strength the Philippians had--even though they were poor, they found God's strength to be content in those circumstances and to give generously to the cause of Christ anyway. Paul said that when he ministered it was in the strength that GOD provided him, not in his own strength. In fact, he even said that when he was weak, God was strong in him, and that God's strength was made perfect in his weakness. Illustrate with a glove. I'm going to ask this glove to put my offering in this basket. "Go, glove!" I don't understand, this glove is a Christian glove, it's been baptized, taught in the Word of God and filled   with the Spirit, but it's not able to do the thing I want it to do. But, when I put my hand into it, it is able to act. It is God at work in you, Christian friends, both to will and to do His good pleasure. "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." That is CONFIDENCE with a capital "c". That is the kind of confident living that does not depend on one's own strength, but on God's strength. When we trust in ourselves we can get so little done--and most of the things we do get done are inconsequential anyway. But when we relax our vain strivings, learn to be concerned primarily with the things of God, be content in the circumstances we currently find ourselves, then we can find godly confidence to live for Him. This is the kind of confidence God wants you to live in. This is the kind of confidence that frees Christians to GROW. Why? Because once we truly understand that it is not our strength, but God's strength that He wants to exercise through us, we are free to take risks. Alison Hargreaves had climbed a lot of mountains. She was the first woman and the second climber to reach the peak of Mount Everest alone and without  the help of oxygen tanks. Then she went on to climb the awesome K2 in Pakistan, the world's second highest peak. On her descent, she was killed in an avalanche. Hargreaves often quoted a Tibetan maxim in which her grieving husband now takes comfort: "It is better to have lived one day as a tiger than a thousand years as a sheep." It reminded me of the movie Steel Magnolias . A young married woman chose to have a baby even though she knew it would be a risk to her fragile health. She explained, "I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special." Risks move us out of our comfort zone. They break us out of our own self-set parameters. Some risks, of course, are not worth it. Like walking through the worst part of town at 3 o'clock in the morning just to prove that God will protect you. God has given you a brain, right? Foolish risks are not worth it, but risks that are rooted in faith and taken in obedience to God are. I want to challenge you from this passage to develop three financial habits: concern for the things of God above the things that are less than important, contentment in the Lord concerning your circumstances, whether rich or poor or somewhere in the middle, and confidence in His strength at work through you when you do His will. I want to challenge you this morning to take some godly risks: I want to encourage you to step out in faith and determine to give more into God's kingdom work than you ever have before. Why? Because it is God's will for you, it is His way to resource the ministry He's called  this church to, and it is His way to bless and prosper you. I believe the Lord would want us to be another Macedonian church like the Philippians who gave even more than they could... Let me encourage you to step out for God in faith, and increase your giving into His work here at MECF. I can tell you from experience, this is the greatest way to grow spiritually that I have ever known. The reason for that is, it is your direct response of obedience to Him. Paul and the Philippian believers learned to walk in these three habits and found themselves blessed as they gave generously to God's kingdom. Let's take a time of commitment to do what the Philippians had done--they first committed themselves to the Lord, then they gave of their substance. We want to pray such a prayer of commitment, then we will receive today's offering. We will do it this way--after we pray, you are invited to come to the front where the offering baskets are today and leave your offering there. This is between you and the Lord. Some of you will be bringing the offering you have prepared to bring. Others will feel it is time right now to stretch and be more generous with the Lord, and you'll add to your offering an extra love gift. Still others here this morning who had not brought any offering may decide now to bring a sacrificial gift to the Lord. Whatever, it is your decision and your commitment to God.       [Back to Top]