Money the real bottom line
Money
The Real Bottom Line
Men’s Breakfast
4/24/2004
-We have looked at different aspects of a man’s life.
-Today we are looking at men and their money.
-The real bottom line.
(List adapted from Rabbi Leder’s Ten Money Commandments)
1. Net Worth isn’t the same as Self Worth
-A man told me this week while discussing some “movers and shakers” who had money and were trying to make a whole lot more- “When you value system is money driven….” You can fill in the last part of the sentence. You life is out of whack.
-There is a precarious balance between making money and being prosperous and not caring at all.
-Jesus had a lot to say about the subject.
Luke 12
15 /Then He said to them, “aBeware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”[1] /
-In some way we have to redefine what life is about.
-In America we keep score with money.
-Our values have been turned upside down.
Ecclesiastes 5
10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
there is nothing left for him.
15 Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?
[2]
2. If you are driven by money, there is a deeper problem
Luke 16
10 “aHe who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous 1awealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
12 “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13 “aNo 1servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and 2bwealth.”
[3]
-Our use of money reveals who and what we really are.
-Not tithing is a sign of a spiritual problem.
-Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-Money is a:
· Tool
· A test
· A testimony
3. Discern the difference between needs and wants
-There really is a difference.
-What want is so attached to you that you couldn’t let it go even if God said-“DROP IT”?
-If you don’t go shopping, stop looking at magazine ads and TV commercials for 1 month you will probably have an extra chunk of money.
-God gives you the desires of your heart and all things to enjoy.
-Just make sure your stuff is serving you not vice versa.
4. Live within your means
-This is a tough one.
-Credit allows us to live temporarily the way we would if we could afford to.
-We see people who have stuff and so we compare and think we deserve it too.
-This is asking that question; “HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH”?
-Is your heart or your eyes driving your life?
-The eyes of man are never satisfied.
Proverbs 15
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.
[4]
Proverbs 16
8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
/[5]/
-I feel sometimes like we have taught people God’s plan for prosperity with out helping them determine and redefine Godly values first.
-We may have turned people loose with the ability to create wealth and get more without aiming them in the right direction.
-Notice that Jesus contrasted the way the gentiles were motivated in Matthew 6 with the way we were to be aimed and motivated.
-You need to ask yourself; has that taken?
5. Leave an inheritance of integrity, not just money
Psalm 37
18 The days of the blameless are known to the Lord,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
/[6]/
-Our children are watching. They are picking up our values.
-We think that we can sacrifice the important things as long as we leave them a ton of cash.
Example
My dad at Kisco. Took a lesser paying job in order to have a life.
Example
Mexican Tuna fisherman.
6. Save relationships by being clear when lending money
-If you want to destroy a family, leave a real fuzzy will so everyone can fight.
-Lend money to all your family members so you can get bitter when they don’t pay you back.
-If you co-sign or lend money be willing to lose it.
-Forgive. Don’t lose you family over money.
7. Be Grateful
-Appreciate all you have.
-Remember all that God has blessed you with.
-Have an attitude of gratitude.
-A little with gratitude is appreciated more that a lot with an attitude that “THEY OWE ME THIS”.
-When I start feeling ungrateful I check to see if I am still breathing, my blood is still flowing, and my wife and children are breathing.
-It’s a good day!
8. Give and you really will receive
-It is Biblical to honor god with your first and best but it really does help you to give.
-Giving is a very healthy exercise for all of us, no matter what our income level is.
-If you want to have joy you need to develop a generous spirit.
----
a 1 Tim 6:6–10
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Lk 12:15). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ec 5:10). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
a Matt 25:21, 23
1 Gr mammon, fr Aram mamona, signifying riches, wealth, etc, personified as an object of worship
a Luke 16:9
a Matt 6:24
1 Or house-servant
2 Gr mammon, fr Aram mamona, signifying riches, wealth, etc, personified as an object of worship
b Luke 16:9
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Lk 16:10). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Pr 15:16). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Pr 16:8). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[6]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ps 37:18). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.