8 Keys to Financial Health

INTRODUCTION

In summer 1930, while giving a lecture in Madrid, the economist John Maynard Keynes made a striking prediction: by 2030, vast economic growth would mean a 15-hour workweek. Well, Keynes was right about rocketing economic growth, but why was he wrong about us working fewer hours?

Ecclesiastes 10:19 NLT

19 A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!

Ecclesiastes 10:19 AMP

19 [Instead of repairing the breaches, the officials] make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and [depend on tax] money to answer for all of it.

As a believer, your definition of success should not be that same as that of the world’s.

Grace empowers giving, and love compels it - “For God so loved the world, He gave...”

Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.

In the Gospels, one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money.

The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

The Bible references money and possessions 2,350 times. That’s a lot. It’s more than Jesus talked about love, and more than He talked about heaven and hell combined.

I understand giving is not all about money, it’s about much more. God doesn’t just want your money, He wants everything. He wants your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Matthew 16:26 TPT

26 For even if you were to gain all the wealth and power of this world with everything it could offer you—at the cost of your own life—what good would that be? And what could be more valuable to you than your own soul?

Soul = “Psyche”, the thing that connects and binds you to truth, to love, to hope, to realty - both natural and supernatural.

PRINCIPLE #1

KINGDOM GIVING IS A IS GOD-GIVEN GRACE GIFT TO PROTECT OUR HEARTS FROM MAMMON.

Matthew 6:24 AMP

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 3126. μαμμωνᾶς

3126. μαμμωνᾶς mammōnas, mam-mo-nas´; of Chald. or. (confidence, i.e. fig. wealth, personified); mammonas, i.e. avarice (deified):—mammon.

2 Corinthians 8:1–7 NLT

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

The evidence of supernatural grace, is supernatural giving.

Kingdom Equation:

Affliction + Poverty / Liberality + Abundance of Joy = Giving

Vs. 3 - they gave beyond their ability.

PRINCIPLE #2

GIVING IS A SPIRITUAL STANDARD/MEASUREMENT

2 Corinthians 8:8–11 NLT

8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 4608 προθυμία

4608 προθυμία (prothymia), ας (as), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 4288; TDNT 6.697—LN 25.68 eagerness, willingness, readiness (Ac 17:11; 2Co 8:11, 12, 19; 9:2+)

Kingdom Equation:

when the supernatural grace gift is in operation, people who empty themselves become filled.

Obedience produces vision; vision produces pro-vision.

Paul emphasized the opportunity of giving, rather than the the need for which it was given.

Giving is an attitude that is manifested in an action.

PRINCIPLE #3

GOD MEASURES WHAT YOU DO HAVE - NOT WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE.

Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

2 Corinthians 8:12 NLT

12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

Practice an attitude of gratitude. Focus on being thankful for what you do have rather what you don’t have.

Everyone may not be able to do everything, but everyone can do something.

Wherever God is leading you, what you need to get to the next step is available to you right now.

PRINCIPLE #4

EQUALITY OF COMMITMENT - NOT EQUALITY OF GIFTS

2 Corinthians 8:13–15 NLT

13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Kingdom attitude about the poor vs. that of that of the word...

In the Kingdom you can have purpose higher than your abilities and circumstances.

To receive an entitlements, you must first accept the title before you are entitled.

PRINCIPLE #5

THERE'S A HIGHER STANDARD FOR LEADERS

2 Corinthians 8:17–24 NLT

17 Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 22 We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. 23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

In America, the lost allow money to determine leadership; the Bible is quite the opposite. A leader must not be controlled by money.

1 Timothy 3:3 AMP

3 Not given to wine, not combative but gentle and considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money [insatiable for wealth and ready to obtain it by questionable means].

1 Timothy 3:8 AMP

8 In like manner the deacons [must be] worthy of respect, not shifty and double-talkers but sincere in what they say, not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain [craving wealth and resorting to ignoble and dishonest methods of getting it].

Titus 1:7 The Message

7 It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry.

1 Peter 5:2 TPT

2 to be compassionate shepherds who tenderly care for God’s flock and who feed them well, for you have the responsibility to guide, protect, and oversee. Consider it a joyous pleasure and not merely a religious duty. Lead from the heart under God’s leadership—not as a way to gain finances dishonestly but as a way to eagerly and cheerfully serve.

The apostolic ministry is provision generator; it draws Kingdom resources.

Money follows ministry; ministry doesn't follow money.

How do you handle privilege? Guard your heart. Don't take advantage of every privilege given to you.

PRINCIPLE #6

MAKE A PLAN TO CONSISTENTLY PART WITH "YOUR" MONEY

2 Corinthians 9:1–5 NLT

1 I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. 2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. 3 But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. 4 We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

Do something, but not because you have to, but because you are yielding to the generous nature of God in you.

We have several avenues of giving at Living Hope; Alms in the box, Celebrate Recovery, Pro Life, Embrace Grace, GriefShare, COW Outreach Team, etc.

PRINCIPLE #7

YESTERDAY'S MANNA HAS TODAY'S WORMS OR TOMORROW'S TREASURE

2 Corinthians 9:8–11 NLT

8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

Exodus 16:16–20 NLT

16 These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” 17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.

PRINCIPLE #8

GIVING GLORIFIES GOD

2 Corinthians 9:12–15 NLT

12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!