Connecting the Gospel to Your Wallet

Connecting the Gospel to the Wallet

Marriage Seminar Session #3

Seven Connections between our Finances and the Gospel

Connection #1

We are STEWARDS of the finances God has given us.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (READ)

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

4 Stewardship Truths

--God owns everything, and I own nothing. Remember: I have STEWARDSHIP, not OWNERSHIP!

--God has given me everything I have…including the ability to earn money.

--I am responsible to increase what God has given me. Faithful, wise investment.

--God can call me to account at any time. An account of what I am doing with what is HIS.

The GOAL of all we do with our finances is to PLEASE GOD!

2 Corinthians 5:9

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

QUESTIONS

--When is the last time you prayed asking the Lord to make you a good steward?

--When is the last time you evaluated your stewardship?

--Why not pray with your spouse for wisdom and grace to please the Lord in your financial stewardship?

CONNECTION #2

You must be on your guard against GREED.

Luke 12:13-21: Parable of the RICH FOOL

Luke 12:16-21

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Are you laying up treasures for YOURSELF…or for GOD (and HIS purposes)?

Questions for detecting GREED:

--Do you buy things you don’t have the money to buy? (looking for happiness in new things?)

--Do you use extra money for vacations or nice things instead of paying off debt?

--WHO benefits from my “extra” money?

CONNECTION #3

I must see that GOD’S CARE for me is GREATER than my CONCERNS over money.

Luke 12:22-34; Matthew 6:25-34: Jesus’ teaching on “Do Not Be Anxious”

THREE CRUCIAL TRUTHS

1.    Material possessions should not dominate our life: LIFE IS MORE THAN MONEY!

2.    Sovereign control of all things belongs to God: our worry cannot add anything to our life, so WHY WORRY?

3.    GOD KNOWS ABOUT YOUR NEEDS AND CARES FOR THEM: feeds birds, clothes flowers, but YOU are worth more!

--but even more: the CROSS…

Romans 8:31-32

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED TO WORRY ABOUT FINANCES…LOOK TO THE CROSS!

Questions:

--How much money would have to be taken away from your savings right now for you to start worrying?

--How much are you spending on Christ and His work?

--Do you find yourself envying others that you know who have MORE than you do?

--Do you pray about your finances, asking the Lord’s blessing on your life while helping you to be dependent on HIM?

--How convinced are you that since God gave His Son for you, He will also take care of you finances?

CONNECTION #4

Contentment is being satisfied with Christ and what He provides, whether MUCH or LITTLE.

Philippians 4:10-13

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Contentment for us as believers MEANS:

--We are satisfied above all things in having Christ as our great Savior and Treasure.

Philippians 1:21

“for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”

--We are happy when Christ provides plenty.

--We are satisfied when Christ chooses to provide no more than enough.

--We are confident that we can please Christ in every situation (i.e., be content) by His ability.

Questions:

--How content are you when you cannot have everything you want?

--Are you content enough in Christ to give extra money to meet someone’s NEED instead of saving it or spending it for something YOU WANT?

--When you get some unexpected money, what is your first thought?

CONNECTION #5

5 Principles for Wisdom in Biblical Financial Planning

Principle #1: Refusing to plan is IRRESPONSIBLE (Proverb 6:6-10)

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.

Principle #2: Planning is not piling up wealth to trust in instead of God.

Principle #3: Planning makes contentment EASIER

Principle #4: Planning makes GENEROSITY easier: how much of your planning is for what you will give away for the purposes of Christ?

Principle #5: Our plans are and should always be DEPENDENT on the Lord

James 4:15

15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

CONNECTION #6

We must develop a godly dislike for DEBT

--Debt makes us slaves to our creditors

Proverbs 22:7

7 The rich rules over the poor,

and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

--Debt limits our options and presumes on the future

           -limits options for special purchases, opportunities, meeting needs, etc.

2 Ways to make sure your attitude toward DEBT is CAUTIOUS

#1: You have a firm and wholehearted commitment to repay your debts ASAP!

#2: You have a commitment to use extra money that comes your way to pay off debts.

Questions:

--Do you have any debt for things that are worth less than you owe on them?

--Do you pay off the balance on your credit card(s) every month? (so there is no interest or penalty payments)

CONNECTION #7

GENEROSITY to God is a statement of our appreciation to Christ for His goodness to us

A.   Generosity should be SACRIFICIAL (2 Corinthians 8:1-15)

B.   Generosity should be JOYFUL (joy from gospel gratitude)

2 Corinthians 9:7

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

C.    Generosity should be considered a PRIVILEGE

D.   Generosity should be extended to the CHURCH and the NEEDY (James 1:26-27)

Questions:

--Do others see me as thankful and generous?

--Has my generosity grown over the past 3 years as demonstrated in my budget?

--When I purchase things for pleasure, am I thankful for God’s goodness to me?

--Do I communicate gratitude for God’s goodness to my family in obvious ways?

--How much do I spend each year caring for the needs of others?

--What am I teaching and modeling for my children in generous, joyful, sacrificial giving?

SUMMARY

Seven ways the Gospel of Jesus Christ should impact how I use my finances:

1.    The GOSPEL teaches me all I have belongs to God and therefore I am to be a good steward of it.

2.    The GOSPEL teaches me that I have all that I need and therefore I do not need to be greedy.

3.    The GOSPEL teaches me that Christ’s care for me should remove all my worry about life, including finances.

4.    The GOSPEL teaches me that Christ and whatever He provides should bring contentment.

5.    The GOSPEL demonstrates God’s glorious wisdom…wisdom I should imitate in my planning.

6.    The GOSPEL teaches me that I should owe nothing to others except LOVE.

7.    The GOSPEL teaches me that it is my privilege to give to the Lord!