Stewardship Insights from George

Why all the money verses??

2014-07-08T15:18:00.001-07:00

I have often wondered why God devotes so much of His Word to instruction on how should

handle our money and possessions. (Over 2000 verses in the Bible have to do with this subject.) I believe the answer lies in Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The tenets of living out our commitment of making Christ the Lord of our life are somewhat intangible. How do we measure faith, contentment, trust, love, unselfishness and a host of other standards that God has called us to on our journey to be Christ like? How do we really know what is going on in our heart? I believe that one of the easiest ways we can understand what is going on in our heart is to look at our checkbook or look at our bank statement.

Are we content with what we have? Hebrews 13:5 says "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have" Do we have a lot of debt because we feel that we deserve more than what God has provided?

Do we really trust God? Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart" Are we trusting God or a bank account or stock portfolio?

Is God really first in our lives? Matthew 6:33 says "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God" How much do we give to the Lord's work and fulfilling the Great Commission compared with how much we spend on ourselves.

Charles Stanley said "It is impossible to separate your faith from your finances". Larry Burkett said "Money is a testimony of what is most important to you".

As a Christian we have to come to the conclusion that money is far more than just a financial issue. Money is also a spiritual issue. Luke 16:11 says that before we can expect true spiritual blessings from God we must get our money in order.

Yes, I believe the reason that there are so many verses in the Bible about money is that finances is one of the most tangible ways we can measure our relationship with God. Perhaps we could paraphrase Matthew 6:21 this way: Look at our finances and we will see our love for God.

Family of Families (in Finances too!)

2014-04-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

In our Wednesday night Bible study these past few weeks we have been studying how the

church is a family of families. We have been looking at how the family structure is God’s blueprint for the church. I don’t think there is any clearer presentation of this truth than in Ephesians 5 and 6 where Paul is describing relationships in the home and right in the middle he says: “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church”. (Ephesians 5:32) It is clear that God has provided the family as a tool to reveal His plan for the administration of the church.

In addition to seeing church concepts like leadership, submission, teaching and belonging illustrated in the home how about expanding this truth to include financial principles? Let’s look at some of the financial principles that God gives us as families and apply them to the church. I believe we can and we should.

Priorities: Matthew 6:21 tells us that our heart is revealed by how we spend our money. In our homes, we see what is important to us by looking at the family checkbook. But what about the church? In church money can be spent in many different ways. It can be spent on missions, teaching or maintaining and creating beautiful facilities, community outreach and a host of other areas. But what is the purpose of the church? I believe it is to make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:12; and 2 Timothy 4:2) The next time we look at a church budget ask this question “Does this budget reflect the purpose of the church?” (Luke 12:34)

Debt: God’s Word is pretty clear that borrowing is discouraged in God’s Economy. We readily apply this to our personal finances and our family budget, but what about the church? Proverbs 22:7 says that debt forms a bondage relationship. God told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28 that blessings go with lending; and curses go with borrowing. Paul starts out many of his letters declaring that he is in bondage to no one but Jesus Christ. Should we as the bride of Christ enter into a relationship that would put us into bondage with a secular financial institution and in a position that God warned the Israelites would result in curses? Because of the society we live in today, this has become a very difficult principle to apply in our personal finances and even more so in the church. But never the less God strongly discourages and warns of the dangers of debt in both the home and the church.

Caring for each other: 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV) says if we don’t provide for our own family we are worse than unbelievers. I don’t believe we can stop the application of this principle with our family. How much of our church budget goes to helping our brothers and sisters in Christ that are in need? How many times do we leave this responsibility to government and other various social agencies? 1 John 3:17 says: How can we say that the love of God abides in us if we don’t help our brothers and sisters who need help? Our church checkbook will reflect how well we as the body of Christ are meeting these needs.

Savings: The Bible instructs us to save for the future. (Proverbs 21:20; Proverbs 6:6-8; Luke 14:28) And like other biblical financial principles the need for savings applies to the church. Just as individual families will have occasions when unforeseen circumstances and emergencies necessitate the need for emergency funds or savings, so will churches. Remember that God works on a different time frame than we do and He may literally bless our church today for a need we may have tomorrow. As we apply the principle of saving to our church, we must also apply the principle of hoarding. Hoarding robs God of His glory, because it robs us of our trust in God for providing for our needs (Luke 11:9-13; 12:24). A church needs an emergency savings account and saving for anticipated large purchases. But a church needs to be very careful not allowing a savings account to become a tool used by Satan to replace our trust in God.

Fiscal Management: Of all the verses in the Bible about money and possession (over 2000) there is none that grabs my attention more than Luke 16:11 …So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? NIV This verse is

saying if we are faithful the way we handle our money, God will bless us with the true riches mentioned in Matthew 6:19,20; Luke 12:33. As we move this principle from the home to the church, this principle is expanded exponentially. Paying our bills (Psalm 37:21); on time (Proverbs 3:27) and managing the funds of the church with the highest integrity (2 Corinthians 8:16-24) is critical in the church. Luke tells us that it is prerequisite of receiving true riches which is what the church is all about. I truly believe there are many ineffective churches in America today simply because they are drowning in debt or not handling church funds with the highest integrity. Luke 16:11 is clear if a church does not handle money properly, it is in danger of being ineffective.

God’s Word is full of many principles on handling money …His way. But too many times we never look past our personal finances and family budget and expand these principles to the church. But Ephesians 5:32 says the mystery is great; principles from the family apply to the church. In many cases because the church is the Bride of Christ these principles are magnified many times over. Here is a link to a pdf file that lists of some of the verses that pertain to money and possessions. I might encourage you to read and apply these verses not only to your personal family but to the family of families (the church) as well.

A Cow, a Pig and Generosity

2014-03-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

Recently I heard this story about a pig and a cow.

“Why is it,” said the rich man to his minister, “that people call me stingy? Everyone knows that when I die, I’m leaving everything to the church?”

“Let me tell you a fable about the pig and the cow,” said the pastor. And he proceeded to tell this story.

The pig was unpopular, while the cow was beloved. This puzzled the pig. “People speak warmly of your gentle nature and your sorrowful eyes,” the pig said to the cow. “They think you’re generous because each day you give them milk and cream. “But what about me? I give them everything I have. I give bacon and ham. I provide bristles for brushes. They even pickle my feet! “Yet, not one likes me. Why is that?” asked the pig.

The cow said, “Perhaps it is because I give while I’m still living.”

When I read that little story it reminded of a biblical financial paradox like we discussed in the last post. Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV) One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Is Solomon saying that the more we give the more we get and if we are generous, we will prosper and if we are stingy we will see poverty? In a word; yes. This is what he is saying. But we must understand this is God’s Economy and not Man’s Economy. Let’s look a little deeper into this paradox.

Being generous not only provides for others but it also does a good job in getting our attention off ourselves. This leads to humility. Read the parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-14) to follow the path of being generous leading to humility leading to blessings and ultimately resulting in rewards being received at the resurrection of the just (eternity). Luke 14:14.

When God knows that He can trust us with riches to be a conduit to bless others, we are already prospering simply knowing that God trusts us. This is an immediate blessing that we receive by being generous.

But the key to understanding this paradox is looking at what Jesus says in Luke 16:10-13. Jesus says if we are faithful stewards with our money we will receive true spiritual blessings.

One of the basic principles of being a faithful steward in God’s Economy is being generous. Jesus is saying without generosity we will not receive true spiritual blessing. And without true spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1) we cannot become spiritually mature. Being generous is one of the traits of a Christian by reflecting the overwhelming generosity of Christ in giving up His life at Calvary.

If we look at the early church we will discover the community around them recognized believers by their generosity.

Randy Alcorn said, “If Christ is not Lord over our money and possessions, then He is not our Lord.” An easy way to see if He is Lord over our possessions is to look at our generosity.

In Matthew 25 the parable teaches us that we are each given an allotment of talents (money, time, and abilities) and we are expected to develop those talents and then generously give back to the Master. Anything other than this is cursed!

Randy Alcorn goes on to say, “I have never seen a mature Christian who was also not a mature steward. Giving is a part of growing!”

So as we become more generous, God entrusts us with spiritual blessings, which are true riches. These spiritual riches may be realized in this life as spiritual maturity or in eternity as indicated in Luke 14.

But the key to the paradox in Proverbs 11:24-25 as well as many of the other biblical financial paradoxes is to view God’s economy with an eternal perspective. When we are generous with our money God will bless us with spiritual riches and thus as Proverbs 11:25 says a generous man will prosper!

So the next time you look at a cow and wonder why she looks so loved in comparison to the unpopular pig, remember Proverbs 11:24-25. The path to prosperity in God’s economy is through generosity.

The Bible, money and a paradox

2014-01-24T15:01:00.000-08:00

I am sure we have all heard of various definitions of a paradox. They range from two contradicting statements to a husband and wife that both have PhD’s. But if you look in a dictionary you will see a definition similar to this: “A statement that is seemingly contradictory and yet is true”. Given this definition, I believe the Bible is full of paradoxes. Here are a few: We see the unseen things; we conquer by yielding; we find freedom under a yoke; we reign by serving; we are made great by becoming small; we are exalted when we are humble; we become wise by being fools for Christ’s sake; we gain strength when we are weak; we live by dying.

Likewise many biblical financial principles are given in this same paradoxical format. Proverbs 30:8 says don’t make me rich and don’t make me poor. Proverbs 10:22 says God’s blessing brings wealth while Matthew 19:23 says it is hard for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God. Proverbs 21:20 says wise people save and Ecclesiastes 5:13 warns us against saving too much. Proverbs 12:15 says “A wise man listens to advise and Proverbs 14:15 says the naïve person believes everything. And this list as well could go on.

So why does God give so many financial truths and principles in the form of a paradox?

I believe the first reason is that God uses these paradoxes to help us see the deeper truth that is buried in the financial principle. The passage quoted above (Proverbs 30:8) leaves little room for our economic status by eliminating both the rich and poor. But the truth is not about how much we have in our bank account, but the need to make God the center of our lives and not the pursuit of anything else including money for survival or the expensive toys that money buys. By using a paradox, God communicates to us a much deeper truth than a simple directive on what economic class of society we should strive for.

A second reason that I believe God uses paradoxes is that if the bible had given us detailed one directional rules on how to handle money, we would have been trapped in one century or one culture. How much money we need in savings is much different today than it was in the Bible times. By giving us principles in the form of a paradox, we can apply the principles at any time and in any place. If God’s Word laid out a specific amount of dollars an individual needed in their bank account it would be irrelevant after a few years. By telling us to save and not to hoard, we are provided with guidelines that can be applied to any culture and economic conditions.

A third reason is God’s loving way of reminding us that we are in the age of grace and not under laws and rules that lead to legalism and judgmental natures. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 instructs us in a paradox form to share our money, enjoy it and save for the future. Compare this to the OT laws, when the tithe was 20% or 30% (Numbers 18:21,24; Deuteronomy 14:22-29) forgiveness of specific debts took place every 7 years (Deuteronomy 15:1) and the amount of interest charged on a debt was set (Deuteronomy 23:19). If we lived under that system today, it would lead to legalism. Praise God, we are not under law, but under grace.

Many of those laws and rules from the Old Testament are foundations for the principles we live by today, such as tithing, debts and interest. But by giving us biblical financial principles in the form or paradoxes, God is reminding us we are not under law, we are under grace.

And finally if the Bible had laid down specific lifestyle rules, breaking one of those rules would be a sin. When God expresses Himself in paradoxes, He is showing us that in most financial decisions, we are not dealing with issues of good versus evil or sin verses righteousness but with wisdom versus foolishness. 1 Corinthians 6:12 says “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything”.

Following God’s principles leads to wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). When we explore God's plan for how to handle our money by looking at paradoxes, we tend to see more of the purpose of the journey of living by God's economy as opposed to the step by step details. And by doing this our eyes our opened to how we are to live as Christians.

Many people deal with these paradoxes by latching on to the side they like best. This can be dangerous. Randy Alcorn said “Satan is the master of extremes, and he cares little which side of the horse we fall off. He cares only that we don’t stay in the saddle”.

God loves us and there are times when He presents us with all-or-nothing ultimatums, but when it comes to financial principles He primarily uses paradoxes. This is an act of love designed to gently lead us on a path that is best for us. These are principles and not laws. Principles are guidelines, given by a loving Father, always for our benefit and protection. His purpose is to protect us and point us to living a Christ like life by using financial paradoxes to reveal these truths.

By embracing the wisdom of God’s paradoxes on financial principles we never will go wrong.

Should I own or should I rent??

2013-11-18T17:30:00.002-08:00

At some point in our lives most of us will ask the question should I buy or rent my next house.

There are a number of good websites to help us answer this question from a financial perspective. Here is one from the New York Times and one from Crown Financial Ministries. But as Christians our first place should not be a calculator or website, but the counsel of God. Although the Bible does not speak directly to this question, it does give us a number of cautions and principles that are very useful in making this decision. Let’s look at a few of them.

Timing: Proverbs 24:27 says to get our career established before we build our house. I have worked with a number of young people who were unable to make career moves because they were tied down to a mortgage. Sadly one was a young man that felt called into ministry. This is perhaps the most direct verse in the Bible addressing the own vs. rent issue, and there is a lot of wisdom in getting your career established before buying that first house.

Debt: Debt leads to bondage (Proverbs 22:7) Mortgage is debt and most of us need a mortgage to purchase a home. In addition to the bondage that could keep us from making a career change, how many young mothers have been denied the opportunity of investing their lives in their children because of the need for two incomes to support a mortgage? There are over 30 verses that talk about debt in the Bible and none of them present them in a positive light. A mortgage is debt and God clearly discourages (not forbids) debt.

Investing: Many times we forget that buying a house is an investment and renting is not. Jesus encourages us to invest (Matthew 25:14-30) and Solomon tells us to diversify our investments (Ecclesiastes 11:2). A house (real estate) is usually a good investment. We need to remember that like other investments, housing prices do not always go up. From 2006 – 2010 we saw a drop in the average housing price of about 25%. There is risk in owning that does not exist in renting.

Costs: Luke 14:28 Jesus tells us to count all the costs before we build a house. The maintenance costs (painting, repairing furnaces, leaky pipes etc.) related to ownership are in addition to mortgage payments. Most of these costs are included in rental payments. Many of the “rent vs. buy” calculators do not take maintenance costs into account. Most of the time when we add the additional maintenance costs to owning a home, renting is cheaper than owning. The Bible tells us to count all the costs.

Motives: Our house most likely will be the largest purchase we make and is a reflection of who we (think we) are. Many people like Solomon, try to achieve happiness and status through acquiring large homes (Ecclesiastes 2:4) Solomon failed. (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Our identity is in Christ (1 Peter 2:9) not the house we own. Be careful of our motives in purchasing a home.

Priorities of God’s Work: In Haggai 1:1-11 the Israelites had the wrong priorities in building their houses before building the temple (God’s house). How we spend our money and time is a picture of our priorities (Matthew 6:21). . Remember the early church sold their homes to meet the needs of others (Acts 4:34-35). How many of us would be willing to do this today? Stewardship is holding our possessions with an open hand. Ownership will result in a greater temptation of taking care of our house over God’s work.

So does the Bible speak directly about owning a home verses renting one? I would say no, however God provides a number of verses that are helpful to a Christian making the decision to own or rent. In Man’s Economy the world shouts “Buy that first house as big and as soon as possible”. In God’s Economy we are told to: “Get our life established, both spiritually and financially before we buy that first house”. Every decision we make must be done with an open Bible and made to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17).

Cost of 4 year degree now over $900,000

2013-10-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

I was doing a seminar and a young lady approached me in tears. She explained that she was

about to graduate with an advanced degree in Psychology and she was the first person in her family to ever attain anything higher than a high school diploma. She said her family was very proud of her and had encouraged her every step of the way. Obviously, since these were not tears of joy, I was intrigued and had to probe just a bit deeper. She then explained that she had over $100,000 in student loans and was quickly coming to the realization that her education had narrowed so much that it was virtually impossible to find a job in her specific field. Quite frankly, she was at the point where she saw her future as very bleak and possibly in a hole she felt unable to climb out.

The $100,000 in debt is really just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, this young woman is in a much deeper hole than she realized. Don’t worry; I didn't share that with her at the time, I can only handle so many tears at one time.

Recently I was preparing for a series I would be teaching that touched on student loans and I came across this article written by Jack Hough and published by MSNMoney.com. It is an eye opening article that I encourage you to follow the link and read in its entirety. There are a number of charts and a whole bunch of numbers but in summary here is what Mr. Hough said. He compares two hypothetical men (Bill and Ernie) on their financial journey from high school to retirement. While in high school they both saved $16,594 for college by working summers. (Good for them!!)

However their paths differ at this point since Bill goes to college and uses the $16,594 to pay for part of his four years of college. Since Ernie is not accepted at his favorite college he continues to work without a college degree and takes the $16,594 and invests it in the stock market in mutual funds that track the broader stock market averages. Ernie never does go to college and he continues to work until he retires at 65, adding 5% of his income each year to the $16,594 he had saved for college. When Ernie reaches 65 he has over $1.3 million dollars in his retirement account.

Bill on the other hand has a normal college experience which includes working, getting a few grants and receiving some help from his parents to pay for his education. But at the end of four years he has $17,450 in school loans (which is less than the national average). Bill, like Ernie, is a hard worker and now making more money than Ernie. However for 12 years Bill will need to take 5% of his income and pay off his student loans before beginning to build his retirement account. After 12 years of paying off his student loans he will then use the 5% of his income (like Ernie) to build his retirement nest egg.

As a result of starting later than Ernie with nothing in the bank and the need to pay off his student loans first, the net result is Bill will end up with less than $400,000 in his retirement account when he reaches 65. This takes into account that Bill will be making more money because he has a degree. Bill’s $400,000 retirement account is about $900,000 less than Ernie’s $1.3 million.

The Bible is clear in that although not a sin debt is very much discouraged. (Read Debt is not a sin!!) The cost of college is spiraling out of control to the point that it in many cases it does not make economic sense. There are many advantages to college other than the education, but please prayfully consider all options, especially the ramifications of college loans before making the decision to attend college or to send a child to college.

The Bible is full of wisdom and even when it does not match up with the world’s wisdom; it is the only option we as believers have to follow. Be very careful of all debt including student loans.

Is God Fair? (Part two)

2013-08-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Last time we talked about the question “Is God Fair?” By the world’s definition, (everyone gets

treated the same) we certainly cannot say that God is fair. If He were fair we would all spend eternity in hell paying for our sins. But the discussion cannot stop there.

Just as we escape the punishment we deserve as sinners, our position in Christ lets us enjoy incredible riches. Two weeks ago our Sunday School class completed a study of Ephesians. You can’t spend any time in Ephesians without being overwhelmed with gratitude for the riches we receive as followers of Jesus Christ. Paul starts out in Ephesians 1:1 with a greeting to the “Saints who... are faithful in Christ Jesus”. Paul is clear that Ephesians is written to Christians and not unbelievers. These riches are only for believers.

Let’s take a quick look at some of these riches that we, as Christians (and only Christians) enjoy.

In Ephesians 1:3 Paul says “We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”. Paul then breaks down the blessings that we enjoy because of our relationship with God through Christ. These riches are possible as a result of the work of the Father (vs. 4-6) the Son (Vs. 7-12) and the Holy Spirit (vs. 13-14). All of these are exclusive to us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

All through Ephesians Paul talks about the enormity of the blessings God has made available to us. Paul speaks of "the riches of [God's] grace" (1:7), "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (3:8), and "the riches of His glory” (3:16). Paul uses several terms in Ephesians to describe the riches that are given to us as believers. Specifically he refers to "riches" five times; "grace" twelve times; "glory" eight times; "inheritance" four times. God has not only made these riches available to us, He has made available to us the fullness of Himself (3:19), Christ (4:13), and the Holy Spirit (5:18).

Ephesians 1:18 says we have the fullness of "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints". Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:19 that we "might be filled up to all the fullness of God". He also desired that all believers know "the unfathomable riches of Christ” Ephesians 3:8, and then reminded us the “Christ is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or thing, according to the power that works within us (Christians)” (Ephesians 3:20). God has the resources to not only forgive and cover our sins, but also meet our every past, present, and future needs.

All of these riches are uniquely ours because of the fact that we are "in Christ”. That phrase “In Christ” is repeated fifteen times throughout Ephesians for emphasis. Romans 8:17 says that what God has given to His Son, Jesus Christ, is also ours because we have become "joint heirs with Christ”. And this refers to all believers (Hebrews 2:11). First Corinthians 6:17 says, "The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him”. All His riches are at the Believers disposal. The apostle Peter called it "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter. 1:4).

We did not earn these riches, they are ours because of God's mercy, which is emphasized throughout Ephesians. We as believers are heirs to these riches because it is God’s will (1:5, 9, 11), God’s grace (1:6-7),God’s love (2:4), and God’s good pleasure (1:9). It is only because we are chosen by God.

So the next time you hear someone say that God is fair, make sure you understand what is meant by fair. As believers in Christ we do not get what we deserve for our sin. And we receive an inheritance, riches and blessings which are totally underserved. On the other hand unbelievers will receive eternal punishment for sins and do not partake of the incredible riches of God. Thank you God for your love, grace and unmerited riches which you bestow upon us, your children.

Is God Fair?

2013-07-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

Recently I was sitting in church and the speaker was speaking on the attributes of God and he mentioned that God is fair and just. I think I heard a hearty “amen” from the Amen section of the

church, but for some reason, that just did not feel right to me.

So I looked up the word Fair(ness) in a number of dictionaries and these are a few of the definitions I came up with: Free from discrimination (World English Dictionary); Marked by impartiality (Merriam-Webster); and Equality in a society (Wikipedia). There are other definitions to the word fair, but I believe the definition that is most commonly applied to our language today is that everyone is treated the same.

How many times have we heard children wail “That is not fair!” when one gets three cookies and the other only gets one. It is pretty obvious from these definitions that fair(ness) includes the concept of everyone being treated the same.

In government, fairness is a main tenant of how our country works. The constitution says that all men are created equal. This is where we get the idea of “fair housing” “equal rights” and eliminating discrimination. Our government does try to be fair and treat everyone the same and get the same opportunity. This may be ok for government, but the question is: Is God Fair?

I believe the answer to that question is no. God is not fair, by our current understanding of the word fair. If God were completely fair, we would all spend eternity in hell paying for our sin, which is exactly what we deserve. Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 say we have all sinned against God and we deserve eternal death. If we received what we deserved, we would all end up in the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15) But, as followers of Christ we don’t get what we deserve. (John 3:16) If some get what they deserve and some don’t, that is not fair.

So why is it important to wrestle with the question about the fairness of God in a blog that is mainly about finances? Understanding who God is and what His attributes are is fundamental in grasping our responsibilities as believers. This applies to how we look at money. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11 to be content in whatever circumstances we are in. This of course includes our financial condition. We must be content with how much money God has entrusted us to manage, no matter what the amount.

If we are thinking that God is fair, impartial and treats everyone the same and we are sitting next to someone in church that drives a Lexus, is wearing at $2500 Rolex watch and lives in a 1.5 million dollar house, contentment is pretty hard to come by. The best we can do is to believe is that God has not gotten to our street with our share of the riches.

God is just, holy, wise, infinite, sovereign, triune, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, faithful, immutable, self-sustaining, loving, merciful, eternal, good and gracious. God is one incredible God, but by our definition, God is not fair. The key to understanding who we are, is understanding who God is. When we see what God has blessed others with, He wants us to be content. For God never promised us every blessing He may bestow on others.

Praise God for who He is!!

Too much change

2013-06-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I read a story about a man who was given $5 too much change when he went through

a McDonalds drive thru. The manager of the McDonalds was so surprised when he returned the $5 that she gave him a free cup of coffee. I too can identify with that situation. One time I found a twenty dollar bill on the floor in front of a cash register at a convenience store. I returned it to the cashier. After a little shock, she looked at me and said in so many words: “You are a Christian aren’t you?”

Now I would like to say that my experience was a prime example of how we can be a shining witness by being honest. But in reality, the cashier recognized that we both had children that attended a particular Christian School together. But that example and the story about the $5 at McDonalds makes me think about why it is important for a Christen to have the highest integrity. This includes not only returning too much change, but things like notifying the waiter for items not charged on a dinner tab.

Integrity is defined in Webster’s dictionary as: a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values. As followers of Jesus Christ, our code of moral values is the Word of God (Mathew 16:24; John 8:31-32). And what is in our hearts needs to be reflected by our actions. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about those that were “pure in heart”. (Matthew 5:8) Pure in heart means having a single-minded devotion to God and living a life that is pleasing to Him. Our actions reflect our love for God, and that love for God will be seen in our actions.

The Bible is full of references to integrity, character and moral purity. Consider just a few Old Testament references to integrity: In 1 Chronicles 29:17 David says God is pleased with integrity; Proverbs 11:3 says integrity will guide us and Proverbs 20:7 says integrity provides a path for our children to follow. All of these verses are implying that what is inside our hearts must be evident in our actions, even if no one else knows or sees.

Remember James 1:22 says that we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Jesus demands honesty and integrity even the smallest things like incorrect change and overlooked dinner tab expenses.

I believe the opposite of integrity is corruption. Here is a Wikipedia site that lists over 40 American politicians convicted of crimes while holding office in the federal government during President Clinton’s and Bush’s terms. The book “The Day America Told the Truth” by James Patterson and Peter King offer the statistic that 74 percent of Americans will steal from those who won’t really miss it. I believe we live in a society of people that lack integrity, both in our neighborhoods and in our leaders. We are called to be light in the world (Matthew 5:14) and this starts with the smallest of things like the change we receive at a fast food restaurant.

It has been said that we may be the only Bible some people ever read. But integrity even goes deeper than that. Even if no one sees our actions, we need to have integrity and do what is right. Luke 16:10 says that if we can be trusted with very little (change from a purchase at McDonalds) we can be trusted with much (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:6 – reigning with Christ). God demands integrity. (Psalm 15:1,2a O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity…)

When cheap is not good

2013-04-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

This can seem like a ridiculous statement when half the time we are struggling to pay our bills, debts and just get by. But cheap is not always the best answer and sometimes it is simply the wrong answer. While being frugal can bring about many positive changes in your life, being cheap at the wrong time can cost us, not only in this life but in eternity as well. Cheap can also destroy relationships and send us into financial isolation.

Here are a few thoughts as to when being cheap is dangerous:

Buying stuff that doesn't last
The lowest price may also mean the lowest quality. This can lead to buying merchandise that doesn’t last and services that do not fill your immediate need and eventually spending even more money to remedy the deficient product or service. Be sure to consider quality when comparing prices.

If money is really tight, consider second hand. This may lead to buying excellent quality at a fraction of the price.

Spending too much time trying to save money
How many times have we driven 10 miles to save $1.00 on an item that is on sale? Sometimes saving money can become an obsession. Not only must we calculate the cost of the transportation to get the “sale” item, but we must also consider our time as well. Group purchase at as few stores as possible and be careful (especially when grocery shopping) of chasing sale items from one store to the next.

Saving pennies today and spending dollars tomorrow
Vitamins may cost money, but they are a lot cheaper than doctor’s visits and medicine. Turning the thermostat down too far in the winter may save a few dollars in heating costs but may cost far more in missed work days due to sickness. Paying for an oil change and car service may seem like a lot today, but wait until we compare it to a rebuilt engine. Regular maintenance on our heating and AC will save on fuel cost as well as expensive service calls in the dead of the winter.

Not spending money and paying for it with a loss of integrity
Lying about our children’s age to get the children’s pricing, sharing unlimited salad bars, and not tipping properly are just some of the ways that we may save a few dollars and pay for them with a loss of integrity. Cheating on our taxes and lying about our age to get the senior citizen discount is very expensive in God’s eyes. No amount of money saved will be worth the loss of integrity. (Proverbs 20:7)

Being cheap with our giving
And this is the absolute last place we want to be cheap. Romans 8:29 says we are predestined to become conformed to the image of God. God has given us everything from the creation we enjoy (Genesis 1:1) to mansions in eternity (John 14:2) and above all His son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). We have no right to be cheap in our giving as God was certainly not cheap in His giving to us and we are instructed to conform to His image.

God told the Israelites in Malachi 3:10-11 to test Him to see if He would not pour out the blessings when they gave to Him. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says when we sow sparingly we will also reap sparingly. When it comes to giving, the last thing we want to do is to be cheap. Being frugal with our giving on this earth will result in reduced treasures in eternity. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Cheap is not always good. Both from a temporal perspective as well as an eternal perspective.

Business Tithing

2013-03-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a wonderful time of fellowship at Susquehanna Grace Community Church in Wrightsville PA. Although most of our time was spent discussing living by God’s Economy with our personal finances, the weekend ended with a good discussion about business tithing. The question was: if God blesses me with a business, should I as a faithful steward tithe on the business? And if the answer is yes, how do we calculate tithe: Gross Receipts, Gross Profit, Net Profit etc?

I believe that tithing is a principle that God gave mankind to help us get to know Him better and understand that He is owner and we are stewards. It is a God instituted practice to develop a relationship between God and mankind (Deuteronomy 14:22-23). This relationship applies to the individual and not the things that God entrusts the faithful steward to manage.

In addition to a business, God may bless an individual with real estate, investment portfolios and other assets that may increase in value. The principle of tithing is intended for the individual and not the things God gives us to manage.

Applying tithing to a business can be very difficult at best. Tithing on gross proceeds would put some businesses under, due to the fact that they operate with a gross margin of less than 10%. Basing the tithe on gross margin, could include tithing on monies that are not rightfully ours, since overhead, including accounts payable and payroll are usually included in gross margin figures. Adding in factors like depreciation, taxes and multiple owners makes tithing from a business very confusing. It is inconsistent with the character of God that obeying Him is confusing.

So if we are faithful stewards and business owners, what is the answer? I believe the answer is found in Proverbs 3:9,10 where we are told to tithe from the increase. The Bible (including Proverbs) is written to man and not to a business. So the increase would apply to what man or woman (owner) realizes and not the increase the business realizes.

The key is to make sure we do not mix up our business finances and our personal finances. This is a very bad practice, no matter if you have a farm, home based Avon business or 350 employee manufacturing company.

I believe the responsibility to tithe occurs when we move the increase from our business to our personal finances. This includes salaries, personal expense such as insurance paid by the company, period end bonuses or appreciation when the business is sold. Until the increase is moved to the individual, I do not believe the tithe is applicable.

This is similar to real estate and investment portfolios. When the market price of our house or investments increase, I do not believe we are compelled to tithe until that increase is realized in our personal finances. This would occur at the time of the sale of the house or equity.

God promises blessings for obedience in the area of tithing. He doesn’t need our money, He wants our hearts. Tithing is one way to indicate He has our heart. I would encourage you to search the scriptures on the principle of tithing and if you are a business owner, let the Holy Spirit direct you and faithfully obey Him in this area. I can assure you, there will be a blessing for your faithfulness.

This post is limited to tithing from the business. It does not include sharing from abundance or sacrificial giving, which I believe are other opportunities to give outlined in God’s Word. If God has blessed you with a business and He puts in on your heart to give from the business, praise the Lord and by all means follow His leading. Although I personally do not believe tithing applies to business, I do believe that God will bless you for sharing from your business in the form of “over and above the tithe” giving.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject as I know others have different understanding of this application.

More Money and Marriage

2013-03-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

I would like to continue the last post and dig just a little deeper into how God uses money in our marriage to bring us closer to Him, both as couples and as individuals. I am continuing to study Money and Marriage – God’s Way that is put out by Compass – Finances God’s Way as it does a great job presenting the importance God places on how we handle money in our marriages.

The study lists a few of the 50 plus “One Another” verses in the Bible. Reading the “One Another” verses reminds us of the importance Jesus places on loving each other (John 13:34). Although loving “One Another” applies to more than our spouses, there is no better mirror to see how we are doing in this area than looking at how we are handling our money in our marriage. Here are just five “One Another” verses and a little money in marriage checkup. I might suggest you look at the other “One Another” verses and give yourself and your marriage a complete checkup.

Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard ONE ANOTHER as more important yourselves... How many of our purchases are made with our spouse in mind. When we shop for groceries do we purchase the things our spouse likes or what we like? How many (man) toys do we have? And how many of our toys were bought because our spouse wanted them.

Romans 12:16: Live in harmony with ONE ANOTHER. Money is the #1 cause of divorce. How many arguments are the results of money conflicts in our marriage?

Romans 15:7: Accept ONE ANOTHER, just as Christ accepted you. Pretty much every marriage I have ever seen is comprised of one spender and one saver. Larry Burkett used to say if both husband and wife were the same, one of you was not necessary. Do we accept and celebrate the differences in money disposition or do we bristle over them?

Galatians 5:13: Serve ONE ANOTHER in love. Men and Women tend to look at money differently. Men tend to focus on the big picture; retirement, paying off mortgage, freedom from a job, buying the big toys. Women tend to focus more on the security of meeting immediate needs; buying groceries, clothes, paying the electric bill. Do we share our spouses concern with the family finances or just focus on our own?

Galatians 6:2: Carry ONE ANOTHER’S burdens… Many times we will sit down with a husband and wife and the one that is not paying the daily bills (usually the husband) is amazed at the financial condition and subsequent stress. Additionally many widows or widowers quickly realize how little they knew of their financial situation upon the death of a lifelong mate. Do we share the burdens and concerns of our finances with spouse or do we let them take care of them?

Look at your money and your marriage as a little checkup to see in a very practical way in analyzing your progress that you are making on fulfilling the New Commandment to love one another. It starts with our money in our marriage. Here is a link to about 55 other “OneAnother” passages.

Money and Marriage

2013-02-05T17:21:00.000-08:00

There have been many sermons preached and articles written about the church being the bride of Christ as portrayed in marriage. (Ephesians 5:21-27) Israel was pictured as God’s unfaithful bride in the Old Testament. (Jeremiah 3:20) These pictures not only help us understand God’s love for the church and Israel, but also set a high standard of what marriage should look like.

We see in marriage, the relationship of the church with Christ illustrated. As a wife takes on her husband’s name in a traditional marriage so does a believer takes on a new name (Christian - Acts 11:26) in joining the family of God. And just as the bride is called out of her birth family to join her husband in creating a new family, so is the new believer called out (ekklesia) of the world (John 15:19) in joining the family of God. There are many illustrations of the relationship of Christ with the church seen in marriage.

But recently Compass – Finances God’s Way released an updated Bible study on the role that money plays in a Christian marriage (Money and Marriage – God’s Way). As I was reviewing this excellent study it made me aware of not only how God can use money in marriage to bring a husband and wife closer, but how He can use money in our marriage to bring couples closer to Himself.

Here are just a few ways that I was reminded that money in marriage can bring us closer to Christ:

Husbands and wives need to be on the same page financially. This is not easy due to the fact that two different individuals with two different financial upbringings and perspectives on money are now living as one financially. The only way that this can be accomplished is through sacrifice, selflessness, and putting each other’s needs and desires ahead of our own. All of these are Christ like characteristics that we need to develop (Philippians 2:5-11).

Financially marriage is very different than being single. Look at any guideline budget and compare the percentages recommended for a single adult as compared to that same age adult that is married with children. When we become followers of Christ, our life as a believer in Christ will be much different (Romans 12:2). Christ calls us to a holy living and not being conformed to the world. (1 Peter 1:15). Just as marriage will drastically change the way we spend money so will our salvation change the way we spend our lives.

Marriage requires us to financially leave our parents and unite with our spouse. (Genesis 2:24) Instead of going to mom and dad to get financial help or pay our bills, we need to look to our spouse. Once we accept Christ as our savior our faith and trust is not in this world it is in a God who is faithful (Proverbs 3:5-6).

For any marriage to succeed there must be communication. And one of the areas in marriage where communication is most important is in the area of finances. From setting up our budgets, goals and spending plans there is nothing more important than communication. As we walk with Christ on our daily journey of sanctification, there is nothing that is more important than prayer or communication with God. (Philippians 4:6)

Yes, I believe that God intends married couples to use money – even challenges with money and even crises with money to not only bring them closer together but also closer to God.

Money Mirror

2013-01-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

This week I came across a quote by Billy Graham. Since I was saved at a Billy Graham crusade over 50 years ago, I have a very deep appreciation for Billy Graham and his ministry. So I paid close attention to the quote. The quote was “A checkbook is a theological document. It will tell you who and what you worship”. I thought about that and immediately realized the truth of the statement. If we want to see into our heart where should we look? Our bank statement or checkbook may be the best place to start. Didn’t Jesus say the same thing in Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 when He said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”?

What Billy Graham and Jesus are saying is that we always spend money on things that are important to us. So whatever I spend the most money on is what I love the most. And what I spend the least amount of money on is what I value the least.

This past week I had the opportunity of sitting down with a young family and going over their finances. More specifically, we looked at how much they spent in an average month in each of 10 different categories. It is interesting how well I felt I knew them after this little exercise. I knew them better after 45 minutes than some of my neighbors who I have lived very close to and exchanged small talk with for over four years.

Very shortly we will all be looking at our expenses from 2012 in preparation of submitting our Income taxes. This is a great opportunity to look into the “Money Mirror” and ask ourselves the simple question of what is important. See how much we have given to our church or other worthy ministries and helping others as compared to how much we spent on entertainment, vacations, designer clothing and eating out. Remember that when you follow your money, you will find your heart and when your follow your heart you will find your money.

It might not be the most comforting fact, but it is true that our spiritual maturity is pretty easily seen in the way that we handle our money. Money is a mirror that not only reflects what is important to me, but also if I understand stewardship and whose money it really is. Do I trust God to provide or am I trying to work things out on my own power?

Invest, don’t spend. If you read the two verses immediately preceding Matthew 6:21, you will see that Jesus clearly tells us to invest our money. That’s right Jesus tells us to invest; but not in earthly investments likes stock and bonds. We need to invest in investments that have eternal value. Vacations, designer clothes, entertainment and eating out are nice and most likely in themselves are not sinful, but quite simply they have no eternal value and will never leave this earth. But we can take people to heaven with us. Jesus is saying invest in eternal investments. When our money goes to helping the needy (Matthew 25:35-40) and supporting churches and ministries that are being used by God to draw people closer to Him and into His family we are making eternal investments.

So don’t lose this opportunity over the next few weeks in doing your taxes to look into the money mirror. And remember that when you follow your money you will find your heart. (Matthew 6:21)

Joy of Christmas and Pain of Newtown

2012-12-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

I am sure that most of us experienced some pretty raw emotions yesterday at church. Between the anticipation of Christmas and the horrific fresh memories of what took place in Connecticut, if your Sunday was like mine it was one big emotional roller coaster.

Our Adult Sunday School class took a name and prayed for each of the families of the children that were killed. Many of us (men included) got pretty emotional and could not even finish praying. It was obvious that we were identifying the pain with the loss of our own children, grandchildren or other young innocent lives that we love. There were very few dry eyes when the prayer time was over.

What took place last week made each of us increase in our appreciation and love our children, grandchildren and every child that God has brought into our lives.

And then we went to church and our pastor spoke about the Babe in a manager and we sang songs about the gift of the Christ Child. Songs with words like “Unto us a Child is born; Unto us a Son is given” reminded us of another child that was born over 2000 years ago. We were quickly reminded that not only are we blessed with the gift of the young children in our lives, but also the Christ Child born in a manager in Bethlehem.

This gift of Christ was given by God the Father, knowing that the His Son would die on a cross so that we could have a personal relationship with Him. With all the horror that we saw in Connecticut we need to remember that the purpose of the birth of Christ was the horror of His death on the cross.

As horrible as what took place in Connecticut last week, could we use that tragedy to refocus our attention this Christmas?

I trust you will join me in prying ourselves away from the shallow commercialism of Christmas and refocus on what is important. This Christmas, let us hug our children just a little tighter and let them know that we love them.

And as we enjoy the Christmas programs in our church let us not forget the reason for His birth. In that glorious story of the Virgin birth is the truth that Christ was born to die so that that we might have eternal life. Matthew 20:28. If it weren’t for horrific events on Calvary, the purpose of what took place in Bethlehem would remain unfilled.

As we grieve with those in Connecticut this Christmas, don’t forget to love our children and appreciate what Christ willfully accepted that day in a manager in Bethlehem.

May each of you have a Blessed and wonderful Christmas.

Regaining the Joy of Christmas

2012-12-05T09:48:00.001-08:00

I have to admit that I never enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. The stress of the season overshadows the celebration of the Greatest Gift of Jesus Christ. In addition to the struggles of how to pay for gifts and what to buy my long lost relatives, there is the stress of getting all the activities jammed in the few short weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Every survey I see lists money issues as a leading cause of holiday stress. Here are a few ideas that might make your Christmas more meaningful and less stressful.

Peaceful Christmas shopping

Set a budget of how much you will spend in total and stick to it.
Make a list of who you need to get gifts for and how much you will be spending on each person.
Rethink your list and try to cut it in half. Remember the person you are buying a gift for may be struggling as much as you.
Decide in advance what you are going to get for everyone. Impulse gift purchases will cause you to spend much more than you planned
Take a look at what your kids have and ask yourself will they really appreciate what you are getting for them. Remember that buying gifts is not buying love.
Shop at the stores that are most likely to have the items you are looking for. Getting aimlessly lost in the mall can lead to holiday madness.
When you go in, stick to the list. It’s tricky, but it can be done.
If you can’t find the item, don’t waste time looking around – ask a store clerk. If they don’t have it, go home and try again another store.

Be careful of Credit Cards (Proverbs 6:1-5; Proverbs 11:5)
Credit cards are the most convenient and can provide the opportunity to earn points. However, only use them if you can pay them off at the end of the month. I have seen too many families take the first step to financial ruin by paying for Christmas gifts with Credit Cards and then continuing the slide into deeper credit card debt and eventually bankruptcy. The Bible tells us to flee from surety and credit card debt is a form of surety.

Make sure you have a Christmas Gift Budget and stick to it
The single best way to keep Christmas giving in check is to create a gift list of what you want to buy and how much you can afford to spend for each person on your list. Then stick to it.

Keep track of what you spend and review it each year

If you did a good job of tracking Christmas spending last year, review your history and see where you can make some improvements. It’s easy to get excited and overspend so see where you had problems last year.

Give Homemade Gifts
Rather than a gift card, homemade cookies or a craft is much more appreciated. Homemade gifts are a nice touch and usually easier on the wallet. Acts 20:35 says “it is more blessed to give than receive.” A homemade gift is a thoughtful gift of time and can bring a lot more joy to both the giver and recipient.

Create a Gift Exchange
As our extended families grow by way of birth and marriage the demands of getting everyone a gift can become overwhelming. Although a little late for this year, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get everyone to agree, put names in a hat, and pick out someone’s name. Not only does it save money, it is fun to set a limited budget and see which family members can come up with the most creative gifts!

Final ThoughtKeep things in proper perspective this Christmas season. When we get overwhelmed with the activities of Christmas take a few minutes to review this article by John Piper on the 12 Reasons for Christmas. May each of you have a very blessed Christmas as we keep our focus on Christ.

God's role in the elections

2012-11-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday when I got up I looked at my phone and saw a text message from my daughter Kate that read “God is still on the throne” (Psalm 93:1-2). I knew that was a pretty good indication that at least some of the elections did not turn out the way I was hoping.

The message was a great opportunity to for a quick review of some of the things the Bible says about God’s place in what took place yesterday. Here are a few passages and applications that came to mind. I would be very interested in hearing other passages and applications that come to your mind as we process the results of November 6^th.

God is sovereign. Psalm 103:19 says: His sovereignty rules over all”. This includes not only the heavenly kingdom but earthly realm as well. The Bible is full of the assurance that God is sovereign and in control. He is sovereign and in control of the outcome of all elections.

Even in a form of government like America, where we elect our leaders, God puts in power those He chooses. Romans 13:1b says: …there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Paul left no wiggle room in this passage when he says there is NO authority except from God. Daniel 2:21 says “He (God) sets up kings and deposes them”.

God controls the hearts of kings. Proverbs 21:1 says “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord…” The heart of every king and ruler, their thoughts, counsels, purposes, and designs are in the hands of God. This includes bad kings, like Pharaoh, whom the Lord hardened and softened at His pleasure; the wicked anti-Christian kings referred to in Revelation 17:17 as well as the hearts of good kings, like David and Solomon.

If our particular preference is not in the White House and our party did not pick up the desired number of seats in Congress, this is not a reason for despair. It simply means that we need to direct our efforts towards trying to discover God’s will and reasons for who HE appointed to these positions and to rule over us.

So what should we do now? 1 Peter 2:17 tells us to “Honor the king” and 1 Timothy 2 instructs us to pray for those in authority over us.

As believers in Jesus Christ no matter what our political affiliation is and how we viewed the outcome of the election yesterday, we can face the future with the full assurance knowing:

God is in control
President Obama and other government leaders are right where God wants them
The hearts of our leaders are in the hand of God.

I don’t know about you, but I could not think of a better place to be; knowing that the Sovereign God of the universe who cares and deeply loves me is in control of the United States political landscape.

Commit with me to pray for President Obama as well as other elected leaders and our country. And remember to honor them and trust God to fulfill His purpose for the future of our United States.

The elections are here…Finally!!

2012-10-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, you are so ready for the debates, endless campaign ads and everything else that goes with this “great” democratic process to be over. Although I am sure that most of us have long ago made up our minds as to who we will vote for, I do think there are a few helpful remembers about God’s place in this process as we endure these last few days.

Daniel 2:20-21 – Daniel declares that God both removes and sets up government leaders and accomplishes His will through them. God will see His will accomplished no matter who is elected. The book of Daniel is a good picture of this.

Psalm 75:6-7 – God is the one who raises up one leader and not the other. It is quite comforting to the Believer to know that God’s plan is not at the whim of political campaigns. Sure we live in a democracy and must vote for our next president, but God is the one who puts in power who He wants in power.

Romans 13:1-4 – Paul says that God has established all governments and He has the power over them. In verse four Paul calls government officials ministers of God. We might not agree with him but we must respect our President.

Proverbs 21:1 – Solomon says that God can turn a ruler’s heart. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have changed their positions on a number of issues that are important to Christians. These include things like: abortion, same-sex marriages and universal health care. No matter what their position is today, God can change their heart over the next four years.

The Bible is full of kings and rulers who were bad leaders. Yet God still gave them the position and used them to fulfill His purposes. The Old Testament is full of leaders in Israel’s history that made evil decisions, yet God still accomplished his purpose through Israel. He continues to do it today and will in the future.

As we look forward to the election we need to remember that the salvation of this world does not come through the messy business of politics. Elections are important, but salvation comes through Christ the Messiah. Psalm 118:9 says “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes”. Amen to that!

Please vote!! Know the candidates and what they stand for. There are many important issues that must be addressed in the next four years. I believe one of the greatest challenges America is facing today is our national debt. Debt will destroy America. History has shown this in the past and countries like Greece, Italy and Portugal and experiencing the effects of debt today. But even more importantly the Bible tells us the danger of debt (Proverbs 22:7).

So as we finally come to the end of this campaign what should we do? Be informed, make a biblical worldview decision and vote. Then accept the results with the absolute assurance that God is still in control.

And don’t forget to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 tells us: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for… …all that are in authority… For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;”

And then enjoy again a world without endless streams of political ads!

Tithing vs. debt reduction

2012-10-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we had the privilege of being at Clinton Grace Brethren Church for the weekend. We were truly blessed and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of being there.

During the weekend one of the questions that came up was “How do we prioritize debt reduction with tithing”. On Sunday I said that I believe tithing should be a higher priority than debt reduction. Since this comment initiated some questions, I thought this might be a good opportunity of discussing it a bit further.

God tells us pretty clearly in Proverbs 22:7 that debt is bondage and we should get out of it as quickly as possible. For most of us 10% of our income seems like a pretty good chunk of money that could be going towards paying down our mortgage, car loans or credit card debts.

But I believe the answer to the question “Should we pay off debts before tithing?” is a pretty definite NO! First, we must realize that the tithe is only for those who truly desire to follow Jesus Christ. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, tithing does not apply to you. The instruction to tithe is only found in one place and that is the Bible. So our discussion about prioritizing debt repayment and tithing will assume that the Bible is the final authority and we are followers of Christ. Based on that assumption, here are a number of reasons I believe that tithing is a greater priority than debt reduction.

The Bible offers no exception

The Bible consistently maintains that tithing is a first priority of the believer (Proverbs 3:9; Deuteronomy 14:22-23; Malachi 3:9). This is regardless of the circumstances. Abram tithed to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:20, Jesus acknowledged that even the Pharisees were faithful in tithing (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 18:42) and the writer of Hebrews 7 indicates that tithing is a regular discipline and exercise of worship. Malachi 3:8 says that we are robbing God when we do not tithe. There is no “loophole” given for paying debts before tithing.

God consistently warns about the dangers of going into debt (although He does not forbid it). Violating God’s principles and finding ourselves in excessive debt does not give us the right to ignore God’s principles on tithing.

God owns everything…

We too easily forget that God owns everything and money and possessions belong to God. (Psalm 24:1) God can give and God can take away. (Job 1:21) God is sovereign over all that exists. Acts 17:28 says “for in Him we live and move and exist”. Debt is very much a part of this temporary life and may make us uncomfortable today, but as true believers we are to obey the One who is the true owner.

Christ compliments those who give out of poverty…

Christ made special mention of the woman who gave while she was in poverty. In God’s eyes her gift was far greater than the gifts of those who had much larger means. (Luke 21:3-4) Poverty, debt or other financial issues do not excuse the believer from tithing. We need to tithe cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7) regardless of circumstances.

God will meet our needs…

Psalm 37:25 says “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread”. Debt may have placed us in an uncomfortable situation, but if we are seeking to live by God’s Economy He has promised to meet our needs. Philippians 4:19 says very clearly that God will meet our needs.

Leviticus 27:30,32 says the tithe is holy to God. Deuteronomy 14:22-23 says that tithing indicates a “Fear of the Lord” and Proverbs 9:10 says the “Fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom. I believe the wisdom that comes from the Lord includes sound money management (James 1:5-8). In many cases the first step to getting out of debt is the tithe.

Tithing comes with a blessing…

Luke 11:9-13 assures us that God loves His children. He wants us to trust Him and allow Him to show Himself to be faithful. To withhold our tithe because of our debts shows a lack of trust in God. Remember God does not need our money, He needs our heart and by giving Him our tithe we are indicating in a very tangible way that He has our heart.

In Malachi 3:10 God clearly told the Israelites that if they tithed He would “Open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing until it overflows”. God loves us just as He loved the Israelites and I do believe that promise applies to us as well. Just this weekend a number of Believers shared with me how God blessed them as they began on their journey of tithing.

If we really believe that God is God and He in control and loves us the decision to tithe becomes a “no-brainer”. If we find ourselves in debt and even excessive debt we need to diligently free ourselves from the bondage that Proverbs 22:7 warns us of. And if we are a true child of God, we have no choice but to cheerfully give Him the first fruits of all He blesses us with. No amount of debt will be able to keep us from obeying Him.

QE3 and Contentment

2012-09-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday the Federal Reserve announced QE3. (The third round of Quantitative Easing.) QE3 is an attempt by the Federal Reserve to stimulate the economy by increasing the amount of debt it buys to $85 billion dollars each month. This $85 billion is a result of the Federal Reserve basically printing more money.

Much discussion is taking place about the long term effect of this decision. I personally feel it will be catastrophic in the fact that the money we have saved will be greatly reduced in value because of inflation caused by creating an additional $85 billion dollars each month out of thin air. Many others agree with this view. The fact that the value of the dollar continues to decline and the credit rating of the US Economy is being downgraded could be early indicators of the long term effect of these actions.

As I watch these decisions continue to be made that are short term focused I am becoming more and more concerned about the future of our economy. We cannot continue to accumulate debt like we are and supporting the debt with a policy of paying for it by printing money without facing drastic consequences.

So how do we prepare for this “Economic Earthquake” that Larry Burkett saw coming although his timing was off just a bit? I believe as Christians it is a great opportunity for a refresher course on how to be happy in drastically different circumstances. And we need to start the refresher course now as opposed to when things start really coming apart.

The first step to being happy in an economic catastrophe is learning contentment as Paul did Philippians 4:11. Just like I believe may happen in this generation, Paul saw great extremes in his financial situation. As a member of the Sanhedrin before his conversion he most likely knew great wealth. But when he wrote Philippians 4:11 he was in prison with probably no more assets on his balance sheet than the clothes on his back. And yet he was content.

Contentment is an elusive commodity today. We are constantly told we need the "new and improved" version. Otherwise we will feel that we have less than the best and are "behind the times." Marketing companies spend billions of dollars to try to make us feel dissatisfied with our lives. They want us to believe that we are not significant if we don't have the best and the newest. This is a central tenant of “Man’s Economy”.

What is the key to being happy in drastically different economic circumstances? It is serving others and not more stuff. Remember that we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and God is love (1 John 4:8) and God demonstrated His love by giving His son to die for us. (Romans 5:8) The key to happiness is not the stuff we own, it comes from loving and serving others. No economic mismanagement by the Federal Government or Federal Reserve can take that away from us.

So may I suggest that instead of stocking up with guns, water and MRE’s in preparation for the “Coming Economic Earthquake” we start with something far more important and helpful, and that is a refresher course in contentment? In this generation we may experience the great extremes in wealth that Paul did in his life. And what a joy it would be to say with Paul, …I have learned to be content (and happy) in whatever circumstance I am in.

Federal debt, political conventions and hurricanes

2012-08-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

Beside Isaac slamming into the Gulf Coast there are some other storms that are brewing. For starters the US National Debt is expected to pass 16 trillion dollars. (See US Debt Clock.) And the hot air filled Republican and Democratic National Conventions are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks. (See NBC clip.) Four different events, but I do think they should all be classified as storms.

As we anticipate the damage that Tropical Storm (Hurricane) Isaac will have on the Gulf Coast states, we need to anticipate the damage that will result from ignoring God’s Word on how we handle our finances as a nation. God’s principles apply to more than just individuals; they apply to churches, organizations and even the most powerful economy in the world, the US Economy.

This also may be a good opportunity to compare the presidential candidates’ positions on financial matters and see how they square up with the teaching of God’s Word.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says that we should give thanks to God for our riches. God has blessed America financially as we are in the top 20% of the wealthiest people in the world. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that it is God who creates wealth. Do we as a nation today acknowledge that our wealth is from God and do we show gratitude to Him for it? We are definitely a blessed people, but has our focus changed from giving thanks to God for His blessings to trying to eliminate Him from our society and our culture?

Proverbs 13:22 tells us to save for our children’s inheritance. Since the last presidential election our national debt has increase over 5 trillion dollars. Don’t blame everything on the current administration as over the last eight years the amount of debt that we have left to our children and grandchildren has increased 8.5 trillion dollars. What type of inheritance are we leaving our children when they will be saddled with the cost of our excessive lifestyles?

Proverbs 22:7 tells us to get out of debt and to be free from the bondage of our creditors. With foreign countries owning over 5 trillion dollars of our debt what will be the consequences? We have a very complex and tenuous relationship with countries like China, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia yet they own part of our debt. Where is the wisdom in being in bondage to nations that have an antagonistic relationship with the US?

Luke 12:15 tells us to be on our guard against greed. James Patterson and Peter Kim wrote a book called “The Day America Told the Truth” . In this book they revealed some shocking revelations about what we as Americans would do for money. CNBC runs a popular TV show called “American Greed” in which the theme of the weekly show is how corrupt we as Americans have become by greed. The central theme of the Occupy Wall Street movement was the perceived greed of corporations and Wall Street in America. How much are we on our guard against greed in America today?

Luke 14:28 tells us to count the cost before spending. According to our US Debt Clock (see bottom line) the US Government currently is responsible for over 120 trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities. This amount is primarily a result of the existing liabilities of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs. Have we counted the cost of adding a national health care program to our spending?

I am not suggesting that electing any one person as president could change this. But I am suggesting that we as followers of Jesus Christ need to anticipate the storm that is coming just like they are doing in the Gulf Coast states right now. The Bible gives principles on how we should manage finances. As we listen to the speeches this week and next at the RNC and DNC filter them through the Word of God to determine which candidate (if any) will lead our country back to fiscal policies that are consistent with the Word of God?

1 Penn State 6:10 - "The love of money is the root of all evil"

2012-07-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

I read with horror the details of the NCAA sanctions against my beloved Penn State. To hear that there will be no bowl appearances for the next four years, a wide open door for players to leave the program and the reduced ability to recruit new players was a kick in the gut. It is a pretty good indication that for at least the next five years PSU football will not be anything like what we have seen in the past.

In addition to the dismantling of a NCAA Division 1 power house football program, a revered and almost saint like coach; Joe Paterno has had his reputation all but destroyed. Financially, the cost is incalculable. The 60 million dollar fine is the starting point, but dozens of lawsuits and loss of revenue and goodwill that Penn State will suffer will most likely end up costing the university hundreds of millions of dollars.

What Jerry Sandusky is convicted of doing is so horrible I don’t think many of us can comprehend the scope of the wickedness. It is something that simply does not compute in some of our minds. But as horrific as those actions were, the burning question is; why was it not exposed for the last 15 years. According to the Freeh Report, President Graham B. Spanier, Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Gary Schultz, Athletic Director Timothy Curley and the late head football Coach Joe Paterno showed no concern about the alleged victims of Sandusky. The question that begs to be answered is why? Why would four individuals who seemed to be incredibly respectable and pillars of the institution and society not come forward to do something to put a stop to this this despicable behavior?

PSU Football was one of the most profitable college football programs in America. Alumni contributions flowed in to the school. The team’s roster of sponsors kept growing. The huge stadium was always filled. And revenue from television contracts was very profitable and only expected to get much richer. According to this article in Forbes.com in 2010 -2011 season the PSU athletic program had $72.7 million in revenue vs. operating expenses of $19.5 million. That $53 million profit is even more staggering when you realize that the rest of the school’s athletic program lost money. This does not include the intangible goodwill, student enrollment and revenue that came to Penn State and local business as a result of the high level of visibility from the football program. It is clear that the program annually generated millions and millions of dollars for Penn State.

So why did Mr, Spanier, Mr Schultz, Mr Curley and Coach Paterno (and probably others) keep quiet and not say anything for 15 years while they apparently knew this heinous behavior was going on? Could it be the major reason for their silence was they did not want to lose the millions of dollars that were flowing into the Penn State budget each year? Only God knows their hearts and the answer to this question, but my guess is the love of this seeming unending flow of money was the reason. And why do I think this is the reason? 1 Timothy 6:10a says the love of money is the root of all evil. Not money, but the love of it.

It doesn’t matter if we are an individual, a church, a government or one of the most prestigious universities in the nation, God’s principles are applicable.

Obamacare and the Christian Steward

2012-07-10T12:40:00.004-07:00

Many are still expressing shock at the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). There were some Americans that thought the law to be unconstitutional and the Supreme Court would strike it down as not being valid.

This issue is so big and so far reaching that it is impossible to fully understand all the ramifications of enacting this law until 2018 when it is fully in place. If you care to, here is a link to a .pdf of the Affordable Care Act on Healthcare.gov website. (955 pages and 2.6mb file). But let’s discuss just a few aspects of this far reaching law from a Christian’s perspective.

I believe the major issue of this act on our country today is the financial burden that the Affordable Care Act will have on the US Economy. According to the Congressional Budget Office Publication 43080, the cost of the Affordable Care Act on the fragile US Economy will be well over one trillion dollars over the next ten years. This estimate is generally considered to be grossly understated.

Larry Burkett wrote in 1994 in his book, The Coming Economic Earthquake, “It is difficult for me to imagine that we, as a nation, are considering such an expansive and potentially disastrous program (speaking of the Clinton Health Care Reform proposal) at a time when the survival of the economy is in jeopardy. If, in fact, any form of national health care is implemented, it will be the final straw – the dagger in the heart of our economy as we know it.” If Larry Burkett felt his way 18 years ago, we can only guess the impact today.

Luke 14:28 says we should count the cost before we embark on a project and see if we have enough money to complete it. The continued irresponsible spending, by both political parties in our nation is destroying America.

In addition to the cost, there are other elements of the Affordable Care Act that should be noted by Christians. As we begin to unravel the details, I am sure we will find issues like abortion, gay rights, birth control and end of life issues that we as followers of Jesus Christ must see from a biblical worldview. Our position on these issues needs to be formed in the Chruch and from the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not in Congress, from the White House under the guidance of the Supreme Court. Make sure that our convictions and actions concerning these issues are based on God’s Word and not the Affordable Care Act.

But we cannot forget that we as Christians are instructed to help those who are disadvantaged. Deuteronomy 15:7-8; James 1:27 and 5:14-16 are just a few verses that serve as reminders of how concerned God is for the less fortunate. Could it be that, like welfare and other assistance programs, the government had to step in to help those in need because we as Christians have dropped the ball? (1 John 3:17-18; James 2:15-16; Matthew 25:35-40; Luke 3:11)

So what should we do as Christians in America? I don’t know what your opinion is of Obamacare, but we as believers have some responsibilities. The first and foremost is to pray. Pray for our country and pray for the leaders of our country to see the consequences of the course they are embarking upon and that they will seek wisdom from God. Remember God has put our government in place and we are instructed to submit to them. (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14; Daniel 2:20-21)

The second responsibility is to have a biblical worldview of everything we encounter in society including Obamacare. Form our opinions based on what the Bible says and not on what politicians, friends and the press say. (Romans 12:2)

And the third responsibility is to vote. In November, the American people will register their view on the legitimacy and wisdom of the healthcare law at the polls. History will record whether we the people prefer limited government or a much wider role of government in our society.

In the meantime, remember that The Great Physician is not subject to Congress, the white house or our legal system. He is "the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15:26b) and our trust is to be in God (Philippians 4:6-7) and the future rests in Him (Proverbs 16:9) and not the Affordable Care Act.

How God $$peak$

2012-06-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

This Sunday our ABF class began a study of the book by Charles Stanley “How to Listen to God”. I am excited about the next 10 weeks as it appears to be a very good book. In the first chapter Dr. Stanley has a section on how God speaks to His children today. It is interesting how God communicates to us differently today than through prophets, dreams and God’s direct voice that was used in Bible times.

Dr. Stanley lists four ways that God communicates with us today: the Bible, the Holy Spirit, other people and circumstances. I would like suggest that a fifth category might be added in that God also speaks to us though our money. I am not saying that our money should replace the Bible, or the Holy Spirit as God’s primary method of communication, but I certainly believe that God communicates with us through our finances.

Here are five ways that God communicates to us thorough our finances.

God shows us that He is faithful: In Lamentations 3:22-24 Jeremiah says “Great is your faithfulness”. Did you ever stop to think about how faithful God has been in supplying your needs? I know that Joyce and I are amazed to look back over the last 37 years of marriage and see how faithful God has been. Our lives have certainly been a testimony to Philippians 4:19. How many times have any of us had to skip a meal or went without a place to sleep? God is faithful.

God communicates His love to us: One of the ways that God shows His love to us is by giving. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. As I look at all the blessings (some of them financial) that God has entrusted to me, I know that God loves me. Remember that we in America are in the top 20% of the world’s wealthiest people. God has shown us His love by blessing us financially.

God reveals sin in our lives: Read Galatians 5:19-21 and as you read the acts of the flesh review how many of those sins become evident in how we handle our money. Money can become an idol, it can cause strife, jealously, dissension, envy and other deeds of the flesh that are mentioned. Whether we like it or not many times how we handle our money shows us just how much we need Jesus and sins that exist in our lives.

God calls us to pray: When we lose a job or we have unpaid medical bills, what is a Christian’s natural reaction? Our reaction should be to go to God in prayer. Luke 12:22-34 Jesus told the disciples not to worry about the needs of this world, but to seek God. Many times I wonder if God does not simply allow us to lose our jobs or other things of this earth that we hold dear because He simply wants to hear from us. God’s Word is clear that He wants us to pray (Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, Philippians 4:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17). I believe that God will use money (or the lack of it) to call us to prayer.

God leads us in life decisions: Galatians 6:9 says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not grow weary”. When we combine this with the promise that that God will supply our needs (Philippians 4:19) we are assured that when God wants us to go forward He will provide the resources for us to accomplish He will. This is why I feel borrowing is discouraged in God’s Word. Many times we do an end run around His will and His desire for us to wait for His provision. Very simply we must wait and trust and watch Him provide.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that Dr. Stanley should rewrite His book. But when he mentions circumstances it defiantly includes our financial situation. God will use His money to direct, chastise, and draw His Stewards closer to Himself. Yes God communicates to us through our finances.

Should Christians Boycott?

2012-05-30T14:32:00.001-07:00

Over the last several years, various Christian groups and even churches have called for boycotts on corporations such as Disney, Starbucks, Proctor and Gamble, Nike, Levi Strauss and a host of others. Recently there seems to be a wave of companies that are taking a “pro-gay” stance and consequently once again being targeted for boycotts by Christian Groups and churches. Boycotting is effective in getting a message across if enough people participate. If you are in doubt of the impact of a boycott, review the what happened to the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines made an antiwar statement on the eve of the Iraq war.

Regardless of how effective boycotts are and who they are against, the question is: should Christians participate? In reality the Bible says very little regarding boycotting corporations. However there are some passages that are relevant to the discussion. In 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 Paul tells us not to associate with immoral people, but then he is very clear that he is referring to immoral Christians and not referring to the immoral of this world. He says that the only way to avoid immorality in this world would be to leave the world. The world is immoral.

A boycott is a display of power, and to be more specific it is a display of economic power. If a boycott has enough customers behind it will show a corporation that the boycotters can hurt the company by depriving it of revenue. As a result the intent is that the corporation will need the revenue more than the need whatever controversial cause they were supporting. It becomes a battle of who has more buying power and thus who is more valuable to the corporation. Christ’s call to confront evil on a human and spiritual plane as described in Matthew 5:39-44 does not represent an attitude of overcoming evil with economic power.

The other obvious principle that needs to be applied is the fact that we are stewards and not owners of our money. So when it comes to spending money, the first priority is not our desires, but the purpose and desires of God. This means we must be aware of not only what we spend money on, but who we spend money with. If an organization supports abortion or the gay and lesbian agenda, we in essence are using God’s money to support these opposing biblical causes.

So as Christians living in 2012 what should our position be on boycotting companies that openly promote anti biblical agendas?

First and foremost I believe that we should remember that we are stewards and supporting these organizations should be avoided, if possible. It certainly cannot be pleasing to God to see His money go to companies that outwardly mock the principles of His Word.

However, the semi-organized economic war tactic as a means to beat and punish secular non-Christian organizations into a biblical world view should be avoided. This is not how Christ promoted changing the world. Our only hope for changing the world will be through fulfilling the Great Commission. And changing hearts will only take place through the power of the blood of Christ one heart at a time. (Ephesians 4:18; Romans 10:9).

We must remember that we live in a society that is controlled by Satan (John 8:44 and 1 John 5:19) however and we as believers are free from that control (Colossians 1:13). Attempting to try to change corporations by the use of economic power without changing the hearts will only frustrate believers because it will never happen. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

So while we must be wise stewards and spend God’s money in a way that is pleasing to Him, we must realize that we live in a fallen world and changing the world will never happen thorough economic boycotts.