Managing Money By the Book

Some Biblical Principles on Managing Money:


1. The Principle of HONEST GAIN.

PROVERBS 10:2 (nrsv). Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit.

PROVERBS 13:11 (nrsv). Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle.

There is nothing wrong with accumulating wealth and income. For a godly man or woman, wealth can be an asset to be used in ways that honor God greatly. John Wesley - founder of Methodism - is noted for having said "Earn all you can." But he was careful to clarify that advice - he told people to "earn all you can," as long as it was not at the expense of one's character, health or well-being.

Read John Wesley's "The Use of Money" for an interesting perspective on Christian money management. The language is a little old-fashioned, but the principles are timeless!

See also this article on avoiding get-rich-quick schemes!


2. The Principle of LIVING WITHIN YOUR MEANS.

PROVERBS 22:7 (nrsv). The borrower is the slave of the lender.

Of course it is true that "living within your means" can be very difficult on a limited income. This article from Crown Ministries may offer some help, along with this article on the dangers of debt.


3. The Principle of KINGDOM INVESTMENT.

PROVERBS 3:9-10 (nkjv). Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty.

MATTHEW 6:21 (nrsv). Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

LUKE 16:13 (nlt). No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and money.

How do I begin to invest in God's Kingdom when I am already over-extended in my financial life? This article may provide some help.


4. The Principle of CONTENTMENT.

PROVERBS 15:16 (nlt). Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

HEBREWS 13:5 (nkjv). Be content with such things as you have. For he himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

If your whole life is built around discontent - this article on Contentment may provide you an outline for helping to put this principle into practice.

The message on Sunday discussed the Time magazine cover story. Read the article for yourself - "Does God Want You To Be Rich?" - and see what you think about the claims of "prosperity theology" in light of biblical principles.

Building Relationships By the Book

Some Key Scriptures on Building Relationships:


GENESIS 2:18 (nrsv). It is not good that the man should be alone.

Adam was in a garden full of all kinds of joys, and enjoying a precious oneness with his Creator - but something was still missing. We are wired for relationships.


PROVERBS 31:10 (cev). A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!

The principle applies to both male and female - the importance of the choice of a life mate.

Here are some thoughts from Michael Smalley on choosing the right spouse.


PROVERBS 5:8 – Stay away from a bad woman! Don’t even go near the door of her house.

Principle – don’t put yourself in a compromising situation.

This article by Steve Demetrician applies the teachings from Proverbs to moral situations facing teenagers today.


PROVERBS 13:3 – Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin.

The Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) is full of advice on the importance of being slow to speak - being careful to think before we talk. Today we would say the same about "guarding our fingers" - being careful what we type in e-mails, instant messages, text messages and other forms of electronic communication.

Here are some more thoughts on "the power of the tongue."


PROVERBS 26:20 – For lack of wood, the fire goes out and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

Remember - gossip refers not only to spreading lies - it refers to passing along damaging stories, even if true.


PROVERBS 27:17 – Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.

How important to find friends who make you a better person! This article by Denise Klomp describes how using a prayer partner can be a way of "iron sharpening iron."


COLOSSIANS 4:5-6 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive.

Although our closest friends must represent strong values, nevertheless we will have the opportunity to influence many people - including non-Christians. Your "gracious and attractive" conversation may be a better influence than the most talented preacher!


ROMANS 12:18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

In many relationships, there is only so much you can do - but this Scripture reminds us to do what we can! Gary Smalley calls this "The Power of One" (see more on this concept here).

The ancient Christian writer Origen (185-254 A.D.) comments: "Our mind should always be ready for peace...the blame for any discord should lie with the other side and not with us. There are times when this command cannot be applied; for example, we cannot have peace and fellowship with evil. It is one thing to love people but quite another to love crimes."

Notice that the very next verse has to do with letting God settle all scores: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19)

On this verse, Origen comments: "If we avenge ourselves, there is not much we can do apart from demanding an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth, or else insulting others as they have insulted us. But if we reserve these things to the vengeance of God, he will without doubt punish them far more severely than we ever could."


MORE PROVERBS...There are many helpful proverbs besides the ones we looked at on Sunday. Check out these proverbs for more wisdom on building relationships by the book:

Proverbs 5:9, 5:15, 6:30, 6:32, 10:12, 11:12-13, 11:17, 12:4, 12:25-26, 13:24, 14:30, 15:1, 15:4-5, 15:17, 16:28, 17:9, 17:14, 18:22, 19:8, 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:10, 31:30.

Purpose

In Acts 2:42-47, we find a wonderful description of the life of the early church - this pattern becomes a great help to us in seeking to uncover the great purposes of the church:

ACTS 2:42-47. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.


This passage helps illustrate the five purposes of the church:

• DISCIPLESHIP (they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching...)

• FELLOWSHIP (...and fellowship...)

• WORSHIP (...to the breaking of bread and the prayers...)

• SERVICE (...they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all...)

• EVANGELISM (...many wonders and signs...day by day the Lord added to their number...)

Discipleship – helps a church grow deeper

Fellowship – helps a church grow warmer

Worship – helps a church grow stronger

Service – helps a church grow broader

Evangelism – helps a church grow larger


Almost every church has one or two of these purposes that it does pretty well at it. Almost every church has one or two of these that "needs improvement." What do you see in your church?


As I prepared for this message on "Purpose" - a focus on our very reason for being as the church - I thought a lot about the book Rick Warren wrote. He is best known for his book, The Purpose Driven Life, but years before that he wrote a book called The Purpose Driven Church. In that book, he challenged churches and pastors to clarify their purposes, and to look for important functions that may be overlooked. You will enjoy looking over these articles written by Rick Warren, and thinking carefully about some of their insights. Think about your own church as you read these articles. (Warren used a slightly different terminology, substituting the word "ministry" for "service," as one of the five purposes.)

Becoming A Purpose Driven Church

12 Characteristics of A Purpose Driven Church

A Healthy Church Balances the Five Purposes

Balance All Five Purposes For a Healthy Church

What a Purpose Driven Church Is Not


Having thought and prayed about all these things, what is your dream for your church?

Set Apart

1 Peter 2:4-12 teaches us that Jesus Christ is the Living Stone - chosen by God as the cornerstone - but also a stone that causes some to stumble. We also are called to be living stones:

"Present yourselves as living stones for the construction of a sanctuary." (1 Peter 2:5, The Message)

"You are the ones chosen...to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him." (1 Peter 2:9, The Message)

Just as Paul was "set apart" as an apostle, all of us who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ are claimed and chosen to be "set apart" for his service. Our church is also called to be "set apart" - to be faithful in all things.


Some comments on this passage from 1 Peter follow below:


From St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.) - "The Lord will repay his faithful followers who are so lovingly, so cheerfully, so devotedly carrying out these works, to the effect that he includes them in the construction of his own building, into which they hasten to fit as living stones, fashioned by faith, made solidly firm by hope, cemented together by charity....Without the cornerstone which is Christ, I do not see how men can be built into a house of God, to contain God dwelling in them, without being born again."


From Oecumenius (6th century) - "God is not to be held responsible for this [disobedience]... For if a human being is made with free will, that free will cannot be forced, nor can anyone accuse him who has decreed their fate of having done anything to them which they did not fully deserve as a result of their own actions."


From Andreas (a 7th century monk) - "When people from different races and nations are called to abandon all their differences and to take on one mind, drawing near to him by one faith and one teaching, by which the soul and the heart become one, they are one holy people."


This message by Dr. William Willimon, now a bishop of The United Methodist Church, titled "Christ the Cornerstone" - gives some insight into this image.


Have you ever wondered why babies are baptized in our church? This explanation - "Why Baptize Infants" - actually comes from the Lutheran Church - but is a very helpful biblical overview of the practice of baptizing babies. The Lutherans also have a very helpful explanation of the different modes of baptism - sprinkling, pouring and immersion - in this document "Method of Baptism."


There is obviously a lot about baptism we did not cover in one short message. An excellent overview of teaching on baptism can be found in this document - By Water and The Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism.


Even if you don't have time to look over the whole document, you might want to check out this brief section on "Reaffirmation of One's Profession of Christian Faith."


A more ecumenical expression of the meaning of baptism can be found in this document - Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry - prepared by the World Council of Churches.


Ezekiel 36:26 uses a different - more negative - image of a stone - "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

The Great Commandment

Read Luke 10:25-28.

Note first what the Great Commandment tells us about loving God.

• Loving God with your HEART means giving him your AFFECTION.

• Loving God with your SOUL means giving him your ADORATION.

• Loving God with your STRENGTH means giving him your ABILITIES.

• Loving God with your MIND means giving him your ATTENTION.

In the Great Commandment, the Bible places comparable emphasis upon loving my neighbor as myself. Other Bible verses make a similar point:

1 JOHN 4:20. If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

MATTHEW 5:44, 46. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?


For the church, we put this into practice through what we call "RADICAL HOSPITALITY."


Read what Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Conference had to say about radical hospitality:

Remember blind Bartimaeus crying out for mercy, annoying everyone. Jesus said, “Call him here.” (Mark 10. 49) Remember the Samaritan woman. (John 4.1-15) She asked Jesus directly, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” Jesus not only spoke with her, he also gave her the water of eternal life. The disciples wanted to push the children away. (Matthew 19.13-14) Not important enough. Jesus welcomed them. “Let them come to me,” he said, “Do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Remember the parable of the wedding banquet. (Matthew 22.2-10) Jesus said, “Go into the streets and invite everyone you find.” I could go on and on.

The first movement of disciple-making is radical hospitality. A hospitality that reaches across economic, racial, age and gender lines. A hospitality that focuses on the stranger and those outside the community of faith. A hospitality that reaches out to people who don’t look like or act like us. A hospitality that ministers to children not its own.

A congregation making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world is a congregation actively engaged in radical hospitality.

A year ago, churches had major opportunities to practice radical hospitality, as noted in this article.


In the 4th century, Chrysostom wrote: "This is the summit of virtue, the foundation of all God's commandments: to the love of God is joined also love of neighbor."

In the 8th century, Bede wrote: "Neither of these two kinds of love is expressed with full maturity without the other, because God cannot be loved apart from our neighbor, nor our neighbor apart from God. Hence as many times as Peter was asked by our Lord if he loved him, and attested his love, the Lord added at the end of each inquiry, 'Feed my sheep,' or 'feed my lambs'..."


Father Gerry Pierse suggests in this article that loving God and loving neighbor is also connected to our ability to love ourselves.