1. I am a manager/ steward, and God is the owner
“One of the greatest missing teachings in the church today is the reminder to men and women that nothing we have belongs to us.” (Gordon MacDonald).
Ps 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 2. Tithe to God through your local church
Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 3. Have prosperity with a purpose.
A kingdom perspective reminds us that we are ‘blessed to be a blessing’. We all need to see a higher purpose for the finance that flows through our hands – one beyond just paying for our own needs and wants. Our desires and needs are a bottomless pit. Isn’t it interesting to see how some of the world’s biggest money earners who only knew how to spend on themselves end up bankrupt and even destitute? World champion boxer Mike Tyson is an example.
Sowing our lives and finances into something greater than ourselves gives purpose to our lives. 4. Generosity is the gateway to prosperity.
The economy of God’s realm operates on principles of sowing and reaping – giving and receiving – rather than on buying and selling and simply getting more for ourselves. 5. Finances are a reflector of the heart.
Mat 6:21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where you spend your money is a good indicator of your priorities! 6. See finance as a seed
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness
God supplies seed to the sower – someone who has a ‘giving mentality’. The seed releases the power of God into your life. Seeds are tools that create your future. If you want to receive seed from God, be a giver first. 7. Remember God is your source and your provider
1Kgs 17:4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.
Why did those ravens bring food to Elijah? Because God ordered them to! 8. Giving is a part of our spiritual Maturity.
It is God (not your employer, the government, or any other organisation or business) who is your ultimate provider and source. Stick with His principles and you will enjoy and even be amazed at how His provision will flow in your life.
Despite the extremes that may exist in the area of church and finances, I know that a vision is simply a fantasy unless it is resourced financially.
As a pastor, I have observed the following:
A person’s faith is not linked to their wealth, but it is linked to their giving. Giving is a sign of spiritual maturity.
A generous church can accomplish much more than a church that is afraid to talk about finances.
People actually want to give to something worthwhile, though they do not like to be emotionally or spiritually manipulated into giving.
Our church grows to the level of financial release and freedom.
The church should not be poor. Why should companies selling burgers or clothes be doing better than God’s house?
Showing transparency and talking openly about finances with the church is important. People are intelligent and like to know finances are well managed.
As a leader, I have to lead by example. That’s why I aim personally to be one of the largest givers.
Every year we take the opportunity to talk specifically on this subject.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
We are all ‘stewards’ of whatever God has given us. However many people have difficulty managing money. Churches all around the world are filled with people who love Jesus, pray, fast, and read the Bible, and yet are in debt or struggling financially. It sometimes seems that Christians have some of the lowest financial IQ’s.
Just one bad financial decision can set us back many years. Some people spend their whole lives making unwise decisions and then wonder why God doesn’t seem to be blessing them.
Give God your tithe, but don’t ditch your brain! Let’s not blame God for personal financial mismanagement, or use God as some kind of wild card, expecting Him to rescue us from the consequences of our own lack of wisdom.
As a very quick example, let’s say your total income comes to $100 a week.
Here’s how it might get divvied up:
$10 as the tithe
$20 to the government in taxes
$10 for food
$10 on bills
$20 to the mortgage
$30 remaining for miscellaneous expenses
But then if you start borrowing another $10 from elsewhere, you’re spending more than you’ve earned…it’s all too easy for this to build up, and before too long you can end up paying somebody else interest just to pay each bill.
Are you saving any ‘$10 bills’? Are you investing?
We tend to convince ourselves that if we had more money, we’d manage it better. But when you get a pay rise, do you simply end up spending it all?
You are accountable to how you use what God has given you. Some of us might have more, some less, but the same principles are at work!
Principles are not dependant on amounts – they work at every level for every person.
Here’s a pattern to go by:
Knowledge
Principles
Decisions
Consequences
Good financial management is based on having sound knowledge, applying proven principles, and making well-informed decisions – which in turn lead to favourable outcomes/consequences.
Making wise financial choices depends upon living by wise financial principles.
The Word of God has plenty to say about handling money. Here is a brief rundown of some practical ideas the Bible offers in this area. God actually has a helpful plan for managing our personal finances.
12 Principles of financial management
1.Understand that God is the owner and you are a manager.
We are just the caretakers or ‘stewards’ of what God allows to come our way.
“One of the greatest missing teachings in the church today is the reminder that nothing we have belongs to us.” (Gordon MacDonald).
Ps 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness
2. Tithe to God through your local church
3. Spend less than you earn
It’s very simple. If you spend more than you earn, you get a little ‘gift’ in life that grows over time – it’s called debt. You may be a tither and love God, but if you still spend more than you earn, you will also get a little ‘gift’ – and it’s still called debt!
Live within your means and learn to save, budget, and manage.
4. Have prosperity with a purpose – live life with a Kingdom perspective.
Alwayskeep in mind that you have been blessed so that you can be a blessing to others.
Luke 12:16–21 (NLT) A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops… 17 He said to himself, ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones… 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.
Like many people, when this man got a good harvest he just built bigger barns. He focused on accumulating more and more, without even thinking about sowing. A bit like building a bigger garage – only to end up eventually needing to run a bigger garage sale!
5. Generosity is the gateway to prosperity
Doing something for somebody else always brings great satisfaction to the giver. Be on the lookout for opportunities to give. Avoid having a ‘poverty mentality’ that can hold you back from giving to others.
Luke 6:38 (NLT) Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
Proverbs 11:24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
Proverbs 11:25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver
6. Finances are a reflector of the heart
Matthew 6:21 (NKJV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
7. Don’t over-spiritualise financial decisions.
Proverbs 11:15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you’ll avoid rash bargains.
As a pastor I’ve seen people who got overly spiritual make some crazy financial decisions. Here are some things I’ve heard:
“Well, I invested with him because he is a God-fearing man” (even the devil is God fearing!)
“I just felt in my heart that I was meant to put my money into it”
“The speaker at the seminar was so convincing and I think he was even a Christian, so I went with it.”
We can easily get over-excited and commit to something too rashly when we really should have stayed much more cool-headed.
This is not to undermine the sovereignty of God and the need for obedience. But God does not violate his own principles. By all means pray about it and take a spiritual viewpoint, but don’t ignore common sense. And if it doesn’t look good on paper and the numbers don’t add up, stay away.
8. Make wise long-term investments.
Spread your investments, diversify, and avoid ‘get rich-quick’ schemes.
Proverbs 11:1 God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.
Work hard.
Proverbs 12: 24 The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.
9. Cultivate a multitude of counsellors
Proverbs 11:14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
Seek advice from
Books
Smart people (maybe your even boss – rather than others who may sound smart but have no actual track record)
Professionals in the finance industry (accountants, lawyers, etc.)
10. See finance as a seed
God supplies seed to the sower – someone with a giving mentality.
2 Corinthians 9:10 (NKJV) Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness
Sowing seed (giving) releases the power of God.
Seeds are tools that feed into your future.
11. Remember that God is your source and your provider
12. Giving is a part of our spiritual maturity.
Titus 6-9 Just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
To sum up: Making wise financial choices depends upon living by wise financial principles.
How you handle your finances is a big part of your life!
The problem: Most people spend more than they earn, and either don’t invest or invest poorly. Many people lack vision for their finances.
Apparently the average client at debt agencies in Australia owes $73,000 in unsecured debt, such as credit cards and personal loans. (Debt Mediators Australia)
As a nation, we are over-spenders. Many people don’t know where their money goes each week, and a large number struggle with credit card debt.
Meanwhile, around the globe, world leaders are trying to figure out exit strategies from the GFC.
But despite so much changing around us, and amid great uncertainty about what the future will bring – such as which economies will prosper, which will fail – certain sound, foundational principles of personal finances remain true and reliable.
You know, just one bad personal financial decision can set us back many years. And sometimes people spend their whole lives making unwise decisions and then wonder why God doesn’t seem to be blessing them.
Give God your tithe, but then don’t ditch your brain! Let’s not blame God for personal financial mismanagement, or use God as some kind of wild card who we expect to rescue us from the consequences of our own lack of wisdom.
