Rev. David Holwick X
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
July 21, 1996
1 Timothy 6:6-12
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I. Money troubles.
A. New Jersians are very uptight about money.
1) (poorest state I've ever worked in)
2) We are affluent, yet things seem harder today.
Thirty years ago it took an average young person only 4.5
years to reach his father's income level.
Today, it will take the average young person 17 years.
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B. Uptightness can turn into bondage.
1) "Financial bondage" test (on reverse).
2) Number #1 cause of marriage breakup, more than adultery.
C. Christians have added worries - Jesus.
1) We should want to honor God with our finances.
a) Christians should be different from non-believers.
2) But Jesus seems to be very radical about money.
a) Much of the Bible is a big guilt trip in this area.
3) Should we all be St. Francis of Assisi, or can we be
like a particular Baptist named John D. Rockefeller?
II. Jesus and Money.
A. Money is like a competing god. [CT, 5/12/89, p.28]
1) Treasure and heart, God vs. Mammon. Mt 6:24
2) Harder for rich than camel through needle's eye. Mt 19:16-30
3) Give up all to be my disciple. Lk 14:25-33
a) Not just willingness, but abandonment.
B. Balancing statements.
1) Rich believers in NT, such as Zacchaeus. Lk 19:1-10
2) Command to carry purses. Lk 22:35-36
C. Wealth creates a false sense of security.
1) We cannot avoid a continual tension.
2) God demands are impossible and can only be bridged
by the Cross of Jesus. #871
III. Understand money.
A. Where does your money go?
1) We don't know because we don't look.
2) We don't look because we don't want to know.
3) We have to learn how to assess and manage our money.
B. Men and women look at finances differently.
1) Men take the big view, women focus on details.
2) Men tolerate more risk.
3) Women put a face (children's) on finances.
C. A buck is a buck.
1) We value some dollars less.
a) People are more willing to take risks when they perceive
that they're gambling with someone else's dough.
b) Credit cards are especially dangerous here.
In an experiment, credit card bids for Celtics tickets
were twice as high as cash bids.
2) "The longer you hold on to money, the more likely you are
to consider it really yours."
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D. Get control of your finances, before they control you.
IV. Avoid debt.
A. Debt involves surrender. Prov 22:7
1) In OT, debt is a sign of weakness.
2) It's a sign of blessing to loan, rather than borrow. Dt 15:6
3) Larry Burkett says you shouldn't even have a mortgage.
B. Count your costs. Luke 14:28-30
1) Anticipate the expenses of living.
a) Proverbs 31:16,18 - the noble wife "considers" before
buying.
2) Plan for retirement, college, vacations, house.
C. Loans vs. Savings.
1) Kristy's van on last leg. New one: $30,000+.
2) Plan ahead on major purchases and you can save big bucks.
a) $20,000 car financed 6 years at 10% simple interest.
1> Payments are $383 a month for 72 months.
2> Payments include $7,553 in interest.
b) Save $231 per month for 72 months at 6% interest.
1> $3,335 in interest is earned.
2> Add up interest paid and earned equals $10,888,
which is 54% of the price of the car.
3) Cash is always cheaper.
D. Love should be our only debt. Romans 13:8
V. Build savings.
A. Belief vs. practice.
1) "Do you think saving is wise planning?"
2) "Are you saving something consistently from each paycheck?"
a) Most have to admit "no."
b) Americans save less than 2% of their income, and
write one million bad checks daily.
B. Does savings show a lack of faith in God?
1) Many Christians think it is unspiritual to save for the
future.
2) Not saving is irresponsible presumption, rather than faith.
3) Saving is our responsibility out of the blessings God has
provided.
C. Savings in the Bible.
1) Joseph to Pharaoh: save for the lean years. Gen 41
2) Proverbs 21:20 -
"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has." (NIV)
"The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man
spends whatever he gets." (Living Bible)
D. Plan your savings.
1) Be methodical like the ants. Prov 6:6-8
a) Winter is going to come - be prepared now!
b) Savings should not be huge lumps, but small and
regular amounts. Prov 13:11
2) Invest wisely - Parable of Stewards. Matt 25:14-18
a) All profit entails risk.
b) Foolish steward risked nothing, and lost everything.
c) Not wrong to expect a decent return on your money.
VI. Learn contentment.
A. Are you obsessed with money?
1) Financially free people are not obsessed with getting
more money.
2) "How much is enough? Just a little more..." is how Ron Blue
describes greed.
B. Get your priorities straight.
1) World tries to maximize income, at any expense.
a) Earn more to spend more.
b) Jesus: no matter how rich you are, you'll never be
dressed as pretty as a lily.
2) Christians must balance other priorities.
a) Young children in the home.
b) Family time together.
C. Live simply. [CT, 5/12/89, p.40]
1) Differences of opinion on how to handle luxury.
a) God invites us to enjoy creation.
b) He made it for us.
c) But don't be selfish.
2) Don't let circumstances rule you. Phil 4:11-13
a) You'll never have as much as "Joneses."
b) It's not sinful to prosper, or to be lacking.
c) Paul's secret - be content no matter what.
3) Our contentment comes from God, not possessions.
a) Tobias on contentment.
b) Poor can live as well as rich, they just can't spend
as much.
VII. Practice generosity.
A. Financially free people are usually generous.
1) Note story of Zacchaeus.
B. Be rich toward God. Luke 12:21
1) Tithing - give God your best.
There's a story of old, tattered bills being returned
to the U.S. treasury.
A $1 bill and a $20 in the same sack start talking.
"I went to nice stores, good restaurants, country clubs,
and exotic places," the $20 bill said.
"How about you?"
The $1 looked dejected.
"All I ever did was go to church."
#3215
2) General spirit of giving.
C. Invest in God's stuff. Luke 6:35
1) Missions.
2) Deprived children. (Creation '96 and "Compassion")
VIII. Break free.
A. If in bondage, decide to do something.
1) Small steps taken now can yield huge benefits later.
2) Financial bondage can lead to spiritual death. 1 Tim 6:9
B. If bondage is to money itself, consider God's claim on you.
1) Salvation is only truly free thing that has value.
2) It cannot be earned by good works or being religious.
Outline adapted from #3207
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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