Rev. David Holwick ZS
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 27, 1992
Deuteronomy 28:2-13
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I. The guilt of Christmas shopping.
A. Finances can crush many well-meaning Christians.
Pastor friend (Joe ..) grew up in poverty.
He determined that his family would never want for anything.
Christmas was an especially joyous time of splurging.
Unfortunately, his income has never matched his vow of prosperity.
In short order, he ran up $5,000 in VISA debt.
Creditors began hounding him.
In humiliation, he confessed his financial sins to his church.
After the service, a member came up to him.
"Pastor, you've been a great blessing to me.
I've never seen a pastor who is so honest and caring.
My Christmas present to you is to clear your VISA debt."
Do I hear any Amens?
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B. Statistics on American personal debt.
1) Americans have made many innovations concerning debt.
Cyrus McCormick invented the reaper in 1831.
That is not the whole story behind his success, however.
At the same time he invented the reaper he also invented the
installment plan so that farmers could buy his new machine.
Installment plans have made it possible for Americans to
attain an amazingly high standard of living.
But some people become addicted to having nice things.
Thus their money runs out before their month.
Anybody here this morning familiar with such problems?
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2) Presidential debate: "How has deficit affected you personally?"
a) Candidates befuddled. She meant "recession."
b) Deficit spending is a blessing - till you have to pay up.
3) Credit card debt alone was $207 billion three years ago.
a) Around $1,000 per PERSON in America.
C. NT speaks much of dangers of finances.
1) Antichrist will control world through it. Rev 13:17
2) Main form of idolatry today.
II. Make an honest living. 2 Thessalonians 3:12
A. Don't rely on the government to bail you out.
B. Don't rely on gambling and get-rich-quick schemes. Prov 28:19
C. Provide for your family by doing something fulfilling and useful.
III. Count your costs. Luke 14:28-30
A. Anticipate the expenses of living.
1) Proverbs 31:16,18 - the noble wife "considers" before buying.
Economist Walter Williams learned a principle of success by
missing lunch.
He kept wasting his lunch money and asking his mom for more.
Finally one day his mother said, "You knew you'd have to buy
lunch when you spent the money."
She refused to fork over a dime.
He went without lunch the rest of the week.
He thought his mom was the most callous person on earth.
But later he realized, "If you don't have the guts to hold
someone accountable for his imprudence, how can he learn
to do better?"
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2) Don't buy things on the spur of the moment.
a) Stores emphasize impulsive buying.
b) Reason milk is in far corner (by donuts) and candy is in
checkout line.
c) Never go to Shoprite hungry.
3) Discipline yourself for big expenses.
a) Dilemma of our summer budget crunch.
1> Big bills come in, always unprepared.
A> Advice of John Varwig - put aside each week.
B> Consider it "gone money." Great discipline!
2> Don't be caught short on taxes, mortgage, insurance.
b) Plan ahead on major purchases and you can save big bucks.
B. Don't spend all you make.
1) Old saying:
"Make $200 a week and live on $190, and you'll be happy.
Make $200 a week and spend $210, and you'll be miserable."
2) Spend all you make, you have no cushion when hard times come.
Turkish mom of two, divorced Hatice Anutkam, 37, sold a
kidney to a man in England for $6,000.
It was equivalent to five years' earnings for her.
She feels it was worth it because she paid her debts and
a year's rent.
She also bought a sofa, two rugs, a mirror and a dining room
table, and toys for her two boys.
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C. Don't go in debt for expendables. Romans 13:8
1) Ross Perot made this a main theme in recent election.
a) "We are $3 TRILLION in debt and what do we have to
show for it?"
b) Individual Americans need to ask the same question.
2) How much of your credit card debt is for things that don't
retain their value? Probably most of it.
a) Dumb to put food on VISA.
b) Limit debt to things that appreciate - houses, car, etc.
D. Debt makes you dependent. (Deut 28)
1) "The borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7
2) "Leave no debt outstanding, except ... love." Romans 13:8
E. Often we are dependent on greed.
1) Will Rogers:
"Too many people spend money they haven't earned,
to buy things they don't want,
to impress people they don't like."
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2) Best policy: pay in cash, pay on time.
IV. Plan your savings.
A. Be methodical like the ants. Prov 6:6-8
1) Winter is going to come - be prepared now!
B. Invest wisely - Parable of Stewards. Matthew 25:14-18
1) All profit entails risk.
2) Foolish steward risked nothing, and lost everything.
3) Not wrong to expect a decent return on your money.
a) Church investments are done poorly.
b) No risk, but inflation has halved its value.
V. Finances and Priorities.
A. World tries to maximize income, at any expense.
1) Earn more to spend more.
B. Christians must balance other priorities.
1) Young children in the home.
2) Family time together.
VI. Rejoice in what God has given you. Phil 4:11-13
A. Being content in all situations.
1) You'll never have as much as "Joneses."
2) It's not sinful to prosper, or to be lacking.
3) Paul's secret - be content no matter what.
B. Our contentment comes from God, not possessions.
"Fortune" magazine quotes a talk by billionaire H. Ross Perot:
"Guys, just remember, if you get real lucky, if you make a lot
of money, if you go out and buy a lot of stuff--
IT'S GONNA BREAK.
You got your biggest, fanciest mansion in the world.
It has air conditioning. It's got a pool.
Just think of all the pumps that are going to go out.
Or go to a yacht basin any place in the world.
Nobody is smiling, and I'll tell you why.
Something broke that morning.
The generator's out; the microwave oven doesn't work....
Things just don't mean happiness."
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C. The best things in life are FREE.
Money can buy...
a bed, but not rest
food, but not satisfaction
luxury, but not contentment
stocks, but not security
a house, but not a home
a church, but not a mission
But what money cannot buy, God offers as a free gift.
Anonymous
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D. God's offer of salvation: Isaiah 55:1-6
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who
have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what
does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will
make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love
promised to David. ...
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is
near."
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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