Breathing Room, Week 3

Margin is the distance between where we are and our limits.    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)  FULL (Perissos) = exceeding some number, measure, rank or need; over and above; more than is necessary; something further Discovering BREATHING ROOM is not about learning how to ESCAPE your life, but how to properly LIVE your life. Message Title:  Financial Breathing Room The lack of margin and healthy rhythm in our lives is often a result of the condition of our finances. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21(NIV) Our STANDARD OF LIVING does not equal our QUALITY OF LIFE. DEBT can RAISE your STANDARD OF LIVING, but will LOWER your QUALITY OF LIFE. DISCIPLINE can LOWER your standard of living, but will INCREASE your QUALITY OF LIFE. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:7(NIV) A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.  Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:1-7 (NIV)  The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 22:1-7 (NIV) Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:1-7 (NIV)  In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. Proverbs 22:1-7 (NIV) Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:1-7 (NIV) The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:1-7 (NIV) God does not just give us PRINCIPALS to live by, but PREDICTIONS of the outcome.  No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Luke 16:13 (NIV)  3 Decisions that lead to Financial Breathing Room  Decide your PERCENTAGE. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 (NIV)  God is not looking at the amount, but the amount in relation to what you have.   Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV) God will always take your 90% further than we could ever take our 100%. Decide on a PLAN. A Budget tells your money where to go instead of wondering where it went. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) Decide to KEEP TRUSTING GOD. The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV) Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil." 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV) Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV) She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.  When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV) She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left." 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV)