Life, Money, Hope, Week 1: Beyond the Numbers

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV) Earning (Avg. household income = $52,000 / TOP 1% in the world!) Spending (More than 70% of Americans don’t have a monthly written budget.) Saving (Emergency Fund / 3-6 months… The avg. American spends 136% of their income.) Investing (Instead of working for your money… your money is starting to work for you.) Giving (Non-Christians 3% - Christians 3.8%) Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.  You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1:5-7 (NIV) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Haggai 1:5-7 (NIV) Message Title: “Beyond the Numbers” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NIV) 5 Principals that go BEYOND THE NUMBERS: CALLING vs. COMPENSATION The secret to the life you want is to discover why you were put on this planet. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.  Acts 20:24 (NIV) CONTENTMENT vs. CONSUMERISM Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.” Luke 12:15 (TLB) But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NIV) Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of what you have. GOD DEPENDENT vs. INDEPENDENT The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Proverbs 18:11 (NIV) As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. Luke 21:1-4 (NIV) All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4 (NIV) Staying God dependent in your finances is not about the amount you trust Him with… but the amount in comparison to what you have. (Tithing = 10% / the average Christian = 3.8%) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) STEWARDSHIP vs. OWNERSHIP Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) It ALL belongs to Him. We are just managing what He has allowed us to oversee.  GENEROSITY vs. MISERY In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’  Acts 20:35 (NIV) Generosity is a demonstration of God’s love in a practical way. The value of my life is not determined by how much I achieve or accumulate, but how much I give away. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV) In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age… 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV) …so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV)