"Living in Financial Freedom"

Living In Financial Freedom

Workers earn it, spendthrifts burn it, bankers lend it, women spend it, forgers fake it, taxes take it, dying leaves it, heirs receive it, thrifty save it, misers crave it, robbers seize it, rich increase it, gamblers lose it … I could use it.

Floyd Mayweather is the Welterweight champion of the world. He has a perfect boxing record of 50-0. He was criticized and being interviewed one day. Criticized for how he spends his money over and against what kind of legacy he is going to leave behind. So, his reply in the interview was, “they say it is not all about the money, well your kids can’t eat legacy. If it is not about money, then what’s it about.” That was his response. Floyd Mayweather has about 500-million-dollar net worth. And brothers and sisters, whether you like Floyd Mayweather or not, I’m afraid that much of what he is saying is correct. He is right. We can’t escape money. There are some things that we concern ourselves with that do not put food on the table. You can’t escape it. If you run a business, you need dollars to do so. If you want to buy stock, you need dollars to so. If you have children, you need dollars to support them.

If you have any bills, you need dollars to pay those bills. If you are blessed to have a job, you want your paycheck for working hard. It takes money to have a decent quality of life. And I know what they say, “more money, more problems.” But I want them kind of problems. Don’t you? I’ve been broke with problems. I want to experience having money with problems for a change.
In 1991, James Peterson and Peter Kim co-authored a book entitled The Day America Told The Truth. The book was the result of surveys that were given to 2,000 people who were asked to answer a number of moral and ethical questions in complete honesty — with a guarantee of absolute anonymity.

One question was “What would you be willing to do for 10 million dollars?”

In response to that question ~

25% would abandon their family (spouse, children, or parents)

23% said they would become a prostitute for 1 week

7% said they would be willing to kill a complete stranger

Those are pretty astounding statistics. I wonder what they would look like in today’s world?

This shows the kind of power money has on so many lives. It’s amazing what people will do for it.

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

He never said, as some people think – – that money is evil. He never ever said that. He said the LOVE of money. Yet, we need money to survive, to live and provide for our families. We need money to function in this world. How else are we going to pay the utility, phone bills, car payments, house payments, insurance, food, gas, clothes, not to mention to contribute to the church?

We’ve been talking about what it means to be a good steward in our lives. To be a good manager of all that God’s given us. Today, we’re looking at what it means to be a good manager with the money and possessions God’s given us.

I’m not here to tell you what you must do, but to help you be more successful at managing your money and honoring and glorifying God. I know most people don’t like to hear about money in sermons, yet you might not realize it, but Jesus talked a great deal about money.

In the Gospels, there are 41 different parables. Forty of the 41 have direct or indirect economic implications. In other words, parables are the principle means by which Jesus teaches about the economy of God.

The Bible has 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions. So, you can see the importance of this topic, whether we like it or not!

The consequences of mismanaging our money can be devastating. According to Social Security, 85 out of 100 Americans will have less than $250 to their name when they reach 65. Only 2% of Americans reach age 65 financially independent.

The average American household with debt owes $172,806. This includes all credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and other types of debt. The average household that carries credit card balances owes just over $16,061.

Now most people assume their money problems stem from not earning enough. The truth is, most of us earn a good enough living to meet our needs and afford many of the things we want. In fact, a family which earns $50,000 per year will make about $2,000,000 in their lifetime. The problem for most people is not how much they earn but how they manage what they earn.

Money is significant for us simply because we exchange it for what we value. What you do with your money shows what you value with your heart.

We value our taste buds, so we give money for food. We value education, so we give money for books and tuition. We value entertainment, so we give money for cable TV, Netflix, sporting events, concerts and more. We value the ministries of the church and the spread of the gospel, so we give money to the church and other ministries. And that list of what we give money can go on and on.

Jesus said in Luke 12:34 (NLT)

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Now, some of you won’t like this – – I’m just being real. Listen carefully, because – – where your money goes, signifies the movement of your heart. Where your money goes, your heart goes. You exchange money for what you value, for what you treasure.

If you value going to the movie, that’s where your money goes. If you value going out to eat, then that’s what you will do. If you value smoking or electronics or books or whatever it is, that’s where your money goes. If you value the church, your money goes to the church.

So, money can be hazardous and helpful. You can show that you value things more than God (which is hazardous), or that you value God more than things (which is helpful). Ultimately this expresses the treasures of your heart.

NOW, I’m not saying you can never go out to eat or to a movie, or buy a book, or anything like that. But when lots of our money goes to these things, that is an indicator of where our heart is.

So, how do we get a better handle on our money? Glad you asked!

#1 Make A Budget

For most people and most families, we never make a budget. We just spend until we realize we’re in trouble.

 Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty

A budget is simply a written plan. You don’t have to be a financial wizard. All you must do is honestly write down on paper what your income is and what your expenses are. You designate a certain amount of money for food, housing, phone, insurance, automobile, church, etc.

This can be so enlightening. When people do that, they realize they’ve been spending $50 a month buying Starbucks coffee. It’s not a sin to drink coffee, but it’s important to be aware of how your money is being spent. Maybe that’s too much money for that person, but until you know, you can’t make a determination.

And it’s easy to mess up keeping to your budget if you’re not realistic and if you’re not willing to follow it. Track your spending, see where your money goes, decide where you want it to go, and establish a budget.

#2 Avoid Debt

Imagine you receive a postcard that says, “Congratulations, you have been selected to become a slave. Just fill out the enclosed card and return it in the pre-paid envelope and your slavery will begin on the 15th of next month.”

That’s what’s written in invisible ink on all of those credit card offers that come in the mail.

Again, Proverbs 22:7 (NLT) tells us

Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

A USA Today article stated that the United States Census Bureau reported 109 million Americans used 957 million credit cards (that’s almost 9 cards per person) to buy $430 billion worth of goods, causing them to fall $207 billion into debt.

Let me give you a full example about debt. There was a furniture store which stated you could get a new living room set for only $59 a month, with no payments for one year. Sounds like a great deal. I would only have to make easy payments of $59 per month for 5 years or 60 months. And that great $1,500 living room set would be mine.

So, let me show you exactly what you just got into . . .

You are paying $59 for 60 monthly payments. And in the end you will have paid exactly $3,539.79. Yup, you bought 1 living room set for the price of more than 2. You would have paid 40.87% interest. And if you miss a payment, there’s an extra fee tacked on for good measure. That’s why paying interest on our debts is not a good thing. Read the small print!

Romans 13:8 (NLT)

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

In the end, we’re better off to avoid consumer debt altogether.

It’s not a sin to have a credit card, but you have to use one wisely. I would suggest…

Never buy with a credit card that you can’t pay when the bill comes in. When the bill does come in, pay all of it. If you’ve already amassed a huge credit card debt and cannot pay the entire bill right now, then pay more than you have charged on that card in the previous 30 days. This way you can whittle down the balance until it is paid off completely.

Now, we’re coming back to talking about what you treasure. Remember, your money follows what your heart values.
The ultimate goal is this…

#3 Put God First In Your Finances

Someone once asked John D. Rockefeller his secret of success. He said, “Save 10%, tithe 10%, and live on the rest.”

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT)

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Have you noticed that stingy people never have enough? They tend to be unhappy and self-absorbed. On the other hand, generous people never seem to go without. They’re characterized by a joyful, loving spirit.

The Bible says that is exactly how it works.

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NLT)

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

I read about one businessman who said, “I’m generally a cheapskate, but there are 3 areas where I’ve learned that you have to be generous: paying taxes, paying tithes, and paying employees. If you try to cut corners on any of those it will come back to haunt you.”

When the church uses the word tithe, that word simply means 10%. It’s what is often spoken about in the OT.

Why should we tithe?

Out of gratitude for the past. This is an attitude that says, “God, I realize that you have made it possible for me to earn a paycheck. You’ve given me this job and the skills to do it. To show my appreciation for all that you have done for me, I want to give back to your church.”

To keep our priorities straight today. The purpose of tithing is to teach you to put God first in every area of your life. We give God the first, not the leftovers.

When you give an offering, it should be with joy, it’s not a bill or a 60 month payment. It’s a reminder that God is first in your life. We give as a demonstration of faith for tomorrow. This attitude says, “God, I trust you to take care of me, and to provide for me. Rather than keeping this money to myself, I’m giving it to you.”

Instead of looking to wealth for fulfillment, we should look to God.

1. Live on a budget.

2. Save for the future.

3. Avoid debt.

4. Put God first.

5. Don’t expect money to make you happy.

This comes down to a matter of controlling the money you have, instead of being controlled by the money you don’t have. Make sure your heart treasures God, not the things of the world.

In the end, follow God’s ways! He loves you, you’re His child. Never, never forget that!