Family and Finance$ ‎

Price of Petrol going up…. Rice going up… Flour going up… No Xbox? No IPod? No Nike shoes? All my friends got…. How to pay? House installment Car installment Send children for better education Save money for rainy day A Biblical Perspective

View 1 Christians should prioritize God’s work (church ministry, witnessing, etc) over secular work. Christians should aim to live simply and contently. This means not being too ambitious at our work, living primarily on basic needs, etc.

View 2 It is God’s will to prosper us spiritually AND materially (health, wealth, meaningful relationship, self-improvement, etc.) It is ok for Christians to be very rich and live a lavish lifestyle so long as they are generous and giving.

“ This is the word becomes flesh, the word becomes health and healing, the word becomes massive wealth” Kenneth Copeland “ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His Covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today” Deut 8:18 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” 3 John 2

Dangers of a Gospel focusing on Financial Prosperity Makes it difficult for people to be truly saved due to the love of money  Parable of the Rich Ruler – Mark 10:23-27 Encourages discontentment with one’s current financial lot in life  “…and to be content with your wages” Luke 3:12-14

Dangers of a Gospel focusing on Financial Prosperity Emphasizes self improvement over denying self  “Seek the Giver, not the gifts” Blinds people from seeing they have a problem with greed.  “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” 1Tim 6:6-10

Dangers of a Gospel focusing on Financial Prosperity Creates bad testimony among poorer Christians  Can there be “rich Christians in an age of hunger”?

Dangers of a Gospel that denies financial prosperity Implies that it is wrong for Christians to be rich Creates judgmentalism and legalism against rich Christians (“by inciting resentment against a state which does not dispense enough benefits, by encouraging covetousness, envy and theft against the rich” David Chilton, Productive Christians in the an age of guilt manipulators 1981 )

Dangers of a Gospel that denies financial prosperity Doesn’t recognise the potential of encouraging godliness in business and work in the area of financial prosperity. “…if therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust true riches to you” Luke 16:10-11

Dangers of a Gospel that denies financial prosperity Encourages an unbiblical priority system which can discourage the values of hard work and responsibilities. Example: church work over secular work “Christ is to have first place in all areas of life” Col. 1:18

Dangers of a Gospel that denies financial prosperity Limits our ability to be truly “salt and light” to this world due to insufficient financial liquidity. The case of Joseph of Arimathaea Restricts the Christian’s abundant life by unbiblicaly denying God’s gift of wealth (John 10:10)

“Can overfed, comfortably clothed, and luxuriously housed persons understand poverty?” Ron Sidler, “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” 1977

 Control our indulgences before they control our finances. “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” Prov 30:25  An abundant life does not mean a high maintenance life. “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” Prov. 15:17

 Avoid spending for vanity’s sake. Know your ego! “And I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after the wind.” Ecc 4:4

 Find contentment in your relationship with Christ “I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Phil 4:12

Biblical Principles of Financial Planning for Families Responsible stewardship involves financial planning and responsibility “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.” Prov 24:3

Biblical Principles of Financial Planning for Families Never overuse credit. Always pay what you owe. “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” Psalm 37:21

Biblical Principles of Financial Planning for Families Appoint a financial director in family or divide financial planning responsibilities. Use our gifts to bless our families. Who is better at taxes, credit, investment portfolios, budgeting, retirement planning, estate and will planning, etc.

Biblical Principles of Financial Planning for Families Prioritize your spending. Always discuss with your spouse and decide together major spending issue. “Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready. After that, build your house.” Pro 24:27

Biblical Principles of Financial Planning for Families Spend time thanking God when He has blessed you materially, and remember it belongs to Him. “When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God.” Ecc 5:18-19

Biblical Principles of Financial Planning for Families Plan your tithing and giving. Don’t give out of “guilt-trip” impulse. “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collection will have to be made.” 1Cor 16:1-2

“When people think of you, do they focus on your business success first or your image as a disciple of Christ?” Larry Burkett “But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him – how can God’s love be within him?” 1John 3:17