Financially

“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:23

 Something to remember  Something to do  Something to expect

Transformed Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired...’

“So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons…’ Transformed

“‘ And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels...’ Transformed

“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. Luke 16:1-9 Transformed

Something to remember We own nothing “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money…” Luke 16:1

Something to remember We must give an account for our expenditures One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ Luke 16:1b-2

We can be financially healthy “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.” Luke 16:3-4 Something to remember

Repent for our financial mismanagement “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13 Something we must do

 Spend God’s money on God’s priority—people  Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. Luke 16:9  God gives us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

Something we must expect Blessing for the healthy manager, nothing for the unhealthy manager “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? Luke 16:10-12

God connects his provision to your decision to be financially healthy  Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. Proverbs 11:24  If you help the poor, you are lending to the L ORD — and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17  Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. Proverbs 21:13

God connects his provision to your decision to be financially healthy As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness…

God connects his provision to your decision to be financially healthy At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:15-19

Financially Transformed People:  Know God owns everything  Know they are accountable to God for what they spend They don’t waste money They don’t love money They aren’t slaves to debt They save money (which includes investments) They GENEROUSLY give to God’s work on earth