Biblical perspective of money - Part 1

The Buck Stops Here!

I'll take full responsibility, as in “You needn't call my boss; the buck stops here.” This saying gained fame as a sign on the desk of President Harry S. Truman. It alludes to another expression that means the opposite, pass the buck.

The Big Picture.

Think of an Iceberg. What you see is about 10% of the total mass of the berg; that means that 90% is below the surface. Concepts about handling money and possessions is just like that. What you see, the techniques, tools, stratigies, and methods, is the 10% - The how to; what you don't see - the Why, is the foundation for decisions and includes the what I call spiritual capital, the eternal perspective.

Introduction to the series:

Series will include the following topics:

· Money: a tool, a test, and a testimony
· God’s idea about finances
· Commonsense principles that can change your life
· How much is enough
· Setting financial fitness goals
· Making smart Choices
· Global economy
· Others possible

Stewardship is a concept recurring throughout the Bible.

· Genesis 15:2 names Eliezer, Abram’s steward
· Genesis 43:18 – 20 discusses Joseph’s steward
· Matthew 20:1-9 discusses a duty of a steward
· 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 says “. . . it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Essentially a steward is charged with the management of the resources of the owner of the resources.

Biblical stewardship is defined as the use of God given gifts and resources (time, talent, treasure, truth and relationships) for the accomplishment of God given goals and objectives.

Compare:

Ownership (full rights) vs. Possession (rights allowed by the owner)

Here is a truth: God owns it all! Read the following passages.

· Psalms 50:7-12 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."
· Haggai 2:8 "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts."

September 13, 2009

Psalm 116

Introduction:

Psalm 116:1-8 "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling."

I love the Lord because:

• He hears our prayers
• He is gracious and merciful
• He preserves me

Psalm 116:12 "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD."

What to Render unto the Lord:

• Salvation: “13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.”

· Forgiveness of sin is God’s gift
· He wants you to accept it
· He wants you to tell others

• Surrender (yielding): “14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.”

· Render by yielding to Him
· Render by living a Holy life
· Render by living through Him

Romans 6:12-14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

• (Be a) Saint (finish well): “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
  · Live the Christian life to the end
  · Don’t back slide
  · Grow in the Lord

• (Be a) Servant: “O LORD, truly I am thy servant”
  · Do the works of Christ
  · Give to the needs of others
  · Speak the works of God to others
  · Be an encourager
  · Be humble

• Without bonds! “thou hast loosed my bonds.”
  
• Sacrifice: “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving”
  · Render to God thanks for the things He has done for you
  · Take time today and reflect of what God has done for you
  · Give thanks
  · Tell others about what a wonderful God you have.