Message Notes

What's a NORMAL Christian?

I Manage My Finances Well
November 3, 2002

A Christian Who Manages Finances Well . . .

1.                                     with what the Lord provides
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 5:10

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9:20-21

2. Views financial blessings as a                      from                
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 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 8:17-18

3.                                          in the prosperity of others
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:2-3

4. Effective in                                          what God has entrusted
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5

Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Romans 13:7 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
Proverbs 28:19

5. Faithfully balance God, family, work, other obligations
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:1-2

6. Generously supports the Lord's work through                                                                              and investment of                     .
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Proverbs 3:9

Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 16:17

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Malachi 3:8-10

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

Why? The Debt of                                               We Owe Christ
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

Now What?