Not in the Numbers

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Luke 12:34  (ESV)

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The average American family spends 136% of their income. 

With money, we must consider...

1. Earnings.  You have nothing to manage if you don't have it. 

2. Spending.

3. Savings. Don't spend all that you have.  

Proverbs 21:20 (ESV)

20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man devours it.

4. Investing.  Let your money work for you. 

5. Giving.  Our lives should reflect our love for God and people. 

 Let's go beyond our money.

Haggai 1:5-7  (ESV)

5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 

6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

God has a better way.  God's ways are higher.

1 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1. Compare calling verses compensation.

Acts 20:24  (ESV)

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

We don't just need money to live on.  We need something to live for. 

2.  Compare contentment verses Consumerism.

Luke 12:15 Living Bible (TLB)

15 Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.”

The value of my life isn't determined by how much I achieve or accumulate, but how much I give away.  We've lost the value of contentment.

Philippians 4:12,13 (ESV)

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

3. We must be God dependent verses God independent. 

Proverbs 18:11  (ESV)

11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.

Proverbs 30:8-9  (ESV)

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
    and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
    and profane the name of my God.

We must not trust in riches, but in God who richly provides.

  

4.  We must realize that we are managers of God's money verses owners.

Matthew 6:19-20 (ESV)

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

Matthew 13:44  (ESV)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

5.  We must be generous and not miserly.  

Acts 20:35 (ESV)

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (ESV)

18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but being satisfied by what you already have.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/beyond-the-numbers1