to download this audio.
Pastor Lynn Spoon
February 1, 2023 at 6:30 PM
How to Honor God with My Finances
02-01-2023_how_to_trust_god_with_your_finances_020123.pdf
You will never hit anything of value unless there is a target to aim for. I want to give you a target to aim for. The bull’s eye for honoring God with your finances actually has three layers:
The center of the target is Giving to the Lord.
The next layer is Saving for the future.
The final layer is Budgeting to live.
That is what it looks like to hit the bull’s eye of honoring God with our money.
That is how to have God’s unshakable peace in the financial matters of our lives.
It would look something like this:
Give to the Lord
Save for the future
Budget to live
Give to the Lord
Looking back at Matthew 6, Jesus knows how big of a deal money is in our lives.
Jesus is aware of my needs, wants, and my desires. He said, “…Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” (32-33)
Principle # 1: Start by Actively and Intentionally giving to the Lord. It must be the very center of what you aim for with your resources.
Most people respond to money trouble and stress by focusing on themselves. Here’s the problem: focusing on themselves is probably what got those people into money trouble in the first place.
Jesus wants me to take a different approach. “Honor the LORD from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce.” Prov. 3:9
That word first means to choose what’s best – the choicest part. Principle # 2: Out of Everything you receive, you are to give First to the Lord
You are to “Seek first His kingdom”.
Giving to the Lord first is an act of faith, recognizing God as your Provider. Honor Him with your first and best, and He will do the rest.
In my opinion, throughout Scripture, the tithe is the starting place for giving to God – 10% of their income.
What you give is between you and God. But whatever you decide, be sure to give to God first.
Save for the Future
As of 2020, 39% of Americans didn’t have enough money on hand to cover a $400 emergency. Talk about a stressor! One very practical principle step you can take is to start saving for the future.
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” Prov. 21:20
If you’re not saving for the future, you’re inviting stress into your life. How much should I save? Once again, that’s a decision you need to make in conversation with God. Every person and every household is unique.
Budget to Live Within Your Means
In a recent survey, 65% of Americans had no idea how much they spent last month. The same survey showed 31% regretted how much they spent.
In other words, you need a budget. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” Prov. 21:5
Wisdom demands that we Manage our money with an Intentional purpose. The Bible says if you set a budget and live by it, you’ll be better off.
You know what poverty brings to your life? More Stress!
Give 10% of your resources to the Lord.
Save 10% of your resources for the future.
Budget to live on the remaining 80%.
You need to fill in the numbers based on your unique situation and understanding of Scripture. It’s critical that you have a target you’re aiming at with your finances and a plan for honoring God with your money.
I also need to spend a little time checking my aim.
We’ve learned that when we honor God with our finances, we can trust Him to satisfy all our needs.
How to Trust God to Satisfy Your Needs
The key principle we’ve been working through is that when we honor God with our finances, we can trust Him to satisfy all our needs.
Jesus showed us several reasons why we can trust the Father when it comes to money and my finances.
Two times in Matthew 6 Jesus emphasizes God’s role as our “heavenly Father”:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” . V. 26
“For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” V. 32
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” . Matt. 7:11
He's our heavenly Father. This term emphasizes the bigness of God. It demonstrates His Sovereignty.
You can trust God to satisfy your needs because of His abundance for you. Jesus desires “an abundant life” for His followers. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19
God doesn’t supply for your needs based on your resources. He Supplies all my needs based on His resources.
Lastly, you can trust God because of His value for you. Jesus asked a powerful question: “Are you not much more important than they?” Matt. 6:26 You are much more valuable. You are the crown of God’s creation. You personally!
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8
“…Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” Matt. 6:32
God not only values you, but He also knows you intimately. Out of His love and abundance, He desires to satisfy all those needs.