“WISDOM FOR YOUR NEXT LEVEL: FINANCES “

Luke 16:11-13

¹¹ Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ¹² And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? ¹³ “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

INTRO

If we want a radical shift in our finances, we must be willing to do whatever it takes. Matthew 11:12 says, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and violence take it by force. We encounter both war and test concerning finances. War is Satan’s plan to keep us from having finances, or so bound that we are not financially free. The tests are a result of God checking our motives and affection to see if we worship money or God.

Here are six Biblical principles that will help you win the war and pass the test on finances  

I.                   THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY

Eccl 10:19

¹⁹ A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry,  but money answers everything.

II.                THINK STEWARDSHIP

1 Corinthians 4:2

Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. ¹² Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.  NLT

Psalm 50:10-12

¹⁰For every beast of the forest is mine and the cattle on a thousand hills. ¹¹I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine. ¹² “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine and all its fullness.

1.      God owns everything

2.      God uses finances to measure our heart

Matthew 6:21

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

3.      Not only should we tithe, but we will give an account of the other 90%

2 Corinthians 5:10

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

4.      We must realize the key to more money is being faithful where you are.

Matthew 25:29

²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

5.      We must understand that if we don’t use it properly, we will lose it.

Matthew 25:26-30

²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘you wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ²⁹ ‘for to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

III.             EARN AN HONEST LIVING

2 Thessalonians. 3:12

¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians. 3:10

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

IV.             PLAN YOUR SPENDING

Proverbs 21:5

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

Proverbs 21:20

²⁰ There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.

Proverbs 21:20

20 Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it. (GNB)

No matter how much money you make, your expenses always rise with income

V.                SAVE FOR THE FUTURE

Proverbs 6:6-11

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷ which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, ⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. ⁹    How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? ¹⁰    A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—¹¹           So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler and your need like an armed man.

VI.             RETURN 10% BACK TO GOD

Malachi 3:8-10

⁸ “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. ¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

1 Corinthian 16:2

² On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

Proverbs 3:9-10

⁹ Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰          So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

1.      Out of gratitude for my past

When I give my tithe to God, I'm saying, “God, I realize that I wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for You.  You gave me my mind.  You gave me my health.  You gave me my body.  You gave me the clothes on my back.  I'm just saying here’s ten percent back to You out of gratitude, but I know that it all came from You in the first place.”

2.      It Proves God is Number One Right Now

3.      It’s a Statement of Faith

VII.          ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE

Eccl 6:9

⁹ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Hebrews 13:5

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you (MESSAGE)

Isaiah 55:2

² Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.