Doing Right With What’s Left

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

-- Ecclesiastes 5:10

Money talks. And often it just says, “Good Bye.”

According to the Federal Reserve Board of San Francisco, that’s the reality in millions of American homes. Families live paycheck-to-paycheck as they dip into savings to cover the minimum interest payments on their maxed-out Visa and MasterCards.

We’ve also embraced a risky buy-now-pay-later approach to household finances. And the nation’s personal savings rate – the amount of money remaining after taxes – is dangerously low. The Commerce Department reports a 2006 personal savings rate of negative 1 percent, the worst showing in nearly 75 years! Obviously, this dismal performance will reap a bitter harvest as the nation’s population ages and approaches its retirement years.

What’s the cause of this financial mess? There are actually several. First, Americans have become more productive and are generally earning more. When they believe their increased incomes are likely to continue, they’re willing to spend more. Call it the wealth effect: folks who become richer or think they’re richer tend to spend more. And let’s not forget our access to easy credit. How many of us have fallen for those low introductory interest rate offers that flood our mailboxes each week?

So how can we climb out of this ever-widening money pit? As with the important things in life, it all comes down to priorities.

First, set aside the first 10 percent or more of your income for God’s work by giving it to the church. This tithe sets our priorities by putting God first in our lives and focusing our faith on Him to meet our needs. Next, set aside the next 10 percent or more for personal savings. Major expenses – like a leaky roof, auto repairs or doctors’ bills – are bound to happen. (And don’t forget about retirement!) But if you save little by little over a long enough period, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how your money has grown. And it will be there when you need it most.

This all leads up to the obvious question: After you’ve given to God and then to yourself, how do you handle the rest of your income?

The specific answer varies by person and his or her unique situation. But there are some general rules of thumb for being good managers of our resources. First, we need to discipline our desires and be satisfied with what God has given us. Buying the newest, shiniest and most state-of-the-art, must-have item is rarely necessary if last year’s model still works fine. We also need to acknowledge the reality of our situation. If we’re spending more than our income just to keep up with the neighbors, a good reality check can put things into much-needed perspective. Do you always need that $4 cup of designer coffee? Finally, draw up a specific plan by budgeting your money toward what counts most. (And then stick with it!)

When it comes to money, it really is all about priorities. How we handle what God gives us is a tangible test of our trust and willingness to make Him our Number One. And if we show Him we can handle just a little while honoring Him in the process, He can use us to advance His Kingdom on Earth by putting us in charge of much more than we can ever imagine.

Saving Grace

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

-- Proverbs 13:11

“Money in the bank is like toothpaste in the tube,” writer Earl Wilson once observed. “Easy to take out, hard to put back.”

Isn’t that too true? The fact is that we live in a buy-now-pay-later culture. Millions of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and spend their money as soon as they get it. And if an unexpected expense (or the latest electronic gadget) comes along, it’s second nature to put it on the trusty MasterCard or American Express and worry about the bill later. So with such an unrealistic approach to money and finances, is it any wonder that foreclosures and bankruptcies have reached unprecedented levels?

Deep down, we know the importance of saving for the future. Just as we need to purposefully set aside the first portion of our income for God’s purposes, we also need to follow that by paying ourselves. That means putting predetermined amounts in the bank, rainy day funds or perhaps toward investments like stocks, bonds and annuities. If that sage advice sounds a little boring and a bit too much like work, it can be. But think of common sense money management as like regular workouts at the gym. There’s always a certain amount of pain starting out. But practice it long enough and your bank account will definitely see the gain.

During His brief but world-changing ministry, Jesus taught His first followers about the proper relationship with God, family, neighbors and even enemies. But Christ also spoke extensively about money-related issues. In fact, the Bible is full of financial wisdom that’s as applicable today as it was centuries ago. So what do the Scriptures tell us about savings and fiscal discipline?

The first step is to give the first 10 percent or more of our income to the church. This honors God by actively promoting His purposes on earth and demonstrating our faith in Him to always meet our needs. Never forget that God can do more with the remaining 90 percent of our income than we can do with all of it. The second step is to appreciate all that God has already given us. If we foster an attitude of gratitude, we’re unlikely to spend what we don’t have on unaffordable material possessions that we don’t really need in the first place. Next, we need to attack debt and anticipate tough times. That means paying off those credit cards with their sky-high interest rates and setting money aside for the tough times and unexpected expenses. These steps can help your savings accumulate little by little over time – particularly when your money earns compound interest.

Above all, be rich toward God and invest in the eternal. Saving for the future is certainly important. But also look for ways to put your money to work promoting God’s interests. That might mean giving toward a special church initiative, supporting overseas missionaries or maybe even starting your own community ministry! Ask God in prayer to show you what to do and clear a path to let you do it. He knows our motivations and rewards those who honor Him.

Giving from the Heart

"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 3:10

The statistics are literally heart stopping.

According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease (CHD) causes about 1 of every 5 deaths in the United States. For 2009, the respected health organization estimates that 785,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack, and about 470 000 will have a recurrent attack. And recent mortality rate data reveal that nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) each day. That’s an average of one death every 37 seconds!

And there are more sobering numbers. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event -- and about every minute, someone will die from one.

It’s obvious that our nation faces a cardiac crisis. But there’s another serious heart problem that doesn’t involve cigarette smoke, cholesterol management or low fat diets:

Far too many Christ-followers lack a heart that’s willing to give according to the resources God has richly given them. And when they do open their pocketbooks, it’s often done grudgingly.

But that’s not the example God has given us through His Word, the Bible. If there’s a two-word lesson that we can learn from God’s principles about money and possessions, it’s be generous.

We worship a God of generosity. And He wants us to follow His example and spread His Kingdom -- even here in Central Virginia! One way to do that is to follow the Biblical principle of the tithe, which means giving the first 10 percent of our income back to Him through the Church. Of course, the God who created the universe with a Word hardly needs our money. But following this savvy practice accomplishes several purposes. In addition to enabling the church to better spread the good news about Jesus Christ, help Christ-followers grow spiritually and benefit our community, generous, purposeful giving shows how much we differ from society. The world teaches that cash is king and that he who has the most toys wins. Money and possessions are its god. But Christ-followers are to give away what will rust and fade away for something much more permanent and valuable. Our Lord also knows our inner nature; if we didn’t give to others, our selfish natures would take over.

There are many reasons why Christ-followers fail to give to their potential. For some, it’s a lack of sound Biblical teaching on the matter. For others, it might be a lack of financial planning or even debt issues. And unfortunately, basic selfishness often figures into the equation.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord,” we’re asked in the Book of Romans. And that’s a great question when it comes to money. After all, what if He had told us to give 80 percent of our income and live on the remaining 20? But He didn’t. Instead, we should ask ourselves if we believe that our God – the one who raised His own Son from the dead – is able to let us do more with 90 cents than we ever could on our own with the whole dollar.

The Bible doesn’t advocate gambling. But when it comes to money and possessions, this is one time when putting your bottom dollar on God’s abilities is the safest bet of all.

All Hands On Deck

Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so that his people would learn to serve
and his body would grow strong.

-- Ephesians 4:11-12

Are you one of the millions of people who vacationed on the high seas last year? Whether you sailed to the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda or the Greek Isles, the voyage was probably as memorable as some of the ports of call. That's because modern cruise ships are literally 24-hour floating cities populated by thousands of fun-seeking passengers from all over the world. Rising several stories above the water, many large vessels entertain their guests with onboard movie theaters, gourmet restaurants, bustling nightclubs and full service gymnasiums. Some cruise ships even have basketball courts, rock climbing walls and miniature golf courses. And if you're looking for shopping bargains in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, the duty-free store is on Deck 10. Then take the glass and chrome elevator five decks down for your haircut, massage and manicure.

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships, is over 1,100 feet long and serves more than 4,300 guests at full occupancy. Each day, its restaurants serve thousands of meals and its laundry cleans just as many towels, sheets and table linens. And behind it all are hundreds of talented, hardworking crewmembers - all dedicated to making their guests' vacations as fun and memorable as possible. A ship's crew includes an army of stewards, cooks, mechanics and even daycare attendants - and that's not to mention everyone assigned to navigating the ship. From captain to cabin boy, every crewmember has a critical role in helping their vessel sail effortlessly through both calm seas and choppy waters.

Like a full service cruise ship, the church also needs dedicated people to help it operate efficiently and grow its passenger list. That's because a church is much more than a group of people who meet on Sundays to listen to the pastor and sing along with the musicians. The Bible tells us that God has given every Christ-follower certain gifts, talents and resources for advancing His Kingdom on Earth. Some of the uses are obvious - like singers and musicians serving in the praise band. Others have important gifts with behind-the-scenes applications - such as bookkeepers or office managers who help the church use its resources wisely. For every gift, talent and resource employed in the secular world, there's also an application for strengthening the body of believers known collectively as The Church.

Jesus' earliest followers were a diverse crew from many walks of life. Some were fishermen and one was a tax collector. Even Jesus Himself had carpentry skills. Now, 2,000 years later, Christ still seeks followers willing to represent Him in our community and serve others by using what God has already given them.

"Come, follow me," Jesus once told fishermen Peter and Andrew, "and I will make you fishers of men." If we're willing to follow the first Christ-followers' examples and open ourselves to the great possibilities, Jesus will no doubt use us to lead and strengthen His Church. It's up to each of us to respond to His simple - yet radical - invitation.

Stress Test

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

-- Psalm 4:8

Now that we’ve consumed the last of the leftover Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie, it’s safe to say that the Christmas season is in full swing. And we know that’s so because the television commercials have announced it for weeks. Yes, ‘tis the season for exchanging gifts under the tree, sipping hot chocolate with neighbors and family members… and dealing with a lot of stress.

The sad fact is that stress is as much a part of Christmas (at least the secular holiday) as are Santa Claus and candy canes. And stress can be much more serious than a disagreement with your in-laws; it’s literally a life-and-death proposition. Stress leads to cardiovascular disease, workplace injuries, sleep disturbances, ulcers and even cancer. In fact, the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that health care expenditures are nearly 50 percent greater for workers who endure high levels of stress.

It’s an unfortunate truth that the Christmas season comes with a high cost. And we’re not talking about those hefty MasterCard and VISA bills that will arrive in January. Like the socks or sweaters you might receive from an aunt or distant cousin, Christmas-related stress comes in a variety of colors and styles. It can be physical, emotional and financial. Not only can Christmas mean a strain to your bank account or an exhausting cross-country flight to your parents’ house, December 25 can bring emotional turmoil when it’s a reminder of a broken relationship or the death of a loved one.

The vibrant reds and greens of Christmas often seem deep blue for many hurting people. And that’s when God gets into the act.

The Bible tells us that long before the world was formed, God knew our names. He knew when and where we would be born, what sort of life we would lead and when we would die. And He also knew that we would need a Someone to save us from our failures and shortcomings. We could never save ourselves. So God decided to do it Himself by personally living the human experience on Earth through His Son, Jesus Christ.

By literally becoming God with us, Jesus truly understands the stress of Christmas (which is ironically meant to celebrate His birth!). Leading up to that first Christmas when Jesus was born among a stable-full of less-than-spotless farm animals, Joseph and Mary – His earthly parents – knew all too much about stress. They experienced emotional stress from the scandalous rumors swirling around Mary’s pregnancy. They endured physical stress from the grueling trip to Bethlehem mandated by the Roman census. And with money in short supply, financial stress abounded.

But because He experienced it all Himself, Jesus really does understand our sorrows – whether it’s December 25 or any of the other 364 days of the year. The good news for us is that He has promised all His followers that He will never leave them or forget them. His is a trustworthy promise of care and love. It’s one more thing – like that Christmas check you received from your long-lost uncle – that you can (and should) take to the bank.

Idol Pleasures

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

-- Psalm 37:4

Some call it the 5th Food Group -- an edible delight that (at least for a few people) satisfies more than any balanced meal or healthy snack.

It’s chocolate.

Each year, the world consumes more than 1 million tons of the processed confection. And annual chocolate consumption in the United States adds up to 12 pounds per person. That’s a lot of Hershey’s Kisses and Baby Ruth bars!

For many people, chocolate – and food in general – is one of life’s little pleasures. But what would it be like if we were stuck eating the same thing day after day? Or much worse, what if we faced daily hunger or even starvation. Or what if we took this blessing for granted?

The simple pleasures of life are just a few of God’s wonderful gifts. But when we overindulge in them, waste or otherwise abuse them, it becomes a real problem. Think about a child inspecting the chocolate abundance reaped from an evening of intense trick-or-treating. The first and second bags of peanut M&Ms are delicious. But a high price must be paid after consuming six or seven Mr. Goodbars followed by a sticky candied apple.

The same holds true with any God-made thing or pleasure; if we pervert it, even a God-thing can become a destructive, enslaving idol with ensuing consequences. In such cases, the gift has become more important than the Giver.

An idol doesn’t have to be a literal golden calf like the Israelites worshipped in Old Testament times. Instead, it’s anything that means more to us than following God and His ways. It’s too bad that pleasure is one of God’s gifts that we often idolize. For more than 40 years, the media’s message is that if it feels good, we should do it. And society has largely taken the bait. Watch almost any popular television show or movie these days and you’ll see destructive behaviors and lifestyles that God expressly condemns. Adultery and other illicit relationships, for example, are no longer considered scandalous. They’re “private” situations where no one ever gets hurt (right?). But if Christ-followers dare to say otherwise, they are likely to be scolded as being intolerant, bigoted or narrow-minded. After all, what does the Bible have to do with living in 21st Century America?

In fact, God’s Word shows us that things never change when it comes to illicit relationships and the destruction they render (Ask King David about Bathsheba!). And just as our ancestors did centuries ago, we today are too willing to turn our heads and accept and justify our behaviors: all clear signs that the pleasures in question have become idols. What’s worse is that we then resist choosing between the idols and God. We might say that we want God in our lives. But we also want Him to make room and share the thrones of our hearts.

This is totally unacceptable to God. He holds a jealous love for each of His children and wants only the best for us. Sharing therefore isn’t an option. So to fully acknowledge His love, we must destroy the false idols that hold us back from worshipping Him. It’s when we change our priorities and focus on God that we find true pleasure – a pleasure that’s both lasting and real.

American Idol

So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.

-- Ephesians 6:13

The old saying goes that on the battlefield, you won’t find an atheist in any foxhole.

There’s probably a grain of truth in that observation. And maybe a whole lot more. After all, is there really such a thing as a full-fledged atheist – someone who doesn’t worship any god? We all worship something; at least in one way or another. God has even hard-coded this intense longing into our very DNA.

Christ-followers worship the true God revealed and proven through the Bible. Other religions around the world promote false gods, ancestor worship, and even the reverence of living things or nature (worshipping the creation rather than the Creator). And let’s not forget today’s popular false teachings such as New Age, Scientology and Kabbalah. It’s a very long list.

Even those who claim to be strict atheists are really active worshippers. True, they may not be regular churchgoers and proclaim Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. But they – like everyone – bow down to favorite idols. Some worship money, luxury and pleasure, and others intellect and higher learning. Still others kneel at the altar of more negative gods such as alcohol, drugs and illicit relationships.

So no – there are no atheists to be found on the battlefield. But there’s a different type of battle that rages each day within everyone: the God of the Bible struggling against the world’s gods and idols. Our hearts and souls are the prize of war.

Perhaps we don’t literally kneel and worship before some golden idol. But we all must recognize that we secretly (and maybe not-so-secretly) cherish our own personal gods. Think about the things you worry about or sacrifice your time and money for. What are the issues that make you angry? What brings you the most joy? And here’s a revealing question: Whose attention and applause do you most crave?

If the answer to each question doesn’t involve God, then you’re likely worshipping an idol. And idols can be difficult to recognize through the smoke and confusion of spiritual warfare because they’re experts at camouflage. Even apparently good things can evolve into “god things.” It’s then that they’re unmasked as personal idols.

It’s particularly important for Christ-followers to remember that the real God – the God of the Bible revealed in person through Jesus Christ – doesn’t want to share His glory with any false god or cheap idol. We therefore need to reflect on the God – and gods – in our lives. And then we must choose the only One to serve and live for.

Let’s be thankful that our God guards a jealous love for each one of us. In fact, He loves us so much that He let His own Son suffer the death penalty in our place so we could be His children and heirs. And as children of the King, an incredible inheritance awaits each if we’re willing to accept His gifts of forgiveness, love and grace.

This is what love is really about. And it’s a love that refuses to share.