|
Money and The Bible - Are You getting a good return on your investment?
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had no need for money. However, the fall of mankind brought about the exchange of money for goods and services. Unfortunately, money matters do not always bring the best out in people and the mismanagement of money does not glorify God. Sustainability - A Holy Spirit-Filled Mindset Even though professing born-again believers may say that God is their source of everything they need to sustain them including money doubt often enters into the equation sabotaging our witness for Christ and the gospel, our relationships, and the abundant life Christ promised God's people. God's Holy Spirit is grieved when we live this way and our disobedience quenches the Holy Spirit hindering a godly lifestyle. Read more... Our money habits and attitudes or 'habitudes' toward money make or break responsible stewardship of money and wealth. Some people shudder to think that the Bible talks about giving ten percent of their first fruits to further kingdom work, but what about the other 90% who does it really belong to? How does God view money, wealth, and poverty? What are the social and ethical implications of responsible stewardship? To answer these and other relevent questions a fun and insightful game has been developed to explore and better understand peoples' 'money habitudes.' Why is this important? To answer this question let's first define the words habit and attitude. According to the Encarta dictionary a “habit” is a tendency to act in a particular way. This same source defines the word "attitude" as a way of thinking and feeling. When we blend the two words together a new definition emerges, a "habitude" can then be defined as a tendency to act, think, and feel a certain way. These tendencies are influenced by many factors in this fallen world, but as believers we are not subject to our money habitudes, but to God's Word. The process of sanctification is one that renews our minds daily which in turn produces godly habitudes as opposed to worldly habitudes. In other words, identifying and exchanging our worldly money habitudes with God's Word and Jesus example is a journey that teaches us to think Biblically. Thinking Biblically is important because it pleases God and thwarts the enemy's plans. Seeing money, wealth, and poverty through the lens of Scripture (God's eyes and heart) is in our best interest that is why understanding our 'money habitudes' is so important. 
There is nothing inherently evil about owning the things we need. However, when we strive to collect wealth or possessions beyond our need, we may neglect our duty to God, to our families, and to mankind. Jesus said that serving God and serving wealth are incompatible
goals. Read more Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(NIV, Proverbs 23:4-5) A Survey of the History of Biblical Interpretation on money and wealth. Read more |
Living in the Promises of God - Daily Discipline of Forming Stewardship Money Habitudes!
Money and Resource Management - Deuteronomy 15:6 'For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations, but none will rule over you.' The stipulation of the fulfilment of this promise is obedience to God. Read more Who benefits from gaining insight into their money habitudes?
How do they benefit? Our perceptions/thoughts about money cultivate our beliefs and stir up our emotions and attitudes, which produce appropriate or inappropriate actions (sinful behaviour and reactions). This process takes place in the blink of an eye; therefore, making it our business to become more aware of and manage our thoughts is vital if we obey God and use the money to further God's purposes on earth as it is in heaven. The Christian worldview of money is not subject to being a slave to our skewed (fallen/sinful) perceptions and thoughts about money. Consequently, it is up to us to know, understand, and manage godly responses versus ungodly reactions toward money matters. Even though many things influence mankind's fallen nature, the born-again believer has the advantage of being filled with the Holy Spirit who by 'grace alone transforms our perceptions about and responses to money matters, wealth, and poverty, so they eventually line up with the Word of God (New Life Money Habitudes). New Life Money Habititudes Discovery Groups are designed to fulfil soul searching opportunities to talk about money matters in non-abrasive, insightful ways. These exciting sessions can take place wherever people and groups feel most comfortable such as at a:
These two-hour interactive activities engage and challenge the participants to honestly assess their personal perspectives while being open to learning about the views of others and finally to compare their perspectives with those of God's. Most importantly, we are told, "And whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." As our thoughts line up with the source of our provision, this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. (1 John 5:14:15) |
