“Andrew, have you
ever thought about being a banker?”
Max Fuller asked me that question after I preached a sermon on
Proverbs 17:18 recently. I was flattered by the question, but
you don’t have to be a banker to be acquainted with the
financial teachings of the Bible. And this is an important area
of life that needs attention in today’s world.
Like a lot of people, I get inundated with credit card offers
and applications when I check my mail. All kinds of credit card
companies are offering me opportunities. I have to put several
through my paper shredder at home each week. In total I could
have literally millions of dollars in credit available if I
wanted to. This can be a dangerous thing, considering that I
don’t have a huge income. And indebtedness is a concern for many
families in our region – with the casinos and lotteries
compounding the problem. Where do we go for help with our
finances?
Many people are not aware that the Bible is full of wisdom for
the financial part of life. Here are some staple teachings to
keep in mind…
- Start with the
assumption that everything is God’s (Psalm 24:1, I
Chronicles 29:11-12). It’s not my house, my car, my musical
equipment, my money, my TV & DVD player, my books, etc. It
all belongs to Him, and He has entrusted me to stewardship
of all of it. I need to use it as He would have me use it.
- We need to be
attentive to our finances (Proverbs 27:23-27, Luke 14:28).
Planning is a good, biblical thing. We should manage our
finances instead of having them manage us. We shouldn’t let
this part of life happen to us, but take it by the horns.
- It’s good to be
content with what we have (Philippians 4:11-13). We live in
the richest nation in history, and we shouldn’t need
everything in the world to make us happy.
- A person needs to
work (Proverbs 10:4-5) to make ends meet. We can’t just
assume that God’s going to drop money out of the sky for us.
- As much as
possible, we need to avoid accumulating debt, since it can
have a crippling effect on our life and stewardship
(Proverbs 22:7). It can put our stewardship under the
control of people who don’t necessarily have godly motives.
- A person needs to
repay what they borrow (Psalm 37:21). Filing for bankruptcy
may be a good solution in the world’s eyes, but it isn’t a
godly way of doing things.
- Don’t put someone
else’s debt under your name (Proverbs 17:18). That’s a
senseless and dangerous thing to do.
- Giving is important
(Acts 20:35). Giving a tithe, or 10% of your gross income,
should be a minimum for committed Christians. Some are
capable of giving more.
- Be honest in your
dealings (Proverbs 20:23, 11:1). Giving false information
when selling merchandise, taking out a loan, or doing your
tax reporting is sinful.
- Avoid
get-rich-quick schemes (Proverbs 21:15). Don’t be too hasty.
If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
One final thing to be aware of is this: It’s good to seek
counsel and get help if there’s a problem (Proverbs 12:15).
It’s just like going to a doctor if you’re sick, or calling
the plumber if your pipes are messed up. If you need help,
help is available – and it may make a huge difference for
you and your family. And here in the church, we’re available
to help, to pray, and support all the families of the
community. May the Lord bless each of you in this part of
your life.
Andrew McHenry, Pastor
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