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Equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Sharon Epps: God's Economy vs. Man's Economy
Everyone recognizes that man’s economy is in trouble. Some believe it will never recover, others think the economic stimulus that’s being done will work. I don't think more debt will solve the problem; it will make it worse. I urgently want to equip the body of Christ to be prepared to minister to others and glorify God. The only way to be contrary to the world is to have your mind transformed, to change what you believe. The principles of God’s economy work no matter what the economic conditions are. Living in His plan allows you to live freely, contently. Our late Co-Founder Larry Burkett predicted we would be where we are right now. Larry didn’t put a date on it, but he knew we were on a path that would bring us here. He knew if you spent more than you made, it would lead to ruin. It's better to make adjustments now even if the economic earthquake doesn’t happen. You will still will be blessed by being prepared.
Sharon says she's counseled hundreds of families. She found that it's not as difficult for them to budget as it is to align their hearts with God, How you define your purpose in life will determine how you use money. Man’s economy deceives by focusing on you and what will make you personally happy and fulfilled. Money is equated to happiness. Satan has taken many people captive with lies about happiness. In God’s economy, we’re here to be a trustworthy, faithful steward of God’s resources. He provides for our needs so we can fulfill His purposes. God gave us the principles of His economy so He can spend us as He wishes. It changes how you look at each day when you realize you’re here to serve Him. Many people have economic goals related to income, homes, clothes, schools, etc. God wants us to share the goals He’s given us, to follow Him and seek to fulfill His purposes. Sharon hopes your goal is to fulfill the Great Commission. We have to move away from goals that are about accomplishing things for ourselves. God sometimes interrupts our plans; some people get angry when God does that, but He puts us in positions to serve Him and His kingdom. The definition of success is another distinction between God’s economy and man’s economy. Man’s economy ties success to personal achievement. God’s economy defines success as faithfulness, a measure anyone can achieve, and walking with a wholehearted commitment to God. That’s why the spiritual transformation must happen first. Sharon encourages listeners to share what they’re learning today with others. (http://www.crown.org/media/relatedcontent/100609.aspx) People want a temporal reward for what they spend their life doing. They want a reward for their work. That thinking can get you trapped seeking immediate gratification. God’s economy is about investing your life in eternal things and the rewards aren’t always immediate. God wants us to seek rewards that will last. Sharon encourages adding a kingdom investment/giving line to your budget. When you give, you store up treasure in Heaven. It's like raising children; you sacrifice and invest in them now to reap rewards later. Another distinction between God’s economy and man’s economy is the source of significance. Man’s economy says significance is in work, riches, and power. Celebrities are often examples of this. People try to find satisfaction in everything the world has to offer. In God’s economy, you realize significance only comes from God. True satisfaction only comes from a right relationship with God. What drives you can trap you in man’s economy. Man’s economy is being impressed by and being driven by the things of the world. God’s economy is about being impressed with God’s glory. We find the most joy when we lift Him up. God was impressed with the devotion of the widow to Him, not the amount of money she had to give to Him. The things of this world will all go away. What lasts forever is God’s kingdom. Another distinction between God’s economy and man’s economy is emotional peace. People want emotional peace. Man's peace is dependent on circumstances; you have peace when circumstances are favorable, when you have money. But peace is lost when bad things happen and you don’t have money. Peace in God’s economy comes from learning to be content, not by how much you have. We'll share practical ways to live in God’s economy tomorrow. |
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The Plans of TomorrowLife is fragile. Consider where you are investing your time and energies. |
Teaching God's People God's PrinciplesGod calls each of us to fill the gap in order to spread His Gospel to all parts of the world. |
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Finances and Your Relationship with GodThis generation’s greatest need is for God’s Word to be taught clearly and undiluted. The next greatest is for Christians to demonstrate that it works. |
God and MoneyOnce we understand how God uses money and why He chooses to use it in a particular way, we can better understand His directives regarding finances. |
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Other Resources: |
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We're continuing our series today on living in God’s economy and we're joined again by Sharon Epps, our VP of Content and Media.
(Listen to the first part of the series 
Sharon says there’s a spiritual force that opposes people living in God’s economy. There's a spiritual battle for the heart.
You must decide who will be Lord of your life.
