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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
Friday, October 9, 2009
Getting Out of Man's Economy
If you missed the previous programs in the series, here are the links:
I want to alert you to the upcoming God Provides™ premieres in Orlando and Dallas. I'll be in Orlando, Thursday, October 15 and in Dallas, on Friday, October 16. We've rented a theater in each city to show Abraham and Isaac on the big screen. See the complete city tour list here. Living in God’s economy is not a one-time decision. Man’s economy is all around us and is constantly trying to get us in its grasp. It’s an epic battle. Satan has designed man’s economy to be very attractive. Paul gives us a process the Lord wants us to follow. He address the rich in the present world, which is all of us. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as rich, but we really are compared to the rest of the world. We’re wealthy from a biblical perspective as well, with eternal riches in Christ. Paul commands us not to be arrogant. There is a subtle pride to wealth, feelings of being smarter or superior. The first step in getting out of man’s economy is overcoming your arrogance. God has trusted you with much. You must battle your prideful desire to take credit for it, Recognize everything you have comes from God. The second step is not to put your hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put your hope in God. This step has two parts. Another word for hope is confidence; another word for confidence is faith. Don’t put your faith in wealth, put it in God. You must value God more than wealth. The third step is to recognize God’s lordship. Everything comes from God and that He is good and generous. Wealth comes from God. God is our provider. He gives us the things we need and things for our enjoyment. The fourth step is to understand stewardship. Paul tells us what to do with what God has given us. He says to do good deeds. Riches aren’t the things you accumulate for yourself, it’s the good deeds you do for others with what God has given you. Have an outward focus instead of an inward focus. Instead of taking advantage of the Cash for Clunkers program, I fixed up one of his clunkers and gave it to someone in need, a single mom. We were both blessed by it. In God’s economy, richness comes from doing good for God and His kingdom with what we’ve been given. The fifth step is to be generous and willing to share. Have a lifestyle that shares with others instead of hoarding. Give freely because you are free of the fear that typifies man's economy. In man’s economy, you’re afraid of losing things. In God’s economy, you know God is your provider. We hope you’ve caught the vision this week of what it means to move your heart and finances into God’s economy. It’s a process to have your heart renewed and mind transformed. If you believe in God, you shouldn’t manage your finances like someone who doesn’t. We should be different, and that difference begins with what we believe about money. It results in us managing it differently. When you are spiritually transformed, then you can be financially transformed. When you are spiritually transformed, you will live in a way that you’re prepared to be generous and willing to share whatever you have. We are God’s ambassadors and that reflects God’s love and generosity. Paul also reminded us that God will reward you for living in His economy. We fear losing the benefits of having money while living on a shaky financial foundation. If you follow the principles of living in God’s economy, those fears are taken care of in this present world and for eternity. We should be able to see through the deception that falsely tells us man’s economy is best.
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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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Today we are concluding our series on God’s economy. I hope you’ve been inspired to start taking the steps necessary to break free from man’s economy and live in
