Today on MyMoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

Have you heard about the suburban Chicago church that’s giving away money?  If your seat number is called, you could win 250 bucks or even 500.

I’m not making this up.  And as you might expect, the church is filled every Sunday.

But giving away money isn’t all the church is doing.  They’re also encouraging members to shred their credit cards, get on a budget, pay their debts and start saving money.

One Sunday they even gave away savings accounts already loaded with $25 each.

Now, don’t get me wrong, most of what this church is doing is commendable.  Crown has a long history of helping the local church teach its members to manage money wisely. It’s at the heart of all of our studies, which are steeped in God’s life-changing financial principles.

Church members who take our studies report significant, long term increases in their giving and saving levels, and remarkable debt reduction.  That’s what happens when you apply God’s financial principles in your life.

But, giving away money as an incentive to come to church isn’t one of God’s financial principles and I think it sends the wrong message.

People embrace God’s way of handling money when they have a change of heart and they want to move from man’s economy to God’s economy.

I’m just not sure the lessons of biblical stewardship will stick with anyone who’s showing up to win a quick buck, like paying the lottery.

Proverbs 21:5 tells us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

If you’re ready to make some changes that will lead to true peace and financial stability, take 5 minutes and visit us online at Crown.org.

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Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes