Our topic this morning is Biblical Principles of Finance. Which may have you wondering why would I present a sermon on the topic of money of all things? Before I go into answering that question I first have a question for you. By way of raising hands can anyone tell me if they have ever had a sermon about the use of money presented to them in this church?

There are very few hands raised which perhaps leads you to think that money isn’t so important an issue when it comes to our Christian faith and salvation. Just how important is our use of money to God? Perhaps I should be looking at it from another perspective, how important is our use of money to Satan?

[Satan to his angels:] Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with cares. If you can make them place their affections upon these things, we shall have them yet. They may profess what they please, only make them care more for money than for the success of Christ’s kingdom, or the spread of the truths we hate… We must keep all the means in our ranks we can. The more means they have, the more will they injure our kingdom by getting our subjects. And as they appoint meetings in different places, then we are in danger. Be very vigilant then. Cause all the distraction you can. Destroy love for each other. Discourage and dishearten their ministers; for we hate them. Hold up every plausible excuse to those that have means, lest they hand it out. Control the money matters if you can, and drive their ministers to want, and distress. This will weaken their courage and zeal. Battle every inch of ground. {PaM 260.1}

Satan certainly cares about how we use our money. He and his angels are working ferociously and tirelessly to ensure our destruction. As we read in the quote he is working to ensure we are drunk with cares when it comes to money and our affections are fixed on the matter. We usually have a depiction of this in our mind as endless greed. We think of the Wall Street fat cat, suit pockets filled to the brim with notes, cigar in one hand and bottle in the other, but how little do we consider also that when we experience financial stress we are also drunk with cares and are affection and time is fixed on trying to solve our money woes. The quote also speaks to us about preventing God’s people from obtaining the means to further the church, about causing distraction and the destroying of love for one another. Does money have the power to do that? It also speaks about putting in our mind every excuse to prevent us from giving money to the cause of God.

Now it’s one thing to hear it from the pen of inspiration but what do the facts tell us about this issue?

In 2015 the Centre for Social Impact released a research report called Financial Resilience in Australia which made the following observations:

• ‘two million Australians are experiencing a severe to high level of financial stress or vulnerability’
• two-thirds (64.3%) of Australians are facing some level of financial stress
• nearly half the population (46.6%) have two months or less worth of savings
• one in six Australians don’t have $2000 in an emergency and;
• 7% of Australians have no savings at all.

According the Australian Psychological Society’s Stress and Wellbeing Survey reports from 2010 to 2015, financial issues are rated as the top cause of stress in our society for each year of the report.

Additionally, in a 2015 Relationships Australia survey looking at The Impact of Financial Problems on Relationships; found that 84.4% of participants indicated that financial problems were likely to push their relationship apart. And further, a 2012 Kansas State University research study Examining the Relationship between Financial Issues and Divorce found that arguments about money are by far the top predictor of divorce.

The evidence is overwhelmingly clear that Satan cares a great deal about how we use our money. However, we also have overwhelming evidence that God too cares about our use of money. In fact of the 38 recorded parables of Jesus, 16 deal with money or possessions, in the Gospels one in ten verses (288 in total) deals directly with the subject of money. The Bible as a whole offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 on faith but more than 2000 verses on money and possessions. So again I ask you how many times have you been presented a sermon about the use of money in the church? Not nearly enough is the serious answer.

I don’t need to ask for a show of hands because the statistics are clear that everyone in this church deals to lesser or greater degrees with financial stress, I know I certainly do and I won’t deny the facts about how much that stress impacts our day to day lives and our relationships. We are so often with our head in our hands feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out how can I get out of this: if I just had a better paying job, if I just had more money my problems would be gone. Each one of us has spent hours ruminating over solutions to our money woes but how often do we turn to the Bible for our answers?

Let the Bible truth be grasped firmly and practiced daily, and you will be girded for all labor and prepared for all trial. – {20MR 379.3}

Biblical principles enable us to know how we ought to live in this present world and whilst we often focus on the spiritual application the Bible give us guidance on our practical day to day cares including on money. It’s all in this book if we would be diligent to find the gems we could save ourselves so much from our present woes. In fact there is a neat little saying from a late Christian Minister who in my own opinion was an expert on Biblical Financial Principles. His name was Larry Burkett and I encourage you to read his books. He used to often say that ‘information without application leads to frustration’. How true it is of us when contained in the Bibles is everything we need to know.

Now I of course cannot present everything the Bible says about money in this sermon but I would like to provide some very important principles for the use of money direct from the scriptures to enable us to start spending, saving, giving, working and earning in line with God’s Word.

Tithe

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10

The idea of tithing, providing one tenth of our income to the work of the Ministry is to the unconverted mind ridiculous. The idea of giving your money away does not align with the idea of financial success. In fact it wasn’t that long ago that this reality really hit me hard. I was visiting a relative of mine who had just purchased a beautiful new home overlooking the ocean. I was talking to him and congratulating him on his success and in the midst of our conversation he turns to me and says he doesn’t agree with the practice of tithing. He couldn’t understand why I would cause myself financial detriment when I was trying to get my family ahead. For this first time I really thought about that and in my weakness I realised that had I saved all the tithe I had given to God’s work I would have had my own home by now. It’s distressing enough as a husband and father to think about home ownership when it is so far from your reach but it was even more so when I thought that it had been in my reach and in contrast to my relatives success I felt so depressed.

I took to the word later that night and came across this verse:

“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?” – Malachi 1:6

Tithing is not only a Christian duty it is a Christian privilege. I thought about that verse about honouring our earthy parents and then honouring God our heavenly father. The system of tithing is exactly that, it is our opportunity to exercise trust in God for our provision and to bring to the altar of offering a representation of our thankfulness.

Regular Saving

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. –  Proverb 2:20

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. – Proverbs 27:12

Much like the example of Joseph in Egypt who foresaw the famine and prepared for it with the store houses we must regularly save both for emergencies and to meet our needs as they come. I encourage everyone to begin with an emergency fund of $1000. You can open a savings account with no debit card if you find yourself prone to impulse, this makes it difficult to access your funds immediately and as a result you are more likely than not to give into impulsiveness. You may have heard the expression “live within your means”, Christians should practice to ‘live under their means” in order to form good saving habits.

Adopt a positive attitude towards your financial goals

“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” – Proverbs 12:18

Adopt a positive attitude in your discourse around finances and in your thoughts towards finance. Set goals and remain positive in reaching those goals. How many times to do we often say I’ll never own a house so there’s no point in saving or I’ll never get a better job so we resolve to stick to the same job and not look for better opportunities. A positive attitude and speaking positively about your goals with others and yourself enforces your desire to reach those goals and your stamina to get to them.

Always be honest in your business dealings

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him” – Proverbs 20:7

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” – Proverbs 22:1

We don’t always correlate our business transactions with our financial goals but they are intimately connected especially when we are looking to progress in our careers. How people perceive you impacts on your employability and opportunities for promotion. I can attest to this fact in my personal life. When I began working in my current job I spoke to the executive who interviewed me and she told me she had spoken to many people across the organisations I had worked for and interacted with and all spoke so highly of me which impressed her. Whether you are with your manager or a colleague or a client also remember you are representing God and your actions will be remembered long after you forget them. Look to the Bibles examples of Joseph in Egypt or Daniel in Babylon as your example in how to interact in your work.

Be diligent in your work

“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want” – Proverbs 21:5

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” – Proverbs 6:6

The ant is mission oriented. As Christians we should be diligent in our work, not late, not slacking, representing the Lord. How do you become diligent? With a clear vision of what you want to achieve and where you are going. You need to envision the fruit of your labours. What is it that you want? Where will you be in 1 years time, 5 years time etc. You can’t be diligent about a goal if you’re not excited by the goal.

Build your career before you build your house

“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” – Proverbs 24:27

This gem of truth is evident in the Western Australian mining boom collapse. Many of the fly-in, fly-out workers who built the gas plants and mines now live with financial stress. Some have been forced to sell their houses, cars, jet skis and other assets they bought during those heady years. Many are now working for less trying to make ends meet or they are out of a job.

You should not build a foundation on unstable work or rely on a job with no prospects of longevity. It is important to ensure you build your skills so that if one job ends you have a means to another or to enter into work that is permanent and has a good likelihood of continuity. Research and planning are the key here although of course there is no 100% guarantee you can be guaranteed that God will bless those who follow his principles.

Avoid borrowing money as much as you can

“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” – Proverbs 22:7

Whilst God does not say borrowing money is forbidden He cautions against it. As far as possible we are to purchase items with our own money and when we need to borrow we should consider whether the need for the item is real or if your wants and desires are dictating our decision.

 Economy and care must be exercised in expending funds, not to please fancy, but to study the limited means. Care must be used, economy practiced from the very highest motives, linking all expenditures with God himself, for it is God’s money we are handling, and we can limit the supply by our want of foresight. It is not best to purchase the cheapest things, but the most serviceable and enduring. They may be more expensive at the time, but if they are treated carefully they will not be the dearest in the end. Those who realize that all money is the Lord’s, will get into the habit of asking the Lord how it shall be used, as to what they shall purchase in the little things as well as in the large. This is the right principle to work upon…. – {SpM 118.1}

Seek as much advice and counsel as you can get

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” – Proverbs 12:15

How do you find counsel by asking questions, seek advice and counsel. Throughout history no one has achieved any worthwhile goal, significant project or impossible dream without effectively partnering or seeking outside counsel. Moses enquired of his stepfather, Job counselled with his friends and the kings counselled with the prophets. Often times when making a difficult financial decision we can learn both from others successes and their failures.

Be wise, don’t rush to gain wealth

“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” – Proverbs 28:22 

“…If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” – Psalm 62:10.

Financial success according to the Bible is not a get rich quick scheme. Like the grapes in the vineyard or the corn in the field, God’s method takes time but yields good results as the years go by.

Be Generous

“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” – Proverbs 14:31

When Christians are controlled by the principles of heaven, they will dispense with one hand, while the other gains. This is the only rational and healthy position a Christian can occupy while having and still making money. – {2T 240.3}

Spiritual prosperity goes hand-in-hand with Christian generosity. As the followers of Christ give to the Lord, they have the assurance that their treasure is going ahead of them to the heavenly courts. Would you like to make your property secure? Place it in the hands that bear the marks of the crucifixion. Do you want to enjoy your wealth? Use it to bless the needy. – {ULe 127.2}

Conclusion

God is interested in how you make money, manage money, what you do with it, saving money. He is interested in your success and prosperity and has given us a book of wisdom and laws for living. Perhaps you feel like your debts are getting the best of you, maybe you’re barely making it pay check to pay check, maybe your worried about your retirement or about providing for a growing family. Whatever your financial woes God promises to uphold and help you. It may not be as instant as we want it to be but with hard work and sticking to Godly principles you can turn the train of financial destruction around. Perhaps you will own a house, perhaps you won’t, perhaps you will reach your goals and perhaps you won’t. You may look to your unbelieving relatives and friends and be tempted to think the way of the world leads to financial success, often times it certainly appears so but I am reminded by something a brother once said to me many years ago when I asked why the wicked prosper. God shines down on the good and the bad and it is only in His mercy that he allows the wicked to prosper because this world may be the only heaven they know.

The cup most difficult to carry is not the cup that is empty but the cup that is full to the brim. It is this that needs to be most carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity bring disappointment and sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life. – {MHH 113.5}  

 I want to remind you brothers and sisters, if you are drowning in financial stress to remember that prosperity is not always a blessing and poverty is not always a curse. We must always keep in mind that whilst the Godly way is the narrow way, the treasures we are picking up along the way are going before us to heavens storehouse. Our real treasure is the hope we each carry, the love we have for each other, the good works that we do and the desire to see one another reach the ultimate treasure of being able to cast our crowns at Jesus feet. Be content brothers and sisters because as the scriptures tell us ‘godliness with contentment is great gain’. What have we to gain?

But the purest joy is not found in riches nor where covetousness is always craving, but where contentment reigns and where self-sacrificing love is the ruling principle. There are thousands who are passing their lives in indulgence and whose hearts are filled with repining. They are victims of selfishness and discontent in the vain effort to satisfy their minds with indulgence. But unhappiness is stamped upon their very countenances, and behind them is a desert, because their course is not fruitful in good works. – {3T 382.2}

In proportion as the love of Christ fills our hearts and controls our lives, covetousness, selfishness, and love of ease will be overcome, and it will be our pleasure to do the will of Christ, whose servants we claim to be. Our happiness will then be proportionate to our unselfish works, prompted by the love of Christ. – {3T 382.3}

Steven Caruana