Treasure Reveals Heart (Mt. 6:21)

Read Matthew 6:21.

Treasure reveals heart, not vice versa.  Where is your treasure?  Here are some questions to help you evaluate.

• What does your checkbook say?  Are you tithing on income and increase or are you studying to form well-sounding theological loopholes? (Making loopholes is a characteristic of a Pharisaical spirit.)
• What do you value?  Who or what do you talk about more than anything else?  That is who or what you will sacrifice for.  You sacrifice for that which you treasure.
• Do you spend more money on Christmas than you give to God during the year?
• Do you spend more money on vacation than you give to God during the year?
• Do you spend more money on your pets in a year than you give to missions or benevolence?
• Do you dread the offering or battle internally when it is announced?  If so, why?  What are you afraid of?
• Do you find more joy at the golf course than you do in church?  

Two Rich Men (Mt. 19:16-22; Lu. 19:1-10)

Read Matthew 19:16-22; Luke 19:1-10.

Both Zacchaeus and the young ruler were rich.  That's where their similarity ends.  Zacchaeus went away saved and transformed, while the young ruler went away grieved.  What made the difference? What was in each man's heart.  Zacchaeus had genuine interest in Jesus, while the young ruler had an agenda.

We know Jesus' conversation with the young ruler but not Jesus' conversation with Zacchaeus at the house.  That must've been some conversation!

A softening work had been operating in Zacchaeus' heart.  He responded clearly, rightly and early.

1.  You cannot serve God and money (Mt. 6:24).  How do you know if you're serving money?  Is there any amount or any account that is off limits to God?  If He asked for it all, would you give it?

2.  What's in your heart? (Prov. 4:23).  In other words, why are you coming to Jesus?  Why do you want Him to come to you?  Motive matters.  Not everyone who comes to Jesus is interested in the salvation He offers and the transformation it brings.

3.  Coming to Jesus should result in living for Jesus (Col. 2:6-7; 3:1-17).  Zacchaeus surrendered his money and made restitution.  There was no life change in the young ruler (except that he became more sad, as is always the case when a person turns away from Jesus' counsel).

4.  Never underestimate the preparatory work of the Holy Spirit.

5.  Beware the ugliness of self-righteousness and its seduction.  Works cannot justify you (Gal. 3:11; Eph. 2:8-9).  Having been justified apart from works, you cannot then not work (act, respond, change, obey) (Eph. 2:10; Jam. 2:26).

Insights From The Parable of The Rich Man And Lazarus (Lu. 16:19-31)

Read Luke 16:19-31.

1. Every person is going to die. 
2. Every person, regardless of his lot in life, continues existence after physical death.  There is no truth to the false teaching called annihilationism.
3. Today matters.  Choices made today, especially concerning salvation and holiness, affect your destination.  No one avoids Hell by convincing himself and others that he is a good person.  No one avoids Hell unless he walks the path of holiness!  There is no truth to the false teaching called universalism.
4. What a hindrance money can be.  Beware self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, etc.  A rich person in Hell suffers as much as a poor person!
5. God's Word, not your opinion or experience, is the ultimate witness.  Will that witness be for you or against you on Judgment Day?
6. There are at least fifteen things you will not find in Hell:  grace, mercy, second chance, erasure of memory, relief, adequate excuse, joy, peace, a party, satisfaction, inability to feel pain, loss of awareness, bargaining, silence, change of venue (moving from Hell to Heaven because the sentence has been altered).

If you are a pastor, you could develop a powerful evangelistic sermon from point #6.

Treasure And Heart (Lu. 12:34)

The location and placement of your treasure reveals the condition of your heart.  People say angrily, "You don't know my heart!"  What a cleverly disguised smokescreen for not giving generously! Well, yes, I can "know" your heart.  All I would have to do is get you to be honest with me about where your money is going.  Your checkbook tells on your heart.  It is noteworthy that Jesus mentioned treasure first and not heart.

Verse of The Week (02/12/16)

How Then Can We Survive? (Lu. 12:22-34)

Having just warned people to be rich toward God (Lu. 12:21), Jesus knew people's concern would be, "How then can we survive if we pursue God more and store up less treasure for ourselves?"  Thus, Luke 12:22-34.

This same concern distracts hearts today.  If you ever wondered, as a pastor, why offerings fluctuate so dramatically week to week, insecurity and fear are two (of many) reasons.

Ditches In Dry Places (2 Kin. 3:4-20) (Part 4)

Where do you need to “dig a trench?”

• Start with this question: “What is it you need God to do for you?”
• Example: "Lord, I need a financial blessing from You.”
• Continue with this question: “What is your part in making that happen?”
• (If God answered Your prayer right now, what would He expect from You?)
• He would expect you to tithe. He can't bless a thief.
• He would expect you to be generous. He can't bless stinginess.
• He would expect you to operate from a budget and stick to it.
• God can't bless a financial mess that you don't really want to fix because you have no self-control.
• He would expect you to humble yourself and seek advice from people who do have success in their finances.
• He would expect you to learn the difference between greed and need.
• He would expect you to learn the fine art of delayed gratification.

Wealth and Health (Psa. 39:4-11)

Read Psalm 39:4-11.

• When your money dwindles, you pay attention.  No one hates money.  You don't have to be in love with it and have it dominate your life, but you don't hate it.  I haven't met one person who would turn down just a little bit more.
• When your money seems to be disappearing and you don't know why, it is wise to consider if it is God's discipline.  Have you been tithing?  Have you been a poor steward of the other 90%?  Have you been living obediently?  Is there an area in your life you haven't submitted to Jesus?
• The greatest wealth is your health and life.  It won't last forever, but why should it dwindle prematurely?  This is not to suggest that every person who struggles with a health issue does so because of sin.  Part of the curse is sickness.  We can't, however, automatically rule out that it could be God's doing.  God knows that if He needs to get someone's attention, the two things to touch are wealth and health.

Quote on Credit

"Gold is the currency of kings.  Silver is the currency of

 merchants.  Credit is the currency of slaves.  Credit is not 

money." 

 http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article39037.html (Accessed 2-22-13)

Stick to Your Christmas Budget

Some 45 percent of those polled said the holiday season brings so much financial pressure, they would prefer to skip it altogether. Almost half said their level of stress related to holiday expenses is high or extremely high.  

 

That’s probably because nearly the same amount — some 45 percent — say they do not expect to have enough money set aside to cover holiday expenses.

               --Think Finance

http://www.cnbc.com/id/49880517/

Christmas is too significant for you to wish it never came.  Don't spend money you don't have to buy things you don't need to impress people who probably don't care.  Don't spend money you don't have to buy that last gift the person doesn't really need.  Set a Christmas budget, if you haven't already, and stick to it.

Church and Technology

This is a good reminder that e-commerce is here to stay. Is your church prepared? 

"The simple fact is that how Americans do commerce has changed and we the church had better be prepared to meet that change.  The question I have for you is where is your church?  Do you have the platforms in place to take advantage of the new technological change that has swept our nation?  How does your church stack up to the following crucial 21st century tools?
 • An active vibrant website?
 • Active and updated Facebook and Twitter accounts?
 • Website is set up for mobile access by smartphone and tablet use?
 • Online giving is set up and easily accessible?
 • An app designed and fully functioning making access for members easy and convenient?
If your church does not have all of the above you are making it harder for members and attendees to interact with your church and potentially give to your church."

Read the entire article at
http://thecharisgroup.org/2012/11/21/online-commerce-is-changing-everything/

Avoid the Christmas Financial Meltdown

Christmas -- the season when people throw out financial restraint and then complain the next 6 months they can't afford anything.  Don't let this happen to you.   You need more than will power.  You need a plan, a budget.  Joe Sangl offers a FREE tool at http://www.josephsangl.com/2012/11/20/how-to-stick-to-your-christmas-budget.

Nehemiah Chapter 10

• Themes
• Responsibility
• Generosity
• Key Words
• "Tithe", "tenth" > 5x
• "House of the Lord", "House of our God" > 9x
• "Contribution", "contribute" > 3x
• "First", "firstbruit" > 5x
• Outline
• Statement of the leaders of this covenant (10:1-27)
• Submission to the authority of God's Word (10:28-29)
• Separation from the compromise by worldly influence (10:30)
• Surrender to the responsibilities of corporate worship (10:31-39)
• Observation #1
• The community (10:1-27) was to be known as people of the Book (10:28-30) and people of the House (10:31-39).  Christians want to open the Bible and live accordingly.  Christians want to be in church.
• Observation #2
• To not tithe, to not bring the first, to not contribute -- this meant neglect and irresponsibility.  Lack of generosity meant failure to accept covenant responsibility.  Before they could accept responsibility, they had to surrender their lives (10:28-30).  If your heart (life) isn't surrendered, your money and goods won't be either.  Maintaining Christian community (church, the family of God) is a costly enterprise.  It will cost you time, effort, money, leisure and energy.  Nonetheless, it is worth it!

Short-Term Sacrifices for Long-Term Benefits

 "...things which are short-term urgent tend to trump items which are long-term significant."  That is an unhealthy pattern.  The future of your vocational, relational and financial stability hinges upon understanding the difference.  Read Joe Sangl's post at http://www.josephsangl.com/2012/04/30/short-term-urgent-vs-long-term-significant/.

Shrinking Burger

One pound of beef equals four quarter-pounders. Until you cook them. What happened? Is there a beef thief? No. You just realized beef shrinks.

There's a financial lesson here. Money shrinks. [If you're a Christian, money shrinks on purpose: you tithe, you give to missions, you help the poor. You do this regularly, purposefully and cheerfully (hopefully)]. Here are a few thoughts for those who don't think there's enough "beef" left over.

1. Thank God there's any "burger" left. He could've consumed it all as a burnt offering! God owns all the beef.
2. There is no difference in taste between a smaller burger and a bigger burger. Burger is burger. If it's not about taste, what's it about? Greed. You want more. It's okay to want more so long as you don't have to have more. Life is not about wolfing down triple Whoppers.
3. Too much beef is not healthy. All things in moderation, right? That includes money. See Proverbs 30:8-9.