Overview
Nearly 80 percent of all divorced couples between the ages of 20 and 30 list financial difficulties as the primary cause of their separation. Even some of the most dedicated Christians are facing the perils of bankruptcy and overextended credit. We are seeing just some of the effects of living in a materialistic society.
Larry Burkett, renowned for his Christian Financial Concepts ministry, dedicated himself to helping people understand what the Scripture says about finances. Through a series of outstanding articles taken from CFC newsletters, Using Your Money Wisely clearly demonstrates God’s principles for prudent money management
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781575679761 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Moody Publishers |
| Publication date: | 06/12/1990 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 228 |
| File size: | 320 KB |
About the Author
LARRY BURKETT (1939-2003) was a well-known authority on business and personal finance. He wrote more than seventy books, including non-fiction bestsellers like Family Financial Workbook, Debt-Free Living, and The World's Easiest Guide to Finances. He also had a worldwide radio ministry. Larry founded Christian Financial Concepts and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crown Financial Ministries®. He is survived by his wife, Judy, four grown children and nine grandchildren.
Read an Excerpt
Using Your Money Wisely
By Larry Burkett, Jim Bell
Moody Press
Copyright © 1985 Christian Financial ConceptsAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57567-976-1
CHAPTER 1
Fear of the Future
Many of the decisions that God's people make on a day-by-day basis are motivated not by trust in God but rather by fear of the future. That is most often true with financial decisions. For example, many people stay with jobs they fear changing. That is particularly true with those who are forty and older. Society has convinced us to large degree that those over forty are past their prime. That is nonsense and runs totally contrary to God's intention.
Fear of the future causes Christian families to scrimp and sacrifice for retirement. Often the total focus of the earlier years is toward the eventful day when "we can relax and really enjoy ourselves." Unfortunately, the same fear that necessitated the hoarding for the latter years then forces further sacrifices "just in case."
I don't mean to imply that some planning is not God's will; obviously it is. But when a Christian looks inside and finds primary attitudes of fear and worry, bondage has occurred.
"WOULD A MAN ROB GOD?"
Many families literally rob God and their families because of that underlying fear. They start a savings or insurance plan initially with an eye toward family provision but then more contingencies must be provided for. Finally there are so many contingencies that no amount of protection is adequate, and fear pervades all decisions about money. Some are willing to give a tithe from regular income, but any invasion of their surplus prompts resentment and alarm.
The net result of this life-style is bitterness, conflict within the family, and growing separation from God.
My heartfelt concern for this spiritual illness is that it is increasing among dedicated believers and is being rationalized as good planning for the future. That is an absolute lie. Any action that is not done from faith is done from sin (Romans 14:23). The growing mania for buffering ourselves against any possible future event is straight from the deceiver. When our sand castle of affluence comes tumbling down—and it will—our faith had better be founded in the person of Jesus Christ and not in material security (Matthew 7:24-27).
FAITH CONQUERS FEAR
The opposite of fear is faith. Therefore, when dealing with fear, one must first understand faith. In Hebrews, faith is described as things that we hope for and things that we do not presently have. Therefore, if we have no needs, we have no need of faith.
It is God's plan that we have some needs in order that we may develop faith in Him. It is vital that we view these future needs as opportunities to exercise and develop our faith.
In Hebrews 11:6 we are told that God is a "a rewarder of those who seek Him." Each Christian must decide, "Do I really believe that?" No Christian can truly serve God and live in fear. Christ says that it is a black-and-white choice: either you choose to serve God or you choose to serve money (Matthew 6:24).
CAN YOU REALLY TRUST GOD?
We live in a materialistic generation. Priorities are established based on-desires, not needs. That is not limited to unbelievers. When we see how much confidence other Christians place in money, including those in the pastorate, it's easy to lose sight of the mark. Problems seem to erode our faith when it seems that some who truly trust God suffer financially and physically. Finally, we yield to the impulse and get caught up in the mad rush to protect against the future. We are guilty of attempting to counsel God rather than accepting His counsel.
We will never know with certainty why God allows problems to come into the lives of some godly people. But we can look back upon the lives of the apostles and see that God allowed them to suffer for their maturity and His glory.
Have you ever asked God for something and when it didn't happen you thought God had failed you? Isn't it strange that we usually expect God's answer to be a "yes" rather than a "no"? There are many reasons why God would not respond the way we desire:
1. We ask with the wrong motives (James 4:3).
2. It is the wrong time according to God's plan (Luke 11:3-10).
3. It is contrary to God's greater plan (Acts 21:13-14).
4. We are here to serve God, not for God to serve us (Job 41:11).
HOW TO TRUST GOD
1. Find God's direction for YOUR life. Most of the frustrations experienced by Christians come as the result of patterning their lives after someone else's. Even the most devout believer can drift off of God's path by trying to match assets with another. Remember that God's successes are not graded by accumulated savings.
Accept God's provision as His plan for your life, and find contentment in the source rather than the supply (1 Timothy 6:7-8).
2. Make a conscious act of trusting God. The method of doing that will vary from family to family. For one, it will mean actually withdrawing some of their stored resource and sharing it as God directs them. For another, it means taking the step of faith to leave that fruitless job. For another it may mean being content without that new, bigger home. The ways to practice putting our faith into motion are as different as God's plan for each of us. I would challenge you to find a way to express your faith through a material commitment.
3. Develop a long-range viewpoint. Since God rarely works on the same timetable that we do, it is important that we learn what patience is—waiting. Just because you don't understand what is going on in your life, don't begin to doubt God's direction. I don't think that Joseph really understood God's long-range plan as he sat in the Egyptian jail. He did understand what God expected of him each day and was faithful to do what God asked him.
"Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).
4. Pray diligently. It has been said that prayer is God's secret weapon. It's time we let the secret out and begin to exercise the most powerful tool that God has given us. Prayer is the key to unlocking God's blessings and power. It is the most neglected part of most Christian' lives. Faith is not possible outside of prayer, and with prayer all things are possible.
"Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus'" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
CHAPTER 2Brokenness—God's Best
Perhaps no principle in God's Word is less understood than that of brokenness. Brokenness does not mean being broke financially. It is a condition in which God allows circumstances to control our lives to the point that we must depend totally upon God.
It would seem that the greater God's plan for a person, the greater the brokenness. The life of the apostle Paul reflects both great power and great brokenness. Yet Paul never considered his personal circumstances punishment. He consistently asserted that his sufferings were a direct result of service to Christ.
"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:5).
THE PURPOSE OF BROKENNESS
In God's wisdom He realizes what it takes to keep us attuned to His direction. He then allows problems to occur that will break our will and keep us dependent upon Him. Once a Christian makes a total surrender of that old self to God, then (and only then) God can begin to use him. Since "self" continues to surface, God must allow testing to continue in order to "kill" the old self.
Many times we pray, "God mold me into a vessel You can use," and then when God's work begins, we want to run.
James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethen, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." If you want the perfecting of your faith, it comes by way of testing.
THE EVIDENCE OF SERVICE
The principle of brokenness is easier to teach than to live. The teaching is very clear in the lives of those whom God has chosen to use throughout the Bible. The greater the service to God, the greater the potential for ego and self-centeredness. Thus, the greater the necessity for maintaining a "God first" spirit. Brokenness is an apt term for those being molded into Christ's image.
Clearly the purpose of brokenness is to make a Christian totally dependent on God and separate from this world.
"And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you; but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and dead" (1 Peter 4:4-5).
HOW IS BROKENNESS ACCOMPLISHED?
Since finances is one of the most often discussed topics in the New Testament, it would seem obvious that God would use that area to test our obedience to Him. In our society we have a value rating system that is based upon material worth. That is just as true within Christianity as it is in the unbelieving world. Fortunately, God's value system is based on spiritual worth and is measured by our willingness to accept His direction.
The conflict between materialism and Christianty is addressed directly by the Lord in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Many Christians have had their egos shattered by financial setbacks. Some respond by panicking to the point that they abandon their Christian principles and cheat and lie to protect their security. Others fall back in defeat and lose their trust in God. Some live a life of fear, and as a result they lose their witness. Others accept God's authority over their lives and use this as an opportunity to trust God more fully and to demonstrate to others that they serve God. As was said of Job, "Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God" (Job 1:22).
Until a Christian is broken to the point of total dependence on God, he is not really useful in God's plan. "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 3:7).
EGO: GOD'S ENEMY
Few Christians are willing to share an experience with brokenness. So often we equate problems with sin and illogically conclude that those who have problems are being punished by God. If that's so, then Paul was the worst sinner in the history of Christianity. He was flogged five times, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and deserted. And yet he said that he was in God's will and was comforted by God.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
God desires to break our ego and pride—not our spirit. Indeed, in the spirit we should grow stronger under affliction. The purpose is to strip us of all self-gratification. "But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends" (2 Corinthians 10:17-18). A man can accomplish a great deal in his own strength and ability, but the lasting effect is minimal.
RUN OR RELAX?
Our first reaction to the pressures that accompany brokenness is to run. It's simply easier to withdraw and feel sorry for ourselves than it is to stand against the enemy. No one can question Elijah's courage or commitment to God. He regularly risked his life to deliver God's messages. And yet right after he had called down God's fire from heaven and had destroyed the prophets of Baal, he ran when Jezebel threatened him. In 1 Kings 19:4, he is found under a juniper tree asking God to let him die; instead, God comforts him, feeds him, and tells him to relax and rest. Later, when Elijah was refreshed, God sent him back into the battle.
There are times in all of our lives when we feel defeated and would like to simply get away from it all. If that happens to those between forty and fifty years of age, we usually label it a mid-life crisis. In reality such crises come at every stage of life. It's just that at mid-life they are amplified by doubts about the future.
Paul must have had some real doubts about the difficulties he faced throughout his service to the Lord. But the overwhelming characteristic we see in Paul's letters is the ability to relax and enjoy life regardless of his external circumstances. Paul was truly a broken man but not a defeated one.
"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).
THE LESSON OF BROKENNESS
Brokenness, whether it is financial, physical, emotional, or all three, has at its center the purpose of teaching us to trust in God. Paul knew that his tribulations were the result of constantly stepping on Satan's toes. They were neither pleasant nor enjoyable to Paul, but he knew they were necessary in order to build the courage of others.
"Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory" (Ephesians 3:13).
FINANCIAL BROKENNESS
God is in control. If we are serving Him, then nothing can befall us except that He allows it. It will rarely seem beneficial at the time, but if we believe God's Word, then we must believe He will ultimately receive the glory.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
An important aspect of God's work in our lives is to teach God's people to love and care about each other. When Christians are suffering from a financial disaster, the last thing they need is an accusation.
In fact, they need help. So the testing of our faith through brokenness extends over to the testing of the faith of others through compassion. No message in God's Word is clearer than that of John's on this subject: "But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:17-18).
We are admonished to love with deeds. That is a prerequisite to having God answer our requests (1 John 3:22-24).
If you're going through a period of trials and testing, don't get discouraged. Share your struggle honestly with those around you, and get the prayer support and other support that God has already provided. Remember that God does not want to break you spiritually. He desires that you and I conform to His Son's image. To do that we must have our ego and pride broken.
CHAPTER 3Being Content
One of the great mysteries of Christianity is contentment. At least one must presume it is a mystery because so few people have found it. Actually, contentment is an attitude.
EXTREMES
There are many people who seemingly have little or no regard for material possessions. They accept poverty as a normal living condition, and their major concern is which doorway to sleep in. Are they living a life of contentment? Hardly so, because that description aptly fits the winos found in the Bowery of New York. In contrast are the affluent who have the best our society has to offer at their disposal. Their homes are the community show-places, their summer cottages are more like small hotels, and their automobiles cost more than most families' houses. Does their abundance guarantee contentment? Considering the amount of alcohol and tranquilizers many of them consume, it's hard to imagine that this group is any more content than the previous one.
BALANCE
If money can't buy it and poverty doesn't provide it, what is contentment? Contentment, contrary to popular opinion, is not being satisfied where you are. It is knowing God's plan for your life, having the conviction to live it, and believing that God's peace is greater than the world's problems.
But often we get so involved in the day-to-day activities of earning a living and raising a family that we forget our real purpose: to serve God. Consequently, the trivial problems such as buying a new car or attaining a higher position begin to crowd our conscious mind, and God's plan becomes an abstract goal rather than our focus.
"And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19).
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Using Your Money Wisely by Larry Burkett, Jim Bell. Copyright © 1985 Christian Financial Concepts. Excerpted by permission of Moody Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTSPart 1: Attitude
Fear of the Future
Brokenness-God's Best
Being Content
Love Your Enemies
Suffering for Christ vs. Living Like a King
Being Excellent in a Mediocre World
Finances and Your Relationship with God
How to Be a Success
How to Handle a Surplus
How to Prosper from Problems
How Deceit Destroys
How "Things" Demand Attention
Dealing with Pride
Assuming God's Will
Christian Commitment-What Is It?
Is Gambling Wrong?
Christian Compromise
Part 2: Church and Sharing
Financial Needs of Divorcees
Is Welfare Scriptural?
Fleecing the Flock
Church Borrowing
The Church and Money
Church Benevolence Programs
Part 3: Insurance and Investing
Avoiding "Get-Rich-Quick"
The Purpose of Investing
Selecting Good Counsel
Insurance-Is It Scriptural?
Part 4: Borrowing and Lending
Surety-What Is It?
Borrowing: a Biblical Perspective
Lending to Others
Collecting Debts
Part 5: Business
Bankruptcy-Is It Scriptural?
What Is a Christian Business?
The Purpose of a Business
Unequally Yoked
Keeping a Vow
Financial Honesty
Retirement-Is It Scriptural?
Business Ethics
Paying a Fair Wage
To Sue or Not to Sue
Work as unto the Lord
Multi-Level Sales Programs
How to Identify Business Bondage
Too Busy to Serve
Part 6: Family
Husband-Wife Communications
Should Wives Work?
Financial Authority in the Home
The Wife's Role in Business
Disciplining Children
Financial Discipline in Children
Symptoms of Financial Problems
Choosing the Right Vocation
Keeping Christ in Christmas
Setting Goals
The Issue of Inheritance
Part 7: Ministries and Scriptural Highlights
Christian Fund-Raising
Give and It Will Be Given To You
Seek the Kingdom of God
