THE FOUNDATION OF FINANCIAL HEALTH

Getting Fit Financially– Part 1

Oct 1-2, 2011

During 3yr DOD Kick-Off: 7 areas of health

o We began with PHY – Your body is God’s temple

o Today, a major series on financial health (title)

1. Look at 2 my favorite books: Prov & Eccl
2. These truths are desperately needed (Stats)

o Before we spend wks in Prov. & Eccl

Look at what Jesus had to say about money management
- ½ parables … more about money…

Matt 25: Parable of the Talents

Because the word “talent” = giftedness. Actually about money!

READ MT. 25:14-30

A talent was a measurement of gold (Rom 71 lbs)
Today; Gold is $1600 an oz.
1 TALENT = worth $1.8 million!
2 TALENTS = $3.6 million!
5 TALENTS = $9 million!

In this story we learn: 7 FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE

 VS.14 “The Kingdom of Heaven will be like a man was going on a journey.
He called his three servants together and entrusted his property to them.”
circle “his” Whose money are we talking about?
Master’s or servant’s?
1st THE LAW OF POSSESSION: EVERYTHING I HAVE BELONGS TO
GOD o What I think I own, is really a loan!

o God made it all. He owns it , then he loans it. He loans it to you!

It was all here before you…. and it will be here after you die!

o Bible: God created humans to manage his resources!

Benefit: We get to use it for 60-70 yrs. But it’s not ours!

If you loaned me your Beach home for a yr

I might forget it was a loan! Presumptuous when we act like owners!

o If you’d remind yourself of this daily – you’d worry a lot less!

VS.15 “To one servant he gave five talents of money, to another two
talents of money and to another one talent, each according to his
ability. Then he left on his journey.”

2nd THE LAW OF ALLOCATION: GOD HAS LOANED ME MONEY

Notice: The amount given differs (1, 2, 5)
But everybody gets something! No “no-talent” people!

VS. 16-18 “The man who had received the five talents went at once and
put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with
the two talents also doubled his money. But the man who had
received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and just
hid his master's money.”

NOTE: You get to CHOOSE what you do which God gives you!
Waste it… Spend it … Hoard it… Use it .. Invest it!
God gives you that freedom as a TEST

BUT ONE DAY you’ll explain to God the choices you made!

VS. 19 “After a long time the Master of the three servants returned
to settle his accounts.” circle “accounts”
3rd THE LAW OF ACCOUNTABILITY: ONE DAY GOD WILL AUDIT ME!
A final exam on the life God gave you!
A Life Audit , not by I.R.S. but by G.O.D! & He has all the records!

God has made an investment in you & He is counting on a return!

What did I do with what he gave me?
Rom 14:12 “Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Irresponsibility never lasts. It catches up with you!

America has overspent for decades!

1st guy: Good Returning to Report

VS. 20-21 “The man who had received five talents brought the other five
he had made. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents.
See, I have gained five more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and
faithful servant!” Doubled investment! 100% return!

2nd guy- another good return

VS. 22 -23 "Then the servant with the two talents of money also came.
‘Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; now see that
I have gained two more!’ His master replied, 'Well done, good and
faithful servant!” Resourceful! 100% ROI!

3rd guy- not a good report

VS. 24-26 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,'
he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not
sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid
and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs
to you.' His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’”
BURIED IT! Did nothing!
Then blamed his master for his mismanagement! a victim!

PROV. 19:3 (TEV) “People ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and
then blame the Lord!” God “When did I tell you to do that?”

Notice the Master’s response to this whining:

VS. 27“You should have at least put my money into the bank so I could
make some interest!”

4. THE LAW OF UTILIZATION: I MUST WISELY USE GOD’S MONEY!

God expects me to invest what he loans me!

3rd guy: Cautious and Conservative - I’ll play it safe!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. HE SAT ON IT!

Does this upset the Master? reaction: “YOU wicked & lazy!”
 o Most of US think “wicked” – means murdering, rape, or abuse
GOD’S DEF: Misusing the resources God entrusts to you!
Doing nothing w your talents!
It is sinful to bury it & not multiply it!

vs 27 “At least - put in bank!” hadn’t even tried! Done nothing

“To Bury” =put it out of sight. We don’t want to face it. Try to forget it.

TWO INSIGHTS:
1. You can’t please God by doing nothing (MUST RISK!)
- Without faith...impossible! Whatever...
- Doing nothing with my talent is inexcusable!

2. God would rather you TRY to serve Him in faith & fail than do nothing
“I’d rather attempt to do something & fail...”

Q: Who is most likely to do nothing with what God gave him?

The 1 talent person! “Since I’m not a superstar, I’ll just sit here…

o Just because you can’t be “the best” –doesnt excuse you to do nothing!

o Some of you have no joy in life. No spark /no enthusiasm WHY?

PLAYING IT SAFE! Sitting on the sidelines of life! Spectators

- Not using your talents the way God intended

- Living for yourself. Not involved in ANY service to others!
- BORED! Jesus “Lose your life to find it”
It’s time for you to get back into the game. Stop sitting on…
Why do we sit on the sidelines?

5. THE LAW OF MOTIVATION: I MUST MOST AGAINST MY FEARS!

VS. 25 “I was afraid and went out and hid your money in the ground.”
Now we get to the heart of the matter!

GOD PROMISES blessing IF you’ll follow his commands.

Next several wks- God’s laws for financial freedom & fitness
BUT THEY REQUIRE FAITH!

What keeps you from using your talents…. investing your life…
moving to financial freedom …
BEING AFRAID TO DO IT GOD’S WAY
- I’ll never get married if I don’t sleep around
- I’ll never get out of debt if I tithe…
 There are 3 kinds of fear that can bury your “talents”

1. SELF-DOUBT “I could never do that! ... “I’m not qualified”

Fear of failure! ILL: In school, hesitate to raise hand?

2. SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS: “What will others think?”

Pr. 29:25 “The fear of man...trap”

o We excuse ourselves by pointing to more talented/gifted

“But she’s more talented Lord!
“If only I had his ability .. resources... background

o Again: Just because you aren’t the best at something

doesn’t excuse you to sit & do nothing!

3. SELF-PITY - “I failed in past so I’ll never try again”

ILL: Two- Jesus’ disciples failed him miserably (both denied him)
But responded differently:
- Judas: wallowed in guilt, gave up
- Peter: repented and 50 days later...greatest success
God uses ordinary people. Moses-murderer. David-adulterer
Jacob-failure

It doesn’t matter where you’ve been-but where you’re headed!

READ AGAIN VS. 25 “I was afraid and went out and hid your money in
the ground.”
Remember how he prepared a little speech to justify himself!
Blamed his boss! “It’s your fault I failed! You were unreasonable!”
Fear ALWAYS causes me to make excuses to do nothing!

o Satan often attaches a fear to a talent God has given you!

If you give into the fear… never see the return on investment God intends!
Must move against your fears!

VS. 28-29 The Master’s reaction: “Take away the money from this servant
and give it to the one with ten talents. To those who use well what they are
given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance! But for
those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.”

6. THE LAW OF APPLICATION: IF I DON’T USE IT I’LL LOSE IT!

Why do some seem to get less & less in life?
They arent using what they’ve got!
 o God has the right to take away ANYTHING I don’t use to invest for Him!

Universal Law: You forfeit what you don’t use!

- Refuse to exercise - lose muscle!
- Refuse to think - mind goes dull!
- Refuse to practice - lose a talent!

o Flip side: If I DO use what God gives me- He will give me more!
Heb. 13:21"God will equip you with all you need for doing his will"
A Promise!

Q: What do you need more of? Energy? Time? Talent? Money?

Whatever you need more of - start using it to help others!
Whatever you sow…

7. THE LAW OF COMPENSATION: GOD WILL REWARD ME FOR GOOD

MANAGEMENT (Stewardship)
Look at rewards God gives for wise money management:

VS. 21 “The Master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things, I will now put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness!”

- Affirmation: God says to you “Good job! Well done!”

- Promotion: greater responsibility
- Celebration: “share God’s happiness” Party time!

MONEY IS GOD ACID TEST OF YOUR FAITH!

Luke 16:11-13 “If you are untrustworthy with worldly wealth, who will trust
you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other
people's money, why should you be trusted with money of your own?
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God
and money."

When God does an audit on your life what will bottom line show?
God made you for ministry! Shaped for serve him!

o The best use-life...invest in that which will outlast it!

o Jim Elliot “He is no fool...
o Bible doesn’t say “Seek last…(after you’ve fulfilled schedule!)
o Only 1 life will soon be passed...

PRAYER or some: Need to take first step: Commit to Christ!