Message Notes
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Getting Financially Fit

May 2, 2004

 

Proverbs 23:5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Five Foundations for being Financially Fit:

1) Make a point to always know WHERE YOU STAND financially
Proverbs 27:23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.

The trick: You have to LIVE on less than you make!

2) Learn to be CONTENT with what you HAVE
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

Philippians 4:11b-13 …for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Jesus, I want You to be number one, the manager of my life.  I want You to be in control in my relations, in my time, in my health, and, yes, in my money.  I want to put You first. Today, I humbly ask for your help. Jesus Christ, I admit to you that I am messed up. I realize today that I am not living my life for you. I realize my sin has offended you, so I turn from my sin and ask for the forgiveness that you freely give. I turn to you, Christ, and ask you to be the leader of my life. I give you everything I am and everything I will be. Amen.

3) Give AT LEAST 10% OFF THE TOP back to God. Be generous to others in general.
Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Malachi 3:7-11Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
⁸“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings. ⁹You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. ¹¹I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

Proverbs 11:24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

Proverbs 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

1 Timothy 5:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 10-11 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver… ¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

The Key to generous giving: 2 Corinthians 8:5b they gave themselves first to the Lord…

4) Save for a RAINY DAY
Proverbs 21:20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! ⁷ It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, ⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

5) Get out of DEBT, and stay out as much as possible
Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.