Like most of my blogs...I hope this one day gives my kids some perspective on my heart and my thoughts on things...like money.
Well, I just can't get my head around reconciling these superstars in the Christian world. How can we live in America and dream that big dream every day and still live for God as a true disciple? I feel like Platt and Chan somewhat contradict what Dave Ramsey says...and they have a point. Too much saving and too much preparedness...where does that leave trusting God? I am all for not being irresponsible, but living your entire like to store up for yourself just doesn't sit well with me...or saving so you can get out of debt to give later...humm...what if you don't make it there? I want to give now.
Well, I just can't get my head around reconciling these superstars in the Christian world. How can we live in America and dream that big dream every day and still live for God as a true disciple? I feel like Platt and Chan somewhat contradict what Dave Ramsey says...and they have a point. Too much saving and too much preparedness...where does that leave trusting God? I am all for not being irresponsible, but living your entire like to store up for yourself just doesn't sit well with me...or saving so you can get out of debt to give later...humm...what if you don't make it there? I want to give now.
"...the goal of the American dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God." David Platt, Radical
Here's all I know for sure we'd all agree upon:
1. I do think credit cards are evil and you better pay them off every month or you are a slave to debt.
2. Debt kills marriages and creates serious stress
Proverbs 22:26-27
Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you..
3. Materialism is silly and basically a monster that will eat you alive.
4. Getting out of most all debt is freeing (though I have issues with folks not living and not giving and wives and husbands working all the time b/c they are busy saving to pay off homes when that is a tax write off and some business debt is smart debt if it is a wise and decently safe investment opportunity).
5. Setting financial goals as a couple and having some small fallback net is wise.
6. Getting out of debt frees you to focus on more godly things and people you need to love.
7. Getting out of debt allows you to give more to the church and the poor around the world.
8. We should work hard and do whatever we do as if we are working for the Lord (and all these people who keep chasing a dream job need to get REAL...there is a reason why it is called a j-o-b and they pay you to do it. I am all for using your giftedness and what you are passionate about, but some folks just can't seem to find that and they need to quit looking and just work. No job is wonderful all the time).
9. Wanting too much money is dangerous. 1 Timothy 6:7-10
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Here's what I am not sure about:
- I know I don't want to pay for my kids' full college education...and hey, they might not even want one. I had to work and scrimp and save during college and pay off loans afterward and I think that is very healthy for a maturing adult!
- Does God really care if you go to college? No...and here I am a college instructor!
- Does God want you slaving to pay off that house while your kids grow older and move out and you didn't invest your time in loving them well? Is your TIME margin more important than any financial margin? Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
- What if I don't live to 50 or 60...I am afraid I would be wishing that I did not live like Dave Ramsey said per say, but instead made investments in eternal things (like my kids/giving to the poor ).
- What if I amass all this wealth and then my kids waste it on a college education they don't use or I die and they get money quickly that they didn't earn and then turn from God to wild living instead of disciplined living? What did I accomplish then? God gave the money to me and J and we should spend most all of it while we're here I think...I know that is controversial.
- If I am working on saving to get this house paid off and not supporting missions and not giving to the poor/my church like I should...is God really into just waiting until I am "where I want to be" for me to start giving more generously and freely! I don't think so.
- Some people are just as prideful about being debt-free and how much they save/manage as the other side of the spectrum of pride in giving it away. Some folks are just too proud of their frugalness, sacrifice, and envelope systems, stock accounts, 401Ks, etc. It can cut both ways that pride.
I want to say that God does want me to keep things "in balance" but as I am reminded by Radical and Crazy Love Jesus was never a man of balance. He said to the rich young ruler,
“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:21-23)
I suppose that I am just for a little financial margin, but totally against having such a margin that you don't really need God anymore. When I quit my job, I did not know how we would make it. A few years later, I realized ...I need a job and yes, God provided that and has provided it for 6 years now. Are we saving? Not much. If I have extra cash, am I to save it to make an extra house payment at the end of the year? Maybe. Or, shall I give it away. Or, shall I adopt again and invest it in a child's life. These are questions I can't get my head around. Should I go back to work so we can meet more financial goals or foster parent and invest in people. I think I know which way I am leaning. It really makes me uncomfortable when Christian financial counselors focus on building wealth. I just don't see that model in the Bible?
And then there is the insurance issue. How much insurance do we really need...and if we over-insure everything do we really need to trust God? I don't want to be that way. In fact, I think we might consider very little home insurance when the bank doesn't own this place. I just don't know if it is a wise expenditure. Sure, we need enough to have another place but some folks have ridiculous policies on vehicles, boats, and animals. Matthew 6:31-33 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Prov 6:6-8 Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Proverbs 21:5 "The plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty."
Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous." but is he really referring to money? not sure?
Luke 14:28--"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" Yes, this makes since to most...don't put on credit cards what you can't afford.
Luke 16:11 "If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?" Yup, we have to figure it out.
Prov 27:23 Know well the face of your flocks; and pay attention to your herds. Yup, we need to know what we have to work with and where it is going.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
Psalm 112:5
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
But there is more possibly about not saving so much...
"We've missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves." David Platt, Radical
"This is the unavoidable conclusion of Matthew 10. To everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, comfortable life free from danger, stay away from Jesus." Platt, Radical
According to David, “the dangerous assumption we unknowingly accept in the American dream is that our greatest asset is our own ability. The American dreams prizes what people can accomplish when they believe in themselves and trust in themselves, and we are drawn toward such thinking. But the gospel has different priorities. The gospel beckons us to die to ourselves and to believe in God and to trust His power.” Pg. 46.
ROI: Return On Investment is something that we hear about often. But, is there a plan B for telling folks how to get to heaven while I am investing in getting my house paid off?
David writes, “God has made a way of salvation for the lost, and people cannot come to God apart from faith in Christ...If more than a billion of people today are headed to a Christlesss eternity and have not even heard the gospel, then we don’t have time to waste our lives on an American dream.” (pg.157)
Quote: God won’t ever say, “I wish you would have kept more for yourself.”
Then, there are those who just want to give some money to their own...citing this verse:
10 So then, gas we have opportunity, let us hdo good to everyone, and especially to those who are iof the household of faith. Gal 6:10 Still, the Great Commission is for all believers and not just those who are "called" and not just those who are in America...and if you are going to give them the gospel then they can't be also hungry and thirsty and sick? Matt. 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. and...
Another author that influenced me in this are is Randy Alcorn and his book The Treasure Principle.
Fifteen percent of Christ's teachings in the New Testament deal with money and possessions, more than his teachings on heaven and hell combined. Alcorn compares heavenly treasure, which lasts forever, with earthly riches, which will die with us. He says that clearly amassing wealth and being full have not made Americans completely happy!
Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
…the righteous gives and does not hold back.
Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
Acts 20:35
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Romans 12:8
…Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. Not sure saving up qualifies there....so I suppose it matters what you are saving for...
I guess this issue with how to manage what I'm giving/keeping is just something I am going to constantly evaluate. I am just going to keep working through and praying about how it will flesh out in our lives...
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where theives break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
