Biblical Money Management
Christianity isn't about money-making. It isn't about preaching you to give more. It isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It isn't some prosperity gospel (which basically says that you should 'love God because He'll bless you'). It isn't about a separation between the secular and the sacred.
I think that as young professionals (I'm owning it!) -- it's easy to get so caught up in the rat race of accumulating wealth, getting ahead, and "making it". I, for one, admit that one of the things I want is to be self-sufficient in everything. I want to live on my own, pay my own bills, do my own groceries, cook for myself, do my own laundry, and clean up after myself. I feel as if I'm not at all independent, even though I've already graduated from college. Of course, in the Philippines, this is culturally acceptable. In fact, the kids aren't expected to leave home until they get married and start their own family.
Going back to money-making thought, though, it's very clear in the Bible that we cannot serve two masters. Being rich isn't wrong though, I just want to get that out right away. I think that wanting to be rich isn't a bad thing either, but it can be if that is the main focus of your life. The driving force of any job should not be to 'make more money' so I can 'buy more stuff' and 'live more like a king'. (Which is predominantly the case.)
I remember a pastor saying that there should never be any severance between the work you do and your ministry. If God places you in the church as a paid servant there, then that's good. If God places you in any other job, the money you get from that job should also serve to further His Kingdom. I know it all sounds very God-centered, but that's how it works. (If God isn't the center of your life, then I hope one day you'll be able to talk with Him about that. It's going to be the only conversation that will affect your eternity.)
No matter where you are, no matter what you do, if you are part of His family there is no excuse to be bad stewards of the blessings that He entrusts to you. I don't know much about money-matters, actually. But Matthew Kok sure does, so maybe he's the guy to ask. As a disclaimer, the Bible is NOT ABOUT money management. The Bible is God's Word, telling the story of God and His great plan of salvation. But, there are principles in the Bible that can show us a way to handle our money wisely, in a manner that gives honor to the Ultimate Provider. =) That's why it's called Biblical Money Management.
This conference entitled Biblical Money Management will be held in my home church. So if you're free this August 13, 2010 at 2:00PM-6:00PM, drop by Greenhills Christian Fellowship, why don't you? To reserve tickets/for more information, go to here. I'm also selling tickets myself, so just contact me if you're interested. =) This is an investment.
I guess it all comes right down to the fact that nothing belongs to me.
Even my life, in all its insignificance, belongs to Him.
Sometimes it's still such a wonder that He loved enough to send His Son to die for people who don't deserve it.
24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - Matthew 6:24
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People 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. 10For 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. - 1 Timothy 6:6-10
I think that as young professionals (I'm owning it!) -- it's easy to get so caught up in the rat race of accumulating wealth, getting ahead, and "making it". I, for one, admit that one of the things I want is to be self-sufficient in everything. I want to live on my own, pay my own bills, do my own groceries, cook for myself, do my own laundry, and clean up after myself. I feel as if I'm not at all independent, even though I've already graduated from college. Of course, in the Philippines, this is culturally acceptable. In fact, the kids aren't expected to leave home until they get married and start their own family.
Going back to money-making thought, though, it's very clear in the Bible that we cannot serve two masters. Being rich isn't wrong though, I just want to get that out right away. I think that wanting to be rich isn't a bad thing either, but it can be if that is the main focus of your life. The driving force of any job should not be to 'make more money' so I can 'buy more stuff' and 'live more like a king'. (Which is predominantly the case.)
I remember a pastor saying that there should never be any severance between the work you do and your ministry. If God places you in the church as a paid servant there, then that's good. If God places you in any other job, the money you get from that job should also serve to further His Kingdom. I know it all sounds very God-centered, but that's how it works. (If God isn't the center of your life, then I hope one day you'll be able to talk with Him about that. It's going to be the only conversation that will affect your eternity.)
No matter where you are, no matter what you do, if you are part of His family there is no excuse to be bad stewards of the blessings that He entrusts to you. I don't know much about money-matters, actually. But Matthew Kok sure does, so maybe he's the guy to ask. As a disclaimer, the Bible is NOT ABOUT money management. The Bible is God's Word, telling the story of God and His great plan of salvation. But, there are principles in the Bible that can show us a way to handle our money wisely, in a manner that gives honor to the Ultimate Provider. =) That's why it's called Biblical Money Management.
This conference entitled Biblical Money Management will be held in my home church. So if you're free this August 13, 2010 at 2:00PM-6:00PM, drop by Greenhills Christian Fellowship, why don't you? To reserve tickets/for more information, go to here. I'm also selling tickets myself, so just contact me if you're interested. =) This is an investment.
I guess it all comes right down to the fact that nothing belongs to me.
Even my life, in all its insignificance, belongs to Him.
Sometimes it's still such a wonder that He loved enough to send His Son to die for people who don't deserve it.
24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - Matthew 6:24
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People 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. 10For 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. - 1 Timothy 6:6-10