Both the Old and New Testaments have a lot to say about money. 

The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, and more than 2,000 verses on money. In fact, 15 percent of everything Jesus ever taught was on the topic of money and possessions-more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined. www.freemoneyfinance.com Feb 8, 2009.

The Principles of Biblical Finance are easy to understand but difficult to do.  Most of us have challenges dealing with money and finances.  Why do you think that is?

Because most of us have never been taught sound financial principles from the Bible and being successful in this area involves about twenty percent knowledge but eighty percent behavior change.  Most of us naturally resist change!

Today, we’ll be discussing Principles of Biblical Finance.  What does it take to become wise in the ways of money?

Whenever there is a shooting, people call for more gun control, as if the guns suddenly and unexpectedly ran into the school and started killing people.  In one sense, money is like guns.

1)  Money is neither GOOD nor EVIL.

But Mr. Coser, what about I Tim 6: 9 - 11?

(1 Tim 6:9 - 11 NKJV)  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

The LOVE of money is a root of “all kinds of evil”.  The operative words here are “desire” and “lusts”.  Money itself is neither good nor evil.  In fact, God blesses those who delight in His law.

(Psa 1:1 - 3 NKJV)  Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

God is very willing to give us ALL the good things if we “delight” in His law and that includes wealth.  Speaking to Solomon, in the early years, God says.

(1 Ki 3:11 - 13 NKJV)  Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

"behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

"And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

Since most of us have been taught from birth that we NEED a good “credit” score to function in society, let’s talk about debt.

2)  Debt is NOT our friend.

Debt = something, typically money, that is owed or due.

www.dictionary.com

So our “credit cards” are really “debt cards”.  We are a nation of debt! 

www.usatoday.com Nov 18, 2017

Americans are living beyond their means. The average American household carries $137,063 in debt, according to the Federal Reserve's latest numbers. Yet the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the median household income was just $59,039 last year, suggesting that many Americans are living beyond their means.  30% of American households have no debt so that $137K number is not typical for households that have debt.  Those that use debt, break down like this.

$16,883 - credit cards

$29,539 - auto loans

$50,626 - student loans

$182,421 - mortgage

(Prov 22:7 NASB)  The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

We become slaves to what or whom we serve. 

(Rom 1:1 NKJV)  Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

Paul chose to be a slave to Jesus Christ.  Like Paul, we too have to choose. 

(Luke 16:13 NKJV)  "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Debt, as we know it today, began in 1951 with the Diners Club card.  It began to really catch on in the 1970s.  But debt creates risk and enslaves the debtor.  If you owe money and lose your job, you could lose your house to foreclosure.  You could have your car repossessed.  You could have to declare bankruptcy.  You could be homeless.  Debt is not a good idea.

3)  BUDGET is NOT a four letter word.

Budget = an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time or project.  www.dictionary.com

A personal or household budget is usually done monthly.  Each dollar is assigned to a column or category at the beginning of the month and as money is spent, subtracted from the appropriate column or category.  You pick the columns that fit your needs.  For example, all of us have to eat so a FOOD column makes sense.  The FOOD column; if you spend $400 per month for food, that equates to $100 per week.  So, each week you have $100 to spend on food which you subtract from the food category or column. You decide what other columns you need.  Budget implies you direct your money rather than it just disappears at the end of the month.  Planning is the key.

(Luke 14:28 - 30 NKJV)  "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it;

"lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

"saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

A budget is simply a plan for your money.  If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.  You decide where and how it ought to be spent at the beginning of the month then subtract what is spent as you spend it.  You are in charge rather than everyone else.  If the numbers are not right, change them.  It usually takes about three months to get a budget working.  A good money plan (budget) is like getting a raise; you’ll “discover” money you never knew you had.

4)  The Wise Save for a Rainy Day.

(Prov 21:20 NIV)  In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

Most Americans live check to check, mainly because they have debt and they don’t budget.  Eliminating debt and following a budget will make money available so we can save for emergencies.  Most run out of money before the end of the month leaving nothing for an emergency fund.  Not a good plan!  Emergencies will happen.  If there’s no emergency fund, we grab the “card” and create more debt.  That ought to make us MAD!  We are being manipulated by the banks who charge 18% or more because we don’t have a plan for emergencies!

Save some each month for emergencies.  Put it where it’s not easily grabbed.  The goal is to have three to six months expenses set aside so that emergencies do not cause us to go into debt.  And Pizza Friday night is NOT an emergency!

5)  The Wise Invest.

(Eccl 11:1 - 2 NKJV)  Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.

Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

This is just a poetic way to say “invest” and “diversify” your investments.  There will be a time when you decide not to work, cannot work, or someone else decides that your services are no longer needed.  At that time it would be nice to have some cash flow from other sources than a job (which you no longer have).  It just takes a little bit invested over a long period of time and through the “miracle” of compound interest, you can create a significant nest egg. 

Depending who you ask, the return on the S&P 500 is between 9% and 12.5%. Let’s assume %10.  Kyle and $6.50/day.  30 years.  $195 per month. $405,462!

Invest a car payment for 30 years.  $523 per month (USAToday).  $1,087,470!

Real estate is also an investment that provides cash flow and appreciates.  Lots of options.  Just DO Something!

The above five points fall into the category of wisdom.  Doing them makes us wise in handling our money.  Point number six can fall into the area of sin.

6)  The Godly are Givers.

Tithing - 10%

(Mal 3:8 - 10 NKJV)  "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

God’s people tithe.  If we do not, we are sinning, breaking the 8th Commandment.  Many have challenges in this area because they do not budget and are in debt.  It’s hard to tithe when you have a $523 truck payment!

Tithing predates the Old Covenant and the Levitical priesthood. 

(Gen 14:18 - 20 NKJV)  Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

This is not intended to be the definitive work on tithing so I will not be talking about the festival tithe and third tithe or other administrative issues.  Suffice it to say that first tithe is a given.  We Christians tithe.

Offerings are another way we give.

Offerings - sometimes required, sometimes optional.  The amount is up to the individual.

(Exo 23:15 NRSV)  You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread; as I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.

Philanthropy - Those who are blessed and have managed their resources well can give beyond what is required. In Romans 12 we see that giving is a spiritual gift.

(Rom 12:4 - 8 NKJV)  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Conclusion:

Much of what we presented today and will discuss in the message chat falls into the area of wisdom rather than sin.  One can be a good person but unwise with money.  Likewise, one can be an evil person but manage his financial resources well.  As with most life principles, we need information and we need to apply it in order to be successful.  We can wander into debt and bad financial practices but it takes a plan and effort to get out.

Be assured.  A person who is a good steward of what God has given him, will be blessed!