A Christian�s Biblical Budget
How to be a Faithful Steward of God�s Money
Part of the Series on Biblical Attitudes About Money
Proverbs 21:20
February 12th 2012 AM
Introduction
The Normal Way People Handle Money
(Proverbs 21:20)
They spend it all � it burns in their pocket or purse, waiting to be spent
They live in perpetual covetousness � always wanting, always excited about getting something new � new iPad, new iPhone, new movie, new shoes, new girlfriend, new TV, new anything! Just as long as it is �new�
They constantly worry about not having enough money � it is on their thoughts all the time � no time for worship, and rest, and thankfulness towards God
They are angry and frustrated because they don�t have enough money � blaming others, and circumstances (and even God) for not giving them what they deserve � they live very heady and elitist
They live in debt � it is a lifestyle � a way of living for most families
- Credit Card debt
- Credit Union debt
- Continuous Overdrafts
They are unable (and usually unwilling) to give to others, and have no time or energy to serve God because they are in bondage to bills and debt and the weekend�s spending sprees
Then there are those that seek to be rich! Beware when your life’s objective becomes earning as much money as possible (Prov 23:4; Eccl 5:10-12)! Christ taught us to live to make others rich (2Cor 8:9)
These are the modern lifestyles that have brought our world to near ruin
Some people pay big money for
what I am about to teach you! People have written books by the thousands, and made millions teaching others about money and budgets and how to stay out of debt. Only to find out that it was the writers who made the millions and not the readers!
But God gave us the best
instructions in the Bible on how to live and be more than survivors!
And it begins with living as
STEWARDS � not OWNERS!
Not seeking to be rich, but wise!
People who love giving, not getting!
That is how a Christian enjoys their money!
Background Parable -
The Parable of the Ungodly Steward (Luke 12:41-48)
A Faithful and Wise Steward
(Luke 12:41-44)
He starts off with little � not with a lot!
He serves everyone � gives portions of food in due seasons � takes care of people
He stays faithful until the Lord returns
He will be greatly rewarded � like young Joseph was in Genesis 41
The Foolish Steward
(Luke 12:45-48)
He has the wrong attitude about his responsibility
- He KNOWS what his Lord expects of him
- But he doesn�t care!
He is not expecting his Lord to return soon
So he lives for himself only � uses God�s money on himself
- He ruins other people�s lives to get ahead � abuse of power
- He east and drinks until he is drunk � all while spending his Lord�s money
He will pay! He will be judged
- Cut to pieces
- Damned with unbelievers � a sign he was never born again
- He will be given MANY stripes
Someone who does NOT know God�s will, will still be held responsible, but not be judged as harshly as those who know the truth
Why such harsh judgment
- Because he didn�t prepare himself!
- Because he did not obey God! It is THAT serious how we take care of the things that God has given us
The Meaning (Luke
12:48; 16:10-12)
If God has given you some things � no matter how small, or how little
He expects you to take good care of them
He will hold us responsible, and will either reward with greater responsibilities, or will judge us and take everything away from us!
Message
God Made Us Stewards
(Psalm 24:1; James 1:17)
Everything you have, everything you own, came from God (Psalm 24:1)
- Your life, your health, your wife, your children, your job, your hands, your good looks, your LACK of good looks�
- Name me one thing that you are wearing, that you are breathing, are holding, that you are struggling with that you didn�t receive as a gift from God first? (Jam 1:17)
- It�s a wild truth!
God owns this universe
- He owns the dirt, concrete, air, sky, the clouds, the water, the Gold, the Silver, the brass, the oil, the gas, the trees, the rocks, the mud, the grass, the sand, the mountains, the caves
- Not only that, but He owns the Moon, the stars, the planets, the comets, the galaxies
- And even beyond all that, if you are saved by Jesus Christ, He even owns YOU (1Cor 6:19,20)
- Usually when we own something, we also own everything that goes with it.
For example, if your parents own a car, then usually they also own the radio that is in the car and the things that are in the trunk of the car and the spare tire and anything else that goes along with the car. Suppose you were to own a pet hamster. Probably you would also own the hamster�s cage and water bottle and food and exercise wheel and whatever else comes with the hamster.
The same is true with God and the believer. Not only does God own the believer, but He also owns everything that goes with the believer. Not only does God own ME, but He also owns everything that I have—my clothes, my money, my possessions, my body and everything else that is mine! It�s all His! He�s the OWNER!
What does that make US?
- Stewards, Managers of someone else�s property
That�s what a steward is � he takes care of other people�s things
Bank �Manager� � is supposed to take care of OUR money
Airline Steward � takes care of the passengers
Hotel Steward � takes care of the guests and their needs
Like the manager of a house, or a business.
It does not mean he or she is the OWNER of the house/business, but it means that they are the MANAGER of it.
- A Christian is a Steward � a Manager of what belongs to God. I am the one who should take good care of the things that belong to God. I am the one who is responsible to be a good manager of my clothes, my body, my money, my possessions and all that I have, because all of these things really belong to WHO? To the Lord!
Here is the serious part - You WILL have to answer to God for what you DID with HIS monies, the TIME HE gave you (Luke 16:1,10-12)
We all need to learn how to be a wise Steward of our lives, and especially our money!
- Everyone wants to be rich with their money
- A Christian just wants to be wise with it!
God Loves Budgets
David prepared to build (1Chron 22:5)
Young Joseph budgeted for the coming Famine in Egypt (Gen 41:25-40)
God designed even ANTS to plan their lives and live within a budget (Pr 30:24,25)
Jesus said we all should �Count the cost� in everything we do (Luke 14:28,29)
Wrong Budgeting
Budgets that Ignore God (Haggai 1:2-11) � just plan to spend based upon only THIS life
Budgets that Ignore Debts (Romans 13:8) � just gamble that everything will balance out later
Budgets that Ignore Others (Proverbs 21:13) � just live rich and above others � never caring about the needs of your family, or others
Budgets that Ignore the Sowing and Reaping Principle (Gal 6:7,8) � just spend thinking there will be no repercussions
A Basic Budget - The
10-10-80 Plan
Summary:
- 10% to God�s kingdom � tithe
- 10% Savings � that�s you taking responsibility for your future needs
- 80% for yourself
10% to God�s kingdom � tithe (Malachi 3:8-10)
- The government demands our taxes � ever increasing
- God commands us all to tithe � give 10% of our income (increase) � whatever we have received into our pockets, or wallets or purses or bank accounts
- A Christians pays both, but pays God FIRST! That�s the tithe!
- Honouring the Lord with our money brings great blessing (Mal 3:10)!
God will POUR you out a blessing from the windows of heaven! POUR - not trickle! POUR -not drop!
God will bless you with so many spiritual blessings that you will not have room to receive it!
I don�t know about you this morning, but God has blessed my family. No, we are not rich, but we have enough! God�s blessings are so much more than just money. Having �ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS!�
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:31-33
10% Savings (Proverbs 21:20)
- That�s you taking responsibility for your and your family�s future needs
- Force yourself to save � some of you do!
- The only way to get ahead is to NOT spend everything you get, and save back some of it for hard times!
- THAT�S God�s way!
- OR� you can just keep gambling with God�s money and your children�s future by betting on a better job and more money coming in � when it ain�t a coming!!!
80% for yourself
- Living on less (Luke 12:29-34) � less worries, less stress
- From this 80% comes �
Your taxes
Your food and groceries
Your rent or mortgage
Your clothing
And giving to meet the needs of others (Luke 6:38)
If you set out to live this way, no matter how little you have, you can trust that God will bless you and supply your needs!
How to Live Off of 80%
of your Income
First - Make sure you pay the tithe and into your savings first, before you pay any other bills!
Next - Have the attitude of �Seek ye first the kingdom of God� in everything you do (Mt 6:33; 1Pet 4:10) � use your life for God in everything you do, not just in giving the 10%. Everything you do and buy must be for God and His kingdom before you ever try to take care of your own needs!
Lastly, Take care of your priority household bills
- 30% on housing max!
- Less than 10% on food
- 10% on your children�s clothing and school
- THAT IS HALF OF YOUR INCOME
- How can you live on 80% of your income?
- How do you have money for medical bills and everything else?
So, what should we do?
- List Your Expenses � have a paper-trail � know where your money goes
Have you ever sat down and recorded your expenses?
List how many times you buy fast food instead of fix home cooked meals (which cost HALF the price)!
List how many sweats and chocolates and cokes and coffees you buy!
List how many times you buy clothes and shoes!
ESB, Airtricity, Bord G�is
Food, groceries, eating out
Rubbish
All the channels you waste your time watching on top of the TV license
Car, Bus, Taxi, Petrol
Insurances
Phones
Internet
Holidays
Doctors and prescriptions
Miscellaneous
- Budget everything � not just your money
Your time
Your life
Your talents � don�t waste them all on the world and then have nothing left over for the Lord! HE DESERVES FIRST PLACE and the world should get second-place!
Get Your spending down below 80% of your income � how?
Cut each one of them down until they all add up to less than 80% of your income
Shop around � there are better deals out there
Cut some of them out completely � Sky, eating out, leaving the heat on all day in the house!
Go on short breaks instead of weeklong holidays
WALK instead of driving
Quit buying every toy your child asks for
How much money would you save if you put down those cigarettes?
I wonder?
- Decrease your expenses � simplify your life!
We can all pray all day and all night for more money
But until you get that �dream job� you need to cut back
Governments find this VERY hard � so will you!
- STOP buying on credit (Pr 22:7; Rom 13:8)
- Work smarter
Look for a job that will pay the bills
Take any job, but seek one that you can work hard enough at the pay your bills � THAT IS WHAT GOD EXPECTS
Don�t ever be too proud to do what you don�t like doing � DO whatever it takes to pay your bills!!!
Too many Christians are TOO proud to do what they don�t feel comfortable doing
Hey, if working night security pays better than what you are currently doing, the GET certified to do security work, and get more pay!
- Plan your spending
Get used to saving up for what you need
Use your SAVINGS instead of your CREDIT
Conclusion
God gave us the best
instructions in the Bible on how to live and be more than survivors!
And it begins with living as
STEWARDS � not OWNERS!
Not seeking to be rich, but wise!
People who love giving, not getting!
That is how a Christian enjoys their money!
Why Do all This?
Because God said so
You will learn contentment
Because, if you obey God, and God will take care of you and your family! Guaranteed!
Because it is how God�s people take care of God�s church in each community � without the need for Government handouts, and without the need of denominational headquarters � just God�s people that love their church
We have learned from
the Parable of the Ungodly Steward (Luke 12:41-48)
A Faithful and Wise Steward (Luke 12:41-44)
The Foolish Steward (Luke 12:45-48)
- God judged him. Why such harsh judgment
Because he didn�t prepare himself!
Because he did not obey God!
- God holds us responsible, and will either reward with greater responsibilities, or will judge us and take everything away from us!
We have Learned that
God Loves Budgets
David prepared to build (1Chron 22:5)
Young Joseph budgeted for the coming Famine in Egypt (Gen 41:25-40)
God designed even ANTS to plan their lives and live within a budget (Pr 30:24)
Jesus said we all should �Count the cost� in everything we do (Luke 13:28,29)
We Have Learned about A
Basic Budget - The 10-10-80 Plan
10% to God�s kingdom � tithe
10% Savings � that�s you taking responsibility for your future needs
80% for yourself
I�ve tried to show you
How to Live Off of 80% of your Income
It is now up to you!
If you have a hard time
demoting your money to the level of a servant, if you have a hard time with money period, and you want to see it differently�
Just take a good look at Jesus!
ASK Him for a new heart!
It�s called, being born again!