Creating a Financial Plan with God
Message Summary:
In today’s message in our series, Kingdom Economics, Pastor John Carter reminded us that every person has been given these six things to steward: 1) your body, 2) your mind, 3) your relationships, 4) your skills, 5) your money, and 6) your time. When we focus in on financial (monetary) stewardship, we are talking about how we manage our money. We all have patterns and habits around money. To steward money properly, we have to look at these habits. Nothing will tell you more about how you manage your money than when you receive some money you did not expect. Every dollar without a destiny will disappear. Everything we have comes from God. He has given us a lot of freedom to manage it, but that does not mean we can neglect the responsibility that comes with that freedom to properly manage these gifts.
But the truth is we have lots of things that go in and out of our lives without even knowing where the money is going. Whether it is endless streaming services or food paid for simply via apps, our money is flowing through the mindless holes in our cups. This is what was happening in the life of the unjust steward. The steward was being unwise with the money of His master that he was responsible to steward. He had to learn the hard way how to overcome his foolishness. When he was confronted by the chaos his behavior had produced, he finally learned how to shrewdly steward the finances he should have been taking care of all along.
As a steward of the gifts God has given to us, we have to know the state of our flocks and the condition of our herds. This means that you have to take care of what you have now, and in the lean times, you will have enough to cover all of your needs. This requires what Pastor called “yada yada yada,” or diligence to know. We have to look at the real state of our finances. To take ground financially in your family, you have to get everyone on board. You need to confront the fear and shame hovering around the real state of your flocks. Change can only come if you are brave enough to face your finances with truth and integrity. And God can move miraculously in any situation where the steward is willing to be honest and courageous.
Scriptures:
[Read Luke 16:1-13, The Parable of the Unjust Steward] 10 "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 "And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? 13 "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."
[Prov. 27:23-27 NKJV] 23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds; 24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26 The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field; 27 [You shall have] enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.
Discussion Questions:
What does it mean to “know the state of our flocks?”
Why do we need to know the state of our flocks?
What is the danger of the convenience of instant apps and streaming services?
What does it mean that “every dollar without a destiny will disappear?”
What is “yada yada yada,” or the diligence to know?
Life Application:
Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, follow the following steps that Pastor John laid out to create a financial plan for freedom:
Pray and invite the Lord into your financial life.
Face your fear, and get it all on the table.
Determine your starting reality. (What do I have?)
Review the choices you have made financially. (Track and Tweak)
Specify your vision. (What do you want your life to look like in ___ years?)
Create a spending plan/budget. (How will you get there?)