Keeping Love Alive - Volume 2 - Managing Your Finances Together, Part 1

One of the biggest problems and sources of our biggest arguments, intermarriage was about our finances.

I mean we just couldn't get on the same page when it came to money in budget and where it went. Do you have some financial struggles communication with your mate and want some help. Well, that you stay with us. That's today. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry focused on helping Christians live what Christian was so grateful you joined us as there's the end of his new series love alive, falling over the past several program strips but unpacking for important biblical skills. Every great marriage, just a minute he'll share the life probably the most universal, only to learn how to manage money. This is such a relatable topic so let me encourage you after today's message to share it with someone in your life you can easily do that through the chipping remap, or by downloading and sharing the free MP3 LivingontheEdge.org that hears chip with today's talk you pull out your notes skill number four is how to biblically manage your finances together. The number one source of conflict and divorce in America is issues and problems around money and really it's the symptom as we learned it's different values different priorities at different styles almost every marriage has a spender and a saver different family backgrounds.

Your whole view of money well spending, saving, investing risk, you grew up in the family and it's it's in your in your thinking it's in your nerves and you just have preconceived ideas about those things and then some of you because of circumstance or situations.

I entered your marriage with debt or challenges, or had huge hardships that have created financial problems. All I'm saying is all that does is this it creates incredible pressure just incredible pressure and incredible pressure brings things to the surface where because were human, we figure out primarily how to blame the other person okay yet you still have your passage were still Colossians 312 through 17.

So in context here it says as those of been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, patients bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called into one body, and be thankful. The very first line says this is how God sees you. This is who you are what I just read after that is, this is what were to do in our relationships in the notice verse 16 is a resource. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. How with all wisdom, that means at the right time at the right way sharing it for the right purposes, teaching and admonishing one another will howl with truth. Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and then this idea of regardless of our circumstances, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And then in verse 17. He's going to say this is how I want you to behave, whatever you do in word or deed, I just pause for a moment, can you think of anything that's outside of word or deed, thought, that's good whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the father the command here is that all of our words and all of her actions are be done in Jesus name, and in Jesus name simply means two things. It means you do it as a representative of him. So I'm I'm speaking or I'm behaving or I'm acting as his representative and it also has the idea of being empowered by him to speak whatever he want you to speak or to do whatever he want you to do the two most accurate mirrors of our heart and our lives are our words and our money. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart. Jesus said in Luke six, verse 45 brings forth what is good and the evil man or the evil woman out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil, for the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. If you ever want to know where you're at. The MRI of your soul. I mean, I can intend I can think I can with my hands I can sing I can say I love God, but my words, my words reveal what's really in my heart and that's why her speech is so important and so anytime that's true. The other thing is your word, you can go into training so that you deal with issues so that what comes out of your mouth reveals what you want to be in your heart. The second greatest revealer is our money. Jesus, I do not store up yourself underlining your notes if you would for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

Why, why would he say that he doesn't want you to have nice things you want to keep something from you. What's true about moth and rust and thieves. They can take away.

In other words, it's vulnerable, but store up now underline again will you for yourself. This is for your benefit treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust can destroy and where thieves do not break in and then here's the purpose calls life for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also where ever if you want to know if you really wanted to know the Lord how my really doing from heaven all pretense what anyone else thinks in my own denial and in you and the deceitfulness of my own heart.

If I really wanted to know where my really at if I took a tape recorder and listen to my words per week and then sat down and listen to it.

The tone of voice, the anger, the sarcasm there hurt the swearing. The thanks the praise I would get a really good idea of what's in my heart that would be a pretty challenging thing to do a little bit easier way. If you would take all your financial statements all your credit cards and see where you all your money was spent in the last year or two years or three years or four years what you saved and why you saved it and where you gave money both formally and informally.

It would tell you more about your life than almost anything you can imagine because wherever your treasure is, that's where your heart really is. That's why Jesus talk more about money than heaven and hell combined.

He doesn't need or want our money and in fact that I was a pastor for 10 years and I thought I thought life was like this there's Jesus right there is the Godhead and then there's the enemy, Satan is not what the Bible teaches.

Jesus is theirs to God's there's God and there's Mammon, wealth, greed, money, promises to do everything money promises to prevent, protect, provide make you someone. Jesus said this is one God. This is the other God.

Satan is just the enemy to get you to believe that that will deliver and the world system is created to tell you your possessions, your power, your fame, what you can buy what people think that makes you a somebody so she Jesus says money. Money isn't neutral. He says it's it's powerful it's deceptive.

It's not bad in and of itself, but it's the other God and so if you want to know what's going on in your life work you want to direct your life. Money is a revealer and and might my experiences you know I'm to all own it first few years I was a pastor I didn't talk much about money. A lot of pastors don't talk much about money or if they do, it's about getting right or about a capital campaign about a building robust that we need and what we what you need to do is you need to study the whole counsel of God on money.

I read through all of Proverbs, a number of times and I took a green pen and anytime money in any way came up in Proverbs I highlighted in green will go are you kidding is what you can find out it's so fundamental. Let me give you a very brief overview of biblical finances, and I mean I'm going to go really quick to give this because this is the context in which I'm speaking in is the context in my experience most Christians don't have money is sort of like a side thing over here. It's a problem to deal with us like you know we we we know we need some money or the matter of giving us were like, but maybe there some law and I know I'm supposed to give 10% in either begrudgingly or semi-begrudgingly. It's like paying a bill and I should do that because I was taught to in the end of the whole teaching of generosity and your heart in the purpose and how money fits into the development of your spiritual life and my experiences often missed. So what the Bible teaches.

And I mean quick overview is that God owns it all. The earth is mine.

Psalm 50 and the fullness thereof every good and perfect gift. James comes from God. Second, were stewards managers and trustees. Luke 16 you don't own anything you don't have a car you don't have a home you don't have any investments you don't own anything.

It's 100% him. What do you have the apostle said, except what you have received and so my money, my house my investments my wife, my children, I am a steward and a steward or manager is someone who is entrusted with certain things to make good use of them for their master that changes your whole world that that means okay the market goes up for the market goes down, Lord your lose a lot of money right now but we laugh people been jumping off the buildings off the bridges 2008 anxiety, depression, fear overwhelmed the American view money. We are living the last 50 years, 70 years. We are living in America with a level of affluence that only the greatest kings in all the world ever experience historically and yet in this affluent world. We have more anxiety, more suicides and more problems than I could take you to multiple third world countries where they have very little and the people were very happy and no one's taking drugs. Not the most recent research, but not by the way, when you're in abject poverty or your really poor there is financial issues does this money solve all your problems. No picture helps in and what the secular researchers say, is that basically right up to about $75-$85,000.

If you're if you blow that in the current economy. If you get in about that area and without that money really helps in all the dollars. After that is sort of diminishing returns in terms of quality of life. The saddest most miserable, most problems in families and all my life have been the wealthiest people that I know and was so ironic I sit with them and I talk with them when they talk about another second or the third marriage or their daughter's suicide or the anxiety and their enablement of their kids because when you're really wealthy. It's hard to say no to your kids. It's hard to set boundaries. It's hard to teach them responsibility and so really really the only people that have more messed up kids in all the world. By the way, this was a study done by insurance company is the poorest of the poor of the poor like living in the ghetto and the ultimate rich in what they measured is treatment centers and the rest why is month money can't solve the problems. In fact, it creates incredible entitlement, lack of responsibility will give an account for our stewardship. God according to how he's made you an purposes has given us all different talents different resources and I'll give an account of what I do with his money.

What I do with his time, I add a card for years that I wrote down you know I do I do this thing a lot with my thinking. I mean I'm I I really believe as a man thinks in his heart so he becomes the mindset of the flesh that the mind set on the spirit life and peace. Set your mind on the things above, absolutely.

I mean I'm like over the top on. Boy what comes into my mind. There's a huge filter and what I put into my mind's life change happens not by behavior or emotions are trying hard life change happens. First and foremost you renew your mind and as you think differently. All the sudden that's not a temptation because it doesn't look very good. You think differently and emotionally.

Things change because the news is like poison and the more and more I watch of news and people being blown up in these people hate these people those people didn't know what it does is it creates all kind of things inside you ask a teenage girl. The more your own social media. The higher the anxiety, the higher the social suicide rate and so II keep aware of what's going on but I could. I'm real careful about what I let in my mind and what I know is that when I struggle with areas I've gotta change my thinking so coming from my background giving away money and being generous with did not come naturally. My dad grew up out of the depression. His parents farm was sold out from under him. That's a picture that he remembers he took me as a little boy to the bank every single week and I did yard and did things and you be put in savings and so that was embedded in me and saw I had a card that I wrote. Lord I desire to be more generous with my time and my money this year and I just read it over and just read it over read it over read over read it over and I just found there were opportunities. They were probably always there, but I noticed him and I would be a little bit more generous in the Livermore generous and then I reviewed a card for like five years and then I was studying.

I just realized that's not accurate.

I think that's wrong.

Chip.

So I put an X through the card in certain places. God I desire to be more generous with your money and your time this year at the end that's what I just realizes whatever. I got my pocket would ever get the bank account. Whatever kind of car I would ever have it, it's yours on I'm going to give an account for money is powerful and deceptive mark for you know the parables of the seed in the sower right. The seed is God's word.

It goes into the earth. You know the hard soil Satan grant takes it away.

The shallow soil.

It grows up persecution and difficulty fades away the thorny soil.

It grows up and then the desires of this word and the deceitfulness of riches choke out God's word but avoid the deceitfulness of riches, you do understand the word deceit means this when you are deceived you don't know it and we now live in a Christian worldview where we all have certain issues that we all send we've decided let's have a few acceptable sins and will give all each other a pass on them. I've been in a number of of men's groups where you know we all we all struggle with porn, but let's try and be more porn light is really not one of the options for you know I my nose not very wise but everyone has a lot of debt and everyone gossips a little bit about people.

When you meet newsgroups and we all struggle with that therefore it must be okay and we sort of gradually give ourselves permission to have the sacred cow of materialism.

All the other Christians I know. I mean they have always get the latest on an latest TV in the latest that were they have the money they think of these cards and and it's a pretty cool you put them on these cards and you know don't have to pay like 11 or 22 or $33 each payment and pay you know $944 for that $300 TV over five.

Here's but you don't think about what would second Scott's money and my thing is wrong.

Use credit card no credit cards came off every 30 days. But I'm just I'm just saying there's radical thoughts about money and the subtlety and deception of money is it it takes you down a path is like being in water were you go out ever been in the peach. You know when you're having fun and you got the sand and if you have a family got a couple kids here to get the blankets and you can have lunch and stuff and and they go out and play in your flying in your flying in your flying and nothing happened but the curse doing this and you look up and you realize we couldn't not mean our worst mom and dad where's that's what happens to us with regard to money money is the other God, according to Jesus, we can't serve both Matthew six giving is God's antidote to greed and the dangers of idol worship were commanded instruct those who are rich in this present world, and biblically that's all of us not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of money or wealth notice.

That's the reason is it's uncertainty was to protect us, but fix their hope on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy another words when your priorities are right when it comes from God. He's gracious and kind and loving so you're not overwhelmed and that you're not compensating by buying things are going places you really can't afford your priorities are right and he says don't picture hope here.

On one hand so you want to be generous and be wise and then when he blesses you don't have to say will the reasoning of the swimming pools were doing baptisms for the youth group work into that mission trip. You know that work that were taking to New Zealand and Hawaii. If you want to go to Hawaii and the Lord has blessed your life and your priorities in order.

Here's what you enjoy it. For if God gives you a swimming pool in your priorities in order and he's like you in that way and maybe it's especially great for the season of your kids. Why don't you enjoy it. But what we do is we played lots of games. God wants us to richly enjoy all that he's given us and at the same time realize that thing that well that idol want to take over your soul will join the service to this application. You've been listening to the first part of his message managing your finances together as series keeping the love alive. Volume 2. Are you and your spouse going through a rough patch does it seem like all you do is argue to feel disconnected if that's where you are or you know a couple who struggling.

Don't miss the series. These messages will help restore your commitment to your spouse and rekindle lost love Chip shares four key skills that define a great marriage and these are lofty ideas. These are practical ways you can build a lasting relationship with your spouse. Are you ready to get your marriage back on track. For more information about keeping love alive volume to go to LivingontheEdge.org or call us at AAA 333-6003 Listeners, special offers will Chip as we come down to the last few days in the series.

I know you received tons of emails and calls about how the series is helping couples keep the love alive in their marriages. That's gotta be gratifying to see how God is using you and the team to have real impact that fit into the broader mission of the ministry sure Dave at Living on the Edge we do three things for three groups for one purpose, one we teach God's word to as many people as possible through radio, TV, small-group resources, online tools like our app and in partnerships internationally all around the world.

Second, we train Christians go deeper with teaching resources and small group studies and three we developed tools for leaders for pastors and business leaders to help them impact their worlds and beyond.

We do all these things for one purpose to help Christians live like Christians. Here's my question.

If you were impacted today by the ministry of Living on the Edge. Would you be willing to partner with us. We can't do this without the support of partners like you and as you do. We will change lives will spread God's truth around the world and we will help Christians live like Christians.

Here's my question. Would you join us. Thanks Chip well of Living on the Edge is ministering to and you've not yet partnered with us financially.

Would you prayerfully consider doing that today.

It takes a team to do what God called us to do and were inviting you to help us help Christians live like Christians to send a gift or become a monthly partner donate online at http://livingontheedge.org Donate on the app or give us a call at AAA 333-6003. Your partnership is greatly appreciated. Will Chip as you talked in this program.

You made a statement that can instruct me you said money isn't neutral. Could you elaborate on what you meant for years as a pastor I have to tell you I thought that it was God against Satan.

Jesus didn't teach that he says that there's two gods, there is him and there is money in Satan is evil, and he uses money and multiple other things to try and lure or seduce us away from our relationship with Jesus Christ. No money isn't necessarily evil in and of itself, but the desire for to become rich money promises security and significance. And that's why it's the other God and so it's not neutral.

It's powerful, so that's why it's so critical as a couple to get on the same page. Lesson number one.

And this is hard. God owns it all. I am the Lord. That is my name right. The earth is mine, and the fullness thereof. All things are by me and for me and through me money is like time we are given an X amount of it and we are managers and stewards. So the question is not what do I do with my money or even my time or my house. It's Lord what do you want me to do with the money that you've entrusted to me with the time entrusted to me with the resources or house entrusted to me and so this is why it's so critical as a couple to say let's study what the Bible says about money. Let's not allow any idols to get into our lives. And you know what is so easy to to blame your mate Moshe does too much shopping or he plays too much golf will all he wants to do is you know put money into cars and hobbies. And this and that all she wants to do is fix up the house and ask yourself how much is coming in.

What is our level of debt and in our next broadcast, I'm gonna walk through. I mean a nuts and bolts approach to help you get a handle on your money so you can get a handle on your life.

You know an easy way to share chips messages is with the Chip Ingram up with just a couple taps any message you choose is on its way to your friend, someone in your family or own social media to help others who could benefit from the truth of Scripture and its encouragement. And don't forget to include a quick note about how it made a difference in your life will be with us again next time. When Chip continues his series keeping love alive volume to tell them this is Dave Drury saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge