176. Financial Stewardship: Part 5 // Q&A
Show Notes:
Bible Verses:
Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
Deuteronomy 28: 1-14 “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Malachi 3:18 “And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Topics Discussed:
What are your thoughts on emergency funds?
– Emergency funds are a part of stewardship.
– It is recommended to have a set of money (4 months of your expenses, etc.) in an emergency fund/savings account.
– Make sure you have money that is available that you don’t touch unless there is an emergency.
What are your thoughts on credit cards?
– Credit cards are good in most cases.
– If you have a credit card, you need to have self-control.
– Paying off balance every month builds your credit score.
– Credit cards offer rewards (cash back, travel points, etc.)
– Ask yourself “Am I able to pay off the balance in full every month?” and “Is having a credit card going to cause you to spend more money than if you had cash?”
– Credit cards have very high interest rates if you don’t pay off the balance every month.
In one episode you briefly mentioned that debt was bad. Can you share why?
– The problem with debt is the interest rates.
– Interest rates cause you to spend more for the item than the original “sticker price”.
– Loans for education and housing are better than the other kinds of debt like credit cards and auto loans.
– Debt for shopping and buying things you don’t need to buy is different than a mortgage for your house.
– Use wisdom and pay off your debt as soon as you can.
Why is leasing bad?
– In general, we want to avoid leasing.
– You don’t end up owning anything, you are just renting.
– It is better to purchase a car/home because you are building equity.
How do you not get overwhelmed when gas and food prices increase?
– As children of God, we don’t participate in what the world goes through.
– God has a way to provide to get us out situations that the world is experiencing.
– We are set apart and we do not operate in the world’s economy.
– Speak life. Do not speak words of lack (that is too expensive, I can’t afford that, etc.)
– God will give you practical wisdom to make adjustments.
I have been burned from tithing and so don’t want to give anymore because of how the money was used?
– Pastors/Ministries will be held responsible and will give an account.
– When you give tithe to the church, you are not giving to the church. You are giving to the Lord.
– Tithing is giving out of love and obedience to the Lord. Giving is letting go of control over that money.
– Process with the Lord and allow Him to heal your heart.
– Forgive that pastor/church. Release them and bless them.
If I begin to tithe, then I won’t have enough money for bills. What if I can only afford to tithe 3% or 5%?
– Tithing is 10%. Anything less is disobedience.
– Your expenses are too high and/or your income is too low.
– Your priorities have gotten out of hand, and you need to make some drastic decisions to cut expenses and increase your income so you can get to a place where you can obey the command to tithe.
– The reason you can’t afford to tithe is because you’ve never tithed before.
– You will not get the blessing and favor on your life if you don’t tithe.
– The reason you cannot afford your bills is because you are not giving.
– You have to take a step of faith.
I give a lot of my time to my church and several organizations I’m a part of by volunteering. Do I still need to give my finances?
– We should volunteer our time and skills but that should never replace the tithe.
– We cannot exclude financial tithing and giving.
– There needs to be a mindset shift. What if you considered a privilege and honor to give?
– Time is not a substitute for finances.
– Invite God in to heal your heart.
Where do I start with learning about investing, I feel like it’s a foreign language. We have growth portfolio in our 401ks but that’s it.
– Search financial investing on YouTube
– Dave Ramsey
– Go to fidelity.com and invest in a mutual fund or index fund
– 500 Index Fund
I am a believer. I am married to a nonbeliever or a spouse who doesn’t believe in tithing. What do I do? Are God’s promises going to be withheld from me if I am not tithing? Do I listen to my husband, or do I listen to God?
– If your spouse will allow you to tithe off of your own income, but not theirs, start with that. God will prove Himself and persuade your spouse to give as well.
– Be creative on ways to give the tithe (create a” fun money” budget and use your money as a tithe, etc.)
– Don’t cause further division with your spouse.
– Fast, seek the Lord and see what wisdom and strategy He gives you to do.
– The Lord knows your heart.
– Remember this is temporary. Pray, contend, and believe that this will change.
Powerful Quotes:
“We have to separate ourselves from the world.” – Caroline Harries
“We’ve got to not fall prey to the world’s system and the world’s standards.” – Caroline
“We operate with wisdom and the Holy Spirit gives us self-control.” – Caroline
“As Christians, we don’t want to be the borrower.” – Caroline
“As children of God, we don’t participate in what the world goes through.” – Colby
“We operate in Heaven’s economy, not the world’s economy.” – Caroline
“You do not have financial favor and blessing on your life if you are not tithing.” – Caroline
“The whole Christian life is about a step of faith.” – Caroline
“Being a Christian should be uncomfortable.” – Caroline
“The only regret you will ever have is not giving and tithing.” – Caroline
Resources:
Robert Morris Gateway Church
Dave Ramsey
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