This Sunday, September 28, we begin a new 6-week sermon series, Life. Money. Legacy. I am excited about this series and I know God will do an amazing work in your life and home, if you will let him. During the series, we will watch 5 video messages from Dave Ramsey that were recorded at another church. I will preach the sixth message live. During the video messages, I will be at New Passion and will introduce the videos, as well as help connect them to our local body. During the 5 weeks I am not preaching, I will be working on sermons for our final two sermon series of the year. This is a huge blessing since I am still bi-vocational. To help our people, I want to answer this question: “What does a financial sermon series have to do with the gospel?”
- The Gospel is Generosity: “For God so loved the world that He GAVE….” The gospel is God giving Jesus, to us. As followers of Jesus, we are called to give to others, whether in our service, our finances, or our lives. We are not saved to be selfish, we are saved to become selfless. When our finances are not in order and are chaotic, it does several things: 1. It prevents us from being generous financially, because we can’t afford to be; 2. It prevents us from being generous in service, because all of our times is tied up in multiple jobs trying to right our financial ills; 3. It makes us internally focused rather than externally focused. Consider these verses when understanding gospel generosity:
- An Improper View of Money Hinders Effective Application of the Gospel: When we have a wrong view of money it hinders how we share the gospel and how we live it out. In 1 Timothy 6:1-19, Paul addresses Timothy by comparing a Biblical perspective on finances to a corrupt view. Paul tells Timothy that by following these instructions, no one will be able to find fault in him.
In the same way, Jesus shared an inescapable truth when he told His disciples that man cannot serve two masters (money & God); we will love one & hate the other. He said the biggest thermometer to gauge our love or hate is to examine where we invest our treasure (earth or heaven). These are strong verses. If you’re a non-giver, or just a whatever change I have in my pocket giver, it kind of makes you stop and think if you truly love God, or is it money who is your god. - Poor Financial Management is a Poor Reflection of Jesus: The best tippers at restaurants should be Christians, unfortunately it’s Christians who typically tip the worst, while possessing the worst attitudes. Consider a Huffington Post article and an article written on Christianity Today for a glimpse into the world of “Christian Tipping” and our reputation. As “Christians” we bare the name of Christ and therefore we are a reflection of Him. We are a ‘light’ to the world, not our own light, but His light. When we are months behind on bills, on a first name basis with the title pawn clerk, and bouncing checks because we’ve overspent and managed our money poorly, we make Jesus look bad…and let’s be honest, how can we truly have the courage in those moments to share our faith with the bill collectors, or even invite them to church? Paul said that in whatever we do, do it all to the glory of God; this would include how we manage our money.
This series is not to condemn you, but rather in love provide you the necessary tools and resources needed to manage your finances according to Biblical instructions, to teach you to be generous, and to help you leave a God honoring legacy for your children and the future church, who will carry on the work of the gospel, years after we have died and completed our work on earth. Why continue to live in financial chaos, when the Bible provides a pathway of freedom and peace? Join us, because our finances matter to God’s work on earth, for his eternal purposes in heaven.