MONEY-SPENDING-CHRISTIAN
Perhaps the
saddest observation of all is that the spending habits of people in the church
differ little from those of the world. The lifestyles of most professing
Christians are not substantially different from anyone else’s. Too many in the
church have adopted the world’s indulgent attitude toward money. Almost every
form of materialistic extravagance and excess has found its way into the
fellowship of believers. It is as if the church has forgotten Jesus’ mandate to
invest in eternity.
Investing in Eternity.
God comes
right out and tells us why He gives us more money than we need. It's not so we
can find more ways to spend it. It's not so we can indulge ourselves and spoil
our children. It's not so we can insulate ourselves from needing God's
provision. It's so we can give – generously. When God provides more money, we
often think, This is a blessing. Well, yes, but it
would be just as scriptural to think, This is a test.
Randy Alcorn
Excerpted from The Treasure Principle by
Randy Alcorn © 2002 by Eternal Perspective Ministries, p. 73.
When Jesus
warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it's not just because wealth might
be lost; it's because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we
live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions… Realizing its value is
temporary should radically affect our investment strategy… According to Jesus,
storing up earthly treasures isn't simply wrong. It's just plain stupid.
Randy Alcorn
Excerpted
from The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn © 2002 by Eternal Perspective
Ministries, p. 13-14.
A man’s
treatment of money is the most decisive test of his character – how he makes it
and how he spends it.
James Moffatt
When a world
is perishing, and immortal souls are sinking daily in crowds to perdition, a
Christian should look, with grudging eye, on almost every dollar he spends in
luxury!
J.A. James
One way to be
diligent in your financial planning is to evaluate all spending decisions by
asking the following Scriptural questions:
1.
Do
I have any doubt about purchasing the item (Rom. 14:23)?
2.
Have
I given God an opportunity to supply it (Psm. 37:4; Pr. 10:3)?
3.
Will
it aid or hinder my spiritual growth (1 Cor. 6:12)?
4.
Does
it put me in debt (Pr. 22:7)?
5.
Is
it a good investment (Pr. 20:14)?
6.
Is
it meaningful for my family (1 Tim. 5:8)?
7.
Why
do I want it (1 Tim. 6:9)?
8.
Do
I really need it?
Rod
Rogers
Copied from: Pastor Driven Stewardship: 10 Steps to
Lead Your Church to Biblical Giving by Rod Rogers, © 2006, p. 196. Used by
permission of Rod Rogers – www.DynamicGiving.com.
All rights reserved.
Hold material
goods and wealth on a flat palm and not in a clenched fist.
Alistair Begg
Made For His Pleasure, Moody Press, 1996, p. 139.
People are
funny; they spend money they don’t have to buy things they don’t need to
impress people they don’t like.
I
judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.
John Wesley
Statistics
reveal that most Christians in America do not include God in their budgets…
Sadly, God often gets what is leftover, if anything.
Gene
Getz
The Measure of a Man by Gene Getz, Copyright
1995, p. 194-195, Gospel Light/Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003. Used by
Permission.
The world
wants God’s money. Advertising tells us that. We also have the same desire
everyone else does – the Bible calls this desire the flesh – to spend money
selfishly. And the Devil would have us waste money because he is our enemy and
the Enemy of God’s Kingdom, and he wants to ruin our life and the work of God.
But God tells us how to manage His money in ways that will ultimately benefit
us most and bring us greater joy than using our money our way.
Donald Whitney
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life,
1991, p. 154, Used by permission of NavPress – www.navpress.com. All rights reserved. For more information please see the website www.BibicalSpirituality.org.