"Real Life and Real Living"
Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27
Luke 12:8-34
Psalm 78:32-55
Proverbs 12:21-23
"Beware! don't always be wishing for what you don't have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are." (Luke 12:15)
Finances, wealth and possessions can be a touchy subject. Whether or not we would like to admit it, it is one of the highest priorities in the life of an American. Consider advertising. Advertisers wouldn't be focusing on things that don't matter to people. They're targeting what they know people want. They focus on looks and possessions. Even Christian radio has many ads that say, "Make money from home... have what you've always wanted..."
Understand that money is not evil. Possessions are not bad things. But to Live the DREAM, we need to have a healthy picture and understanding of what our goal is. Our goal is to be good stewards of what we do have. This is what Active Ministry Involvement is all about. As I've explained before, It would be easy to look at the phrase "Active Ministry Involvement" and compartmentalize that into "church life". That's not what living the DREAM is all about. This should be a practical tool to apply to daily living.
So what is "Real Life and Real Living" in terms of Active Ministry Involvement?
Well let's look first at what it's not:
"A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing - he couldn't get everything in. He thought about his problem, and finally exclaimed, 'I know - i'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I'll have room enough. And I'll sit back and say to myself, 'Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!' But God said to him, 'Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?'" (vs. 16-19)
How does this apply to our lives? We have to find balance in the stewardship of the resources God has given us. We must find the balance between wasting money foolishly and hoarding it for selfish gain. Establishing a retirement account is great. Establishing it for the purpose of getting rich and making it all about the possessions is not. At the same time, remember that Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son who squandered all his inheritance. That isn't God's plan either.
The principle of Active Ministry Involvement is "Responsibility". Take what you have and put it to work. Remember, we don't have money for the purpose of "getting" more, we have it for the purpose of "giving" more.
Blessing follows obedience. If you are obeying God, you WILL be successful. I know some of you probably cringed with that statement. It's important to know that it doesn't necessarily mean you will be "Rich". That is not the goal. The goal is to allow God to do as much as he can through all that you have.
We get so bent out of shape about financial things. We worry about having enough. "Then turning to his disciples he said, 'Don't worry about whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food and clothes. Look at the ravens - they don't plant or harvest or have barns to store away their food, and yet they get along all right - for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
"'And besides, what's the use of worrying? What good does it do? Will it add a single day to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't even do such little things as that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?'" (22-26)
It is hard to get a healthy perspective on all of this when when we are surrounded by a culture that is so contrary to this. The message we hear is "If you WANT it, you NEED it." I don't even remember what it's about, but there was a commercial that has this huge red line painted on the ground. It says something like, "There's a line we all eventually cross. It's where we move from what we want to what we have." That's the goal of our society. That's the goal of your flesh. It's the goal of my flesh.
That's why it's so important to die to the flesh and live spiritually minded. Jesus said, "Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven." (vs.21)
God WANTS to bless his people! Jesus lays out the mindset we should have. "So don't be afraid, little flock, For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will fatten your purses in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them. Your treasures there will never disappear; no thief can steal them; no moth can destroy them." (vs.32-34)
Don't you love that line? The purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them! That's awesome! A tag line from a financial radio show says, "aren't your tired of having more month at the end of your money?" When we are struggling in the area of stewardship, it's like there's a hole in the purse. It runs out so fast!
Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to teach a prosperity doctrine that is out of balance. What I AM saying is that God HAS A PLAN for the way we deal with ALL of our resources, NOT JUST MONEY. These principles apply to time, talent, and everything at our disposal. Do you have a house big enough for entertaining? Why aren't you hosting a home fellowship group? Do you have the gift of baking cookies? Why don't you make sure you welcome new people to your neighborhood with a fresh plate?
What is at your disposal? We all have an income of some sort, and we all have time and talent. What are we doing with it? Are we "squirreling" it away for selfish gain?
"Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." (vs. 34)
God's Word is challenging us to put what he has given us to work for his glory.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label Finances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finances. Show all posts
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Sunday, November 27, 2011
11.27.11 "It's Much Quieter with your Head in the Sand"
"It's Much Quieter with your Head in the Sand"
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
Do you ever wish that someone hadn't told you something? Maybe it was when you found out what was in hot dogs! I wish I hadn't heard THAT! I think our lives are often spent in the pursuit of our human nature's mission statement, "Live the Comfort Zone!" We love to hover as close to that as we can. We try to make sure we chase possessions and wealth, and even the pursuit of "rest" whether that be in days off, or sleeping in, or whatever. We can have seasons where we think "it doesn't get any better than this." I have a great TV, a recorded football game, and a reclining couch. What more do you need?
Then someone comes along, and rocks the boat with an irritating morsel of truth. It may be a story of someone in need that cuts through to our very inner being. Maybe it's word of a sacrifice an individual is making to serve another. Because we work so hard to pursue "comfort zone", we don't want to hear that. We think we've built our safety net... our security. We draw the line in our schedule and say, "God I've given you enough". Even when we feel the tug of the Spirit, we don't put more in the offering because we've over spent in other areas, so it doesn't fit into the budget. We think WE have it figured out. "God, you'll mess up my plan if I follow you in this."
Let's see how that worked for Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4.
"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me. I called in all the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning of my dream, but when they came... they couldn't interpret it. At last Daniel came in..."
He proceeds to tell Daniel the dream. Daniel is silent for an hour before sharing the meaning with him. "Daniel replied: 'Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, and not to you!"
Uh oh...
As it turns out the dream meant that this mighty king who is known throughout the world is going to live like a beast in the field for 7 years. Sure enough, verse 29 says, "Twelve months after this dream, he was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, and saying, 'I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence, and as the capital of my empire.' While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be forced out of the palace to live with the animals in the fields, and to eat grass like the cows for seven years..." Now get this: "... until you finally realize that God parcels out the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses."
That happened, and when he realized 7 years later that it was God, and not him, he regained his kingdom.
We stick our head in the sand when we surround ourselves with all that is comfortable. Then God has a way of getting our attention. Sometimes it's to the extreme of King Nebuchadnezzar. Other times it's more subtle.
We must get our head out of the sand and Live the DREAM as laid out in 2 Peter 1:
"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life [Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship]: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character." (vs. 2-4)
"But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good [the discipline of Empowered through Biblical Training], and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do." [Active Ministry Involvement] vs. 5.
"Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. this will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply." [Relationships Devoted to Unity] vs. 6-7
"The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ." [Mission to Reach our World for Christ] vs. 8.
Maturing in Christ is a process that we must keep before us each day. We must challenge one another. We must get our head out of the sand and pursue with intensity the race marked out before us. It would have been much more "comfortable" if my ears wouldn't have heard the need.
But they did.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
Do you ever wish that someone hadn't told you something? Maybe it was when you found out what was in hot dogs! I wish I hadn't heard THAT! I think our lives are often spent in the pursuit of our human nature's mission statement, "Live the Comfort Zone!" We love to hover as close to that as we can. We try to make sure we chase possessions and wealth, and even the pursuit of "rest" whether that be in days off, or sleeping in, or whatever. We can have seasons where we think "it doesn't get any better than this." I have a great TV, a recorded football game, and a reclining couch. What more do you need?
Then someone comes along, and rocks the boat with an irritating morsel of truth. It may be a story of someone in need that cuts through to our very inner being. Maybe it's word of a sacrifice an individual is making to serve another. Because we work so hard to pursue "comfort zone", we don't want to hear that. We think we've built our safety net... our security. We draw the line in our schedule and say, "God I've given you enough". Even when we feel the tug of the Spirit, we don't put more in the offering because we've over spent in other areas, so it doesn't fit into the budget. We think WE have it figured out. "God, you'll mess up my plan if I follow you in this."
Let's see how that worked for Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4.
"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me. I called in all the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning of my dream, but when they came... they couldn't interpret it. At last Daniel came in..."
He proceeds to tell Daniel the dream. Daniel is silent for an hour before sharing the meaning with him. "Daniel replied: 'Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, and not to you!"
Uh oh...
As it turns out the dream meant that this mighty king who is known throughout the world is going to live like a beast in the field for 7 years. Sure enough, verse 29 says, "Twelve months after this dream, he was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, and saying, 'I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence, and as the capital of my empire.' While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be forced out of the palace to live with the animals in the fields, and to eat grass like the cows for seven years..." Now get this: "... until you finally realize that God parcels out the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses."
That happened, and when he realized 7 years later that it was God, and not him, he regained his kingdom.
We stick our head in the sand when we surround ourselves with all that is comfortable. Then God has a way of getting our attention. Sometimes it's to the extreme of King Nebuchadnezzar. Other times it's more subtle.
We must get our head out of the sand and Live the DREAM as laid out in 2 Peter 1:
"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life [Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship]: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character." (vs. 2-4)
"But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good [the discipline of Empowered through Biblical Training], and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do." [Active Ministry Involvement] vs. 5.
"Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. this will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply." [Relationships Devoted to Unity] vs. 6-7
"The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ." [Mission to Reach our World for Christ] vs. 8.
Maturing in Christ is a process that we must keep before us each day. We must challenge one another. We must get our head out of the sand and pursue with intensity the race marked out before us. It would have been much more "comfortable" if my ears wouldn't have heard the need.
But they did.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, August 15, 2010
8.15.10 "Slaves in the Land of Plenty"
"Slaves in the Land of Plenty"
Nehemiah 9:22 - 10:39
I Corinthians 9:20 - 10:14
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverb 21:13
The book of Nehemiah records a prayer of Ezra, in which he proclaims a covenant that all the people sign to declare their commitment to serve the Lord. He prayed this after reading the laws of the Lord, and proclaiming the history of his people. This is what he says in Neh. 9:35-36:
"They did not worship you despite the wonderful things you did for them and the great goodness you showered upon them. You gave them a large, fat land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness. So now we are slaves here in the land of plenty which you gave to our ancestors! Slaves among all this abundance!"
Reading this one can not help but think of the state of our nation, even the state of the church. We are slaves in the land of abundance. Specifically, I'm thinking in the area of finances.
Our family loves games. When we first taught our daughter Monopoly, it was fun to see her learn to count money and make change, etc. Parker Brothers and Visa have now partnered to release the new monopoly which has no cash, but comes with cute little credit cards, and a swipe machine that keeps track of what each player has and owes. What a "great" way to teach youth that debt is now a way of life... slaves in the land of plenty.
In I Corinthians Paul is talking about how we need to run to win. "In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best." (I Cor. 9:24-25)
As a society, we're not known for denying ourselves anything. We want it, so we get it, regardless of if we have to go in debt to get it. We don't realize how this paralyzes us. Imagine if all Christians were debt free. About 10 years ago I had a friend tell me that Christians should be debt free. At the time I thought he was NUTS! But think about it! What would the state of the church be? How strong would the missions programs be? How strong would ministries be? How about taking care of the poor?
Proverbs 21:13 says, "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need." Think about how being in debt shuts the ears to the needy. "I'd give, but I've got these payments..."
I Cor. 10:12-14 says, "So be careful. If you are thinking, 'Oh, I would never behave like that' - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. but remember this - the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many other have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it. So dear friends, carefully avoid idol-worship of every kind."
Let's throw off everything that entangles today! Christ died to bring us freedom, not bondage. Let's worship him with all that we have so we are no longer slaves in the land of plenty.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Nehemiah 9:22 - 10:39
I Corinthians 9:20 - 10:14
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverb 21:13
The book of Nehemiah records a prayer of Ezra, in which he proclaims a covenant that all the people sign to declare their commitment to serve the Lord. He prayed this after reading the laws of the Lord, and proclaiming the history of his people. This is what he says in Neh. 9:35-36:
"They did not worship you despite the wonderful things you did for them and the great goodness you showered upon them. You gave them a large, fat land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness. So now we are slaves here in the land of plenty which you gave to our ancestors! Slaves among all this abundance!"
Reading this one can not help but think of the state of our nation, even the state of the church. We are slaves in the land of abundance. Specifically, I'm thinking in the area of finances.
Our family loves games. When we first taught our daughter Monopoly, it was fun to see her learn to count money and make change, etc. Parker Brothers and Visa have now partnered to release the new monopoly which has no cash, but comes with cute little credit cards, and a swipe machine that keeps track of what each player has and owes. What a "great" way to teach youth that debt is now a way of life... slaves in the land of plenty.
In I Corinthians Paul is talking about how we need to run to win. "In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best." (I Cor. 9:24-25)
As a society, we're not known for denying ourselves anything. We want it, so we get it, regardless of if we have to go in debt to get it. We don't realize how this paralyzes us. Imagine if all Christians were debt free. About 10 years ago I had a friend tell me that Christians should be debt free. At the time I thought he was NUTS! But think about it! What would the state of the church be? How strong would the missions programs be? How strong would ministries be? How about taking care of the poor?
Proverbs 21:13 says, "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need." Think about how being in debt shuts the ears to the needy. "I'd give, but I've got these payments..."
I Cor. 10:12-14 says, "So be careful. If you are thinking, 'Oh, I would never behave like that' - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. but remember this - the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many other have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it. So dear friends, carefully avoid idol-worship of every kind."
Let's throw off everything that entangles today! Christ died to bring us freedom, not bondage. Let's worship him with all that we have so we are no longer slaves in the land of plenty.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, August 15, 2008
8.15.8 "Slaves in the Land of Plenty"
"Slaves in the Land of Plenty"
Nehemiah 9:22 - 10:39
I Corinthians 9:20 - 10:14
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverb 21:13
The book of Nehemiah records a prayer of Ezra, in which he proclaims a covenant that all the people sign to declare their commitment to serve the Lord. He prayed this after reading the laws of the Lord, and proclaiming the history of his people. This is what he says in Neh. 9:35-36:
"They did not worship you despite the wonderful things you did for them and the great goodness you showered upon them. You gave them a large, fat land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness. So now we are slaves here in the land of plenty which you gave to our ancestors! Slaves among all this abundance!"
Reading this one can not help but think of the state of our nation, even the state of the church. We are slaves in the land of abundance. Specifically, I'm thinking in the area of finances.
Our family loves games. One of our games of choice is Monopoly. It's been a blast to see our daughter learn to count money and make change, etc. I heard on the radio that Parker Brothers and Visa have partnered to release the new monopoly which has no cash, but comes with cute little credit cards, and a swipe machine that keeps track of what each player has and owes. What a "great" way to teach youth that debt is now a way of life... slaves in the land of plenty.
In I Corinthians Paul is talking about how we need to run to win. "In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best." (I Cor. 9:24-25)
As a society, we're not known for denying ourselves anything. We want it, so we get it, regardless of if we have to go in debt to get it. We don't realize how this paralyzes us. Imagine if all Christians were debt free. About 10 years ago I had a friend tell me that Christians should be debt free. I thought he was NUTS! But think about it! What would the state of the church be? How strong would the missions programs be? How strong would ministries be? How about taking care of the poor?
Proverbs 21:13 says, "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need." Think about how being in debt shuts the ears to the needy. "I'd give, but I've got these payments..."
I Cor. 10:12-14 says, "So be careful. If you are thinking, 'Oh, I would never behave like that' - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. but remember this - the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many other have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it. So dear friends, carefully avoid idol-worship of every kind."
Let's throw off everything that entangles today! Christ died to bring us freedom, not bondage. Let's worship him with all that we have so we are no longer slaves in the land of plenty.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Nehemiah 9:22 - 10:39
I Corinthians 9:20 - 10:14
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverb 21:13
The book of Nehemiah records a prayer of Ezra, in which he proclaims a covenant that all the people sign to declare their commitment to serve the Lord. He prayed this after reading the laws of the Lord, and proclaiming the history of his people. This is what he says in Neh. 9:35-36:
"They did not worship you despite the wonderful things you did for them and the great goodness you showered upon them. You gave them a large, fat land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness. So now we are slaves here in the land of plenty which you gave to our ancestors! Slaves among all this abundance!"
Reading this one can not help but think of the state of our nation, even the state of the church. We are slaves in the land of abundance. Specifically, I'm thinking in the area of finances.
Our family loves games. One of our games of choice is Monopoly. It's been a blast to see our daughter learn to count money and make change, etc. I heard on the radio that Parker Brothers and Visa have partnered to release the new monopoly which has no cash, but comes with cute little credit cards, and a swipe machine that keeps track of what each player has and owes. What a "great" way to teach youth that debt is now a way of life... slaves in the land of plenty.
In I Corinthians Paul is talking about how we need to run to win. "In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best." (I Cor. 9:24-25)
As a society, we're not known for denying ourselves anything. We want it, so we get it, regardless of if we have to go in debt to get it. We don't realize how this paralyzes us. Imagine if all Christians were debt free. About 10 years ago I had a friend tell me that Christians should be debt free. I thought he was NUTS! But think about it! What would the state of the church be? How strong would the missions programs be? How strong would ministries be? How about taking care of the poor?
Proverbs 21:13 says, "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need." Think about how being in debt shuts the ears to the needy. "I'd give, but I've got these payments..."
I Cor. 10:12-14 says, "So be careful. If you are thinking, 'Oh, I would never behave like that' - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. but remember this - the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many other have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it. So dear friends, carefully avoid idol-worship of every kind."
Let's throw off everything that entangles today! Christ died to bring us freedom, not bondage. Let's worship him with all that we have so we are no longer slaves in the land of plenty.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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