20 Nov The Truth About Money | Part 3 “How to Have It” | All Locations

Announcements:

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OPERATION THANKSGIVING: Over 500 boxes were passed out this year!  Thanks to all of you who donated time and/or money!

NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:

NEW>>>>GIFTS FOR GRANNIES: Our Action groups are putting together some gifts for Madonna Manor nursing home patients.  If your group would like to contribute, they are looking for a small, simple but nice basket to give 25 elderly women.  Please contact Heidi Gormley, the action group leader who is putting this together, for info.  Her email is Hiedilenny@gmail.com

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people. Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

Below, click the link for  ‘Last Days’ – The Book of Revelation Daily in 15 minute segments each day over the next 5 weeks:

https://waterschurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1316059

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people.  Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

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Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 5

The Truth About Money

How to Have It

Ecclesiastes 5

Happy Thanksgiving

Ice Breaker:

Q. What is something God has done recently that you are thankful 

for?

Americans are terrible at having money.  We, as Americans, are in the top income and net worth group in the world.  We have a net worth on average per household of approximately $176,000 per year.  The average income of a person in America is $50,000 per year.  We are rich.  In spite of the fact that we have so much, we don’t know how to have so much.   We need spiritual and biblical help.  We are blessed but super stressed.  Finances stress us out. We make a lot and have no idea how to have it.

Having money is not about the AMOUNT I have but the ATTITUDE I DEVELOP.

Q. What about your finances causes you to stress? (What may you fear regarding money etc.)?

Our problems are not politica,l social, or family oriented.  It is how we see money, how we own it and how we look to it when it comes to our income that is our problem.

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes at the end of his life.  The context of the content is that this is Solomons last testament to life.  He looked back at all that he had (he had a lot).  He was the most glamorous person on the face of the earth.  The main theme of Ecclesiastes is that everything is meaningless under the sun.  If we had just this earth, no heaven or God or afterlife, then everything, no matter how much we have, is meaningless.

How to have money:

1. Listen to GOD.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 (ESV)

Solomon tells us before we talk money we need to talk about church.  How we go to church is how we handle our money.   When we look to our Father and do life as he tells us, he will bless us beyond what we can imagine. If we want our life to be financially better, we need to listen to God not everyone else.  We need to open our ears to God who wants to bless us and prosper us.  Before praying about the money we need, we need to hear about it first, from God.

Q. How has listening to the world and not God about money caused you financial hardship?

When it comes to FEARS about MONEY, we want immediate ANSWERS, God wants expedient ACTIONS. 

Following God’s way will prosper us more than instant gratification will.  When we do life his way, we will be blessed.

Pie Example: Pastor Tim showed us how to divide our finances God’s way.

As Christians we: 

• tithe first – giving 1/10th to God (now we are only taxed on ninety percent of our income not 100%)
• Savings next – 1/10th we invest before taxes for our future selves (this is also non taxable)
• Then essentials – clothing, food, housing
• Lastly you can still enjoy other things because you put the right things in the right place

Instead of doing this God’s way, many people give God the crumbs of what is left over after we spending it on the essentials.  This is where our anxiety comes from.  We constantly worry about money when we allow whatever comes first to be paid first. 

Q. How are you slicing your pie?

2. God wants something FOR ME not FROM ME. 

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (ESV)

God does not need what we have.  We may try to make deals with him saying: ‘if you give me this I will do that.’  God has no interest in having an economic relationship with us.

Acts 17:24–25 (NLT)

He does not need what we have.  He is not moved by our negotiations.

Luke 12:29–32 (ESV)

Some of us may approach God as if to tell him we don’t want him talking to us about money.  He does not need us, he has the power to provide everything for us.  

Q. Why is the fact that God has the power to provide all we need a stumbling block for many to understand?

3. Accept the UNFAIR and LOOK to God.

We live in a fallen world.  There will be no justice and equality until Christ comes again.  Humans are bad at getting it right because we all have sin in our heart.  Sin is about self putting self first.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 (ESV)

Solomon is saying there is always going to be people in places of power looking out for themselves, and people over them looking out for themselves. At the end of day powerful people look out for themselves. Do not be shocked by all of this, it is never going to get right this side of His return.   We need to stop falling for the political posturing of whatever the politicians are telling us.

Psalm 121:2-5 (ESV)

Jesus gave up all that He so we can have all that He had.   He will never fail us.  

Q. For what have you looked at the government to supply for you instead of believing God would provide?

4. Only GOD can DELIVER what MONEY PROMISES.

Solomon is speaking from experience.

A. Money does not SATISFY. God does.

Ecclesiastes 5:10  (ESV)

We are never going to have enough if we love money.  

Bernie Madoff 

He was a legal financial advisor who made 25 million a year then began a Ponzi scheme. What he made legitimately was not enough for him. 

Rajat Kumar Gupta

He was an orphan from India.  He worked his way to CEO. By 2008 he was worth an estimated one million dollars which he earned legitimately.  But it was not enough and insider trading led him to prison in just a few short months.  

Money never satisfies. We need to learn to be content now.

Q. How are you content or discontent with your current money situation?

Psalm 103:1–5 (ESV)

Only God can satisfy us.  

B. Money does not STAY. God does.

Ecclesiastes 5:11 (NLT)

Money gets up and walks away.  Until we put our faith in God we will always be subject to the worlds foolish ideologies.

Q. What experience  have you had where the more you have someone else comes along to help you spend it? 

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)

They left God who provided for them instead of trusting him.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

C. Money does not SAVE. God does.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 (ESV)

John 10:10 (ESV)

God wants something for us not from us.   Our enemy is the thief who steals. He wants to shake our confidence in Gods word to take our eyes off of the truth and take things from us step by step.  Jesus stops the devils theft!  He brings life.

Frustration with MONEY ends when FAITH in God begins. 

Isaiah 55:1–2 (ESV)

Challenge: Slice your pie God’s way this month and see how he blesses you.