23 Feb “fool and his money” | part one ‘money mismanagement’

Key Verse: Proverbs

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST TUESDAY IN MARCH WILL BE ON THE SECOND TUESDAY, MARCH 10 WITH CHILDCARE. NO FIRST TUESDAY IN APRIL.

WOONSOCKET: Construction is underway!

Waters Church Facebook Page now has groups set up for each campus and a group set up for Life Groups.

To join the groups, just go to the Waters Church FB page and go to groups and join the ones you want. Make sure you join the Life Group (group) so we can get people interested in joining a Life group. The Heach Coaches and I will be moderating the group and adding topics for discussion.

CLASSES; Baptism class is every 4th Sunday of the Month. at 11:30 / Growth Track runs the first 3 Sundays every month at 11:30 – this is a one and done registrants only need to attend one session / Starting Point runs every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11:30 – details and descriptions can be found on the registrations which are located under Events on the HUB.

PRAY FOR THE PREVIEW SERVICE IN GUATEMALA THAT WILL BE HAPPING ON MARCH 1ST!

Jesus knew money was going to try to turn our hearts away from God. There are 2030 verses in the Bible devoted to wealth and finances.

Underlying Problem: We are NEVER TAUGHT to win with finances.

We have all made mistakes with money. We are human. 78 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  This is our own fault.

Proverbs 21:20 NLT

If we approach income and spending wisely, we can develop a home filled with Godly wealth.  If we do it God’s way, it will go well with us.

Q. What teachings did you have regarding money and finances growing up? (mom and dad, school, no teaching etc.).  How did you parents/caregivers handle their finances?

Two MISTRUTHS about MONEY in our SOCIETY

Mistruth #1 More money is going to solve the problem.

Luke 16:10 ESV

It is not getting more money that will fix the problem, but it is our behaviors  that need to change.  We are who we are no matter what we spend.

No matter what we make, we need to change our behavior.  We need to be emotional and intentional with our money. It is human nature that the more we have the more we spend.

Q. In what ways have you thought money could solve your problem? What behaviors did you/do you need to change so you can better manage your money?

Mistruth #2 Debt is an important tool to build your financial reputation.

This is our countries MO.  We should not let our countries MO be our MO.

Romans 13:8 (ESV)

FICO scores are all about debt.  They are not there to help us, they are there to make us get into more debt.  The higher the FICO, the more debt we have.  It is how well we are paying our debts (how good we are at paying back money, are we on time etc..)  We, as Christians, should stand against ‘buy now pay later.’  Loans give us the power to ‘play God’ with ourselves.  God says ‘no’ to things because He knows we should not have them right now, but we get the loan and play God to ourself.

Q. How have you bought into the lie that you need a credit card or a good FICO score to gain a financial reputation?

Top 3 Money Mistakes:

1. Not PAYING ATTENTION. (IGNORANCE).

Proverbs 27:23 (ESV)

Many of the mistakes we make with money is that we don’t know the debit we have and what we are spending our money on.  We need to take ownership.  There is hope when we can control what is coming in and what is going out.

Q. Do you pay attention to how you spend your money and if not why?

2: BUYING THINGS you CANNOT AFFORD with MONEY you don’t have to IMPRESS PEOPLE who DON’T CARE.

Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)

This is the handcuffing nature of debt. We don’t want to be slaves so that people will be impressed.

Q. How, if ever, have you tried to impress people with your money and why (examples: throwing a huge wedding, buying really expensive clothing etc.)?  Did you find that it was not worth it, that people really didn’t care?

3. Not BELIEVING your financial SITUATION can CHANGE. (IT CAN – YOU NEED A PLAN).

This is why we stay ‘paycheck to paycheck’, we have no plan. We have to decide what is important to us and make some changes.  Planning is important.

Dan Rayburg explained how when he was 22 and did not even have a girlfriend yet, saved for his wedding.  8 years later he is getting married and has the money to pay for his wedding.

Isaiah 32:7–8 (ESV)

Q. What are some ways you have planned for future needs or what are some ways you can start doin this now?

(HONORABLE MENTION):

4. Not REALIZING the POTENTIAL of money.

We are not here just to get by.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  Money is a seed and a talent.  The seed grows and the talent grows if we work it.  Money will steal our happiness and peace for the future if we don’t manage it, are not emotional about it, and intentional.  God wants us to be involved in our finances.

2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV); Proverbs 13:22 (ESV)