The Office
Home Sweet Home • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsHow finances can build goodness, peace, and joy into your home .
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Good Evening. Welcome to TRC. Glad to see you. We’ve recently started a new sermon series titled, “Home Sweet Home: Building goodness, peace, and joy into our homes.”
Based on , where Paul says:
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Roman
And it’s this desire to see this Kingdom living in our very homes. This desire to see our homes filled with goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And if we’re honest, this is not always easy. So our hope is to spend the next few weeks learning how to do this better together. Not as experts teaching newbies, but as family discipling family, in the things we’ve learned by God’s word, His Spirit, and through experience.
Last week, as we entered the home and made our first stop in the living room, we discussed the topic of “rest,” and how practicing it can build these Kingdom attributes of goodness, peace, and joy in our homes. Tonight, we move on and will be talking about the office.
Not that “Office,” although that can definitely bring some laughter-joy into your life. We are talking about the Home Office, which we’re corresponding with the topic of finances.
In 2018, one study showed the #1 cause of stress for Americans is money. More than ever, people are anxious about their financial future. Of those studied, 41% it impacted their spousal relationship. 45% said it impacted their ability to participate in social events. 25% said it lead to monthly bouts of depression.
Money is an interesting thing. How we use can have a tremendous on our homes. It has the potential to impact both our joy and our heartache. In 2018, one study showed that 87% of the people surveyed stated “nothing makes them happier” than knowing they are financially secure. On the other hand, the same studied showed the #1 cause of stress for Americans is money. Money was connected to personal depression and anxiety, relational conflict, and social division.
God thinks money is important too. He has a lot to say about finances. Money can have an impact on the Kingdom of God.
Money used incorrectly leads to an unfulfilled life, wrong priorities, hardships, and sin. Look at the following verses:
You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.
First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
On the other hand, Kingdom-minded finances bring blessings, God’s favor, eternal rewards, and the overflow of blessings being poured out to others.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
Money is important to the Kingdom of God too.
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
It can
Money spent unwisely lead to a lack of satisfaction, wrong life priorities, troubles, and sin.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
On the other hand, Kingdom-minded spending brings blessings, God’s favor, eternal rewards, and the overflow of blessings being poured out to others.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
How we use our finances can lead to heartache or it can lead to a full heart. Money is a tool that can build goodness, peace, and joy into our homes by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. But money can also hinder that from happening too...
So, tonight I’ve invited two special couples to help us navigate this important topic. Would Howard and Kay, and Alwyn and Anpu come join us in the “office?”
Thanks guys for your willingness to help me with this. I was wondering if could look at the topic of finances through the natural outline gives us: goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
goodness = righteousness. I think of Jesus - the righteousness of God. How has money helped you worship Jesus. I also think of the gospel, which is the proclamation of the righteousness of God and how we can receieve that righteousness. How have you used it to be Kingdom-minded and spread the gospel?
We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like. - Dave Ramsey
You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Goodness: Finances and the gospel.
Goodness: Finances and the gospel.
The word “goodness” here actually refers a perfect state of righteousness. I immediately think of Jesus. How He lived a perfect life. He was always “right” with God. And through His amazing grace, when we turn from our sins and put our faith in Him, He gives that righteousness to us! We enter the Kingdom of God perfectly righteous because of Jesus! That’s amazing! It makes me want to worship! It makes me want to use everything I have for Him - even my money! Especially my money.
How has God taught you to worship with your money?
How has God taught you to worship with your money?
“Goodness” also reminds me of the Good News (the gospel)! The gospel is the proclamation of the righteousness of Jesus. It’s also how we can be made righteous too!
Although the spreading of the gospel is not dependent on finances, money does play a part in the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. The Scriptures do not ignore the role of money in the Kingdom, rather they encourage us to use them for God, and not selfishly.
Can you share how you have used your finances for the furtherance of the Kingdom?
Can you share how you have used your finances for the furtherance of the Kingdom?
300 Quotations for Preachers Gain All You Can, Save All You Can, Give All You Can
Give all your money to God. You have no pretence for laying up treasure upon earth. While you “gain all you can,” and “save all you can,” “give all you can,” that is, all you have.
JOHN WESLEY
Let’s move onto the next part… peace. We briefly mentioned it earlier, both inside and outside the church, finances have the potential to give peace or take peace.
Peace: Finances and peace.
Peace: Finances and peace.
It what ways has godly stewarding of your finances increased peace in your home?
It what ways has godly stewarding of your finances increased peace in your home?
Okay, now to a tricky one! Financial guru, Dave Ramsey, mentions that money is the number one issue married couples fight about. Regarding marital problems, money fights are the second leading cause of divorce, only behind infidelity. That’s crazy! But again, money seems to have this power to give or take peace.
Over the years, how have you kept relational peace in the home regarding financial decisions?
Over the years, how have you kept relational peace in the home regarding financial decisions?
Whew! We made it through that one. You guys still want to be married to each other, right? Let’s move onto something a little more fun. Let’s look at joy in the Holy Spirit.
Joy: Finances and joy.
Joy: Finances and joy.
Many of us can be unwise with our money. Maybe we enslave ourselves to debt. Maybe we’re reckless with our spending. Maybe we never learned how to budget. I know all 3 of those apply to me.
Here’s another thing that applies to me. Many times I’ve put my identity into my wordly status. We used to call this “Keeping up with the Joneses.” It’s this mentality of having things the world sees as nice. If you have this, you will be important! It’s the materialistic view of the world.
Regarding the foolishness of this idea, Dave Ramsey nails it. He says:
We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like. - Dave Ramsey
Treating our finances this way will never bring us joy. And while we could approach our final subject addressing this, I’m going to move onto something else...
While Janelle and I have made many poor choices with our money, we’ve also struggled with another financial perspective: Thinking God only blesses us when we are poor. Thinking living below the poverty-line equals righteousness. Never allowing ourselves to enjoy the things God has given us, because we are called to deny ourselves and live sacrificially.
While there are truths to this, let me say that God is teaching me this is founded on an incorrect view of God. While Jesus truly calls us to deny ourselves, he also said:
Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Did you hear that? Jesus wants us to have life more abundantly. I believe part of that is enjoy our life by enjoying the good gifts God gives us. Amen?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Author Trillia Newbell writes...
We enjoy because we know he gift is given by God for our enjoyment. The gift starts with God as the giver. If we believe this and see all things as His gifts to us, we are free to abandon our man-made rules and self-imposed guilt and simply enjoy. - Trillia Newbell
We should enjoy the life God gives us. Even our church fathers got this! The Westminster Shorter Catechism says:
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. - Westminster Shorter Catechism
I believe there is a way to honor God with our finances that involves spending money to build joy in our homes.
How do you enjoy God through your finances (fun, vacations, gifts)?
How do you enjoy God through your finances (fun, vacations, gifts)?
Thank you. As we close tonight...
We have all of this by grace We should be able and willing to celebrate and enjoy this grace!
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. - Westminster Shorter Catechism
Give us one final thing about how finances can build the Kingdom of God in the home.
Give us one final thing about how finances can build the Kingdom of God in the home.
I hope this blessed you. Over the last couple years, I’ve seen God powerfully use these two families. I’ve seen the generosity of their families that furthered the Kingdom. I’ve seen the peace in their homes, which I believe is connected to their Kingdom perspective of money. And I’ve witnessed the joy in their home as they used their finances to enjoy God and the life He gave them.
I know I’ve learned a lot from their stories and wisdom on finances. I’m hoping the Holy Spirit spoke to you through them on how to build goodness, peace, and joy into your home.
Let’s pray.
If you need prayer for your fianances...