Drop Stressing Over Money
This week, we aim to address one of life's most stress-inducing aspects - financial worries. Our goal is to explore how money, originally intended as a simple tool for trade, has become a complex and overwhelming aspect of modern life. We will delve into how financial stress affects personal relationships, decision-making, and overall well-being, emphasizing that this stress is not just a practical issue but a spiritual one.
1. What stood out to you in the message this week?
2. Read Proverbs 30:5. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." This verse provides a two-fold assurance: the certainty and purity of God's word and the protective care He offers to those who trust in Him, making it a source of great comfort and strength for believers. Why is it important for us to live our lives believing that the word of God is flawless?
3. Read Proverbs 30:7–9. “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." What is the Psalmist asking for when he says: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me.” What is the Psalmist asking for when he says: “give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”?
4. Money is a spiritual issue, not just a financial issue. This is the foundational BELIEF that changes everything about our relationship with money. Look at the previous verses; what are they saying about the connection between money and our relationship with God?
Live on a budget.
5. Read Luke 14:28-30. A budget is when people tell their money what to do rather than wondering where their money has gone. What does this passage tell us about the importance of having a budget?
6. Read Proverbs 21:5 (NLT). "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." What wisdom do you find in this verse?
Escape the Debt Spiral
7. Read Romans 13:8: "Owe no one anything, except to love each other.” and Proverbs 22:7: "The borrower is the slave of the lender." What do these verses say about debt?
Prepare for the future.
8. Read Proverbs 21:20. "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." What does this verse say about planning ahead for the future?
Joyfully Give Generously
9. Read Proverbs 3:9. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.” How does it honor God when believers give the “first fruits” of their income?
10. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Why would God love a cheerful giver?
Wisdom from the leaders of our Financial Peace University group:
1. There is no quick fix. It took you time to get where you are; it will take time to get out of where you are.
2. You can wander into debt, but you cannot wander out of debt. You have to be intentional. You have to decide.
3. It's hard. But it is only for a season.
4. You will feel so clean and free. God's joy is waiting for you.
5. You have to learn to be content with what you have. It's okay to drive a 1999 Mazda 2500 pickup truck. It gets you there too. And you can carry plywood.
6. Understand God will test you with the small before he will trust you with the large.
7. If you want to get somewhere (maybe Tallahassee?), what's the first thing you need to know? Where you are. This is one of the first things FPU teaches you. Where you are, sometimes that's very painful. Sometimes not. But you still need to know where you are to get to Tallahassee. Do you go north or south? A lot of people get scared and drop out of the class once they look at where they are in their finances. We are working against both Adam and Satan on this one.
8. You are not really talking with your spouse until you start talking about money. Try it.
Pastor James’ Sermon Notes:
Drop Stressing Over Money
Acknowledge God as your provider.
(Proverbs 30:5 NIV) "5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
(Proverbs 30:7–9 NIV) "7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."
Live on a Budget.
(Luke 14:28 NIV) "28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
(Proverbs 21:5 NLT) "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."
Escape the Debt Spiral.
Romans 13:8: "Owe no one anything, except to love each other."
Proverbs 22:7: "The borrower is the slave of the lender."
Prepare for the future.
Proverbs 21:20 "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish person devours all that they have."
Joyfully give generously.
Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV "7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."