Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Financial Freedom by Ps Eugene (7 Oct 07) Matt 6:25-34
Dear Boys!

My short sharing is on Financial Freedom. It is very common to hear people worry over their finances even though Matt 6:27 says "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Why do people worry over their finances? 3 areas to look into

1) Commitment - Check our Source, Trust God
We worry because we don't trust God to provide.

Often it is not money problem but master problem. It's true sometimes money is not enough, but if we trust God enough, He our master will provide!

2) Contentment - Check our Spirit, Be Grateful
We worry because we are not contented and want more.

Even when there is enough, we still want more often due to the influence of friends, TV and magazines. Let me share my hp story.

It began in 2000 with a pager -> hp -> hp w colour -> hp w radio -> hp w cam (flew out of window 26 Mar 05 etok17.bravejournal.com) -> hp w cam & mp3 -> nice looking hp w 3.2 megapix cam & 256 mb mp3 -> ??

This vicious cycle just continues. Isn't it tiring always comparing? Will it stop? Yes, when we learn to be contented with what we have. 1 Tim 6:6 "Godliness with contentment is great gain".

But some might say "I'm not greedy. I'm just seeking my rightful share! If others can have, so can I."

But bear in mind, for those who have more, God expects more from them. Luke 12:48b "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded." Are we able to handle it if God gives us more? Will we backslide and go our own way without God?

Agur's Prayer in Proverbs 30:8-9 "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say "Who is the Lord?" Or I may become too poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God."

3) Compassion - Check our Spending, Sow Generously
We worry because we don't want to give.

In Deut 14:22, God can see whether we put him first through our tithing. If we can't part with 10% of what he has given us, how can he trust us to be good stewards of more of his wealth?

2 Cor 9:6-15 Sowing generously (and giving cheerfully) reveals that, while it may seems strange, the more generous we are, the more we will have because

i) God will give us more because God doesn't want to see us in need

ii) We are always seeing what we have instead of what we lack

iii) People around us will see and imitate our generosity and in turn be generous to us. (There are so many snacks passed around during service, sometimes I don't have the chance to open mine!)

As Paul wrote while in jail in Phil 4:12b "I have learned the secret of being contented in any and every situation..", my prayer is that all of us will know this secret of contentment! But how?

God's promise in Matt 6:33 says "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

etok..