Faith, Finances and Freedom (2 Corinthians 8:9)

2 Corinthians 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

(2 Cor 8:9 explains the way a person can become truly rich by being free from the entrapment, enslavement, and idolatry of money.) Perhaps even more than being a slave to sex and romance is the enslavement to money. In this sermon we consider: What is your view of money? Who owns your money? What should you do with your money? Is money your master who rules and controls you, or your slave whom you control and rule over? Let us examine what the Bible says about money in 3 parts:

1. Faith: Who owns your money? You?
2. Finances: What should you do with your money?
3. Freedom: Is money your master or your slave?

I. Faith (To whom does your money belong to anyway? You?)

• Ps 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
• Ps 50:10-12 (God has no need for anything we have), "for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine and all that is in it."
• I Chron 29:11b,12a,14b,16 "…for everything in heaven and earth is yours." "Wealth and honor comes from you..." "Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." "O Lord our God, as for all this abundance…it comes from your hand and all of it belongs to you."

Everything/all our money belongs to God. The first foundational principle for good financial management is to remember that our money belongs to God. God is the Owner and we are the managers.  Genuine peace and security comes from embracing this truth.  Therefore, we have a holy obligation to exercise good stewardship over our money; we should not use or regard money primarily according to our own desires or ideas or the expectation of others. Do you truly believe that all of your money belongs to God?

II. Finances (Why does God give us money? What should we do with it?)

1. To honor God with your money. Prov 3:9 – "Honor the Lord with your wealth."
   
   
2. To responsibly provide for our needs and the needs of our family. I Tim 5:8 - "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
   
   
3. To pay debts and taxes. Rom 13:7-8 - "Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue... Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."
   
   
4. To enjoy what God gives us. Ecc 5:19 – "Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God."
   
   
5. To be content with whatever we have (or don't have). Phil 4:11b-12 - "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Heb 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Contentment is an act of the will. It is a decision to accept the sovereignty and grace of God in every area of life.
   
   
6. To share with the "worthy" poor and those in "legitimate need." 2 Cor 8:14 – "At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need." Prov 19:17 -- "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."
• Prayerfully consider this: If one supports the poor without discretion, prayer and wisdom, it simply promotes a dependency unto death, and a beggar's mentality that makes that poor person useless and dependent forever.
• Usually those who pretend to be poor, always have money to spend on themselves but very reluctant to give to God and to others.
  
  
7. To serve others and express our thanks to God. 2 Cor 9:12 – "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."
   
   
8. To save for the future. Prov 21:20 – "The wise store up choice food and olive oil..."
   
   
9. To leave an inheritance. Prov 13:22 -- "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children..."
• It is important not to leave a debt for future generations.  It is good to position our children to continue their lives of faith on what we have built on.

III. Freedom (Is money your master or your slave?)

A truly rich and free person. According to Jesus, one of the richest people in the Bible is the poor widow who gave an offering of a few cents: "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on'" (Mk 12:41-44). She gave because she loved God and the temple. She did not give hoping to get something from God, as the prosperity gospel teaches people to expect. Her joy was in God, not money. She is not only a rich woman, but a truly free woman.

How can one be truly free from the control of money? 2 Cor 8:9 explains how true freedom from money happens. Unless you know that Jesus became poor to make you rich, you will not know what it means to be truly rich. Unless you know that your riches comes from Jesus poverty you will never be truly rich. If you don't know Jesus' richness given to you, you will live like one who is poor, regardless of whether you have much money, or no money. If you know that only Jesus can make a person rich, God will give you wisdom on how to use your money with regard to others. You will use money 1st to honor God, and only 2nd to serve/help others/the poor/your family.

In giving to God/others, we overcome self-centeredness, self-indulgence, greed, fear and idolatry. We must control money, not let money control us through our insatiable lusts and desires.

Practical Application:

My "simplistic" view of money as a God fearing responsible Christian is:

1. Make as money as you can.
2. Save as money as you can.
3. Give away as much money as you can.

1. Tithe: To honor God with your money, make a commitment to your local church and offer a tithe.

2. Contentment: Learn contentment in Christ. Phil 4:11b-12 - "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Heb 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

3. Others: Prayerfully find ways to help those with legitimate needs outside of your own household.  2 Cor 8:14 – "At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need." Prov 19:17 -- "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

4. Self-control: Learn to say 'no' to big and small indulgences in order to live within your means.

5. Stewardship: Attend workshops or read books in order to learn basic financial principles and money management

Keeping a God-centered perspective enables us to live in freedom by being a steward rather than a slave of money. The important thing is not how much or how little money we have, but whether or not we are wise stewards of what He provides.

Remember that your money belongs to God (Ps 24:1), not you. Remember that only Jesus makes us rich (2 Cor 8:9). Money on its own never makes anyone rich. The poorest widow was the richest woman (Mk 12:43-44). May God bless you with lots of money or.......with little money.