Quote:
Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever actual conditions we find ourselves in. - Eugene Peterson

The TRUTH for all of us coming into the world - we don't enter with wisdom inside us: WISDOM IS NOT AUTOMATIC - BUT IT CAN BE ACQUIRED.

Today we want to examine the reality that we all need wisdom with our wealth -- M O N E Y
Everybody wants it, needs it, trying to figure out how to use it, not lose it and how get more of it. It’s something we all have to navigate and thus it’s imperative that we look into the Scriptures to see what wisdom God might have about it!

Today:
2 FINANCIAL FILTERS we see in the Scriptures as it comes to our wealth - and then we’ll look at 4 wisdom principles for us to grow in as it comes to having Wisdom with Wealth (from Proverbs)

Financial Filters (biblical realities we're to have)

1) We're Managers, not owners
2) We're to manage God's way (a rhythm of Give, Save, Live)

Wisdom Principle #1:
We exercise wisdom up with money when we work hard.

Proverbs 10:4
"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Proverbs 14:23 "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

= laziness leads down the economic ladder and diligence leads up the economic ladder.

Wisdom Principle #2:
We exercise wisdom with money when we avoid incurring foolish debt.

Proverbs 22:7: "The borrower is servant to the lender."

Clearly borrowing is not ALWAYS the best idea. In fact, in most cases it may not be the best idea. Much of what the Scriptures say about borrowing is negative, but the Bible stops short of saying we should never buy anything on credit.

Scriptures do say we should always repay what we borrowed.
Psalm 37:21 says, "The wicked borrow and do not repay."
Romans 13:7 says, "Give to everyone what you owe him."

Wisdom Principle #3:

We exercise wisdom with money when we seek moderation in our lifestyle. (Living within our means!)

Proverbs 23:4–5: "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."

Proverbs 30:8–9. It says, "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; 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 poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

*Agur in his prayer (Proverbs 30:8-9) asks God to protect him from 2 extremes—from wealth and poverty.

Wisdom Principle #4

We exercise wisdom with money when we share generously with those in need & grow generous hearts.

Proverbs 11:24–25 says, "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."


Proverbs 3:9
"Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”

*We also apply this principle by learning to share what we have with the people around us…by developing a responsiveness to God's leading and God's guidance as we interact with people as God might prompt us to share what we have to meet needs.

We get to be on the lookout for how God might lead us to use what we have to meet the needs of other people.

GROW IN YOUR GENEROSITY. Friends: we’re to never stop growing in that…

Summary:

We’re manager, not owners.
We're to manage God's way - we're best served when we live out rhythms God highlights: Give, Save, Live

When it comes to growing in Wisdom with Wealth:
-We’re to work hard
-We’re not to incur foolish debts
-We’re to live in moderation (grow in contentment)
-We’re to grow in godly generosity - that reflects the heart of our heavenly Father!


Closing Questions:

Where do you think God is wanting to you grow in wisdom with your wealth?

What might it look like for YOU to begin making progress in that?

Elements Church Family Update:

We begin our new fiscal year here July 1, 2021. Thank you for your generosity in helping the church finish this current fiscal year in a strong position. We're excited about the new fiscal year and the aims we have to pursue our mission and be a generous church investing in our community! Together we get to do MORE for God and His good here in our city and beyond!

*if you’ve never stepped into partnering here - I invite you to put into practices some of the biblical wisdom principles you’ve heard today! If you can’t seem to get fully to the Give, Save, Live rhythm yet, start somewhere — take a first step and God will honor that and He will help you in that.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”
Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

The Bible says there’s only one way / one place where you and I can test God: through giving.

We say we trust God with our salvation, forgiveness, freedom, and future in heaven—but do we trust him with our finances; here and now?
If not, what’s the logic of that? If you struggle there - why?

Giving is ALWAYS ABOUT THE HEART, MORE THAN THE WALLET.
It’s why giving is a discipleship issue, more than a feeling issue…

When it comes to finances, you have to decide:
Do you trust God to keep his promises?

We'll see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we finish up our series in Proverbs.

Take the Proverbs Challenge - the month of June!
Each day - read the Proverb chapter of the day and reflect.
June 1st - read Proverbs 1
June 2nd - read Proverbs 2
June 3rd - read Proverbs 3
and so on -- jump in with us today...keep going!!