Lesson four
- 1. Managing My Finances, Faith and RelationshipsLesson Four
- 2. Our Finances: My Finances Today Give Me Options. Reflect and respond.Money will make you happy.People earn more money now worldwide than ever before, but statistics reveal we are less happy now than even forty years ago. Most agree with the statement above, but still we don’t act like it.Our Finances: My Finances Today Give Me Options. Reflect and respond.2. Debt will make you unhappy. King Solomon wrote: “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.”Our Finances: My Finances Today Give Me Options. Reflect and respond.3. Having financial margin gives you options. The truth is that money is a test and a tool for us. It reveals our hearts and it can give us choices to do more of what we want. If we possess it.Biblical Case Study : Job ( 1,19:25-27)Job was a wealthy man. He controlled a vast amount of money and possessions , including 7,000 sheep , 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen , 500 female donkeys and a very large household. Job1;3 describes him as the greatest man living in the East. He had it all.
- 3. Biblical Case Study : Job ( 1,19:25-27)However, his life was tested to see what role his wealth played in his happiness. He seemed to lose almost everything, including his livestock , his children, his home and his land. How did he respond to this loss? Examine Job 1:20 “ Then Job arose, tore his clothes, shaved his heads and he fell to the ground and worshipped him.”
- 4. Biblical Case Study : Job ( 1,19:25-27)It’s interesting . Job’s response to the loss of nearly all his material wealth was to worship. Somehow, Job declaring His Lordship over his life. He knew that worship welcomed Kingdom power into his circumstances. Job had a very different view of his circumstances than his friends did. He saw what God saw. What enabled him to do so?
- 5. Biblical Case Study : Job ( 1,19:25-27)He renewed his perspective : He clung to the justice and character of God.He let go of his past.: He was willing to let go of what he had lost.He remembered his purpose : He realized that he existed only to glorify God.
- 6. Making the Decision to Manage Finances WellEarn all you canSave all you canGive all you can
- 7. Biblical Counsel on FinancesPut the value of things into perspective.Recognize your season of life.Reduce your debt.Put your financial plan in place and stick to it.Don’t compare yourself to others.Be grateful everyday for God’s provision.Give away as much as you can.
- 8. Our Faith: Today’s Faith Gives me peace
- 9. Biblical Case Study: Jairus and the Woman with a diseaseClaiming Faith is playing offenseIt is aggressive . It takes initiative and lays hold of what God has promised. It actively persists through prayer and obedience until it has the answer.The woman with an issue of blood exercise “ claiming faith”, she pursued Jesus and reached out to touch Him.”…(5:34)
- 10. 2. Trusting is like playing defense. It is calm and quiet , built on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It rests in the knowledge of God’s character in difficult times. Jairus was a synagogue official . His daughter was sick and close to death at home. When Jesus was interrupted on His way to see her, Jairus was not alarmed. Calmly, he rested on his relationship with Jesus . He trusted even when he didn’t understand.
- 11. The Dynamics of FaithFaith is received from God ( Romans 12:3)Faith is developed through the Word of God ( Romans 10:17)Faith is released through words and actions ( Romans 10:9)Faith is tested in our day to day circumstances ( James 1:2-3)
- 12. Our Relationship : Today’s Relationships Give me Fulfillment
- 13. Life’s greatest experiences involve other people.You’ll enjoy life more if you like people.You’ll get further in life if people like you.People are an organization’s most valuable asset.