RGA ON MONEY

Money. God. Church.
Seem like an unlikely combination? Although a lot of deception and selfishness has been perpetrated by religious figures and institutions, there's no escaping the significance of money to our lives, or the amount of time the scriptures devote to this topic. God knows we need money and wants to help us handle it well. To that end, here are a few pieces of (hopefully good) advice about finances gleaned from the book of Proverbs and beyond

MONEY, LIMITATIONS
Most of the time we use those two words in the same sentence to communicate that we don't have enough cash to get/do what we want. The scriptures encourage us to remember that no matter how much money we have, there are certain things it can never do for us. For example, money never really satisfies. We get more and....we want more. And Solomon (the author of these verses) lived this firsthand. He was one of the richest men on the planet in his day, and his wealth still didn't create lasting satisfaction. Money also can't save us. It may buy us out of some trouble, but it can't redeem our souls, or grant us the kind of forgiveness that brings deep peace. Money isn't supposed to be able to do that stuff. Only God is.

ACQUISITION STRATEGIES

There are lots of ways to make money. But not all of them are good for us or others. God encourages us to stay away from get rich quick schemes, dishonesty or overworking. Better methods of providing for our material needs include pacing ourselves, working hard, and being generous with our work.

BEWARE OF MONEY

That old cliche about money being powerful is right. Problem is, like with any other powerful thing, that power can be directed to help or wreak havoc. As we deal with our finances, we'd do well to keep a couple of things in mind. First, money makes people do crazy things. Unfortunately, many of us have see this firsthand. How many of the crimes committed in our nation have a financial motivation or component? How many fractured marriages and relationships were undermined by money tremors? How many of our health issue trace back to anxiety over our bank accounts? Second, money constantly competes with God for our hearts and lives. Although we can make an idol out of almost anything, Jesus is very direct on this topic. We can't love money and love God. One is bound to prevail over the other.

SAFETY VALVES
Most of us are used to taking precautions with our resources. We use FDIC insured banks. Guard against identity fraud. Buy life and disability insurance. If money is as dangerous as Jesus claims, maybe we need to have some spiritual safety valves in place as well. How can we keep our stuff and money from owning us? Hold on loosely. Being willing to release some of our resources back to God not only let's us bless other people and be a part of making an eternal impact, but it reminds us that God is more important to us than our bottom line. The practice of "enough" is another way to keep money from digging its hooks into our souls. In a culture and economy built on consumption, saying no to ourselves can be difficult, but also rewarding. Just because we can afford something doesn't mean we have to. This week be on the lookout for an opportunity to be content with something you already own instead of replacing it with a newer version. Or buy what meets your needs instead of the nicest version of something that you can afford. Make a statement that money (and what it provides) isn't the boss of you.

REFLECT:

Q: What feelings does the topic of money evoke in you? Why?

Q: Where have you learned about money? Who gave you good advice? Did you ever hear this topic taught on in a church community? If so, what was said?

Q: Have you ever experienced the limitations of money to fix everything or make you happy? When?

Q: Have you ever noticed money competing with God for your allegiance & affection? How?

Q: What is "enough" for you when it comes to money and material things? How do/could you practice this?

SCRIPTURE DUMP:

Proverbs 13:7, 18:11, 11:4, 20:21, 21:6, 23:4, 13:11, 10:4, 11:24-25, 3:9-10, 30:8-9; Ecclesiastes 5:10-12; Matthew 6:19-24, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, 9-10