Where Our Hearts Were On Sunday...

This past Sunday we gave everyone in our adult gathering a dollar. Not only did this allow us to get our hands on the topic we were discussing, but it helped relax everyone a bit since we were handing out money- rather than asking for it. (How often does that happen in church?)

At the end of the gathering, each of us had an opportunity to use our dollar to offer a prayer about where our hearts were with regards to money. Those of us who participated put our dollar in one of three containers. Here's how the numbers shook out.

• I'm grateful that my basic needs are met. (14 people)

• I want to be a better manager of the money God gives me. (61 people)

• I'm struggling to choose between God and the things money gives me. (12 people)

If you participated, thanks for your honesty and for engaging the moment.

If you didn't get to take part, which of the above phrases best describes what you would say to God about your finances today? (If none of these capture it, write your own in the comments section.)

May God hear each of these prayers and meet us where we are today.

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

RGA On Our Mouths

The book of Proverbs (and the rest of the scriptures) has plenty to say about the thousands of words that come out of our mouths on a daily basis. In the spirit of choosing and using words carefully, I'll err on the side of being brief and pointing towards God's thoughts on this topic:

Not just words, but glimpses into our hearts
Proverbs 18:4
Luke 6:45

Not just words, but powerful agents

For Good
Proverbs 12:25, 24:26, 25:11-12

For Evil
Proverbs 12:18

Affect Us Too
Proverbs 18:6-7, 21

Eventually we all blow it
Proverbs 10:19

So let's watch our mouths
Proverbs 13:3
Proverbs 17:27-28
BONUS: Silence can make us look smarter than we are.

Especially when strong emotions are involved
James 1:19-20

Or when we are talking with God
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
Mt. 6:7-8

REFLECT:
Q: When was the last time you saw words hurt someone? What happened? Could it have been prevented?

Q: Are there any scars on your heart, mind or soul that trace back to words that were spoken into your life? What was said? How long ago?

Q: When was the last time you saw words bring blessing to someone? What was said?

Q: Who is there in your life that might need some words of blessing from you this week?

Q: Do you consciously try to "guard your mouth"? How?

A Prayer For Help WIth Temptation

This past weekend we voiced a prayer as a community to acknowledge our need for God's help as we face temptations. If you are having trouble finding your own words to offer God on this topic, feel free to use these:

Jesus, you say we are weak and we agree.
Lead us away from temptation.

You say that we want to do what’s right, but we don’t always feel that way.
Lead us away from temptation.

Help us to stay alert and not get tired of doing what is right.
Lead us away from temptation.

Jesus, you entered our world and walked in our shoes.
Remind us that we aren’t alone.

You faced the same types of temptation that we do.
Remind us that we aren’t alone.

Yet you saw through the lies for what they were and never gave in.
Remind us that we aren’t alone.

Jesus, help us not be overly confident in ourselves.
Show us the way of escape.

Or think that we’re facing something too strong for us.
Show us the way of escape.

You know where each one of us is struggling today.
Show us the way of escape.

And remind us that you never put us in a no-win situation.
Show us the way of escape.

May our lives bring pleasure and glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit today.
AMEN.

Really Good Advice On TEMPTATION

Remember when video games were simple? When all you had to master was a joystick and maybe two buttons? Although crude by today's standards, games from the early 80's (Galaga, Centipede, Pac Man, Donkey Kong, etc.) were a lot of fun. They also taught some valuable lessons. Take the game Asteroids for example- the goal was to survive as long as you could by dodging a never-ending stream of rocks that threatened to crush you. Sounds a lot like life to me. Unfortunately, we aren't just dodging random obstacles, sometimes we're fighting for our lives against situations that we have created ourselves. Maybe this is why the Bible has so much to say about temptation.

THE ROOT
Temptation is like a weed. Pull it out and it keeps coming back. Why? It's got STRONG ROOTS. What's underneath every temptation we face? The desire to replace God- either with ourselves or some other created thing. We aren't just enticed to do something that is "wrong", but to set ourselves up as the arbiters of what is right or wrong, good or bad.

THE FORM
What does temptation look like? Some forms are easy to recognize, but others are more subtle. If the root of temptation is to put something else in God's place, then temptation can come though most any source- especially through the good gifts of God. For example, work is good- until all we do is work. Kid's are a blessing, until they become the center of our lives and marriages. Food is good, until we live to eat. Sex is good until we expect it to satisfy all of the deep longings of our souls. Dealing with temptation would be easier if it only came in forms that were scary and ugly.

THE LIES
Nudges towards the wrong paths in life usually come wrapped in lies: "You won't get caught." "Once won't hurt." "You can stop anytime." Here are a couple of the most devastating lies that we face as we deal with temptation: "You are the only one." "You can't win." Although it might feel that way at times, GOD SPEAKS AGAINST this kind of hopelessness. No matter what tempts us today, we aren't the first to experience it. We won't be the last. And it isn't too big or strong for us. With every temptation, God provides an escape hatch. An exit. A back door.

STAY AWAY
Maybe one of the best ways to deal with the things that compete with God for our hearts is to KEEP A RESPECTFUL DISTANCE whenever we are able. Struggle with debt? Cut up the credit card. Find it hard to stop drinking. Don't start. Enjoy gossip? Avoid the situations that invite it. Gravitate towards spots on the wwweb that erode your soul? Get an internet filter/blocker. Fire rarely burns from a distance.

REMEMBER THE CONSEQUENCES
Seen these COMMERCIALS FROM SUBWAY? Why are they compelling? Because they tell the truth about where fast food will eventually lead us. What if we did the same with every invitation we encounter to replace God with something else? Let's assume we'll get caught up in it and will find ourselves PAYING THE PRICE. Is that what we really want?

ASK FOR HELP
Every time we face temptation we're dealing with spiritual forces beyond human willpower. Maybe we need to level the playing field. While human support can be vital when we struggle, our weaknesses give us a great opportunity to LEAN ON SOMEONE STRONGER THAN WE ARE.

REFLECT
Q: Which is harder for you, recognizing the temptation you are facing, or what is behind it?

Q: Can you think of a time you were facing a temptation that seemed too strong for you? What did you do? How did things turn out?

Q: Is there anyone in your life who you can turn to and find support when you are struggling with temptation? Do you find yourself praying regularly about it?

Are We Willing To Pay The Price? (RGA 3)

"Advice is worth way you pay for it."
Ever said that? Why? Probably because your were giving someone free advice and didn't want them to expect too much. Or maybe because you were facing an important situation and needed to pay for a professional opinion. God offers us His insights. They are free, BUT NOT CHEAP. What does it mean to "buy truth"? Proverbs suggests several costs involved with getting God's advice.

GRAB IT

God puts His words and ways out there. (Proverbs 1:20-23) But they aren't forced on us. We have to decide if we want to RECEIVE THEM. Proverbs paints our quest for wisdom like a treasure hunt. The other day I saw a special about Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. Pay a few bucks and you can search for diamonds. In the last 30 years, 19,000 have been found. Just this summer a 13 year old girl turned up this 3 carat diamond (see pic). Anyone up for a road trip to Arkansas? The possibility of finding treasure can drive us to spend a lot of time and energy to find it. That's one of the pictures God gives us about His wisdom. IF we want it, ask for it, work at it, ingest it- THEN we'll find it. Getting wisdom comes from grabbing it.

USE IT
Listening to good advice is a good step, but just a first step. That advice is only valuable to us, if we use it. For those of us who love to learn, the temptation is to keep acquiring information, but NEVER ACTING ON IT. Wisdom is innately practical. It is supposed to GO SOMEWHERE. For me, this is one of the greatest challenges. Although I've got a long way to go, I've had lots of opportunities to grab God's wisdom. Now I need to use what I already know. What if you didn't learn anything new about God for the next 6 months, but instead focused on doing what you've already learned? Where would you start? What might happen?

OWN IT
My wife loves the tv show The Biggest Loser. I'll admit that it is compelling. People who have struggled with obesity get really good advice about fitness and nutrition and start using it. The results are often amazing. Last season's winner lost 164 pounds- nearly half of his body weight. Inevitably, the contestants realize that what they need is more than a diet or exercise program. They need a new way of living. God has THE SAME THING in mind for us. Grabbing wisdom is a good start, practicing God's ways are important, but the payoff comes when they BECOME A PART OF US.

REFLECT
Q: In my life, where am I settling for less than what I really want because I'm not willing to pay the price to change?
Q: What would it mean for me to pay the price for God's advice today? Do I need to grab the wisdom? Start using what I already know? Focus on owning it and making my faith a lifestyle?
Q: Where and how could I start? Who could I dialogue with about this stuff?