Trusted WITH MONEY

Money is on most everyone's minds these days. The price of gas, the tanking stock market, the $700 Billion dollar bailout, the economy as the #1 issue in the upcoming election- all serve to keep us focused on money. And we should be. Not only do we need money to survive, but money is one of the many things that God is trusting us with. And money can effect our relationship with God based on how we handle it. Always has. Take a minute and read THIS STORY about a couple of brothers who had this experience. Let's explore a few principles that we can learn from these guys.

IT'S NOT "OUR MONEY", IT'S GOD'S MONEY
Recently a friend of mine was talking with one of their financial professionals. They called to ask if my friend was doing ok in the changing economy. My friend said they were doing about as well as everyone else and ended by saying, "It isn't our money anyway." "What do you mean?" the financial adviser shot back. My friend explained that they believed that all of their money ultimately belonged to God. The financial pro was stunned. The issue of ownership provides the key to how we'll manage our money. If it is ours- we'll spend it on us and maybe throw God a bit if we have any left. If it is God's- we'll probably manage it differently. Both Cain and Abel had growing businesses. Both brought offerings to God. But only one found favor in God's eyes. Why? Abel brought the best of what God helped him earn. Cain just brought something. My guess is that Cain had grown some choice produce as well. But he kept it for himself. It was his after all, right? What's troubling about this is that Cain should have been clear about the earth belonging to God. His parents were the first humans ever created. God spoke out loud to Cain. And yet, he wanted to lay claim to what was "his". If Cain got cloudy about the issue of ownership, we're probably going to have to do some work to keep a clear perspective.

IT'S NOT "JUST MONEY", MONEY IS A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL ISSUE
Researchers are always making connections we don't expect. Red wine is good for your heart. Dark chocolate lowers your cholesterol. Who knew? Often we want to believe that money is a necessary evil, but not really important to our spiritual lives. Jesus seemed to think otherwise. He saw a direct connection between our money and our hearts. What Abel did with his money had a direct impact on His relationship with God. Same with Cain. After Cain's offering is rejected, God warns him that money is a handy channel for temptation. Similar warnings are offered to those who would follow Jesus. Sounds like we need to pay close attention to the role money has in our lives, huh?

GIVING IS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT AN OBLIGATION
So how does God expect us to keep our bearings when it comes to money? What can we do to keep the ownership issue straight? To keep God first? To avoid the temptations that are "lying outside our doors" (God's imagery, not mine)? That's where the spiritual habit of giving comes in. When we give God our money, our hearts have a chance to follow (remember what Jesus said about the wallet-heart connection). In Malachi 3, God talks to a group of people who have abandoned Him and invites them to return. How will they return? God says they should start by putting their money where they want their hearts to be. Financial giving may also be a key component to our growth. Jesus suggests that the way we manage the money God trusts us with can be a proving ground for other blessings and responsibilities He may want to send our way. We can't buy God's love. And God doesn't need our money. But He does want our hearts. And our wallets should follow.

NEXT STEPS
So how can we honor God with the money He's giving us? Maybe by taking the next step when it comes to our giving. Most of us can't radically change our financial situations overnight, but we can do something. Here's an overview of the ways people have given to God in the scriptures. Which would represent a good next step for you?

Pre OT Law-
People like Abel gave God the first and best part of their income. This helped reinforce God as the owner of all things and the source of their blessings. If you aren't used to giving money to God, start here. No matter the amount, give God some of the first and best part of what He allows you to earn. Don't wait to see if you have anything left. Put God in the budget.

OT Law-
God tells the Jewish people to bring tithes (10%) and offerings (beyond 10%). This allowed them be disciplined and consistent in their giving and gave them very clear guidelines. If you give to God occasionally, a good next step might be setting a pattern (weekly, monthly, etc) and a percentage of giving. This might serve as a consistent layer of protection against the temptation we face to love and serve our money.

Jesus/NT-
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and set us free from standards that were tough to measure up to. Jesus sets us free- to love, serve, live- AND give. Jesus takes giving to another standard by encouraging us to give generously and cheerfully. If you already practice giving money to God consistently, do a heart scan. Do you see it as an opportunity to bless God, others and yourself? Are you happy to write the checks? If not, ask God to work on this with you.

THINK/TALK ABOUT IT:

Q: What kinds of experiences have you had when it comes to churches and money? What have you learned about money at church?

Q: Where do you land on the ownership issue today? Do you believe your money is really God's? If so, does it show? What, if anything, do you to maintain this focus?

Q: Have you seen the heart/money connection play out in your/others lives? Do you agree that money can be a powerful channel for temptation? How do you feel about the imagery that "sin is lying outside your door waiting to master you"? What, if anything, are you doing to protect yourself?

Q: Do you tend to see giving as an opportunity or an obligation? How has the habit of giving changed/blessed you? What would a good next step of growth for you when it comes to honoring God with your money?

Trusted WITH HOPE

THINK/DISCUSS:

Q: Have you ever had to trust someone else to represent you or speak on your behalf? What was the situation? What was that experience like?

Q: When was the last time you drew a conclusion about a group of people or an organization based on someone who was associate with them (either formally or informally)?

Q: Who/what do you represent on a daily basis? (Ex. Your family, profession, employer, etc.)

Q: Why do you think God uses humans (ex. OT- prophets, priests, Israel; NT- Jesus, apostles, us) to speak for Him when He's gone to all the trouble to give us the Bible?

Q: How do you feel about the idea that Jesus trusts you with His message of hope and to act "in His name"?

Q: Some churches an followers of Jesus have done a poor job of representing Him and have left many in our culture with negative ideas about Jesus and His people. Do you see this more as an obstacle or an opportunity?

Q: Which do you think is more important when it comes to representing Jesus to your world- words (talking about Jesus) or actions (living and loving like Jesus)? Are both important? Is there a right order for these?

TRY THIS:
Start each day this week with a prayer like this-

"Jesus, help me to remember that I have the privilege and responsibility of representing You today. May my actions and words reflect Your heart for this world and give each person I come into contact with an accurate picture of who You are and the life You offer to each of us."

Trusted WITH COMMUNITY

Ever wish for a little alone time? Me too. Want to be lonely? Me neither. Maybe that's why God trusts us with the ability to develop community and build relationships.

COMMUNITY IS A GIFT WE NEED
Want to understand how deeply we need other people? Go back to the beginning of the human story. God creates a perfect world, puts the first human in the middle of it and relates face to face with him. And something is still missing. The fix? Another human. Turns out even God can't fully fill our relational needs.

COMMUNITY IS A GIFT OTHERS NEED FROM US
It isn't just that we need others. They need us too. When God wants to describe the importance of spiritual community he talks about a church as a body. The point? Every part needs the other. If we isolate ourselves, others are missing out on what we bring to the table.

COMMUNITY TAKES TIME TO DEVELOP
If relationships are so vital, they should be easy right? Credit the first humans for screwing that up. After they disobey God, relationships go south. People start hiding from God and each other. And we haven't stopped yet. We hide because we've been hurt. So do we give up on people altogether? No, but we might want to take our time and proceed with caution. Jesus gives us a good model here. He had different concentric circles of relationship (PUBLIC, SOCIAL, PERSONAL, INTIMATE) and revealed more and more of Himself as the numbers thinned. We'd be smart to do the same.

THINK/TALK:
Q: How much alone time do you have in your life right now? Too little? Too much? Just enough? What would you do if you had a day all to yourself

Q: Have you ever been/felt isolated or lonely? For how long? What caused it? How did it affect you?

Q: What does it say to you about our need for relationships that even with Adam's "perfect" life in Genesis 2 (safety, food, living in paradise, talking face to face with God) he still needed another person?

Q: Why do you think Jesus chose to live in such intentional community- spending the better part of 3 years with a group of people?

Q: Look back at Hebrews 10:23-25. Note the balance between faith (which many see as personal and internal) and community. Why are both important? Which comes easier for you?

Q: Do you ever think that others might be missing out if you isolate yourself from them? What positive qualities and abilities do you bring into other's lives?

Q: The first human relationships got screwed up when sin entered our world. Adam and Eve hid from each other and from God. Do you ever hide from relationships and intimacy? How do you cover yourself so that others won't see you or hurt you?

Q: What do the words "spiritual community" mean to you? Do you think "community" = telling everyone everything you are thinking? How have you seen relationships grow and develop?

Q: Which is harder for you- building relationships or maintaining them? Why? What would a good next step be for you in terms of continuing to develop community?

Trusted WITH EMOTIONS

"How are you feeling today?" It's a question that we ask or get asked multiple times every day. But do we ever answer it honestly? Do we stop to really get in touch with our emotions in response to this generic greeting? While we're on the topic, how often do we stop to assess our emotions at all? Every human has been entrusted by God with the capacity to feel. How can we handle our emotions in ways that honor God, ourselves and others?

There are a few sentences in the Bible that give us a bit of insight on this:

Be angry without sinning. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work. - Ephesians 4:26-27

EMBRACING OUR FEELINGS
Ever had something go numb? Like an arm that you've slept on the wrong way? It can be a bit troubling to lose sensation can't it? I've got a hunch that some of us are at least partially emotionally numb. We don't pay much attention to our feelings- often seeing this part of our existence as being completely subservient to our rational, logical minds. Some of us have been trained to see emotion as a sign of weakness or a liability. Even those of us who can identify what we are feeling at times devalue our emotions with statements like, "I know I shouldn't feel that way." Look at the first line in the scripture passage above: BE ANGRY. Feel. Get in touch with your emotions. Why this counsel? Perhaps because our emotions are a reflection of being made in the image of a God who feels.

EXPRESSING OUR FEELINGS
What do we do once we acknowledge what we're feeling? We process it and let it out. How else would be be angry, but not go to bed that way? Admittedly expressing our emotions can be difficult for some of us. Isn't it better to just ignore them? Sure. If you want to explode. All those feelings we ignore, deny and stuff can build up. And then come out in ways we'd never choose. Do you work better with pictures? Ok- take a peek at Porkchop Geyser in Yellowstone Ntl Park.


This spot in the ground would regularly vent steam as the heat under the earth looked for a spot to escape. Until it got clogged up. All the pressure and heat kept building up. They just didn't have anywhere to go. And then:


Kaboom! This is what remains of Porkchop Geyser today. Want the same thing to happen with you life? Stuff everything. Let your worries, anger and frustration build up internally until you erupt. Doesn't sound like a good plan? Then we'd better start expressing our feelings- and do so in ways that honor God, ourselves and others. That's the "Be angry without sinning" part of the passage. Even negative feelings can be dealt with in ways that don't lead to negative actions.

EXPLORING OUR FEELINGS
The trouble with emotions is that they aren't precise. We may feel something and not immediately know the cause. Things may seemingly be going along fine and yet we're troubled, or hesitant or fearful- without a clear explanation behind these feelings. This is where I think we've got an opportunity- to let God (and not the Devil as stated above) work. At times our feelings may serve as a "check soul" indicator light- inviting us to open ourselves up for God to peek under the hood.

For Reflection/Discussion:

Q: How in touch are you with your emotions? Are you able to identify and describe what you are feeling at any given moment?

Q: Do you think that emotions are an important part of being human? In your opinion is the capacity to feel more or less important than the ability to think and reason? Why do you think God has given us emotions?

Q: Do you think of God as being an emotional being? Why or why not? How about Jesus? Are there any feelings you can't imagine God/Jesus having?

Q: Are you surprised that the scripture says it is ok to be angry? Why/not? Are there any emotions that you see as being inherently wrong? Is there a difference in your mind between feeling something and acting out on that feeling?

Q: The Bible encourages us to not only acknowledge our emotions but to get them out ("don't go to bed angry") in healthy ways ("be angry without sinning"). What does this look like for you? How do you best express emotions that might lead you to sinful actions if you aren't careful?

Q: In Sunday's teaching conversation we talked about "feeling referral"- where our emotions are triggered by one thing- but are really about something else. (Ex. I get frustrated with people who give me the "control your kid" look, but my frustration is really about my own worries that I'm not doing a great job with my kids.) Have you ever had an experience like this? What happened?

Q: Do you ever take time to explore what lies behind your emotions? If so, how do you do this? With God? With other people?