Eight Reality Checks for Your Checkbook ... LORD builds the house, they labor in
vain who build it" (Psalm. 127:1). ..... You must also face the reality that not
everyone is going to like you. .... stick to any diet or exercise plan I tried. So
instead of ...
CHAPTER SIX
Eight Reality Checks
for Your Checkbook
N
OW
that you're creating work according to your interests
and talents, considering your financial choices, and tak ing steps-slowly and intelligently-toward investing,
it's time to put your specific plan on paper. . In doing this you need to stay flexible and sensitive to the Lord's leading. Your plan for freedom and purpose won't work unless and until you commit your work to Him. "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Psalm 127:1). I wasted many years asking God to get on board with
my plans, instead of working in the flow of His will. Take my word for it; it doesn't work. Now's the time to make a new commitment to the Lord or maybe your first commitment.
COMMIT IT
TO THE
My prayer to invite Jesus to be Lord of my life was pretty simple. Something like, "Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. 137
~.,.,,,,,,,w.w~,,,,
~/~~
CHAPTER SIX
Eigh t Reali ty Checks
for Your Checkbook
N
OW
that you're creating work according to your interests
and talents, considering your financial choices, and tak
ing steps-slowly and intelligently-toward investing,
it's time to put your specific plan on paper. In doing this you need to stay flexible and sensitive to the Lord's leading. Your plan for freedom and purpose won't work unless and until you commit your work to Him. "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Psalm 127:1). I wasted many years asking God to
on board
my plans, instead of working in the flow of His will. Take my word for it; it doesn't work. Now's the time to make a new commitment to the Lord or maybe your first commitment.
COMMIT
TO THE
My prayer to invite Jesus to be Lord of my life was pretty simple. Something like, "Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. 137 di_!. . . ._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _!!!!~_I!!!I!_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _......
138
WOMEN. 'fAKE CHARGE OF YOUR
Eight Reality
for Your Checkbook
Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door
Larry Burkett writes that one way to apply God's principles to
of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Savior and Lord.
our money matters is through "Financial Breathing"-exhaling
Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and
bad habits and inhaling good principles. 13 He says that first of
giving me eternal me to be."
Make me the kind of person You want
all, we must daily acknowledge His ownership of our assets:
We're still working on that last part, and I'll continue learn
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean
ing and growing my whole life. But you can hold on to the
on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowl
promise that once you invite Christ into your life, using your
edge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
own words in your prayer, He promises to never leave you.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
"God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV). It's settled-now and for eternity.
breathe in His goodness and wisdom. Just as parents know
be with Him forever. Walking with God on a daily basis is another story. You'll be tempted, tested,
Next, we must accept God's answers and direction and
frustrated, and you'll have days when
what's best for their children, God knows and does what's best for us:
obedience to Him is the last thing on your mind. It takes a daily decision to commit our lives and our work to the Lord and to in His ways, but the benefits are incomparable:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the coun
(Matthew
11)
sel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the
Commit your work to the One who knows you and loves
LoRD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will
you more than anyone else. Don't be afraid; you're in strong and
be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which
capable hands.
yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3) Daily rewards for a daily decision!
How can you commit your w?rk to the Lord today? What are
Honestly, one of the hardest things to do is to truly commit
His plans for your life? By now, you're getting closer to your
our financial future to God. In How to Manage Your Money,
...
Action Application
answers, aren't you?
139
Truly our financial future to God is one of the hardest to do.
[
140
EIght Reality Cheek, for Yo",
WOMEN. TAKE CHARGE OF As you think about this, remember these commands from
the Lord:
141
I would have been tempted to feel superior to my miserly church neighbor had I not for years also cheated God. Like the multitude, I would contribute only from my surplus. Even
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
when I finally got on board with giving
moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and
also known as tithing-it was far less than the 10 percent God
steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
suggested in the book of Malachi:
to
God financially
where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." (Matthew 6:19-20)
"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My Laws and have not obeyed them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord ofAll. "But you say, 'How are we
BE GENEROUS, SOMEONE IS WATCHING
to
return?' Will a man rob God?
Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we
I remember sitting in church one Easter as the elders were pass
robbed You?' You have not given Me the tenth part of
ing around the offering plate. The woman sitting beside me only
what you receive and your gifts." (Malachi 3:7-8, NLV)
pretended to put money in the plate. She faked it, just went through the motions! At first I thought no one else saw it except
Ouch! At tax time, in reviewing my charitable giving, I
me, but then I realized God had seen it too. God watches all of
would think, "That's it? I could have sworn I gave more than that!"
it, and shouldn't He be the only One who matters?
Not until I started taking this much more seriously did I And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began
finally experience the joy and true wealth that God offers to
observing how the people were putting money into the
everyone who will step up to this plate when it comes to giving.
treasury; and many rich people were putting in large
I finally made the decision to give 10 percent out of my gross
sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper
income, not my net income. This meant God got paid before
coins, which amount
Uncle Sam-and, most significantly, before me.
to
a cent. Calling His disciples to
Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors
At the time I made this decision, I was making a fairly sub
the
stantial salary, and the number terrified me. So much for
treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she,
standing firm on faith. To keep me on the straight and narrow,
out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had live on." (Mark 12:41-44)
I even set up a separate account for God and used it for all my
to
to
charitable giving.
Jesus said it: "Give and it will be given to you ... " I
(Luke
142
WOMEN, TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR MONEY
,
You may have heard the following story before, but I'll tell
"Be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,"
Eight Reality Checks for Your Checkbook'
143
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever
it again: Just like everyone I know who has made this deci
you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,
sion-yes, everyone-I was remarkably blessed by God. I actually had money left over after giving to God's work and
you did for me."
Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from
paying my bills. I kept checking the account again and again to
me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared
make sure I hadn't missed anything. I was giving more than I
for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you
ever had, but I had more money left over. How was it possible?
gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
Only through God. Remember Proven: "She extends her hand to
nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite
II"
the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy"
me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I
I
(Proverbs 31:20). Not only was the Proverbs 31 woman provid
was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."
ing for her family, she was contributing to her community. If you hope to be blessed in this world, you have to bless others. Jesus taught this principle:
(1 Timothy 6:18 NKJV)
They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did
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Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come,
not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for
you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheri
me." (Matthew 25:34-46,
NIV)
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tance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me some
illl'
When you give to anyone, it's as if you're giving to Jesus
thing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something
Himself. That's the heart of giving financially to God. You may
to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I
be able to fool everyone else, but not Him. When the Israelites
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you
wanted to know how they were dishonoring God, He told
looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit
them (through Malachi) that they were cheating Him out of
me. "
their finances-by bringing blind, crippled, and diseased live
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Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when
stock to sacrifice on His altar while holding back their best
did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give
animals to receive top-dollar in the market (Malachi 1:7-8).
you something to drink? When did we see you a
Robbing God with your money deeply offends God, and it also
stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to
robs you of the blessings He wants to bring into your life. God wants our best, and He wants the best for us. Try it. I dare
visit you?"
you. No, forget about me; God dares you! He dares you to trust
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144
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR
Him with your money and to honor Him this is tough, but this is one area where
your wealth. I know actually tells us to test
Him. Listen to His words (continuing in the book of Malachi):
145
Eight Reality Cheeks for Yo lit' Checkbook
to-earth people. My best friends don't put up any pretense or pre tend to have all the answers, and that's so refreshing to me. God wants the same thing. He wants you to come before Him hon estly to deal with your past and to plan for your future.
"Bring the tenth part into the store-house, so that there
Plus, He already knows.
knows how you feel about life,
may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the
relationships, and money. If you're frightened, God under
Lord of AlL "See if I will not then open the windows of
stands. He isn't here to judge you but to
heaven and pour out good things for you until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10, NLV)
So we can acknowledge this with David:
o LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my Test Him in this! Give to the Lord and see if
doesn't give
back abundantly, beyond anything you might have expected or dreamed of for yourself Then keep giving, even when you're tested (and you will be-but you'll also be victorious if you don't give up on giving).
thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, 0 loRD. (Psalm 139:
NIV)
You cannot hide from God, so why try anymore? you certainly understand this with your
Honor the LORD from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)
own \.-llHU1
