Blessed to Be a Blessing

I've been preaching on the subject of stewardship for three weeks, and I'm getting a lot of amens when I speak about the value of hard work, responsibility, and saving money.

This week, the subject is giving, and I'm prepared to feel like Peyton Manning on a visit to Foxboro. Nobody likes to hear the pastor talk about their money.

Yet generosity is a spiritual trait, just like responsibility and contentment. And the Bible says more about giving our money away than it does about earning it or saving it. If we hope to be mature disciples of Jesus, we have to wrap our minds around the idea that our money isn't really ours--we're managing it on behalf of God. As such, we don't even think about spending all of it on ourselves.

Here are three concepts that have helped me get a handle on giving money away.

Gratitude

Gratitude is at the heart of the principle of tithing. Both Abraham and Jacob gave a tenth of their goods in response to God's goodness. Only later was tithing made a law. The real reason we give God 10 percent of our earning is that we're grateful to him for all he's done for us.

When I made the decision to begin tithing, it was a profound spiritual landmark--a sign that I had fully "sold out" to God.

Compassion 

The earthquake in Haiti has reminded us all how tenderhearted we can be. In our better moments, we feel genuine sorrow for people who are suffering. It's good that we give at times like these. And it's even better when we maintain an awareness of the fact that the world can be an ugly place.

When I give consistent offerings to agencies like World Hope International, we're acting like God, who remembers the orphans of the world.

Blessing

Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matt. 6:38).

We are blessed to be a blessing. And when we bless others, we benefit.  When you give money away, you help others, you feel better, and you know that God will reward you. I don't think that means you get the money back with interest. But you can trust God to bless you in return.

What about you? What has helped you develop the virtue of generosity?

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How Revival Starts

Revival is one of those things that are easy to recognize but difficult to create. Like momentum in a business or buzz in marketing, you can easily spot it but seldom reproduce it.

It comes from God.
It begins with a few people
It spreads to others.
Or it doesn't ...


Prayer is perhaps the only tool we have for fanning the flame of revival.

Last week I received a note from Stephanie Stout, one of Fall Creek's university students, who is in her senior year at Indiana University, studying broadcast journalism. She wrote--

[I'd like to] to petition people to pray for the Indiana University campus--or any campus. God has revealed to many of my friends, students across the nation, and me that our generation is about to have a revival. I'm so excited!

 To be a part of something this incredible is mind-blowing! But I know it cannot happen without our elders praying for us. I believe in my generation.

I went to Passion Conference and saw generosity from "poor college students" that took my breath away. I saw a desire to share Christ and do what we are called to do as Christians--tell others about the amazing love of Jesus.

Please join me in prayer for my school. The Enemy does not want this to happen. He is stirring apathy in hearts and creating intense distractions and spiritual warfare. But God is bigger and stronger. He wins. We need you!

Perhaps you could adopt a campus. Fall Creek has students attending 13 schools. Perhaps you could adopt one--or another that you know of.

• Anderson University
• Ball State University
• Bucknell University
• Butler University
• Calvin College
• Cornerstone University
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• Pittsburgh State University
• Purdue University
• Southern Wesleyan University
• Strassburg University
• Taylor University
• The University of Illinois

What about you? Will you pray for revival among our university students?

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Why Saving Money Is Difficult

Most of us would agree with the biblical advice that we should conserve our resources. ("In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has" Prov. 21:20.) It makes sense to spend less than we earn, to save something back, to have some money in reserve.

Yet most of us spend more than we earn, extending our debt little by little. While we may agree that saving money is a good idea, we find it hard to do.

The reason it's so hard to save money is the same reason it's so difficult to lose weight. We approach both as if they are a matter of sheer discipline. In fact, both require a change of lifestyle that must be preceded by a change of mind.

In the case of thrift, that means moving from an attitude of  consumption to a mindset of contentment. 

The wealthiest people in most communities have recognized this. They have money mostly because they don't spend it. As a result, they live rather conservative lifestyles, often far below their actual means.

Yet we are often more drawn to the lavish spenders--those with large homes, expensive cars, and exotic vacations.  Often, they are floating on a sea of debt, far outspending their ability to earn.

To gain financial strength, you must spend less money than you are able to spend.

To do that, you must be content with what you already have.

Are you?

What do you think? What helps a person develop the lifestyle of saving money?

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Can You Get Something for Nothing?

I did it again this week. On Monday I caught myself making one of the Big Stupid Money Mistakes that the Bible warns about.

It started when my brother sent me a photo of his new track bike--he's getting geared up for the racing season. Naturally, I had a serious case of bike envy. I started shopping bikes on the Internet, comparing prices, drooling over road bikes that cost far more than I can afford.

And there it is, Big Stupid Money Mistake #1: Thinking more about how to spend money than about how to earn it.

That kind of thinking is what has put many people deep into debt. Depending on whom you believe, the average household debt in the U.S., not counting mortgage debt, is about $14,500. Some 40 percent of American families annually spend more than they earn. Average credit card debt, depending on which figures you use, is between $8,400 and $9,200 per year.

This week I'm beginning a teaching series on personal finances titled More than Enough. I'm using a tagline borrowed from John Wesley, who said, "Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can." My theory is that God has given us more than enough resources to live--and to thrive. We just need to learn what to do with them.

Industry, thrift, and generosity are the three core principles we'll explore. This week, the value of work, based on Prov. 6:6-11.

As I'm organizing my thoughts, I keep wondering why we are so resistant to the idea of hard work? Why is it always easier to sit on the couch than do the dishes? Why are we so consumed by the idea of getting rich quick, hitting the lottery, or getting something for nothing?

Where does the (stupid) notion come from that we can gain wealth for free? And why is it so easy to believe?

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What You Can Do to Help in Haiti

My thoughts have been with the people of Haiti this week, devastated by an earthquake of magnitude 7.0. With 9 million residents, Haiti has been called the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A report by one news company said that 75 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Its resources for rescue and relief efforts are almost non-existent.

Knowing how best to help is always a challenge following a disaster of this kind. We are fortunate to know of two wonderful Christian agencies that have been active in Haiti for many years and are set to deliver aid.

I encourage you to make a donation for Haiti relief through one of the following avenues.

Global Partners (label your donation with the code “WM07-0005” and the description “Haiti Relief”)

Global partners is the world mission agency of The Wesleyan Church. Your contribution will help to relieve 106 congregations affected by the quake and will provide medical supplies for a Christian hospital serving those afflicted in Haiti.

World Hope International (select “Disaster Response – Haiti” from the drop-down menu)

World Hope is an Christian relief and development agency, founded under the direction of The Wesleyan Church, that has been active in Haiti for many years. Your contributions will be used to fund disaster relief in that country.

Let's be generous.

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