God as your Financial Planner
Posted on August 28th, 2006 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryHere's a good article in the Post Magazine about a couple who improved their finances by taking a class at their local church.
Snip:
The Sievers, both in their forties, reordered their priorities, vowing to pay off all their debt within a year and give to the poor. Carl sold his Toyota Camry for $5,000, and the couple used the money to pay off the loan on Catherine's car. Carl bought a Ford Ranger pickup with 200,000 miles on it for $500, and he drives it to his job at IBM downtown. They got a smaller apartment, lopping $300 off their rent. Catherine, a legal secretary, gave up $200 a month in new clothes. Instead of buying the $4,000 in furniture they had wanted, the couple bought things off Craigslist, including a one-year-old high-end Sony TV for $200. If they can't afford something, they wait until they can.
Here is a tithing couple, who actually seem to understand finances.
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August 28th, 2006 at 8:05 am
Yes, let’s see how that actually worked out…
Of course if the Post were interested in increasing the tithe commitment they would have properly spun this story to say:
Isn’t God good…All the time.
August 28th, 2006 at 12:27 pm
You mean you have to be RESPONSIBLE with your money??!! Dang!
August 28th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
www.crown.org
While their work seems admirable, you can understand the appeal of pastors to get their people involved. People who manage their money well are more likely to be good tithers!
They seem to contradict themselves quite a bit in some of their advice (other than just believing in tithing). For example they quote Scriptures about the purpose of the tithe is to help those in need such as the homeless, the poor, the widow, etc. Then they turn around and say that people on welfare should tithe on that income, as well as Social Security benefits, alimony, and insurance benefits from the death of a husband! In spite of their great mandate that debt is evil and should be avoided at all costs, they encourage people to tithe FIRST before making debt payments. That owing God is worse than owing a bank. Somehow that doesn’t jibe with their mantra that God already owns everything and that we’re just good stewards of what we do have. I’m sure the guy repossessing your car will understand this when you explain it to him. Will the local church bail you out because you failed to pay your mortgage because you tithed?
What is particularly interesting is that they stress good financial principles as “stewardship” without promoting the faith prosperity angle, which is why I initially wanted to hope that they were doing some good. But they drop the ball in insisting that people should be required to tithe to be a good steward, even in extreme cases. You’re better off seeking out a financial planner at your local bank, who will help you invest that 10% which you can freely give as you are willing.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Get a clue, people! The Bible says it all!
What the Bible says about the rich and the poor:
“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.” Exodus 22:22
“Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near, so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.” Deuteronomy 15
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.” Psalm 9:18
” Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD, I will protect them from those who malign them. ” Psalm 12:5
“You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.” Psalm 14:6
“Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.” Psalm 74:21
“For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.” Psalm 109:31
“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” Psalm 140:12
“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31
“The LORD tears down the proud man’s house but he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact.” Proverbs 15:25
“Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Proverbs 16:19
“He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich — both come to poverty.” Proverbs 22:16
“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the
needy in court.” Proverbs 22:22
“A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.” Proverbs 28:3
“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.” Proverbs 28:27
“The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?’ declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
” Isaiah 3:14-15
“The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors.” Isaiah 14:30
(They) have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor.” Jeremiah 5:28
“Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Matthew 19:21
“They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.” Mark 12:40
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” Luke 12:33
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Luke 18:22
“Beware of the teachers of the law . . . They devour your widows’ houses . . . Such men will be punished severely.” Luke 20:46-47
“‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” John 12:5
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.” 1 Timothy 5:3
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, You stand there’ or Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and becomes judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?” James 2:2-6
Matthew 19:21-23
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
James 5:1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.
Revelation 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Mark 12:38-44
As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.”
Luke 6:24-25
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
1 Timothy 7-12
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Proverbs 23:4
Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
Jeremiah 5:27
As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
August 28th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
How do you have time, BT Beauty, to cull the Bible for all those Scriptures. I sure dont’ have time to read them all. –Karli
August 28th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
It is called the power of…Google.
August 29th, 2006 at 6:27 am
Karli - here’s a great FREE Bible program called E-Sword that runs under Windows. It’s an incredible resource with over 2 dozen english Bibles, 17 commentaries, 14 dictionaries and a host of other features. I’ve been using it for 3-4 years. Note that the all the modules will fill a CD, and so after trying and liking the basic program, I sent the donation for the CD (now $15) which has a very comprehensive install program, and beats installing the program 1 bible / commentary, etc. at a time like you have to do for the download version.
August 29th, 2006 at 6:32 am
http://www.ibs.org/
http://www.biblegateway.com/
are both free, online, and search multiple versions.
August 29th, 2006 at 6:40 am
IBS? Is that a support group for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
I love acronyms.
August 29th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
No, it stands for Instituitional Basically Sucks…
April 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Do the math people, the average person tithes $20.00 per week. If a church has 1,000 attenders (not including Children) thats $20,000.00 a week. Folks that’s over $1,000,000.00 a year and thats for only having to be open once a week on Sundays! Not including all of the Free Labor they are getting for their Sunday School Teachers and Nursery Help. For every 100 attenders a church can employ 1 full time person. Church is a Big “Tax Free” Business!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
It is a good business. If you have decent looks and some charisma, I would suggest being a pastor a mega church. Big bucks. I feel for these people, hate to cut back on good stuff.