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This morning we are going to look at some “Timeless Answers”.
I know what you are facing. I have faced the same things in my life and learned how to successfully handle them. I have the answers – “Timeless Answers” – to the current questions you are facing in life.
Matthew 6: 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
During His earthly life and ministry, Jesus spoke more about money than He did about heaven and hell combined. The majority of what Jesus had to say concerning the principles of money can be summed up from Matthew 6:24. Money wants to be your master and ultimately, the love of money is the root of all evil.
According to the timeless Word of God, whether an individual, a corporation or a nation – no one can serve two masters. We will either pursue God’s goals and use money as a tool or we will serve money’s dictates and use God as a tool.
Among the top three questions people have in today’s society, and perhaps the top question of society itself is: Why don’t I have any money left over at the end of the week? There just doesn’t seem to be enough money to go around. It takes all I have just to pay bills. There is nothing left over.
You know, life is designed by God to be lived with a margin. It is a part of the “Abundant Life” plan of God.
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
An Abundant Life is a life in no need of a miracle … a life lived with a margin so that when you get to the top of the stairs you still have breath left; so that when you get to the end of the week you still have money left; so that you don’t just always come screeching to a stop at every red light with the front bumper sticking over the white line, anxiously looking in the mirror hoping that huge truckload of debt doesn’t come plowing right through you without respecting the fact that you were forced to stop or be destroyed.Life is designed to be lived with a margin and instead most people, corporations and nations are standing right on the edge of financial ruin. One little push would send them plummeting to the very bottom.
Life on the edge is too dangerous, too fragile, to be truly enjoyed. And yet, most people are living right on the edge of financial disaster.
What can be done? It is really very simple to understand in theory but evidently not as easy to do in practice. Nonetheless, there are timeless answers to this age old problem and to the current situation you face in life.
If you will follow some simple steps, I guarantee that you will achieve:
Financial Success,
Financial Security
Financial Significance
As I said earlier, this morning we are going to discover or re-discover some timeless answers to the current financial problems in life. Before we start, allow me to give us some points to ponder. Remember these points, they will speak to you when you most need direction: (I have pointed them at “you”) and, the great thing with timeless answers – you are never too old to apply them.
· Most often the reason why you can’t buy what you want is because you bought what you wanted.
· The problem with a dollar is that it only spends once.
· Saying yes to one purchase means you are saying no to another.
· Life is designed to be lived with a margin.
Now for some things which you can begin to do today:
#1. Stop Digging
Firmly determine that you will make no more consumer debt
#2. Curb Spending
10 apple income model
Live on 6 apples
Save 2 apples
Give 2 apples away
#3. Harness Appetites
#4. Adjust Expectancies
100% versus 60% Lifestyle Spending Plan
Create a 6 Apple Budget you can live on
One of the greatest dangers is creating a no margin budget
#5. Attack Debt
Stay in the game – it’s your debt … pay it!
Put together a spending plan
Set financial goals
Stop wasting money
Re-Arrange your financial picture
Move higher interest to lower interest if possible
Free up capital
Sell things you don’t need or use
Begin a debt reduction plan
#6. Forecast Trends; 7) Diversify Portfolio; 8) Control Growth; 9) Enjoy Life
Why go through all of this? Because you will live longer, happier, more secure and productive with a financial margin than you will without one. And that longer, happier life will free you up mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually to serve God – and that’s reason enough!
Don’t just do it for you or even for your family, but connect your money, your success, security and significance to God! If you do, He will help!
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
