WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.200 Hey, grab your Bibles, open them up with me to Proverbs chapter 21. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:04.799 Proverbs chapter 21. 00:00:04.959 --> 00:00:15.359 Let me just quickly say happy Thanksgiving to all of you as the Cuba family got together and we thought through and we began to reflect personally as well, just on all that I am thankful for. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.879 I need you to know, church, you were on the list way up there at the top of the list. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.239 I'm telling you, I just love you. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:21.440 I'm so grateful for you. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.399 I'm thankful for you. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:26.960 Thankful for the way that you've loved us, thankful for the way that you've allowed us to love you. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:36.799 It is truly a blessing to serve and to be your pastor and to be able to complete today this sermon series that we have been walking through called At All Costs. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:41.920 Before we get going, I want to just take a minute to greet all of the men and the women in our correctional facilities. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:45.840 Let's give them a hand and celebrate all of those joining with us today. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:57.520 We have been looking at this series over the last few weeks in the book of Proverbs, trying to discover and learn what it says for us about how to make better choices. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:02.000 How can we live in a way the Bible says that is wise? 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:10.239 And the book of Proverbs gives us kind of a buffet, if you will, of a lot of different things for us to enjoy and to take in. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:15.120 And I've kind of tried to categorize a few of these around a few different topics. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:23.680 First of all, we looked at the topic of parenting, and hopefully that has been helpful to you as you have navigated and thought through the different stages of parenting. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:33.599 Last week we talked about our speech and how important it is for us to say the right word at the right time in the right way, and it leads to great power. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:36.319 I talked to somebody this morning and said, How was Thanksgiving? 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:38.959 And they said, Well, my family didn't listen to your sermon. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.599 They brought up all the stuff they're not supposed to bring up. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:46.000 And I said, Well, did you listen to the sermon in terms of how you responded? 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:53.519 And hopefully that is the case for you, that you did speak in such a way that reflects the wisdom that comes from God's Word. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:02:04.719 Today I want to speak about a topic that is strategic in the sense that it is placed in between Black Friday, small business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:05.200 Okay? 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:09.280 We're gonna talk today about what God's Word tells us about finances. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.439 Look at Proverbs chapter 21 in verse 20. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:20.000 It says, the wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:28.319 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:39.039 Before you too quickly think that this message doesn't apply to you, I want to see if maybe you identify with any of these statistics that are true about our culture. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:46.159 43% of all American families spend more money than they make each year. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:52.879 75% of Americans would be totally bankrupt within a month if they lost their job. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:03:00.639 Overall, Americans are carrying a grand total of$986 billion in credit card debt. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:12.080 If you were alive when Jesus was born and you spent a million dollars every single day since then, you would have spent$798 billion by now. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.479 Yet the credit card debt is$986 billion. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:31.360 Right now, there are more than 600 million active credit cards in the United States compared to only 322 million people in the total in the population in the U.S., which means there are 1.8 credit cards per person. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:38.240 71% of all credit card owners make only the minimum payments each month. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:40.960 On a national level, this is a big issue. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:53.759 Since September 30th, 2012, the average national debt has been increasing$1.8 billion per day just on interest. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.960 Let's get a more little more personal though. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:03.520 The average personal debt is$18,255 per person. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:22.959 If you then take and you factor the fact that our church, our size of our church, those who attend on a weekend here at United City Church, that represents, if those statistics hold true, we as a church represent$27,382,500 of debt. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:33.360 Folks, pastors, I know you may think, always want to talk about money, but can I tell you it grieves me to talk about money? 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:50.879 It grieves me because I not only know statistically what it seems to suggest about you and about me in terms of our own personal finances and the areas that we live in in terms of how we spend our money, but I also see the outcome of these decisions. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:05:00.240 I see families that are in the midst of great financial strife, which basically causes strain on every single conversation that they seemingly have. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:15.439 I see how you have families that find themselves chasing after the literal Joneses, and as a result of that, find themselves at a place where even if they wanted to do what God told them to do, they feel like they're stuck and they can't. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:30.959 I say this to you as a pastor to tell you I agree with you because I realize the impact that we can have as a church is severely limited because so many of us have made decisions along the way, us included. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:34.959 This is the biggest issue Hillary and I have had in our marriage has been our finances. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:41.600 Where we have made decisions along the way that have caused strain and tension and difficulty. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:47.519 And I want to speak to you today, not in a way of judging and saying you all need to get out of debt and yada yada. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:48.639 Now, I'm not trying to say that. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.600 Instead, I want to come to you as a pastor and simply tell you God desires a better way. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:06:05.040 And only does he desire a better way for you, he can enable you and equip you to be able to restore the years the locusts have eaten in regards to your finances. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.560 There's two questions that I want to answer today, which are these. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.360 One, how do you get into debt? 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:14.560 And number two, how do you get out of debt? 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.560 How do you get into debt? 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:18.160 How do you get out of debt? 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:22.079 God's word tells us a whole lot related to this topic. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:26.399 In fact, the Bible, did you realize, has a lot to say about your finances. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:29.439 I know a lot of you may think, well, yeah, it tells me that I'm supposed to give 10%. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:30.319 Please hear me. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:34.879 It gives you a whole lot more guidance and wisdom than just saying what you should do with the tithe. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:39.120 The tithe is a very small part of the teaching of overall God's economy. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.480 Instead, the Bible gives us a lot of guidance and wisdom on this. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:50.800 In fact, there's over 3,250 verses on money and possessions, which is more than faith and prayer combined. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.839 God's word is meant to help us and to guide us. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:00.079 And so I want to use just the book of Proverbs to help give us some guidance on how to answer these questions. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.279 First question I want us to consider is how do you get into debt? 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:05.040 How do you get into debt? 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:06.399 Seems simple. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.000 You spend more money than you make. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:09.040 That's how you get into debt. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:12.079 Well, it's a little bit more complicated than that. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.720 Because we realize that it's not just about finances. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:23.759 There's anything that I hope that you'll see when it comes to God's word about this topic, is that it's more than just about transactions. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:28.240 It instead deals with the posture and the place of your heart. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:40.000 And so, in light of that, what I want to do is I want to kind of give you a couple of lies that the enemy tells you that help lead you into a place of debt that your heart begins to believe. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:44.959 The first lie is this I have to have this. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.720 I have to have this. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:58.399 And so we always went uh to the state fair of Texas. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.839 It was around this time of the year. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:01.920 We always enjoyed going to the state fair of Texas. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:07.759 We've enjoyed it since we've been down here in Houston to be able to go a couple of times to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:20.000 These are two massive events uh that have a lot of different activities and things that are around the event that you can enjoy, and it's just a really kind of a multi-hour affair that you can be a part of. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:28.560 Uh, and one of the things that we always enjoy at the state fair and as well as now at the rodeo is eating foods that basically we would never eat any other time of the year, right? 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.720 You have the opportunity as well to learn a lot. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:40.240 There's all this educational stuff, particularly at the rodeo where you've got the livestock show, and then you've got all the different educational exhibits that you can kind of learn from and do things at. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:52.960 But I've always been amazed, both at the state fair as well as at the rodeo, same thing is the case, is in the midst of all of these activities and all of these booths and all of these vendors, there's a mattress store in the middle of it. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:54.320 Have you noticed that before? 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.039 Like, and there's like hundreds of mattresses all over the place. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:05.279 And every year, particularly at the state fair when we would go, I just would always wonder, like, why in the world do you have all of these mattresses? 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:09.120 It became like a meeting spot for us if we were with a group and we got split up. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:15.519 We would go meet at the mattress place because it was an identifiable, because it was in the entrance at the car show at the state fair. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:18.320 And my curiosity got the best of me, which it typically does. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:21.279 And so I went up to one of the people there and I'm like, all right, what's the deal? 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:24.960 Why do you have a mattress store in the middle of the state fair? 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.480 Like, who wakes up that day and says, you know what I need? 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.879 I'm gonna go to the state fair and I'm gonna buy a mattress. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:32.159 That's what I'm gonna do, right? 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.399 And so I asked him, and he said, You wouldn't believe it. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:44.000 Actually, we sell more at the state fair of Texas and more at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo than we will all the rest of the year. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:48.320 Like it is our largest selling time for a mattress. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:55.360 He said, in fact, all the people that you see here, they work at individual stores all over the country. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:11.519 And if you sell enough mattresses, then you qualify to be able to get a trip as a bonus, and you get the opportunity to qualify to sell at the State Fair of Texas and at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:33.039 Meaning it is a privilege that you win if you sell enough mattresses, meaning they're the top salesmen in the country that are there selling mattresses because they know they will make so much money during that time frame selling mattresses that they can basically match what they make the whole rest of the year at the store that they work at. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:35.200 This is the craziest thing ever to me, right? 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:39.120 And so I'm sitting here, I remember one specific year, I kind of like to negotiate. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.200 I really enjoyed the process of all of that. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:46.559 And Hillary and I had got disconnected, and so I texted her and said, Hey, meet me at the mattress store. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.320 And I went in, it was hot outside. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:52.159 I went inside, I laid down on that cool mattress, and I just waited. 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.159 Sure enough, somebody showed up. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.240 And this guy comes, hey man, how you feeling? 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:57.360 I feel great. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:00.399 And I kind of know, here we go, it's about to be on. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:04.720 And so he starts talking to me a little bit about how does it feel minutes it feels like the firmness and stuff like that? 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.519 Yeah, yeah, whatever. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.279 He goes, Well, how long have you had your mattress? 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.120 I'm pretty sure it was like, I mean, we just it was since we got married, so like 15 years. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.120 15 years, really. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:19.519 Did you know that you're supposed to actually change your mattress every seven years? 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.120 I'm like, I didn't know that. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:25.440 He said, Did you know that you're actually going to sleep two-thirds of your life? 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:34.639 Is it really a wise decision for you to be able to spend two-thirds of your life on an inferior product that you're supposed to change every seven years and you you haven't done that? 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:39.360 And so I'm kind of like, well, I'm just gonna go with this guy for a little bit and just bail at the very end, right? 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.240 That's my thought, right? 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:47.360 And so we're going and we're talking for about 20, 30 minutes all about the different mattresses, and he's showing me the different features and stuff like that. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:53.759 And then all of a sudden, Hillary comes in, and Hillary comes in, and I walk up to her, and I'm like, Hillary, we have to have this mattress. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:58.080 Do you realize how much of our lives are just giving away? 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:03.120 Like, like we could be sleeping so much better, like our whole lives could be totally different. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:09.679 And I walked out of the state fair of Texas with a really nice mattress, by the way. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:12.720 It goes up and it goes down, and it's like double-sided. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:15.440 I mean, it's awesome, and I got a great deal on this thing. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:24.799 And so, if you're ever at the store, if you're ever at the Houston Lifestock Show and Rodeo or the State Fair of Texas, and you wonder who buys mattresses at those places, that would be me, all right? 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.000 That would be me. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:28.720 Here's what's crazy. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:32.879 I woke up that day, I didn't even know I needed a mattress. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:42.960 And in a matter of hours, I went from not even knowing that I needed something to becoming something that I have to have. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.759 Folks, that's how it happens. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:47.440 It's that quick. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:57.039 You see, that's what takes place, is is you you you think about something maybe that you you're considering or that you're interested, or that you just happen to see, and guess what? 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:04.879 The grip, the grip of your heart can begin to grab you and pull you, and then you begin to believe this lie. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.799 I have to have this. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:13.519 Like if I don't, if I don't get this, then I don't I don't I'm not complete. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:23.759 If I don't, if I don't get this car, if I don't get this piece of furniture, if I don't get this mattress, if I don't get whatever it is that's out there, then something's wrong with me. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.480 Proverbs chapter 21, verse 5. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:29.840 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:34.559 But everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:40.320 I'm not trying to tell you what your problem is, and here's how God's word says you should fix your problem. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.559 Can I tell you, I'm speaking to myself. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.600 I was hasty that day at the at the state fair of Texas. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:50.960 I bought a mattress I didn't even know I needed, I didn't even think about. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:14:01.519 But instead, in my hastiness, because I got bought into this idea, which by the way, it is a great mattress, and I really enjoy sleeping on it, okay? 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:05.919 But that being said, I didn't wait until I had the money to be able to buy it. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.360 Instead, what did I do? 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.200 I have to have this. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:14.720 Patience and self-control are vitally important when it comes to our finances. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:23.440 Proverbs chapter 25, verse 28 says, A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:33.360 You see, self-control keeps someone from making decisions based on their love of pleasure or the allure and the lie. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.759 I have to have this. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:40.159 Let me tell you a second lie that people believe that lead them into death. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:44.159 Number two, I have to have this right now. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:48.960 I have to have this right now. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:55.200 How many different get rich quick schemes have you been invited to be a part of or been told about? 00:14:55.279 --> 00:15:06.639 And man, it's so alluring and it's so tempting to be able to want all of the benefits that come with wealth and not have to do it over time, but instead to be able to get it right away. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:31.840 How many different times have you seen high uh college graduates or you've seen young adults who come home and they stay with their parents for a little bit and they and they look at what their parents' house looks like, and you see all the parents' benefits and the toys and all the different things that they have and the cars that they drive, or they see their parents' lifestyle, they see their parents' influence at the workplace, and they look at that and they say, I don't want that when I'm their age, I want that right now. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.559 Like I want this right away. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:38.240 I want to be able to have that car when I'm this age. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:41.519 I want to be able to have that house when I'm this age. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.440 I don't want to have to wait for it. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.960 I want it right now. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.600 Proverbs chapter 13, verse 11. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.039 Listen to this verse. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:55.840 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:00.879 How many times have we seen lottery winners broke in just a few years? 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:10.080 How many times have you seen athletes that get a massive contract that all of a sudden in a few years after their playing days are over, they're completely broke? 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:20.240 What it shows us is that God, in his provision and his protection, gives us what we need, but he doesn't give us what we can't handle. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:29.679 Proverbs chapter 28, verse 20 says, A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:33.759 If something is too good to be true, it usually is. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:41.600 Proverbs 28, verse 22 a stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:52.879 The Bible speaks about the wisdom of gaining little by little by little over time, as opposed to this lie which says, I have to have this right now. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.960 Proverbs chapter 10, verses 4 and 5. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:02.000 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:10.240 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:14.480 Here's another lie that we believe that can lead us into debt. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:19.039 I have to have this right now without having to work for it. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:24.240 I have to have this right now, I don't want to work for it. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:34.240 I don't want to put in the time and the effort and the labor and the toil that goes with being rewarded for that with a blessing. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.759 There's a huge rise. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:49.839 I noticed on Friday, whenever I was looking up some things online and doing some Black Friday shopping or whatever, that every single time that I went to go pay, I could either buy right then and pay for it, or I could also click on a little button right below where it said that that says after pay. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.319 There was another one that said karma. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:00.000 And both of these basically are designed to help me get what I want in that moment, but I don't have to necessarily pay it all right then. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:04.079 Instead, I can get a no-interest loan and just pay the payments over time. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:08.160 But the reason those companies exist is because not everybody pays it on time. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:21.119 And as a result of that, it ends up being a very high interest loan that can then put me in a position to where I have bought into the lie that says this, you can have this, just kick the can down the road a little bit. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:26.000 You see, here's the problem: there's no karma and afterpay with life. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:39.440 Yet we've tried to live lives in such a way to where instead of us working towards something, building wealth over time, doing what we're supposed to do, trusting the Lord to give us what we need, but not give us more than we can handle. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:46.640 We instead have this mentality that says, I want this right now, and I'll deal with all the consequences and all the payments later. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.079 And what you see is delayed adolescence. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:59.279 What you see is people marrying later and later, people living off credit cards and living off loans and delaying adulthood. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.039 And the Bible is super clear. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:05.759 It says that we are to work and that we are to work hard. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.400 Proverbs chapter 10, verse 4. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:10.880 Lazy people are soon poor. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:15.759 Hard workers get rich. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.039 You gotta understand something. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:24.640 Your job is a blessing, not a curse. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:31.200 Work is a gift from God, not a burden. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:35.119 Work gives you purpose, work gives you meaning. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:41.440 It's a part of God's plan for his common grace for all people to live out their faith in the real world. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.519 You may say, Well, my job is boring. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:45.920 I don't like my job, I don't like what I do. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:52.480 And I would simply tell you this the Bible says the curse is that you're not gonna love all aspects of your job. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:20:09.599 But here's what the Bible also says: that you are to work as to the Lord, not unto men, so that you, even in a job you may not think is the greatest thing that you've ever done, in your serving and in your working and your working hard, you get to be a light for the gospel to other people. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:20.480 And so instead of us complaining about our jobs, may we work harder at our jobs, allowing God to be the one that changes it if He so chooses. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:28.640 Folks, we are to live in such a way till we reflect, hey, I'm working for something way bigger than just what you're paying me. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:34.400 I instead believe there's more going on here than just a paycheck. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:44.559 Whenever you minimize and think things are that way, then what ends up happening is that you buy into this lie that says, I want this right now. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.160 I have to have this. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.400 I don't want to have to work for it. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:56.480 We are to be folks who work hard, not trying to do the least amount of work and trying to get the most amount of benefit. 00:20:56.640 --> 00:21:10.240 We instead should be people who work diligently at our craft that God has given to us, allowing God to provide, knowing He's the ultimate one that pays our bills and gives us what we have. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.640 Second question I want to answer this morning is how do you get out of debt? 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:30.079 Statistically speaking, it is most likely that almost everybody in this room at some level either has personal debt or is affected on a constant basis by the debt of others that are close to them. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.160 I want to give you some principles that God's word tells us about how to deal with our debt. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.920 Number one, repent of your debt. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:41.039 You have to repent of your debt. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:46.240 Repent is a Bible word that means to turn around or to change direction. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:53.680 What it's saying is that we're to think differently about our money and recognize this isn't what we should be doing. 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:59.599 The change that will take place in your finances will not start primarily from you making transactional. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.359 Decisions that are different. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:03.279 Instead, it's at a heart level. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:14.720 And so, in light of that, it means that you basically say, God, I confess to you that what I have done and the way that I have viewed my money is not how I should have viewed it. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:23.680 You need to change your mind and your actions regarding your money, your things, your needs, your wants, your giving, your spending, your saving, and your debt. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:30.160 Proverbs chapter 13, verse 13 says, Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:34.480 But he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:41.599 If you're serious about breaking free from debt, you need to know you're going to be thinking totally different than the rest of the culture. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:55.039 Because think about it, the rest of the culture, if you go to any sporting event or any large arena event, you're going to have people lined up in the lobby giving you the opportunity to sign up for a credit card on the spot. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:59.119 Like the world says it's normal to take out debt. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:06.000 In fact, if you check out of most retailers, they will ask you, do you want a card with that? 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.920 You see, please hear me, you're going to live counter-cultural. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:16.400 But that's what God's word tells us is the way that we should live is counter-cultural to the way that everybody else lives. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:21.440 And the statistics I mentioned at the beginning prove we do not want to live like the culture. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.359 We got to be different. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:34.720 Let me give you a verse, Proverbs chapter 15, verse 16 says, Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:39.759 Second way you can get out of debt is number two, be content in Christ. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.920 Be content in Christ. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.359 We all know it. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.279 Money doesn't bring you happiness. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:53.359 In fact, if we're honest, we would actually say that the more money you have, the more complex and the more difficult things kind of become in your life. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.720 You may not think that right now. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:59.200 Just wait until you get more money and then you'll realize there's just more problems, right? 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:02.400 I mean, there's just more things that you've got to deal with. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:08.640 We are taught that we are not supposed to find our significance in what we spend or what we have. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:12.240 Instead, we're told to find our contentment in God alone. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.640 Proverbs chapter 11, verse 28. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:22.400 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.039 The Bible makes it very clear. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:27.279 Experience confirms it. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:30.160 Money and possessions will let you down. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.559 But God will never let you down. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:38.400 Philippians chapter 4, verses 11 through 13. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:43.519 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.880 I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:52.799 In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:56.640 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:11.200 Paul's saying, no matter what happens, he's content because he knows who his ultimate provider is, meaning at the times when things have been really good and the times when things have been really low, he can say this: God has been the constant source along the way. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.759 Philippians chapter 4, verse 19. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:20.799 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:24.960 Paul's contentment comes from knowing that God will always provide for him. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:35.200 He can allow God to define for him what it is that he truly needs, and he can walk away from those things that he may want, but God decides that he shouldn't have. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:41.359 Knowing that God's not holding out on him, but instead God is blessing him. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.319 I want you to know this. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:45.519 I do not think that it is wrong biblically to have debt of any kind. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.720 I don't even think it's wrong to have money and nice things. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:53.200 The Bible says, for the love of money is the root of all evil. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:55.920 Not having money is the root of all evil. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:58.160 Yet we've got to make sure we understand this. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:01.119 Are we asking the Lord, Lord, what do you think about this? 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:03.039 What do you think about this purchase? 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:05.359 What do you think about what I'm gonna do with this? 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:17.039 And allow God to have a say so that He not is gonna take from you, but instead so that you can enjoy fully the blessings that He has given to you. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:19.359 Proverbs 13, verse 18. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:23.200 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:26.480 Whoever heeds reproof is honored. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:31.279 Another way to get out of debt, number three, follow biblical financial advice. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.319 Follow biblical financial advice. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:39.519 It's important that you receive sound biblical advice on your finances. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:45.599 At United City, we offer a course that's gonna be offered January 10th at 6:30 p.m. 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.799 It's a Wednesday night. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:49.839 I want to encourage you to go and consider being a part of this. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:52.480 It's called Financial Peace University. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:53.759 There's the QR code. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:56.000 You can register for it there on the screen. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:58.079 I highly, highly encourage this. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:10.240 Whether you have been married for a while, whether you are single or whether you are newly married, this is a great course for you to help learn biblical financial principles related to your money. 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:12.880 It's not just gonna tell you, hey, you should tithe. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:18.079 There's way more than that that God's Word says about the issue of biblical finances. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:24.880 On their website as well, Financial Peace University, they have tools and resources that can help you establish a budget. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:28.640 They have things that can help you understand biblical financial principles. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:32.720 They offer courses as well that teach you about biblical finances. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:37.200 I strongly encourage you to get connected with Financial Peace University. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.599 Let me give you some other practical suggestions. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.799 If you're in debt, get rid of your credit cards. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:46.799 Take away the temptation to buy things you can't afford. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:56.720 Instead, go to a cash-only system and make the sacrifice and the self-control to be able to spend within your means. 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:59.039 Establish a budget, stick with it. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:07.359 Hillary and I, this isn't necessarily a biblical-based system, but it is a system that is very easy to put biblical principles into. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:09.039 We use something called YNAB. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.160 You need a budget. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:13.759 It's an app that we use to help us in our own personal finances. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:18.880 This has been the greatest source of conflict in our marriage, has been the issue of finances. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:26.960 And this tool right here has helped us to be able to manage the external things so that we can deal with the root heart issues. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:33.599 They've got a number of different like courses and things like that that'll walk you through for 30 days on how to put some of the principles. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:38.880 There's four guiding principles of this system that can help you when it comes to your finances. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:41.039 There's of course many, many others out there. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:47.279 These are just ones that I can tell you I know for sure have not only helped us, but have helped others as well. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:56.400 Proverbs chapter 3, verses 9 and 10 says this honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:02.240 Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:08.960 Final and important step, last one to get out of debt is number four, give generously. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.799 Give generously. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:16.480 It's very easy to say that you're gonna get give to God when you get your money situation figured out. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:19.200 When I get out of this debt, then I'm gonna kind of give. 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:25.359 What I've discovered is this is that whatever you're doing right now is gonna be the exact same thing you're gonna do whenever you have more money. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:52.000 Instead, I would encourage you to make the decision right now to give God the first fruits, not giving him whatever's left over and seeing if you have enough to be able to tithe, but instead, let that be the very first check that you write, or let that be the very first auto draft that comes out of your account so that it's not a temptation to not do it, because I promise you this: God can do more with your 90% than you could ever do with your managing of the 100%. 00:29:53.119 --> 00:30:08.240 And I want to encourage you and plead with you to operate in God's economy because God's economy is totally different than man's economy, and we can't ask God to help us get out of debt when we're at the very same time we're robbing him. 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:10.240 I felt convicted about this. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:18.480 Honestly, we're in the middle of budget season, and we as a church have taken on some debt in order to do some renovations after Harvey for this facility. 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:21.680 Uh we've got uh a great rate and all the different things that we're supposed to do. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:28.079 We were guided by a stewardship committee that is meeting this week to go over the budget in preparation for next year. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:41.599 Uh, but I have tasked our stewardship committee as well as uh David Dover, who is our CFO, runs our finances here at our church, director of administration, uh, to change the amount of giving that we do towards missions. 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:45.599 Um, we right now give about 5.5% towards missions. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:48.079 We've increased that a little bit every single year. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:53.279 But I've just kind of felt convicted because if you were to come into my office and say, hey, I'm in debt, what do I do? 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:56.960 The first thing that I would tell you to do is you need to give 10% to the Lord. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:03.920 Because again, I just believe that God can multiply and do amazing things, but you can't do that if you're robbing him at the very same time. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:18.480 And so I've tasked them with the budget for 2024 that I immediately, heading into next year, want to increase our missions giving budget to 10% as the floor that we never go under going forward ever again. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.240 That we basically, no matter what. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:30.559 Now, here's the thing if we're gonna do that, that means we're gonna have to make some cuts and some sacrifices overall in order to accomplish that goal. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:35.759 And I would simply tell you this I want to put our church's money where our mouth is. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:54.400 I want to lead you in the same way that I'm asking you to personally, by us as a church, to do the very same thing so that we know that as God has been blessing our church and moving in profound ways, how much more will he operate whenever we're serious about not robbing him? 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:58.880 I don't believe we've robbed him, but I believe the principle is the case here. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:09.279 That we need to aggressively be in a situation where the 10% of the money and the tithes and offerings that come in are immediately given outside of these walls the second they come in the doors. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:11.200 And that's what we're gonna do heading forward. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:24.000 Let me just encourage you though what do you need to do personally to also put yourself in a position to where you can experience the abundant provision and blessing of the Lord in the days ahead in your life. 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:30.400 Matthew chapter 6, verse 19 or 21 says this, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.799 I know what you're thinking. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:38.319 I've thought it before too, and many of you have told this to me in the past as well. 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:42.480 Here we go again, talking about money, a preacher talking about money. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.440 All right, here we go. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:45.200 This always seems to be the case. 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.680 And please hear me, you can think that all you want to. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.799 That is not my heart. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:33:03.839 I instead want you to experience, like we have, the joy that comes when you realize how you've been blessed and you are able to be a giver. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:07.119 Proverbs chapter 11, verse 24 and 25. 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.240 Listen to what it says. 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:12.400 One gives freely, it grows all the richer. 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:17.519 Another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:21.119 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched. 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:26.000 And the one who waters will himself be watered. 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:46.480 When you realize how much you have been blessed, and you are in the position to be able to be a conduit of God's blessings and give that to others, there's a reason why in 2 Corinthians it says that you turn into a cheerful giver. 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.640 Folks, I would tell you this. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:50.319 You're gonna love it. 00:33:50.960 --> 00:34:03.279 You're gonna love not only experiencing the blessings of the Lord, but you're gonna love giving that blessing to others through giving to your local church and above and beyond as God leads and as God directs. 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:06.160 I'm not sure what your financial situation is. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:11.119 But I can assure you of this: God does not want you to live in debt. 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:21.440 Whether that be personal financial debt, God doesn't want you to live in personal debt, but I can also assure you of this: God doesn't want you to live in spiritual debt. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:25.119 In fact, he wants you to live free. 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:44.320 Colossians chapter 2, verses 13 and 14 says, And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh that God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:48.480 This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:35:01.840 The reason all of us are here can be freed from the greatest debt of all, that is your sin, is because God sent his one and only Son Jesus to live a perfect, sinless, obedient life. 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:07.280 He died a sacrificial, substitutionary death on a cross. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:37.679 He rose from the dead three days later, and he invites you the opportunity to place your faith and your trust in him so that you don't have to pay the debt that you owe as a result of your sin, but instead, he can get all of that sin given to him on his account, and you instead can have the freedom that comes with a clean record, not based upon your own, but based upon the record of Jesus that has been given to you. 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:50.559 When you see what Jesus has freed you from, it allows you the ability to not only want to make different decisions about your finances, but beginning to want to make different decisions about all of your life. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:36:01.679 Because you realize that following Jesus is not only the only way to live, it's the best way that you could ever invest your life. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:08.880 Would you bow your heads and would you close your eyes all across not only this room, but if you're watching me online, let me invite you to do the same. 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:19.199 For some of you, what you need to do is not pay God back. 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:31.599 But instead, you need to receive his gift, his gift that he purchased on the cross for you with his blood. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:39.440 You need to receive Jesus to be your Lord and to be your Savior. 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:42.079 Invite him to come into your life. 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:47.280 Pray a simple prayer, faith with me, just right where you are, no matter where you're hearing these words. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.840 Dear God, I want to be free. 00:36:51.039 --> 00:37:06.159 I believe you died on a cross for me, and that you rose from the dead, and right now I receive your offer of mercy and grace extended to me. 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:12.400 Knowing I'm not being paid back, but instead I am getting what I don't deserve. 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.679 Your mercy. 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:17.360 Forgive me of all of my sins. 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:23.920 Make me new, make me clean, change me forever. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:27.440 Continue to keep your heads bowed and your eyes closed. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:33.599 If you just prayed that prayer of faith with me in just a moment, we're all gonna stand up and we're gonna sing what's called a time of invitation. 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:36.480 We're gonna ask you to respond. 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:46.480 Respond by stepping out from where you are and coming forward or going to the side and telling one of our team members here, you just prayed to give your life to Jesus. 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:49.679 He took on your debt and he's changed you forever. 00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:52.639 Others of you need to come and join United City Church. 00:37:52.800 --> 00:38:02.800 God is making this your church home, a place where you not only believe and that you belong, but a place that you give to, not out of duty, but instead out of joy. 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:10.880 Allowing this to be the place where God can use you to further advance his kingdom through his local church. 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:15.840 God is calling and leading you to be a part of United City Church through your formal membership. 00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:18.079 Would you come and lead the way today? 00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:21.679 Others of you need to come and be baptized, like these five that we saw. 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:25.840 What an awesome picture seeing even a family being baptized together. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:27.360 Maybe that's you today. 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:33.760