Finding Financial Freedom

Finding Financial Freedom Live Simply

Our Goal • To live in the joy and freedom of serving only One Master.

Interdependent Truth • Work Gloriously • Wait Patiently • Live Simply • Give Generously • Celebrate Community

Matthew 6 • 19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6 • 22 ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! • 24 ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Matthew 6 • 25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6 • 28 ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith?

Matthew 6 • 31 So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Isaiah 58 • 6 ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 58 • 6 ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58 • 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 58 • 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58 • 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: here am I. ‘If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

Isaiah 58 • 10 and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Fairly Random Starting Point • Give 10% • Save 10% • Live of 80%

Fairly Random Starting Point • Give 10% • Save 10% • Live of 80% • Stay away from debt • Improve the ratios through the stages of life

Is Saving not unbiblical? • 19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Is Saving not unbiblical? • 19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. • 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Is Saving not unbiblical? • 19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. • 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? • 11 Give us today our daily bread.

Then we should not work either! • “they do not sow” - Work • “or reap” - Work • “or store away in barns” - Save

Then we should not work either! • “they do not sow” - Work • “or reap” - Work • “or store away in barns” – Save • Don’t misplace your confidence!

Then debt is inevitable • 6 Go to the ant, you slug... consider its ways and be wise!8 ...it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

Then debt is inevitable Go to the ant, you slug... consider its ways and be wise!...it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

The difference between Saving and Hoarding – Isaiah 58 Logic • Food • Shelter • Clothing • Basic needs • Break the poverty cycle – “untie the yoke.”

Compare...

James 5:1-3 • Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 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!

1 Timothy 6 • 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6 • 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Hoarding is when... • I put my hope in wealth

Hoarding is when... • I put my hope in wealth • I give little or nothing away

Hoarding is when... • I put my hope in wealth • I give little or nothing away • I feel I never have enough

Hoarding is when... • I put my hope in wealth • I give little or nothing away • I feel I never have enough • I sacrifice values for net worth

Simplicity is when... • I learn the freedom of serving God with all my life and life-style.

Simplicity Testers • Necessity v. Luxury

Simplicity Testers • Necessity v. Luxury • Sufficiency v. Extravagance

Simplicity Testers • Necessity v. Luxury • Sufficiency v. Extravagance • Use v. Idleness

Simplicity Testers • Necessity v. Luxury • Sufficiency v. Extravagance • Use v. Idleness • Functionality v. Usefulness

Simplicity Testers • Necessity v. Luxury • Sufficiency v. Extravagance • Use v. Idleness • Functionality v. Usefulness • Accountability v. Self-indulgence

Simplicity Prayer Father, teach me the freedom of devotion, the power of simplicity, the peace of an undivided heart, and the joy of wanting only one thing! The Prayer of St Craig of Hilton

Finding Financial Freedom