Dear Church Family –
The debt ceiling debate in Washington D.C. has me thinking about money. Government spending has been out of control for decades. That’s not surprising. It’s a reflection of some basic axioms of the sin nature:
It’s easier to overspend than to underspend.
It’s easier to expand than to cut back.
It’s easier to break than to make.
It’s easier to neglect a relationship than to nurture it.
It’s easier to criticize than to praise.
It’s easier to drift away from God than to move toward God.
This is why we need daily direction and reminders from God’s Word.
This is why we need a weekly check-up at church.
This is why we need each other for accountability and encouragement.
This is why we need to develop habits of holiness for self-discipline and self-control.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NLT)
In the late 1700s, when America was young and finding its footing, a Professor of World History at the University of Edinburgh wrote a word of caution, based on his knowledge of world history, that still speaks today to our nation’s debt ceiling debate.
He said, “A democracy…. can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.” (Alexander Fraser Tytler)
While our federal government is haggling over widely differing views of money and how to manage it, we’re reminded to think about how we manage our personal and business finances.
The Biblical teaching about money can be captured in 4 phrases:
Earn it honestly.
Spend it wisely.
Save it prudently.
Give it generously.
Husbands and wives and business partners should come to agreement on these four uses of money so that neither feels smothered or controlled.
Giving generously keeps money from becoming an idol, a trap, an impediment in our walk with God.
Knowing human nature, God said, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” (1 Tim 6:17-19)
Thank you for your generous giving, earnest industry, and careful spending! And thank you for your heart for God and His Word and ways. You’re a blessing. – Pastor Tim