Podcast

Sermon Notes

This week, FINANCIAL FREEDOM:  

– Measured by how much I have in the bank, not how many things I have in the garage!

– Not the ability to acquire money, it’s the ability to keep it! 

– Not the ability to acquire money, it’s the ability to keep it!

Wealth is a good by product, it’s a horrible focus or goal.

Financial Freedom … Why This Matters

1. It Allows Me To Be GENEROUS…for REAL

Most of the time we aren’t really generous, we just give a tip.  We don’t give in such a way to solve a problem as much as we give to make us feel better!

Guy on the side of the road.  Gave him a few bucks once.  Are you really generous?

The primary reason we want to be financially free is not for comfort or security, its so that we can be generous and available.

Proverbs 21:13

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

• Generosity Is A Path To Blessing and Refreshing
• Generosity Helps Those Who Need Help

Proverbs 21:13

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

As a Christ follower I am called to be genuinely concerned and to do something about it!

2. It Prepares Me For The Tough Times That Come

Rainy Day’s Will Come.  Genesis 3.

Some people say that if you save you don’t have faith!  God gave us a brain. Saving and preparing for the rainy day is wisdom. If you are not preparing for the rainy day you are not walking in faith you are walking in foolishness!

Proverbs 10:15

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

Emergency Fund.  Predictable things we call a crisis… because we weren’t prepared!

3. It Beats Slavery To Debt

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

How To Be Financially Free – 4 Steps From The Proverbs

1. Stop Falling Behind

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

2. Live Below Your Means

Proverbs 21:20

The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

80-10-10 Principle 

3. Save A Little Over A Long Time

Proverbs 13:11

…whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Proverbs 10:4

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

4. Give To God’s Agenda Off The Top

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Haggai 1:1-11

Giving God our first fruit shows thankfulness for His current provision AND a trust in Him for future provision