SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 7

How do you define "Long-Term"? One year? Five years? Ten years? Perhaps forty or fifty years?

From the age of 25 or 30, long-term planning typically suggests a plan to accumulate resources during your most productive years that will ensure your financial independence at least until the age of 90, perhaps 100. Components of the plan must consider the desired lifestyle you expect to maintain as you grow older, how much money must be accumulated to provide you with that lifestyle, the required savings per year that you must set aside to reach that financial goal, the devaluation (buying power) of your savings because of inflation, and the projected return on your savings (if any) to help off-set inflation and grow your principle. Long-term planning must also include managing the risk of unexpected life events that could easily wipe out your carefully devised plan. In addition, the plan should include how, and to whom, you wish to distribute your assets after your death. These are the topics you might expect to hear from a financial adviser as you seek guidance on how to ensure financial independence throughout your lifetime.

Planning for the "long-term" should be a part of our thinking, but you must be careful that your plan is not one that is motivated from fear, or a desire to plan your way out of trusting God. Jesus was clear in several of His parables to point out that the more independent you become, the less you will trust God for your needs. Trust is the key component in any relationship; without it, the relationship is lifeless.

In our last lesson, I suggested that you consider three words as you contemplate the topic of  "long-term planning": PERSPECTIVE; PRUDENCE; and PURSUIT.

PERSPECTIVE: For the Christian, life is but a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment. The Christian is only passing through this temporary life as we head for our eternal home in Heaven. We must maintain an eternal perspective as we plan our earthly lives, for even our best plans are established with limited knowledge of our tomorrows.

 "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." James 4:13

PRUDENCE: We are promised that there will be trouble in this world. Most of those troubles happen unexpectedly--an automobile accident; the loss of a source of income; an unexpected sickness or injury. Risk is a reality of life and must be managed. We are wise when we plan for the unexpected. This form of long-term planning is not motivated from greed, fear, or a lack of trust, but from being responsible and prudent.

"Prudent people see trouble and hide, while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished." Proverbs 22:3

PURSUIT: Just as with the man who sold all he had to buy the field with the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44), when we truly realize the treasure that awaits us in our eternal home, our earthly lives, and the priority of what we pursue, will forever be changed.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

You don't have to fear the outcome of your tomorrows when you walk in God's purpose (will) for your life today. As a prudent and responsible steward you can trust God to meet your needs in every way... and more.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12

Below are the slides from the lesson. Next week, we will move to Chapter 8: "Teaching Children about Money."

SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 6 (Part II)

Three letters sum up Sunday's Lesson: WOW!! Those three letters must be followed with three words: GOD IS GOOD!!

The decision to continue last week's lesson, Releasing the Blessing, was made after God starting working in my life last week. Little did I know, at the time, He was preparing me for what would probably be the most amazing class we have witnessed since we began teaching the You & Me class in November 2013. When God takes hold, as He has done with this very special group of young men and women, there is a surprise around every corner.

It would be impossible for me to describe in this post the events in such a way that you could realize the magnitude of what God did on Sunday in the classroom, but here is my summary:

On the Sunday prior, four class members were selected and given money to do with as they felt God might lead them. The basis for the distribution of the money to the three class members was the Parable of the Talents as described in Matthew 25:14-30. A neatly wrapped stack of fifty, one-dollar bills represented one talent. So, one person was given five talents ($250); another two talents ($100); and a third one talent ($50). The fourth person was given a $100 bill that the person was told to do with as they so desired. The total cash given to class members was $500. The only catch was that each person must return in 7 days and report to the class what they had done with the money they had been given (as was required of the servants in the parable).

I have used the illustration of giving $100 for many years. I use it to show the emotional power of money as I teach the principle of ownership/stewardship. I typically start the class by handing the $100 bill to a person on the front row. I then ask how they feel after receiving the money. After they have expressed their enthusiasm for the many things they might do with the money, I have them give the money to someone else in the class. I then ask how they feel now that the money is gone. I also ask the new recipient how they feel having been given $100. As the emotional ups and downs take their course throughout the class, there eventually comes a time when the recipient catches on and shows no emotion when handed the money, assuming that they will soon be asked to pass the bill to another person. At this point, the lesson is understood. The money does not belong to them; they do not OWN it. I then tell the person to keep the money and do with it as they wish, but to report back to the class. Without exception, the "steward" of the $100 has always returned with a powerful story of how God worked in their life, their families life, and all those with whom they shared the experience.

Using the Parable of the Talents and the bundles of cash was something new that God had put on my heart. Not only was it a test for me to donate the extra $400, I realized this week that without my doubling the original talents (for those who did likewise), the lesson would not be complete. God put this thought on my heart on Wednesday of last week. I labored with it and prayed:

"God, if you want me to go through with this, I will need another $1,000--20 talents ($50/talent). Where am I supposed to get the money? I can't keep doing this. Show me how and I will do it."

The $1,000 I needed included my doubling the $100 I gave the fourth person, if that person did likewise. I thought, what are the chances of any of these people doubling the money I gave them? In the past, I have seen people donate the money to worthy causes, but never, in all the years I have done this, have I seen anyone add to it.

On Friday morning, I knew for certain that, in faith, I was supposed to withdraw $1,000 from my bank account and be prepared to double the amounts I had given out. Two conditions: First, when the person reported to the class what they had done with the money, they must report that they had doubled the original amount; second condition: the money must be given to a worthy cause. If they doubled the original amount, I would also double the original amount.

I was preparing to go to the bank Friday after lunch. Just prior to leaving, my wife handed me the mail. In the mail was a letter from my previous employer that basically stated:

".... is providing retiree plan participant enrolled in the retiree medical coverage with a disbursement check. The attached check is provided to you and your covered dependents, and this notice ensures that we have complied with the notice requirements under ERRP."

I have never received such a check. The check was in the amount of $1,112.80... go figure. $1,000 to double the original $500 I had given the class the week prior; $112 to make my gift to my church of 10%; leaving me with the $1,000 I needed to double the talents (and double the $100 given to the 4th person). So now the question remained what would the class members report on Sunday? Here is what happened:

The person I'd given the $100 reported that they would be giving the $100 to their church and match the $100 and give it to their favorite charity. Along with this report was a moving testimony of what God had done in this person's life that week.

The person I'd given the 5 talents ($250) reported that they felt led to help the children in five families that they were already working with. They then reported that they were matching the $250 from their own money and doubling their efforts. Another amazing story from a pure heart accompanied this report.

The person given the 2 talents ($100) turned to a Evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization (World Vision) that they had a burden for prior to receiving the money. With the $100 they were going to give a goat and two chickens to help feed hungry children. In addition, they were going to match the $100 and give an additional two chickens and a goat. The story behind this gift and the provision of God was another story of God working in this couple's life before we ever had this class. Through divine circumstances, God provided the money for this couple to give the extra $100.

The person given the 1 talent ($50), thankfully, did not bury the talent in the ground. Instead, they communicated with their company and asked if they could buy all the old, unused computer hardware that the company had piled in closets. After making it through multiple layers of approval, the company agreed. This person then sold all of the surplus equipment (most of it broken and worthless) on eBay and raised $2,600 (in only 3 days). This couple wanted the money God gave them to go to Operation Christmas Child. So the class is rallying together this week (Friday is the deadline) to convert the cash into supplies for the boxes and will ship 100 shoe boxes which will each be used to teach a child about the love of God. The company this person works for has also agreed to make this an annual event. All because of 1 talent ($50) touched by God's hand, we have seen the windows of Heaven open wide.

I distributed the $1,000 to all for doubling their original amounts. This time, I told the people receiving the money that I did not want a report, as they had proven to be trustworthy. "Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones..." Luke 16:10.

How exciting to see what God can do with a willing servant. He truly can "open the windows of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

The You & Me class has seen and amazing example of what it means to give with a pure heart and how to truly experience the blessings of the Lord. The Lord is able if we are willing. He turned $500 into over $3,500 in less than two weeks. All used for the Glory of God as an investment in Eternity.

Below are the slides from Sunday's lesson.

Packing 103 Boxes

Fun turning CA$H into GIFTS to fill 100 Christmas Boxes
(Crystal and Holly were still running through the isles)

SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 6

Today's lesson: "Releasing the Blessing", focused on two very important  prerequisites for giving. The first is LOVE; the second is a PURE HEART.

Most people cringe and squirm when a lesson is presented on the topic of Christian giving. The mere thought of giving often brings to mind the ancient system of medicine known as bloodletting where blood was drawn from a patient in hopes of restoring a proper balance and maintaining health.

The excruciating emotional pain that torments reluctant givers is supported by the statistics reported by The Barna Research Group:

Only 5%-7% of Americans give 10% or more to charity; 11%-24% of professing believers give 10% or more to their church or charity.

To avoid the pain of giving, most church-going believers simply "opt-out" and, instead of giving, choose to endure the "hammer of guilt" that comes with the occasional lashing by preachers and teachers (see slides 26-28 for the numerous excuses why people "opt-out" of giving).

When Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" He did not say, "Giving."

Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

The Bible teaches that everything you have comes from God. He, and He alone, decides what you will have based on His purpose (not your purpose) for your life. There is nothing you can do to change this fact unless you choose to live outside of God's will. When you stop telling God what you want, He can freely work His will in your life without any hindrance. In order to reach this point of surrender, you must truly LOVE Him with all your "...heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first step to "Releasing the Blessing".

Paul said, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

The question must be asked, is your heart pure? Is your giving from a pure heart? If not, what you "have decide in your heart to give" is going to be nothing, or at best, given out of guilt.

"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart... an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart." 1 Chronicles 29:9

Our darkened hearts can only be made pure by the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer. It is a choice of your will whether you allow the Holy Spirit to overcome your soul's (mind, will, emotions) natural bent towards self. Giving from a dark heart does not release the blessings of God. The recipient of the gift might benefit from the gift, but the giver will not realize God's blessings.

With a pure heart (confessed of all sin and surrendered to God's will) giving can be accomplished cheerfully and without reluctance or under compulsion. Releasing the blessings into your life is not about giving, but about LOVE and a PURE HEART. In God's blessings you will find His peace and His purpose for your life--riches beyond what this world knows.

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22

 In addition to giving "what you have decided in your heart to give", it is important that you also give on a regular basis--preferably weekly. Making a regular, faithful gift, regardless of size, is a reminder that you own nothing and all you have comes from God and belongs to God.

If you are not giving regularly or seem to find excuses for why you can't afford to give, I recommend you start giving $1.00 weekly and increase it as you feel led. Even with that small, regular gift, your life will be changed forever. This small step will be more powerful than you can imagine.

"Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones..." Luke 16:10

When you truly love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and strive to keep your heart pure, you will live a life of freedom, blessing, peace, and purpose.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17

The slides from today's lesson are below.

SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 5 (Part II)

Today we continued with SAVINGS and completed Chapter 5 of Solving the Money Puzzle.

Custom budget book tab sets were available for those who wanted them and the spreadsheet version is available. Send me an email and I will forward you the budget spreadsheet with instructions. I am also available to meet and discuss your personal budget.

The main purpose for the BUDGET is to protect SAVINGS. The 5-Step plan tells you how to distribute the dollars you save and in what order.

I asked the question today, "How much is enough? How much does one need to save before they can say, I have enough?" Is $500,000 enough? How about $1,000,000? Perhaps you would feel better if you had $5,000,000? More?

Jesus addressed this same question when he was once approached by a man who asked him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus answered the man with a strong warning. "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Then, like he loved to do, Jesus told a parable:

“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21 (NIV)

 Another example that helps us see how much we should be saving and for how long our savings should last is found in the story of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. Read Genesis 41 to find the answers.

The class is too young to remember the sitcom from the early '60s, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", so I showed a clip. The purpose for this clip was the statue of "The Thinker" created by Auguste Rodin. Rodin crafted the statue and placed it in an elaborate doorway that depicted a scene from "The Inferno" (the first section of Dante's Divine Comedy). In Dante's poem, he depicts Hell as nine circles of suffering located within the Earth. Interestingly, the 4th circle is GREED.

Dante's allegory tells the story of the journey of his soul to find God. In doing so, he must suffer with 9 very real test that describe Hell--the 4th being GREED. I found this to be a sobering reminder of what having a wrong relationship with money is like: Hell.

Remember Jesus' warning to the rich man: "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed."

The slides from today's lesson are below.

Next week, we look at Chapter 6: "Releasing the Blessing".