by Ron Dick, LifeGroup Leader
A little over 8 years ago, I asked my father-in-law for his blessing as I planned to propose. Much like my wedding vows, I promised that I would honor, cherish and love his daughter for the rest of my life. He gave me a big hug along with his approval.
Can you imagine how that interaction would have gone if I had promised to love, honor and cherish his youngest child only 10% of the time if I had extra after my needs were met? I’m pretty sure that instead of his blessing he would have given me a stern lecture. Why? Because my idea of caring for my wife would have been vastly different than what he would expect from someone to whom he would entrust his precious daughter.
This humorous example illustrates how many Christians approach finances. As with most everything in life, our financial behaviors are driven by what’s important to us. The world will tell you that you should make more money, live securely in retirement, provide for your family and have nice things. While these goals make sense, I believe there is a larger purpose for our finances.
In the Old Testament, King David was eager to build a temple for God. However, God decided that such a task would be better suited to David’s son, Solomon. Knowing that Solomon was young, inexperienced and the work was great, David raised the capital and gathered all the materials so that the temple would be ready to be built. (1 Chronicles 28-29)
As David prayed in anticipation of the temple, we discover his ultimate intention:
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)
For David, everything in life was about God. He believed it all came from God and belonged to God. He understood that he was a steward, entrusted to manage the resources given to him, not for his benefit, but for God’s benefit. David’s purpose was to honor God with all that he had.
What if you chose to have faith as David did and allow your personal finances to be driven by one thing – honoring God? What if you stepped out of your comfort zone and became a financial risk taker for God? What would this look like?
Could you sacrificially increase your giving? Would you invest in being a LifeHouse to your neighborhood? Would you eliminate your debt in order to increase your generosity? Could you take time off from work to go on mission? Would you be more aware of what other people need and more content with what you already have?
God wants us to live beyond our comfort zone, to unleash the potential of His design in us, to live to the capacity for which He has built us and that means risk. If you are not sure where to begin, start with a simple, sincere prayer, “God, show me how to honor you with everything I have.” Then, in faith, be obedient to how He calls you.
If you need help with your finances or are simply looking to learn Biblical and practical steps to managing your money, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is a 9-week study that will be held Wednesdays at 7 pm beginning January 25th. For more information regarding the class or cost, you can attend the free, preview class at 7 pm on January 18th or email coordinators Michael Kubach (mpk6.cwru@gmail.com) or Ron Dick (rondick44-FPU@yahoo.com).
