Shrewd Stewards

Luke 16:1-9

Introduction

FIVE REASONS = PEOPLE DON’T GIVE

1. They’re in financial bondage and don’t know what God’s Word says.

2. = They’re in financial bondage and it takes 1-3 years to get out.

3. They don’t have a vi= sion for giving: a vision of how it will impact people’s lives.

4. = They don’t have a relationship with a church.

5. They don’t plan = to give. People give 5 times more after about 3 yrs. of planning.

Larry Burkett=

Nothing in the are= a of finances has so dominated or influenced the direction of our society during= the last fifty years as debt.

Today it’s not unusual for a young couple to owe $100,000 within the first = two years of marriage. And why not? If it’s good enoug= h for our country, it’s good enough for our family, right?

Christians would obviously say no, not necessarily. We’re suppose to take our direction from God’ Word, not from the world.

God’s Word t= ells us that His plan for us is to be debt-free.

And even better, t= hat we would be lenders rather than borrowers.

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The blessings of becoming debt-free go far beyond the financial area. They extend to the spiritual and t= he marital realms as well. =

No one who is financially bound can be spiritually free!

Finances are liste= d as the leading cause of divorce by a factor of four to one over any other caus= e, including infidelity.

1. Be Careful =

(Debt can enslave you!)<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New $W1$";mso-bidi-font-fami= ly: "Times New Roman"'>

Proverbs 22:7 &= nbsp;

The = rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave. =

One of the ethical problems with debt is presuming on the future.

Another problem with going into debt is that= you do not give God an opportunity to meet the need.

Four Principles About Debt

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>1)&n= bsp;     Debt is not normal.

Deuteronomy 28:1,= 12

Now = it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all= His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

&quo= t;The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to yo= ur land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall le= nd to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>2)&n= bsp;     Do not accumulate long-term debt= .

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>3)&n= bsp;     Avoid surety or co-signing.    <= /b>

Proverbs 22:26-27=     =

Do n= ot be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. = If you have nothing with which to p= ay, Why should he take your bed from under you?

4)      The borrower has an absolute commitment to repay.=

Three Personal Traits That Lead to Debt

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>1)&n= bsp;     Ignorance<= o:p>

Not stupidity, but ignorance of the facts and reality

Proverbs 22:3

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naïve go on and are punished for it.

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>2)&n= bsp;     Indulgence<= o:p>

Shopping sprees and impulse buying

Get-rich-quick schemes

Root cause is always greed!

We’re all prone to at least one of tho= se problems.

3)      Poor planning

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Living without a <= u>budget rather than within a budget

2. Be Smart        &= nbsp;

(Don’t make financial mistakes that can get you into debt!)

Three Major Expenses That Lead to Debt

=

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>1)&n= bsp;     The purchase of a home

No more than 25% of net spendable income aft= er tithe and taxes

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>2)&n= bsp;     Car purchases

A major debt trap for most singles

3)      Scheduled disasters

Two = Common Errors That Lead to Debt

=

1) &nbs= p; Allowing a get-rich-quick mentality to govern decisions

  =     Don’t use borrowed money for speculative ventures.

      Proverbs 21:5<= /o:p>

The = plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareas= t-font-family: Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'>&= Oslash;      D= on’t get involved in things you don’t understand!

<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareas= t-font-family: Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'>&= Oslash;      D= on’t make hasty financial decisions!

Proverbs 28:20

A fa= ithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not = go unpunished.

2) &nbs= p; Ignoring the primary advisor the Lord has provided

=

3. Be Trustworthy

(Keep your word: meet obligations.)=

Psalm 37: 21

The = wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives.

=

The borrower has an absolute commitment to repay.

About 500,000 people a year choose bankruptc= y as a way to avoid repayment. Yet= the average indebtedness for couples in bankruptcy is only about $5,000.

<= /span>

4. Be Proactive

(Develop and follow a plan for payi= ng off debts.)

On Crown Ministries radio program this past = week in November:

FACT:        If you pay the minimum payment on a $3,000 credit card it will take you 18 yea= rs to pay it off and cost you $2,000 in interest.

<= /span>

            =       However, if you pay $10 a month over the minimum requirement, you will pay the debt = off in only four years!!! The difference is the compounding interest.

When someone gets into debt from indulgence = and greed it is often not the result of a conscious decision.

It is the result of decisions clouded by good intentions and rationalizations.

In reality, less spending is the answer for = the vast majority of debt problems.

Many people think that the solution is more income, but more money coming in usually means more money going out.

The Financial Planning Workbook

by Larry Burkett; Moody Press

Healthy Questions:=

. Have you done the math?

. Have you include= d the right people?

. Do you have peac= e?

. Is this the shre= wdest way?

<= /span>

Are you following God’s plan and = design for the finances He has entrusted you with?

Do we understand the wisdom of God is s= o much greater than our wisdom in this area?

Are we aware of how deceptive our own g= reedy, sinful nature is when it comes to justifying and excusing ourselves in the = way we handle finances?