The Discipline of Money

• The Discipline of Money “Master Your Money Before It Masters You”
• Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
• I have no debt besides my house, a 833 credit score, we tithe, give and do ok. 

• Be content, but not lazy. Make more, but don’t love it. Use money, but don’t let it use you.

• You need to give, you need to either spend less or make more and apply yourself for security

• Challenges: KC COL, 50-60% higher than Ntl Avg, Housing 50-100% higher, Gas is 24-30% higher, Groceries are 8-11% higher, Healthcare 13% higher, utilities 2-4% higher than US average
  Benefits: Large job market, tech, health, ed. Diversity= no risk of collapse. Top Teir GDP investment, innovation, growth= more public services, education, job creation Employers multiple fortune 500 companies= steady demand for skilled and entry level jobs. Above average household income= you can afford it, which means better quality of living. 

• There’s a sentiment and ethos of many who feel the weight of living in high cost area

• Erroneously they believe the opportunity is limited and easier elsewhere, but seattle is one of the most opportunity rich places in the nation. More non-farm jobs, highest weekly wages, diverse economy. Cost of living is high, but so is potential. 

• The challenge is real, but so is the reward for those who stay rooted, work hard, and steward their opportunity. You can create a family here and be successful here. Many do it. (3.2m live here 4.1 w sno)

• Amazon, Microsoft, Costco, Starbucks, Boeing, Nordstrom, Alaska Airlines, Expedia, Weyerhaeuser and Paccar together worth over $6.6 trillion in market value anchor economy, create high wages, opportunities, enormous economic potential. 
• 64 % of those people rarely or never attend Church. The economic opportunities are here but the spiritual opportunities are astronomical. You can thrive here and reach the lost for Jesus
• The Lord loves this area. Its got some of the greatest beauty this side of heaven. 

• We need to have a mindset that we can be people who can make good money here, raise a family here, spread the Gospel here through all economic cycles. Don’t give into the doubt. 

• When you give into a spirit of despair, you believe that you can never have more, do more, be more, grow more and influence more. Create a strong financial plan and life and you’ll be fine. 

• The bible is filled with many wealthy people

• Rich Fool Self-focused, no regard for God (Lk 12) – 1/10 Solomon Wisest & richest, but compromised late (1 Kgs 11) – 5/10 Jacob Schemer turned patriarch, grew in faith (Gen 32) 7/10 Isaac  Quiet obedience, lived under blessing (Gen 26) – 8/10 Joseph of Arimathea Quiet disciple, bold at burial (Mt 27) 8/10 Lydia  First Euro convert, hospitable & faithful (Acts 16)  8/10 Boaz Righteous redeemer, ancestor of Christ (Ruth)  9/10 David – Deep repentance, heart after God (Ps 51)  9/10 Joseph (Jacob’s son) – Pure, wise, forgiving (Gen 39–50)  10/10 Job –Blameless, faithful in suffering (Job 1–2, 42) 10/10 Abraham  Father of faith, trusted God fully (Gen 12–22)  10/10

• I’ve made it clear- we’re not talking prosperity Gospel- we’re talking prospering for the Gospel

• Your wealth is part of you living here. Jesus dealt with money and its all through the bible

• You need to apply the principles of the Bible to your life in ALL areas. 

• If you knew a bro was struggling w prayer, immorality, marriage you’d step in. why not money?

1. Be Content, But Not Complacent

• Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.

• 1 Thes 4:11-12  that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
• READ Proverbs 30:7-9. Not so full to deny you, not so poor to be a person that steals. 
• There’s a balance between the two that you need to find when it comes to finances. 
• You can be content and still want to grow. Upward mobility isn’t a sin but it’s a danger
• Again, sometimes laziness can relabeled into complacency- it’s a way to not work
• Its like this, and maybe you’re content where you’re at, that’s great, but contentment isn’t complaining about what you can and cant do, what you can have, and what you cant have
• Contentment is I am fine with hamburger, but I’m willing to apply myself to get steak
• As the economy is constantly shifting, you insulate yourself from turns and twists by being farther up the chain and having a financial cushion. You’ll never get there on minimum wage
• 1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
• Because here’s the issue, and this is real talk here- contentment and easily turn into complacency and if there’s an economic turn, the complacent will the first to go. 
• Contentment is not passivity it’s peace while pursuing more for the right reasons.
• Pr 13:4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
• If you want insulation from inflation and economic downturns, don’t be complacent

2. Make More, But Don’t Love It

• This is so important. I want to encourage to you make and have more money so you can give more and live with a financial cushion. There’s a breakover point where you worry less

• You need to find that number for your own family to support the lifestyle you want

• Some people just want to do more and have more, but it can be a trap
• Story of Preacher in college: People spend time making money to replace time with family
• I’m speaking to you today like I speak to my own children. I want my son to have wealth, but not at the expense of his family. He has limits to what he will do so he can still give and serve. 
• Matt 19:24 it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
• 1 Timothy 6:9–10 READ Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
• Loving money will destroy your soul. You it’s a great tool and a horrible master
• Work must happen to support a family, but there’s a point where its too much
• I knew a guy who had an HVAC company during the day and PSE at night. Slept while on call
• Constant updates- am I gone to much? Do you need me more? Are we still connecting?
• Working 45 hours understandable. Might have to work more to get ahead, but not forever. 
• Earning more for kingdom impact/provision is wise. loving money for identity or comfort is foolish. This isn’t to buy more toys and have more vacations, its to build insulation and freedom
• Wealth is a tool, not a trophy. You support the Gospel, your family and thrive as a family. 

• The Bible is clear:

• Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
• Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
• I know millionaires that know the balance and minimum wage workers that don’t. 

3. Budget Like a Warrior, Not a Victim

• Regardless of your earning status the number one tool for financial stability is a budget
• Again, I’ve seen minimum wage people who kill it and people of means who fail miserably

• You must have a budget. You must act your wage and spend less than you make. 

• Some people never want to get on a scale and some people never want to check their balance. 
• Jesus said this Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? We always included TITHING in our Budget- ALWAYS 100%
• You must be faithful with the money that you have been entrusted with, it is an extension of your spirituality. There is not one aspect of your physical life that isn’t under God’s jurisdiction. 
• A budget is freedom, not constraint. It’s a DISCIPLINE (remember that?). You do it every day
• I weigh myself every day and I check my balance before I spend. I don’t live in la la land
• Being faithful is having a plan, its counting the cost. If you are married, you sit down with your spouse, and go through it line by line. And you need to CHECK each other. Sometimes spouses will lie to the other spouse about finances. Often they don’t want to know, but it’s a trap
• Proverbs 27:23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.
• This isn’t an area that you don’t discuss and pay attention to. Ive seen spouses lie to each other about what they are spending, tithing, saving, investing etc. This is not a good thing. 
• Pro 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children
• You cannot do this without a budget. This doesn’t happen by accident. (we talk monthly/daily)
• This also can’t happen w/o life insurance, renters, car, house, long term care etc. YOU CAN PLAN
• You are setting up your family, friends and church to take care of you bc you refuse to DISCIPLINE
• Let me give you the first thing you need to do: write down where you’re at and a plan to get to where you want to be. The next step is to cut up credit cards and save $2000 dollars. 
• Giving: 10% Saving: 10% Housing: 25% Utilities: 5–10% Food: 10–15% (groceries + dining out)

Transportation: 10–15% Health Insurance & Medical: 5–10% Personal (clothing, haircuts, toiletries, subscriptions): 5–10% Recreation/Entertainment: 5–10% Miscellaneous: 5%

• These are guidelines, but everyone has different considerations. ACT YOUR WAGE
• Cut subscriptions, don’t eat out, limit purchases, look at your heart of the WHY (Costco chicken)
• A budget is a plan to get to where you want to be. You spend on what you want what you HAVE
• Ecclesiastes 5:19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor this is the gift of God.
• And let me say this- don’t judge someone elses finances. Focus on your finances. NO COVET
• Pr 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
• The biggest failures I see in peoples finances is unwillingness to budget. Never turns out well

4. Borrowing Is a Trap Escape It

• Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
• There is good debt and bad debt. I’m not talking from a business perspective, life perspective
• Its ok to have a mortgage, but its better to not have one. Have a plan to end it. 
• Stop normalizing debt. Every borrowed dollar comes with a master interest, stress, and spiritual distraction. Stop financing starbucks, pizza, vacations, cars, eating out, etc. 
• This goes back to contentment. You spend too much time on social media and then feel like you’re ‘missing out’ and the FOMO gets the best of you and so you overspend or debt 
• It’s a lack of grounding and discipline to overspend or go into debt for entertainment. 
• There are LIMITS to what you can do with your money, a budget shows you. Don’t buy a house, car, business, hobby you can’t afford. Don’t stop tithing, stop buying! 
• NEVER finance a boat, RV, toy, electronic, appliance, meal, vacation, NEVER DO IT. 
• If you’re in it, make a plan to get out of it. Cancel everything. Sell everything. KEEP TITHING- MUST
• You might need to get a side hustle to get out of it. Door dash, mowing lawns, overtime etc. 
• Wives– if you want to stay home set reasonable expectations for your husband. Staying home comes at a cost and you must realize it. There are things you may not have or do bc you’re choosing to raise your children. Quit putting pressure on your husband if he’s a worker. 
• Husbands: Lead your family. Work hard. Get promoted. Provide and LEAD in finances
• Singles- Don’t ruin your financial life before you get married- no one wants to marry debt
• Ro 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another,
• Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.

5. Stay disciplined

• The foundation of all of these messages are discipline. You need to stay disciplined. 
• Some of you need to be corrected in your finances . no budget. overspend, you don’t tithe and you have no plan for your family’s financial future. NONE OF THIS WORKS W/O TITHING
• Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.. If this hurts today, good- apply or poverty and shame. 
• Remember our discipline scripture Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. 
• It takes DISCIPLINE to be content but not complacent It takes DISCIPLINE to make more and not love it It takes DISCIPLINE to stay on budget It takes DISCIPLINE to get out of debt
• And its not always pleasurable. Its not always fun. But eventually it produces. 
• Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
• You can have money and not feel guilty about it if you tell it what to do. You be its master
• You can continue to tithe be generous and enjoy the fruits of your labor, you just have to do it
• And like I said, when you have DISCIPLINE in this area you don’t WORRY about money anymore, because you know you can master it. You have skills and abilities and work ethic and MARGIN
• You don’t worry about losing your job because you have no debt, a savings and a PLAN
• You know that you can whether economic cycles because you’re a hard worker with DISCIPLINE

• Psalm 1: 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

• Let me close with this You don’t have to live in fear about money. You don’t have to live crushed by debt, stressed about the future, or constantly wondering if you’re going to make it.
  If you’ll discipline yourself, if you’ll walk in God’s Word, if you’ll honor Him in your finances He promises to take care of you. Psalm 1 says that the man who delights in the Lord is like a tree planted by the water. He brings forth fruit in season. His leaf doesn’t wither.
  And whatever he does shall prosper.
• That’s what I want for you. Not prosperity gospel. Gospel-driven prosperity.
  I want you planted. Fruitful. Unshakeable.
  I want you to master your money before it masters you. To not be slave to the lender. A strong city
  So you can bless your family, bless the Kingdom, and walk in peace no matter what the economy does. You can do this. With God’s help, and your discipline you will.