Loranger Pines RV Park, West Branch, Michigan
“….But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If You can?’”said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24
Today’s message is paraphrased from Pastor Jerry Bussell at the New Life Christian Church here in West Branch. This church find up being a little more like what we were expecting last week – the roaming pastor, the uplifted and clapping hands, the frequent ‘Amen!’s and other affirming comments. But it was obvious the small congregation was truly worshiping. It was a wonderful service. Oh, and each person/family walks their offering up to the altar, rather than passing the plate.
We showed up in the middle of yet another sermon series. This one is on tithing and money management. Not the ‘health and wealth’ kind you hear on TV, but the biblical kind.
The main scripture was James 1:5-8. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Not exactly what I would have thought of for a money management lesson.
Here’s how Eugene Peterson translates it in The Message bible:
If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like the wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Sometimes I just like reading The Message along with my NIV. Sometimes, it just gives a little more clarity.
Everyone lacks wisdom in some area. Whether it’s finances, parenting, organization, whatever it may be, if you need help, ask God. Today’s focus is on finances.
Did you know that according to our Federal Reserve, the average American credit card debt is $6,375? Did you know that the average total debt (credit, house, car, etc.) per person in America is $137, 063? And the median income is only $59,039?
If you want to get out of debt, you can. Ask God for help. Believe He will fulfill His promise. Don’t get impatient. Most don’t suddenly find themselves in debt, it happens gradually, and it’s possible that God will help you get out gradually as well.
Being double-minded and unstable, implies you can become single-minded and stable. So what does that mean? It means we must believe God’s Word. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. It means we don’t pray and ask for wisdom and then “keep our options open”. It means you don’t pray for healing and then give up when that doesn’t happen within a week. It means you don’t ask for help with your finances and then continue doing exactly the same as you’ve been doing.
This made me think of a situation that occurred in my life years ago – a co-worker was complaining about not having enough money to pay her phone bill. Over the period of months, I’d noticed that every single day, five days a week, she walked next door to Wendy’s and bought a large Hi-C for a dollar. So when she finally said to me, “What am I gonna do?” I answered, “How much is your monthly phone bill?” “$20.” “You buy Hi-C every day for a dollar. If you stopped doing that, you’d of saved enough money to pay your phone bill.” Well, she’d never thought of that! She stopped, started drinking water instead, lost some weight, felt better during the day, and paid her phone bill. She later became a Christian, too!
What is your “hot button” as the Pastor called it? Motorcycles? Cars? Clothes? Food? His seemed to be buying stuff for himself. It sounded like he owns more shirts and socks than most women. 😊 He also has a lot of hunting gear. He used a lot of hunting metaphors this morning, which we didn’t really get, but we understood the point he was making. One of them was him talking about his upcoming hunting trip. He said, “Don’t tell me I spent too much. You spend your money on Mountain Dew. At least I’m putting venison on the table for my family.”
We have no business judging what others spend their money on. You may enjoy spending $5 on coffee at Starbucks. But maybe I’ll drive 40 miles round trip to get a $3 ice cream cone. I have no right to condemn you for your $5, because in reality, I just spent $6-7 on my $3 cone once you factor in gas.
The Pastor was saying to remove all the little joys in your life, just to pray for wisdom. Check your closet and drawers before you go out and buy more clothes. Eat at home more often. Sell something you don’t need anymore. But don’t use that “new found money” to buy something else. Put it toward your outstanding debt.
Here’s another thought – what if you used your checkbook like you use your credit card? How long before you’d have checks bouncing all over the place?
Blaine and I will be married 40 years in a few days. I’m proud of the way we managed our money all those years, and it’s paid off. We’ve always tithed and God has chosen to bless us. But it’s not just about giving back to God what’s already His. It’s about being faithful with little, so we can be faithful with much. I’m proud of the fact that we retired completely debt-free, and remain so. It’s very freeing – especially for Blaine – to not have to worry about where the money’s coming from. When we prayed for the sale of our sticks and bricks home, we knew how much money we needed for it. God chose to not only give us what we needed, but moved us into the ‘want’ column by a few thousand dollars. Living debt free, also allows us the freedom to give more – whether to church, to special offerings, to help meet a need at a church we’ve visited, and on rare occasions, to hand money to perfect strangers as we feel led.
If we can do it, so can you. 😊
After church, the Jeep was running on fumes, so we stopped at a local gas station, and you may not believe it, but a woman came out and pumped our gas for us! She didn’t wash the windows or check the oil, but still . . .
We didn’t think anyone did that anymore!
After lunch, we drove around town looking for a place to kayak. This area is full of lakes and rivers, but not all are suitable for us for one reason or another. We settled on a small one called Tee Lake and paddled around the perimeter. Lots of itty bitty turtles, lilies, and a couple of ducks, some houses and small fishing boats. Not our favorite, but still a nice leisurely paddle.
This is the dock.
Needless to say, we got our feet wet today. : )
This little guy wasn’t a bit afraid of us!
Until Blaine put his oar in.
A lighthouse! : )
Again, the picture doesn’t do it justice.
It was very ethereal to look down into the clear water and see the lilies floating under there.
There was an abundance of this rope-like stuff. We believe the lilies are attached to it, but we’ve never seen anything like this before.
Maybe they float to the surface here?
Is that the old foundation of a barn.
They use these rocks a lot in this area – usually for houses.
This home/farm was prettier than the pictures let on.