how to handle your finances

H O W TO HAN D LE YO U R FI NA N CES

E stablishing Godly Principles

with Your Finances

Teaching Notes by Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer Ministries P.O. Box 655 • Fenton, MO 63026 636-349-0303 • 1-800-727-9673 www.joycemeyer.org

TN182

Copyright © 2005 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored electronically, sold, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

April 7-9, 2005 Baton Rouge, Louisiana

HOW TO HANDLE YOUR FINANCES

Becoming Debt Free Foundation Scripture: II Chronicles 7:14 I. Some Facts About Money And Debt

A. If money could talk, what would it say?

1. I’m depressed and sad because I am tired of people abusing me, using me for wrong purposes, fighting over me, stealing me, and lying, cheating, and committing crimes to get me. I get blamed in some way for most divorces. I’m tired of fighting with greed all the time. I’m hoarded, I’m stolen, and I’m wasted most of the time. People think I’m their security, and I’m not. They act like I’m God, and I’m certainly not. I just wish people knew how much good they could do with me if they treated me right and how blessed their lives could be.

B. There are approximately 2,000 verses in the Bible that talk about money.

Jesus talked more about money than He did heaven and hell. At least one-half of the parables mention money.

C. I Timothy 6:7-10 – We brought nothing into the world and we will take

nothing out. The LOVE of money is evil – money is not evil.

1. James Dobson said he had a great revelation while playing the board game Monopoly. He was playing very aggressively, getting homes and turning them into hotels, and taking everything everyone had and putting them out of the game. Soon everyone had lost all they had and he had it all!

HOW TO HANDLE YOUR FINANCES 1

As he started putting the game away, he began throwing the pieces back in the box when he suddenly realized something. When our lives are over, everything we have gained will go back in the box (so to speak); and someone else will come along and start all over with it. Why not spend your life doing something that will last?

2. Luke 12:15-20

D. Matthew 6:19-21 – Don’t spend your life trying to gather wealth. Spend it in storing up treasure in heaven where nothing can destroy it. Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.

1. Psalm 37:4 (NIV) – Delight yourself in the LORD and

he will give you the desires of your heart. 2. Proverbs 28:6, 8, 16, 20, 22, 25, 27 3. We are called to give and not to get.

4. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) – But seek first the kingdom of

God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

5. Don’t play Monopoly all your life, never caring whom

you throw out of the game just to find at the end that you have to leave it all here anyway.

6. If we make sure we are storing up treasure in heaven,

God will take care of our treasure here on earth. 7. Luke 16:13 – You cannot serve God and money.

Something has to come first and everything else must be after that.

E. Some statistics about debt:

1. Seventy-one percent of Americans say debt is making their home life unhappy.

a. Debt is often connected to greed.


b. Proverbs 22:7 – . . . the borrower (slave) is servant to the lender.

c. Debt steals your freedom.

2. Seventy percent of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. 3. In 1980 there were 500,000 bankruptcies, and last year there

were close to 2,000,000.

a. It was not people living under the bridge or an entrepreneur who got into trouble who filed bankruptcy. It was middle class, educated baby-boomers with large credit card debt.

b. Out of 100 of your closest neighbors,

approximately four to seven of them are at least three months behind on their house payments.

c. Foreclosure has increased 200 percent

since 1980.

4. People should live thirty percent below their means if they ever intend to be financially secure, but most people live way beyond their means. A large majority of people regularly spend more than they make.

5. Credit cards have made this possible, but they are an illusion.

It takes approximately five years of spending more than you make before it catches up with you, but it always does.

Anytime we charge anything we cannot pay for at the end of the month, we are spending tomorrow’s prosperity today; but what happens when tomorrow comes?

6. Most Americans have an average of seven credit cards. 7. One study said that every three months there are 15.4 billion

credit-advertising impressions on the American public.


8. The top four credit card companies (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) spend $567 billion or more in one year on advertising.

9. Citibank (the largest credit card company in the world)

spends $10 million a year marketing credit cards to your high school and college children. Some colleges earn money for letting the credit card companies advertise on campus.

F. Perhaps we need “plastic surgery.” If you cannot handle credit cards

responsibly, then cut them up and never have one again.

Most people have PROVEN they cannot handle them responsibly.

1. For convenience, debit cards might be a better option. What you spend is deducted from your checking account that evening.

G. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put more on a credit card than you can pay

in FULL at the end of the month. II. People Perish For A Lack Of Knowledge.

A. Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . .

1. Virtually every high school graduate knows what an amoeba is when they graduate, but they don’t have a clue how to balance their checking account or how dangerous credit cards can be if they are irresponsible with them.

They don’t know how to save or invest. Many of them don’t even know how to work. They have no patience. They expect that they should have what their parents have spent fifty years getting and someone will be willing and happy to loan them the money to help them get it.


2. They probably don’t know that if by the age of twenty-five they are saving only sixty-five dollars per month that they will be a millionaire by the time they are 65; plus if interest rates go up by then, it will be more than that.

3. They have not been taught how to handle money. Most of

the young people who are in trouble are just doing what they saw their parents do.

4. Parents – Teach your children how to WORK, GIVE,

SAVE, and SPEND (in that order).

B. If you are not knowledgeable in these areas READ, READ, and then READ.

Two books I recommend that I used for research are: Money Came By The House The Other Day by Robert Katz and Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey.

1. Example of something I learned: Most credit cards have a

variable interest rate, which means your debt will go up if interest rates do, but only seventeen percent of people with credit cards even know this.

C. Most people don’t realize that when someone offers them “ninety days

same as cash” that interest has been built into the price of the product.

1. Seventy percent of people never pay within ninety days anyway and the lender who bought your contract from the store knows that. So you paid more for the product to start with to get the illusive ninety days same as cash. If you don’t pay in ninety days, the lender who bought your contract from the seller now starts charging you interest dating back to the date of purchase. You signed a contract giving them the right to charge you interest for the ninety days if you did not pay off your purchase in ninety days.

2. People sign contracts all the time without even understanding

what they are signing.

D. Do you know the state of your own finances?


1. Proverbs 27:23 – Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds . . .

a. In other words, know at all times how much you

own and how much you owe. Most people are sadly more concerned with what they own than what they owe. They are not being responsible.

b. Remember: You don’t really own something

if you owe on it. 2. Satan is the deceiver. The Bible says to be especially careful

in the last days because deception will increase. Did you know that 100 years ago anyone who owed somebody else was considered to be poor; they were pitied, and sometimes even not respected.

3. Nobody even knew what a credit card was until about fifty

or sixty years ago. 4. The battle for your finances is a spiritual battle. Satan

wants you in debt, miserable, pressured, afraid, worried, and anxious.

He can STEAL YOUR POWER if he can STEAL YOUR PEACE.

5. John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.

Jesus came that we might have life – not debt, which sounds frighteningly close to death.

6. GET MAD!

The only way you will ever beat the devil and get out of debt is if you get downright MAD and DETERMINED to do something about it.

E. Planning your prison break includes:

1. Thoroughly understanding your financial condition. It may frighten you when you actually face it, but the only way out is through.


2. Prepare a balance sheet that lists all of your assets (all you own) and all your liabilities (all you owe).

3. Separate current assets (money you can get your hands on

right away) from fixed assets (things that are worth money if and when they are sold). Example: You might own an expensive antique; but if you cannot sell it, then it won’t do you much good.

4. Prepare an income statement. This is a statement of how

much money you regularly make, NOT what you would like to make or what you hope you make after your next raise.

Be realistic – HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU ACTUALLY MAKING?

5. Next, make a list of your expenses. Learn to separate needs

from wants. If you keep incurring expenses for things you merely want but don’t need, you will have to cut them out in order to get out of debt.

6. Needs are things like:

a. Tithe, taxes, and savings. b. Home mortgage or apartment rent. c. Repairs and maintenance (everything you

own will require some upkeep). d. Automobile payment, insurance, gas,

and repairs to automobile. e. Food, clothing, and utilities. f. Medical, dental, etc.

7. Wants are things like:

a. Vacations.


b. Entertainment. c. Continued education. d. Health and beauty. e. Second mortgage. (You probably did not

have to take out a second mortgage. You did it to get something you wanted.)

f. Most loans to finance companies were for

the same types of things (furniture or appliances you could have waited for).

Before you start judging everyone and deciding what they need and don’t need, let me say that what is one person’s want may be another’s need.

8. Take the total of ALL your income, deduct the total of ALL your expenses, and what you have left (plus or minus) is your balance sheet.

MOST PEOPLE ARE OUT OF BALANCE.

9. I Peter 5:8 – Be well balanced for your adversary the devil

roams about like a lion roaring in fierce hunger seeking whom he may devour.

F. The real root of the problem is a lack of willingness to delay gratification

and pleasure. Discipline has become a dirty word. We need “power over purchase,” and we need to be delivered from what Dave Ramsey calls the “STUFFITS.” The bottom line is:

We are “CONSUMER CRAZY,” and we absolutely love “STUFF.”

G. Get ready to dig your way out of debt with a spoon.

1. If a person wanted to break out of prison, he would have to keep his focus on freedom, not digging.


Digging 100 yards at night with a spoon while others are sleeping will not be fun. But if he keeps digging, he will get free (at least that is what happens in the movies).

2. Make a plan to get out of debt and stick to your plan. 3. The first step to freedom is to STOP BUYING! Don’t buy

anything you don’t absolutely have to have.

4. Consider getting an extra job for a while. Put all the money you make toward paying off your smallest debt. It will get paid off faster than some of the large ones and you will be encouraged.

5. Now, take the money from that payment and add it to what

you are already paying on the next smallest debt, and so on down the line. Pretty soon you will be making double, and even triple, payments on some of the larger debts and in a few years you can be DEBT FREE.

6. If you took out a second mortgage on your home to get a

boat, sell the boat and pay off your second mortgage. Take the money you were using to make that payment, and add it to another payment. Don’t EVER make minimum payments; and if there is any way you can, pay extra on the loan balance.

7. Story: The Rooster And The Hen

Said the Little Red Rooster, “Believe me, things are tough! Seems the worms are getter scarcer And I cannot find enough. What’s become of all those fat ones? It’s a mystery to me. There were thousands through that rainy spell, But now, where can they be? But the Old Black Hen who heard him Didn’t grumble or complain. She had lived through lots of dry spells.


She had lived through floods of rain. She picked a new and undug spot; The ground was hard and firm. “I must go to the worms,” she said. “The worms won’t come to me.” The Rooster vainly spent his days Through habit, by the ways Where fat round worms had passed in squads Back in the rainy days. When nightfall found him supperless, He growled in accents rough, I’m hungry as a fowl can be; Conditions sure are tough. But the Old Black Hen hopped to her perch And dropped her eyes to sleep And murmured in a drowsy tone, Young man, hear this and weep. I’m full of worms and happy For I’ve eaten like a pig. The worms were there as always But, boy, I had to dig!!

H. Realize from the beginning that impatience got you into trouble, and

only patience will get you out. I. Realize it is going to take time to get back to the Land of Even, and

you have to get there before you can get to the Land of Plenty. J. Keep your eyes on the goal, not the gold.

1. I John 2:15-17

Don’t forget:

When the game is over, all the pieces (stuff) go back into the box and someone else will come along to play the game.


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Wise Financial Management I. Respect Money.

A. Are you expecting money without respecting money?

1. Anything we waste and mismanage is not being respected. 2. We must realize we don’t really own what we have – it is

a gift from God.

Psalm 50:7, 9-12

B. John 6:12 – Jesus gathered fragments that nothing be wasted.

1. Ephesians 5:3 C. Money has power.

1. We respect electric power lines, fire, water, and an oncoming car. 2. We should respect the power of money – it can help us rule or

put us in ruin. 3. If your outgo is more than your income, your upkeep will be

your downfall. II. Use Money Wisely.

A. Deuteronomy 8:18 – Remember God’s Word and principles. It gives you power to get wealth.

1. God promised to give us the ability to get wealth – He did

not promise to miraculously make us wealthy.

2. Deuteronomy 15:5-11


B. Proverbs 3:1-2 – Don’t forget my teaching and keep my commands. They will prolong your life and bring you prosperity.

C. Proverbs 3:13-17 – Wisdom has long life in her right hand and riches

and honor in her left.

1. We don’t expect to live long lives if we abuse our bodies, and we can’t expect to have riches if we abuse money.

D. First principle of financial wisdom

1. Proverbs 27:23-24 – Know the condition of your finances (liabilities and assets).

E. Second principle

1. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 – If you are able to invest, don’t put all your money in one place.

F. Third principle – Wisdom does now what she will be happy with later.

1. When you are paying for something that is gone (already used up), you are usually not happy.

2. If you are going to make a payment on something, be sure

it is an asset (something you can see and place a value on), not something you have already consumed (vacation, entertainment, eating out, etc.).

G. Fourth principle – Wisdom waits; she is patient. She works hard now

storing up for the future. She does not work hard now paying for the past.

1. Proverbs 6:6-8 – The ant has a storehouse.

H. Fifth principle – Be prudent.

1. Proverbs 8:12-21 proves God wants us prosperous and wisdom leads us there.


2. Proverbs 1:3-5; 8:12 – Part of wisdom is prudence, which is good management of resources.

a. Time b. Talent c. Money d. Health e. Strength f. Energy g. All of these are being very poorly managed.

I. Sixth principle – Wisdom refuses to be emotionally driven.

1. Let emotions subside and then decide. 2. Never make a major purchase without thinking about it at least

overnight. 3. If you are not sure about an item, walk away and see if you want

it in fifteen minutes. 4. Wisdom doesn’t get one just because everyone else has one.

J. Seventh principle – Discipline is part of wisdom.

1. Hebrews 12:11 2. Discipline is doing what you know is right when you don’t

feel like it.

Proverbs 13:18 – Ignore discipline and come to poverty. 3. Discipline says NO when the flesh is screaming YES. 4. Paul frequently talked about the vital necessity of disciplining

ourselves. (See I Corinthians 9:27 and Galatians 6:16.)


K. Proverbs: Chapter 31 – A wise, healthy, wealthy, honored, and admired woman

1. She thinks about current commitments before making new ones. 2. She is organized. 3. She stays spiritually strong. 4. She stays physically strong – she knows her health is one of

her resources. 5. She is a giver. 6. She works hard. 7. She is disciplined. 8. She isn’t healthy, wealthy, respected, honored, and favored

because she is one of the special chosen people in life, was born into just the right family, or on the right side of the tracks. What she has is the result of taking her resources and managing them wisely.

L. Are you in trouble? How can you tell? M. It is never too late to begin again.

1. II Chronicles 7:14 – Humble, seek, pray, and turn; and God will hear, answer, and heal.

2. Do what you can do, and God will do what you cannot do. 3. II Kings 4:1-6 – God gave her something to do.

III. Stewardship

A. Luke 16:10-13 – How we handle our current level of finance is a test to see if we can be promoted.


B. Our ministry finances are managed very well.

1. We have never paid any interest. 2. We have NO debt. 3. We get multiple bids before we buy. 4. We do things with excellence so we don’t waste time and

money doing them over. 5. Being cheap is not being frugal, nor is it good stewardship. 6. Excellence is not extravagance. 7. We check invoices. 8. We challenge rate increases and unreasonable prices. 9. We negotiate for better pricing. 10. We have saved money so we can buy in quantity and save

even more. 11. We give, give, give, and give.

C. Matthew 25:14-29 – Those who do the most with what they have are

always given more.

1. Those who do nothing lose what they have. D. Luke 19:24-26 (NLT) – But to those who use well what they are given,

even more will be given. To those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.


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Money!! I. To Have Or Not To Have Money – That Is The Question.

A. Money is not evil or immoral in and of itself. It does reveal a man’s character whether he is good or evil, generous or stingy, and trustworthy. It reveals whether he loves God or not, or if he loves God as much as he claims to.

B. I Timothy 6:9-11 – The Bible never says it is wrong or ungodly to

be rich – it says: 1. Don’t CRAVE to be rich.

2. Don’t LOVE money. 3. FLEE FROM A WRONG RELATIONSHIP

WITH MONEY.

C. Luke 18:18-30 – The rich young ruler parable is not an invitation to poverty. One is not more spiritual if they have nothing.

1. God asked him to give up what He knew was hindering

him spiritually. 2. To be a steward (a servant of God), EVERYTHING we

have must be surrendered or available to God. 3. We will be tested from time to time. 4. Genesis 22:1-14 – Abraham was tested when he was asked

to give up Isaac. 5. Are you passing your tests?

D. I Timothy 6:17-18 – Command those who are rich to be rich in good

deeds. E. Luke 16:19-25 – Lazarus was a test for the rich man.


1. Some people are brought into our lives as a test. II. How Should The Rich View Their Money?

A. As a tool or equipment to be a blessing

1. Genesis 12:2 – I will bless you and make you a blessing.

B. Proverbs 11:4 – Riches do not provide true security.

1. Is your trust in God or your bank account? 2. When you are dying, you won’t call on the First Bank

Of America.

C. Proverbs 11:28 – If you trust and are confident in your riches, you shall fall.

D. Psalm 62:10 – If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.

1. I Timothy 6:17 – As for the rich in this world, charge

them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.

E. You can be rich as long as you have a right relationship with your riches.

III. What Can Money Do?

A. Mark 4:18-19 – It has the power to deceive.

1. It causes people to compromise. (See Proverbs 18:6.)

B. James 5:1-5 – It can be used by mean-spirited people to hurt people. C. Money can do a lot of good. It can be used to comfort, ease pain,

bring joy, relieve pressure, and to help people have better lives and bring thanksgiving to God. (See II Corinthians 9:11.)


1. II Corinthians 9:6-9 D. Get creative. Think about how you can use your money to make

someone else happy. E. Learn to listen to what people need and want. F. Idea:

1. We have a man who comes to a lot of our conferences

and he stands by the product tables before and after services and buys resources for people.

G. Money can finance the preaching of the Gospel.

1. Romans 10:13-15 2. Luke 8:1-3

IV. Four Things That Make You Or Break You (Work, Give, Save, Spend)

A. Work

1. Deuteronomy 28:11-12 – God blesses work, not laziness. 2. Proverbs 24:33-34 – Lazy people will have nothing. 3. II Thessalonians 3:6-14 – Paul’s instructions regarding

those who will not work

Those who WILL NOT work are different from those who cannot.

B. Give

1. Look at it like you do taxes. 2. Leviticus 27:30 – The tithe is holy to the Lord. It belongs to

Him. If we use it for other things, we are stealing from God.


3. Malachi 3:8-12 – The blessing is connected to the tithe.

A recent statistic said that less than five percent of all Christians tithe.

4. Ephesians 4:28 – Work so you can give. 5. Luke 6:38 (KJV) – Give and it shall be given unto you . . . 6. II Corinthians 9:6 – Sow sparingly – reap sparingly. 7. II Corinthians 9:7 – Give what you purposed in your heart,

not reluctantly or under compulsion but cheerfully. GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER!

8. Acts 20:35 – It is more blessed to give than to receive.

C. Save

1. Deuteronomy 28:8 – God blesses the storehouse.

You will see miraculous things and extreme favor when you start a storehouse. This shows God that because you are patient, you can be trusted with more.

2. II Chronicles 31:6-11 – Hezekiah commanded a storehouse be prepared for the abundance.

3. I Chronicles 29:6-8, 16 – David had a treasury or storehouse

where he collected goods and money to build the temple. 4. I Chronicles 27:25 – David had storehouses throughout the

entire country in case of war or famine. 5. Genesis 41:33-34, 36 – Joseph stored up for the famine. 6. Proverbs 13:22 – A good man leaves an inheritance for his

children’s children. 7. I Corinthians 16:2 – Extra savings for the church


8. Matthew 25:1-13 – The foolish and the wise 9. If you get a raise, do you put it away for savings or find

something else to buy and make a payment on? 10. In some nations, it is part of the culture to have one year’s

salary saved plus college money, retirement, and money for their children’s first house when they get married.

11. Read books on financial management or America’s millionaires

and you find three things:

a. They saved during times of prosperity when others were spending frivolously.

b. When the economy stumbled or cycled out (which

it always does), they buy at reduced prices when others are desperate to sell because they need cash.

c. You must understand there has been and always

will be economic cycles internationally, nationally, and personally –

SAVE IN TIMES OF PLENTY FOR FAMINE.

D. Spend

1. Don’t hoard. 2. Don’t get greedy.

a. Greed says more, more. b. Greed wants income with no outgo.

3. Proverbs 1:19 – Greed takes away your life.

In the concordance, the word after greed is grief.

4. A greedy person is jealous of others, never satisfied or content.


5. Ephesians 5:5 – A greedy person is an idolater and has no share in the kingdom of God. He never enjoys kingdom living (righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit).

6. I Corinthians 5:9-11 – Don’t associate closely with a believer

who is greedy or an idolater. 7. Luke 12:15-24 – Be sure you stay well balanced. Have a store-

house, but keep God and blessing others first in your life. 8. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 – Enjoy what God gives you. It is a gift

from Him.


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May 20, 2005 Omaha, Nebraska

Eight Reasons For Lack I. Having A Poverty Mindset

A. God cannot give you something you cannot see yourself having.

1. Genesis 13:14-17 – You can have all you can see. 2. Don't refuse to believe in something just because you

have not experienced it yet.

B. Psalm 35:27 – God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. C. Psalm 118:25 – David said: “God, send prosperity NOW!” D. Genesis 12:1-2; 13:2; 17:1-8 – God's covenant with Abraham included

tremendous prosperity.

1. Abraham's part was to obey God. 2. III John: 2 – God wants us to prosper in all ways, including

good health, to the degree that our soul prospers. That means he wants us to mature spiritually.

3. Luke 15:12, 19 – The prodigal son started out saying:

“Father, give me.” He ended up saying: “Father, make me.”

There will be no real prosperity until we want God to make us what He wants us to be and we cooperate with the process that leads to true prosperity.

E. Abraham lived under the old covenant, which included prosperity and

wealth. The covenant we have is a better covenant.


1. Why wouldn't the new covenant include God's abundant provision for His people?

2. Hebrews: Chapter 9 teaches us that the new covenant

is a better covenant in every way.

If the blood of bulls and goats provided for Abraham to have an abundance of everything, why wouldn't the blood of Jesus provide abundantly for the New Testament believer?

F. Why do the devil and some denominations fight so hard against teaching

people that they can have prosperity?

1. Fear that people will get out of balance

Is our Bible teaching to be fear based? Should we make laws against things just because some cannot handle them properly?

2. Some people are jealous; and if they don't have something,

they will adversely judge anyone else who does. 3. Lack of knowledge about the whole council of God's

Word – I don't believe it is possible to do a thorough study on the subject of money in the Bible and say that God does not want His people to have it.

a. Jesus said more about money than heaven

and hell. b. Fifteen percent of sermons include teaching

about money. c. One-half of the parables mention it. d. We are warned not to love it, not to

compromise to get it, and not to worry about it; but we are never told not to have it. In fact, we are taught to have it and handle it responsibly.


4. Only in the New Testament did Jesus say, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” “GO YE” IS EXPENSIVE! The sinners are not going to finance the preaching of the Gospel; so if the Christians have nothing above what they need to survive on, who is going to do it?

G. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – It is God Who gives us the power to get wealth

that He might establish His covenant.

1. God certainly does not want the world (who He is trying to draw to Himself) to think that He cannot or is not willing to take good care of those who belong to Him.

2. He does not give us wealth, but He gives us the POWER

TO GET IT.

a. There are godly principles that we have to apply before God can multiply us.

b. Being able to see yourself prosperous is

one of them. II. Having A Poverty Mouth

A. What is in your heart comes out of your mouth. As long as you cannot see yourself having abundance and prosperity, you will say things that hinder God from blessing you and help Satan keep you poor.

1. Romans 4:17 – We serve a God Who gives life to the

dead and calls things that be not as if they already existed. 2. We are to imitate our heavenly Father in all things.

(See Ephesians 5:1.) 3. We should talk the way God talks or say what His

Word says. B. Don't say things like:


1. I can't afford that. 2. I could never live in a house that nice. 3. I could never shop at that store. 4. I will probably never have a brand new car. 5. I guess I will never get to take a nice vacation. 6. This job doesn't pay anything and I'll probably never

be able to get another one, etc. 7. I would like a steak, but I'll be eating hamburger all

my life. 8. Every time I get some money, I have some kind of

disaster that steals it. C. Proverbs 10:19 – Don't talk out of your emotions. When you are

upset, be prudent and restrain your lips. D. Proverbs 17:27 – If you are smart, you will spare your words and

stay calm. E. Begin to say what God says you can have, not what you have right now!

III. Jealousy And Envy

A. Don't be jealous of people who are more prosperous than you are!

1. Until you can be truly happy for others when they are blessed, you will always be in need.

a. Titus 3:3 – Jealousy is a waste. b. This is one of those godly principles that must

be in operation in order for God to multiply us.


B. Proverbs 28:25 – Those who are greedy stir up strife, but those who put their trust in God will be blessed and enriched.

C. Ephesians 5:5 – No one who is greedy or longs for the property of

others has any inheritance in God's kingdom. D. Don't make jealous statements like:

1. Did you see that ring she wears? I would never wear anything

that gaudy. She cannot really afford a ring like that anyway. It must have cost a lot of money.

2. I would never buy my clothes there. It is ridiculous what they

cost. I cannot believe how people waste money.

“I would never” is the most ridiculous statement anyone can make because they usually end up doing what they said they would never do.

3. There is no reason for anyone to drive a car that expensive. 4. I don't care how much money I had, I would never pay that

much for a meal. 5. Did you hear? They are taking another vacation.

E. When you hear of or see someone else's blessings, pay attention to how

you respond in your heart and with your attitude. You might locate the reason you are not prospering.

1. If you feel jealous or envious, ask God to forgive you and

to help you be able to truly rejoice for others. 2. Pray for them to be blessed more.

F. Say: “I'm in that line!”

1. If you know a godly, prosperous person, watch how they live, talk, give, treat people, handle their money, etc. Let them be a college course for you in “how to prosper.”


Be glad when they move up because if you are in that same line, you move up every time they do.

G. James 4:2 – Jealousy causes strife. We should ask for what we want and

trust God to give it at the right time. If our motives are wrong, we won't receive what we ask for. Being jealous is not a godly motive.

H. Proverbs 14:30 – A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life

and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

IV. Not Giving ALL God Tells You To Give.

A. Malachi 3:8-12 – Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse. B. Mark 10:21-30 – Jesus asked the rich young ruler for a special

sacrifice, and he was not able to give ALL. C. Acts 5:1-10 – Ananias and Sapphira gave part of what they had

committed. D. Genesis 4:3-8 – Abel gave an acceptable offering but Cain did not.

Cain gave “something,” but not his best.

1. We can give “something;” but if it is not what God is asking for, it is not enough.

E. How would you respond if I forgot to receive the offering tonight?

1. You know that giving would be the right thing to do, but how many would think nothing about it all? How many would be disappointed they didn't get to give? How many would remind us to receive an offering? How many would take your offering to someone in authority and say, “I want to give.” How many would think, “That’s cool; they didn't even take an offering.”

F. II Corinthians 8:1-4 – The Macedonians begged for the chance to give.


G. You will not PROSPER if you don't TITHE and GIVE ALL that God tells you to give in offerings besides your tithe.

V. Having Strife (Bickering, Arguing, Bitterness, Resentment, And

Unforgiveness) In Your Life

A. Psalm 133 – This is one of three places in the Bible when it says that God will COMMAND the blessing to come on you.

1. The other two have to do with the storehouse, which I will

share about later. B. Galatians 5:6 – Faith works (is energized) through love.

1. We can pray in faith for abundance and more; but if we are not walking in love, our faith has no energy behind it.

C. Mark 11:24-25 – When you pray, if you have anything against anyone

you must forgive them completely.

1. Are you praying for a promotion and raise at work but you are mad at someone (maybe even your boss who will need to approve it)?

2. Are you praying to get out of debt but your home is filled

with strife (bickering, arguing, heated disagreement, and an angry undercurrent)?

D. Proverbs 4:8, 8:18 – Wisdom leads us to riches, honor, and promotion.

1. James 3:17 – Wisdom is peace-loving. 2. If we are not peace-loving, we are not walking in wisdom; and

therefore, we will not walk in riches, honor, and promotion. VI. Not Saving Money

A. Deuteronomy 28:8 – God commands the blessing upon the storehouse.


1. If you are willing to save and pay cash for things instead of going into debt for them, God will bless your storehouse.

2. Start diligently saving each month what the payment would

have been on the item you wanted to buy, and God will multiply it.

B. If you don't save diligently, you will never have anything beyond your

next paycheck. You will always be one paycheck away from poverty. C. If you think you cannot save, you are deceived.

1. Start taking an honest look at what you waste and start

saving the money instead. You will be amazed at what it will amount to.

2. If you do it to honor God's principles, He will bless you.

VII. Don't Be Lazy.

A. Deuteronomy 28:12 – God blesses the work of your hands. B. Proverbs 24:30-34 – The lazy man comes to poverty. C. When you need a job, take whatever you get while you are waiting to get

the job you prefer. D. When you get a job, work hard so you can keep the job you have. E. Take care of what you currently own, or there is no reason for God to

give you anything else. F. Don't be trying to get someone to do your work for you all the time.

VIII. Keep A Right Relationship With Money.

A. Enjoy it but don't love it.


1. I Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all evils . . .

B. Never mistreat anyone in order to get it.

1. James 5:1-4

C. Don't want it for selfish reasons.

1. James 4:3 D. Never be dishonest to get it.

1. Proverbs 15:27 – Unjust gain 2. Proverbs 3:9-10 – Righteous labors

E. Always, always, always give tithes and offerings from all of the money

that you get. F. A test you can take!

1. I John 3:17 – If you have the money or goods to sustain life and you see a fellow believer in need but close your heart of compassion, then

YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY.

G. God does not want us to have lack in our lives. He is the God of

more than enough, NOT just barely get by.

Follow these principles, and get ready to be amazed at what God will do for you.


PERSONAL NOTES

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