Biblical View of Finances 2 of 3 (Dr. Ken Williams)

Welcome to another edition of MemCare by Radio. I’m Scott Hollinger and I would like to thank you for joining us again today. We’re continuing our series looking at biblical principles of handling finances. This is an area many of us could probably use some advice and I’ll be working from the material of Dr. Ken Williams of Wycliffe Bible Translators. As we go through this series we are going to look at three areas of our life in regard to finances. First, Christ honouring attitudes, secondly, Christ honouring faith and last Christ honouring behaviour. Today we are looking at the second important area in our view of finances and that is Christ Honouring Faith.

Christ-Honoring Faith

Many truths in the Bible exist in tension, and there is a delicate balance between faith and works when it comes to money. According to Dr. Williams, The balance we are comfortable with probably is not the same as someone else. But my desire during this time together is that we all rethink our own balance between faith and works when it comes to finance. Would an eavesdropper in your home be able to tell that you live by faith by the way you discuss money? Finances provide outstanding opportunities to grow in faith. Has your faith grown because of what you have seen God do for you in this area?  Two essential kinds of faith are emphasized in the Bible, and they must exist in a delicate balance. As you read, ask yourself if they are in balance in your life.

1. Passive, resting faith. This is a deep, quiet trust independent of circumstances, based on our knowledge of God’s character. It is the kind of faith Abraham demonstrated as recorded in Romans 4:20,21, “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Are you fully persuaded that God will fulfill His promises to you?

Psalm 37 verses 3-7 give us seven specific things to do to grow in resting faith, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Do you consciously do these things when times are rough? In a difficult financial situation, this kind of faith makes the difference between anxiety and peace. In fact, it is an absolute necessity in His service.

2. Active, assertive faith. We not only need a passive, resting faith. God encourages us to have an active faith;What do we mean by that? This is the kind of faith that boldly asks Him for what we need and want.  Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” This kind of faith not only asks but acts. It motivates us to move out by faith, expecting God to work on our behalf, before we see visible evidence of His working. Hebrews 11 gives us many examples of this kind of faith.  In Matthew 9:27-29 notice how the two blind men acted out their bold faith.  Our missionary lifestyle provides wonderful opportunities to grow in both passive and active faith. Build your own personal ‘Hebrews chapter eleven’ as you see God working in response to your faith by keeping a journal of his faithfulness. I really like this idea of a journal of God’s faithfulness. I like it because I know in the case of our own family, it can be so easy to forget all the times God provided for us. But when we can draw upon the times past when God provided in an amazing way then it can help renew our faith in what God can and will do as we take everything to him. Ask yourself or discuss it around the dinner table as to what God has done and continues to do in His provision.

On our next time we are going to look at Christ Honouring Behaviour. I would like to give you a sneak peak at what we’ll be looking at next week.

It isn’t enough merely to have right attitudes and faith. God expects us to express our attitudes and faith in action. We must conscientiously follow the principles of the Bible related to finances. Next week we will talk about eight of these principles found in the Bible.

Pray In Faith.

Keep your relationship with God first priority.

Don’t buy on credit.

Don’t spend major amounts unless you’re certain it’s His will.

Give generously.

Have a regular savings plan, but beware of wrong motives.

Train your children at every opportunity.

Demonstrate your gratitude to God and others.

These principles are what we will be looking next week.