Chapter 1: The Biblical View of Money and Contentment

(Boyce Smith)

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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 Learning Objectives (Slide 1 of 2)

In this chapter, you will learn:

1. The Biblical perspective and principles of money .
2. The implications of God’s ownership of everything.
3. The characteristics and skills of a good managers of God’s money.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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 Learning Objectives (Slide 2 of 2)

In this chapter, you will learn:

4. The differences between contentment and
ownership .
5. Some steps to achieving finical contentment.fini

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.1 How You Manage God’s Money Is Important

biblical world view on money

money management
More than two thousand Bible verses
Matthew 6:24

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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 1.1 Satan on the Economy

A short satirical
video by
Lifechurch.
http://bvtlab.com/w7P7M \
(~3 minutes)

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2 The Story of the Owner and His Managers (Slide 1 of 2)

Matthew 25:14–30
• accountability

What does it mean to be a manager of God’s resources?

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2 The Story of the Owner and His Managers (Slide 2 of 2)

Principle #1: god owns it all

Principle #2: we are just managers

(Shutterstock)

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2a God Owns It All (Slide 1 of 2)

As Owner, God:
1. decides
2. deligates
3. Sets expectations
4. Provides specific instructions
5. Holds us accountable
6. Rewards the obedient and disciplines the
unfaithfull

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2a God Owns It All (Slide 2 of 2)

God, as the Owner, has property rights .

We have responsibilities to care for the Owner’s property.
1 Chronicles 29:11–12

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2a Critical Thinking

What if you really believed that God owns it all (Psalm 24:1)? Would it make
a difference in your life and your money management?

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2b We Are the Managers, Not the Owners (Slide 1 of 2)

As manager, you:
1. Manage temporarly
2. Are accountable
3. Must be faithful
4. Must work hard
5. Learn and gain wisdom
6. Have no say about others’ property or how they manage it

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2b We Are the Managers, Not the Owners (Slide 2 of 2)

possession , not ownership

1 Corinthians 4:2

(Shutterstock)

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2c Life-Changing Implications (Slide 1 of 4)

Spending decisions are spiritual decisions.

• responsible with gods money

Spending reveals your worldview .

• We spend on what is important to us.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2c Critical Thinking

Why are all our spending decisions spiritual decisions?

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2c Life-Changing Implications (Slide 2 of 4)

God uses money as:

A tool
A test
A
Luke 16:11–12

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2c Critical Thinking

Has God ever used money to teach you a lesson?

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2c Life-Changing Implications (Slide 3 of 4)

attitude is more important than amount .

Manage faithfullty what you have.
The amount someone else has doesn’t matter .

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.2c Life-Changing Implications (Slide 4 of 4)

take action ! Follow God’s instructions.

• James 1:25

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.3 Faithful Money Managers in Today’s World

A faithful money manager does not imply riches .

Matthew 19:23

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.3a Characteristics (Slide 1 of 2)

A faithful money manager:

1. Acknowledges God is the provider
2. gives first
3. saves second 0
4. Lives with “ margin ”
5. Keeps out of debt 1

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.3a Characteristics (Slide 2 of 2)

6. Is content
7. Keeps records, has a budget and written long-term goals
8. Helps others understand how to be wise money managers
9. Works hard
10. Seeks Godly counsel and is accountable

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.3b Skills

Not “ finical wizards ”

Mastered four skills:
1. decision making
2. goal setting
3. cash flow management
4. Wealth transfer
These skills can be learned!

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.4 Materialism vs. Contentment (Slide 1 of 2)

Materialism: Viewing possessions and comfort as more important

than spiritual pursuits
Biblical warnings about the role of money:
• Luke 12:15
• 1 Timothy 6:10

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.4 Materialism vs. Contentment (Slide 2 of 2)

Watch out for finical idols

What dominates your thoughts?
Exodus 20:3–4

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.5 Society’s View

get all you can ! More is better

!
Messages of materialism
• why give it all away ?
• There will never be enough .
• Money is a measure of our value .
• “It’s my money, and I want it now .”
The average home size has doubled since 1983.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.5 Helen Nelson’s Testimony

http://bvtlab.com/8899a
(~10 minutes)

Did Helen plan to end up “ broke”?

Is Helen an evil person because she
consumed too much and had debt?

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.6 The Biblical View

Be content with what you have, and give all you can.
Financial indeendence is different from financial freedom .
• 1 Timothy 6:6–8
• Hebrews 13:5
contentment is a spiritual issue.
Winning the lottery won’t make you happy.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.6 Critical Thinking

Why is the amount of money that you have not as important as your attitude about
money?

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.6a Finding Financial Contentment

Financial peace
Learning to be content:
1. get your heart right .
2. Get the facts .
3. Take action .
• Make good choices.
• Set goals .
• give and share .

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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1.6a Final Thoughts

Dave Ramsey
• “The only way to true financial peace is to walk daily with the Prince of Peace, Jesus
Christ.”
Ron Blue
• “The ‘ugly truth’ is that no amount of money is ever enough to provide contentment.”
success is almost always mentioned in conjunction with
obedience .

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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Chapter Summary (Slide 1 of 3)

Money management is important to God. God has property rights. We have responsibility to
manage money faithfully.
Every spending decision is a spiritual decision and reveals our worldview.
God uses money as a tool, a test, and a testimony. Our attitude about money is what is
important.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

© 2018 BVT Publishing. All rights reserved.
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Chapter Summary (Slide 2 of 3)

Faithful money management does not imply material riches. Money managers are not financial
wizards, but have learned and mastered several skills.
The Bible warns us of the role of money and allowing materialism to dominate our lives.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

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Chapter Summary (Slide 3 of 3)

Society’s view tells us our worth is measured by our material possessions.

The biblical view tells us contentment is a spiritual issue, not a money issue. Finding financial
peace is trusting God, even when we don’t have enough.
Get your heart right; get the facts; take action.

Mastering Personal Finances: A Biblical Approach

© 2018 BVT Publishing. All rights reserved.
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