Three Essential Questions
After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.
- What did you hear? What point in this message was most impactful for you?
- What do you think? How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
- What will you do? How will you put into practice what you've learned today?
"Remember that when you know the good thing you ought to do but you don't do it, then you sin. So then, you who are rich . . . you have hoarded and piled up wealth in these last days. And the fair wages that you failed to pay your employees are now crying out against you and those cries have reached the ears of the Lord God Almighty! You've lived on earth, thinking only of yourself and your luxuries, indulging every whim and pleasure you have. But like a cow fattened to be killed, you've fattened yourselves and lived in ways that cause innocent people to be condemned to die. . . . Remember the Lord is coming back." James 4:17-5:8
HOW TO MAKE, SAVE & USE WEALTH WISELY
1. IN ACCUMULATING WEALTH, DON'T HOARD IT FOOLISHLY
"You've hoarded and piled up wealth in these last days." James 5:3b
"'I'll just build bigger barns for myself!' . . . God said, 'You fool! . . .'" Luke 12:18, 20
INSTEAD: SAVE IT WISELY
"The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets."
Prov. 21:20 (LB)
ACTION PLAN: If you are not living beneath your means or have not set up a savings plan, Saddleback's Financial Ministry has Financial Coaches who can help you create a personal plan, whether it be to create a budget for the first time, plan for retirement or getting debt free and many other topics. To schedule an online or phone appointment with a financial coach, please emailfinancialfreedom@saddleback.com.
2. IN ACQUIRING WEALTH, DON'T MAKE IT DISHONESTLY
"The fair wages that you have failed to pay your employees are now crying out against you and those cries have reached the ears of the Lord God Almighty!" James 5:4
"Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty will save your life."
Proverbs 10:2 (TEV)
INSTEAD: TREAT OTHERS FAIRLY
4 MARKS OF A TRULY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
CUSTOMERS must benefit!
OWNERS must benefit!
WORKERS must benefit!
SOCIETY must benefit!
"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows . . ."Prov. 13:11 (NLT)
"Any wealth you get from crime robs you of your life." Prov. 1:19 (CEV)
"Can a human rob God? 'Yes! You have robbed me!' says the Lord. But you ask, 'How? How are we robbing you?' You have robbed me of your tithe and offerings due to me. So you, and your whole nation, are under a curse for robbing me. You need to bring your whole tithe to My Storehouse, so that there may be food in My House. 'Test me in this,' says the Lord All-Powerful 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it! Then I will protect your crops from being devoured by pests, and I will prevent the fruit in your fields from shriveling before harvest!' Then everyone around you will call you blessed!" Malachi 3:8-12
"Honor the Lord by giving him an offering of the first of all that your land produces. If you do, He will fill your barns with overflowing grain, and your barrels will overflow with the finest wine." Prov. 3:9-10
ACTION PLAN:If you have not taken Class 201, consider signing up for the next online class which will be held on October 11th by using this link: http://saddleback.com/events/class.During this class you will learn about four habits which will help you grow as a Christian. One of the habits discussed is the habit of tithing, which is taught by Pastor Rick. During that session he goes into greater depth about how tithing will develop you into a mature Christian.
3. IN ALLOCATING WEALTH, DON'T WASTE IT SELFISHLY
"You've lived on earth, thinking only of yourself and your luxuries, indulging every whim and pleasure you have. . . ."James 5:5
"A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life." Prov. 13:7 (Mes)
"You've fattened yourselves and lived in ways that has caused innocent people to be condemned to die." James 5:6
INSTEAD: SHARE IT GENEROUSLY
"It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything." Proverbs 11:24 (NLT)
"The generous person will prosper; and whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
"When the Lord blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret." Proverbs. 10:22 (CEV)
ACTION PLAN:In your quiet time, ask the Lord if he wants you to grow in generosity. Ask him to show you ways you can become more generous in any of these areas. Write them down and challenge yourself to do a generous act in each area this week.
Weekly Action Steps
We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 99000 or email newstart@saddleback.com
We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him. Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give
We meet in small groups online to discuss what we've heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 99000 or email SMALLGROUP@saddleback.com.
To be baptized, email mybaptism@saddleback.com.
Listen to our podcasts "Doable Discipleship" and "The Well" from our Saddleback Growth team at Saddleback.com/learn
