WHAT DOES IT REALLY TAKE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?
Simple obedience? The word “obey” is one of the least used and understood words in American culture today. It seems antiquated, irrelevant and
YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU DO
You’ve just been introduced to someone for the first time. There are a couple of niceties exchanged and then without fail, almost
WHY YOU WILL WANT TO BE PHYSICALLY FIT
There are so many challenges you face every day, that if you don’t get in shape and toughen up, you will not
THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF A MAN’S LIFE
There are four areas of Life that every man faces every day. And the way they are handled will bring either joy
LEARN GOD’S TAKE ON MONEY
The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, and more than 2,000 verses about money!In fact, 15
GOD’S POWER TO LOVE YOUR SPOUSE
If you are a married man or plan on getting married you will expect to be happily married to the woman you
DEFINING SUCCESS FOR YOURSELF
"Show Me The Money!" That line out of the Tom Cruise movie, Jerry Maguire, pretty much tells the story for most American men.
8 STEPS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE
Knowing what it takes to consistently love your wife in such a way that it guarantees that you will have a happy
7 STEPS TO CREATING INTIMACY WITH GOD
God made you. God loves you. God has a purpose for your life. The classic definition from the Westminster Catechism sums up our
WHO’S GOT YOUR BACK?
I’m a guy who, probably like you, prefers action movies. My favorites almost always seem to be battles of war based on
HOW TO HANDLE BULLIES!
There isn’t a single human on earth who at some point doesn’t have to deal with a bully. Define bully any way
MAYBE FOLLOWING JESUS ISN’T SUCH A GOOD IDEA?
“They left everything and followed him.” Lk 5:11After meeting Jesus the apostles made a radical decision that would change their lives forever. But
WHY IS THE “GOSPEL” CALLED GOOD NEWS?
Our men’s Bible study was looking to get a better grip on the meaning of the “Gospel. ”So we asked, “What exactly is
TAKING THINGS FOR GRANTED?
On occasion I’m able to walk the beach and catch a sunrise. The beauty and magnificence of God’s artwork can take anyone’s
HOW COME YOUR FAITH ISN’T GETTING YOU WHAT YOU WANT?
Okay so maybe you have been standing firm in your faith believing God for something you truly believe is His will. Could be
YOU CAN’T STOP GOD’S BLESSINGS!
Does it ever seem to you that sometimes God’s blessings are unstoppable?Unstoppable for others that is! Why does God do that? You peer
LEARN GOD’S TAKE ON MONEY
The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, and more than 2,000 verses about money!
In fact, 15 percent of everything Jesus ever taught was on the topic of money and possessions - more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined.
Now, to be clear, just because there are more verses about money does not mean that it is a more important subject than things like prayer and faith. Instead, it just shows us how interwoven money is into our everyday lives.
Jesus warned us that you can’t serve both money and God simultaneously. You will end up loving the one and hating the other. You will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
I take that to mean there is a huge temptation to distort the role money has in life. Once it becomes a preoccupation and takes priority in your life, it really becomes your master. (See Matthew 6:24.)
When that happens, you are at risk of losing your soul.
“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Jesus also taught that wherever your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be also. So if you spend yourself stockpiling your treasures here on earth, that will be the focus of your attention and you will lose it all in the end. You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul because you can’t take it with you!
Stop for a moment. Be brutally honest with yourself. Where are you at with all this?
• Are you spending more of yourself on building wealth instead of nourishing your soul? Why or why not?
• Is making money the driving force in your life, and if so, what is the present outcome?
• Does money dominate too much of your time, thoughts and priorities, and if so, why?
• Have you stressed yourself out trying to accumulate treasures here on earth? Homes, cars, toys, retirement funds?
• Are you serving your money?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, make a life-changing decision to start changing the ways in which you handle money. Commit to doing whatever it takes to turn things around so you don’t have to stay stuck in the same place. In fact, you must not stay stuck, for the sake of your soul and for the sake of those you care about.
As I’ve spent many years reading and studying God’s principles on money, I’ve boiled them down to this very simple summary:
1. God owns everything.
2. Whatever I have in my possession is gifted by Him.
3. Since it is all His, I am to manage it for Him and His purposes.
4. Owe no man anything but the debt of love.
5. Storing up treasures on earth will do me no good in eternity.
6. Because I can’t take it with me, investing in His work is the best way to lay up treasures in Heaven.
LEARN GOD’S TAKE ON MONEY
The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, and more than 2,000 verses about money!
In fact, 15 percent of everything Jesus ever taught was on the topic of money and possessions - more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined.
Now, to be clear, just because there are more verses about money does not mean that it is a more important subject than things like prayer and faith. Instead, it just shows us how interwoven money is into our everyday lives.
Jesus warned us that you can’t serve both money and God simultaneously. You will end up loving the one and hating the other. You will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
I take that to mean there is a huge temptation to distort the role money has in life. Once it becomes a preoccupation and takes priority in your life, it really becomes your master. (See Matthew 6:24.)
When that happens, you are at risk of losing your soul.
“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Jesus also taught that wherever your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be also. So if you spend yourself stockpiling your treasures here on earth, that will be the focus of your attention and you will lose it all in the end. You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul because you can’t take it with you!
Stop for a moment. Be brutally honest with yourself. Where are you at with all this?
• Are you spending more of yourself on building wealth instead of nourishing your soul? Why or why not?
• Is making money the driving force in your life, and if so, what is the present outcome?
• Does money dominate too much of your time, thoughts and priorities, and if so, why?
• Have you stressed yourself out trying to accumulate treasures here on earth? Homes, cars, toys, retirement funds?
• Are you serving your money?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, make a life-changing decision to start changing the ways in which you handle money. Commit to doing whatever it takes to turn things around so you don’t have to stay stuck in the same place. In fact, you must not stay stuck, for the sake of your soul and for the sake of those you care about.
As I’ve spent many years reading and studying God’s principles on money, I’ve boiled them down to this very simple summary:
1. God owns everything.
2. Whatever I have in my possession is gifted by Him.
3. Since it is all His, I am to manage it for Him and His purposes.
4. Owe no man anything but the debt of love.
5. Storing up treasures on earth will do me no good in eternity.
6. Because I can’t take it with me, investing in His work is the best way to lay up treasures in Heaven.