Jesus challenges us to have faith — not faith in the abstract, but a deep and abiding trust in Him. And, when it comes to trusting the Lord, money plays a significant role. We’ll discuss that first on this MoneyWise. 
<ul><li>As we begin our broadcast week, we often focus on “first principles”; foundational teaching related to money management and good stewardship.</li><li>Remember, there are five basic things you can do with money. You can earn it, live on it, give it away, owe it to someone, or invest it to grow it for the future. Earn, live, give, owe, and grow.</li><li>Today, we’ll talk about one of those: giving.</li><li>If you look through the Scriptures, you’ll repeatedly see God challenging people to trust Him. Abraham and Sarah had to trust him about having a child in their old age. Moses had to trust him when God sent him to Pharaoh. Paul had to trust him when he faced beatings and imprisonment.</li><li>And you and I have to trust Him. We have to trust that what we have been told is true — that He loves us, that He is working things toward a good end, and that Jesus himself is preparing a place for us in the world to come.</li><li>HOW TO TRUST GOD</li><li>But how do we learn to trust him? We learn it by experience. I’m sure you’ve heard people who’ve walked with Jesus for a long time testify about how God met this need and that need — how he came through in a difficult situation. They trust God because they know that he is trustworthy.</li><li>So, what does this have to do with giving? Well, giving is a fundamental means by which we learn to trust God. It is essential to becoming a person of deep faith.</li><li>Consider a couple of examples from the Old Testament and the New. </li><li>In Malachi 3, God calls the people of Israel to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” And then He issues this challenge: “‘Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”</li><li>If the people would trust Him in their giving, God assures them he will take care of them — indeed, he will give them an abundance.</li><li>And think of the widow at the temple in Mark 12. She contributed a very small amount to the treasury, but it was all she had. And Jesus commended her great faith. She trusted that God would meet her needs.</li><li>God doesn’t call us to give because he wants something from us, but rather because he wants something FOR us. He wants us to grow in our trust of Him. He wants to prove to us that He is faithful, and that if we give, He will reward our trust.</li><li>When you learn to trust God in the area of giving, it becomes easier to trust him in so many other areas.</li><li>Financial teacher Larry Burkett used to ask a convicting question: “Do you trust God — or do you just say you trust God?” The only way to know if you really trust God is to do something that requires you to trust Him — such as giving money away and believing that God will make it possible for you to live on what remains.</li><li>HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU GIVE? </li><li>How much should you give? That’s between you and God. Many Christians give at least 10 percent of their income. Some give more.</li><li>Wherever you are on the giving scale, set a goal of increasing your giving as your faith expands. If you’re giving 5 percent now, perhaps make it 7 percent next year, and then keep moving up as the Lord leads you.</li><li>This not so much about a particular percentage but about trusting God and doing what he tells you. He knows how to direct you so that you learn to grow in generosity without being overcome with anxiety. God loves a cheerful giver, and he wants to lead you to that place of cheerful, trusting generosity.</li><li>So remember, the Lord is trustworthy — in all things. And he will demonstrate his trustworthiness as we learn to trust Him in the area of giving. And, further, giving as the Lord directs us is a way for us to know if we really trust God or if we just say we trust Him.</li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 
<ul><li>How can you determine whether stocks you’re investing in are aligned with your faith? </li><li>Does it make sense to borrow money for a business opportunity that might pay royalties on music? </li><li>How do you determine if you have enough money to retire? </li><li>When does it make sense to rent vs buying a home? </li></ul>RESOURCES MENTIONED: 
<ul><li><a href="https://inspireinsight.com/">Inspireinsight.com</a></li><li><a href="https://www.moneywise.org/find">Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor</a></li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to <a href="mailto:questions@moneywise.org">Questions@MoneyWise.org</a>. Also, visit our website at <a href="http://moneywise.org/">MoneyWise.org</a> where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.

FaithFi

Faith & Finance is a daily radio ministry hosted by Rob West. The program offers a practical, biblical and good-natured approach to managing your time, talents and resources.

Faith & Finance with Rob West

Jesus challenges us to have faith, not faith in the abstract, but a deep, abiding trust in Him.  You learn to trust someone by seeing that person’s day-to-day character and faithfulness. When it comes to trusting the Lord, money plays a significant role.

Do You Trust God? - Foundation Series

FaithFi | Sep 26, 2022

Show Notes

Where Faith Meets Finance

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