A God’s Eye View of Money With Howard Dayton
Isaiah 55: 8 says ’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord. That’s a profound statement that certainly puts us in our place. But don’t think it lets us off the hook. We’ll discuss on MoneyWise, we’ll discuss a God’s eye view of money. Howard Dayton is a MoneyWise contributor and the founder of Compass Finances God’s Way. He’s also the author of several books on biblical finance. A GOD’S EYE VIEW OF MONEY We can’t manage money wisely unless we understand God’s perspective on it. Howard Dayton says he’s convinced Jesus said so much about money for two reasons: How we handle our money impacts our fellowship with Him. He wants to help us handle money wisely. Jesus revealed a direct relationship between how we handle our money and the quality of our spiritual lives. In Luke 16: 11, He asks a penetrating question: "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? " Every time you apply one of God's financial principles, you will find yourself drawn closer to Christ. On the other hand, if you are unfaithful, your fellowship with Him suffers. But there's another reason why Jesus taught so specifically on the handling of money. THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY AND HANDLING IT CORRECTLY He knows that money plays a big part in our lives. We spend much of our time working for it, deciding how to spend it, grappling with debt, thinking about where to save and invest, and praying about giving. The Lord knew money would be a challenge, even a source of conflict for many of us. So God wants us to manage money wisely, and that’s why He’s given us clear, practical truths in the Bible that really work. They are His roadmap to guide us on our financial journey. GOD'S ROLE AND OUR ROLE God has certain responsibilities, and He has given other responsibilities to us. Most frustration in handling money comes because we don’t realize which responsibilities are ours and which belong to the Lord. It’s helpful to understand this division as you evaluate your current situation. God’s responsibility is that of the Owner. He created all things and owns everything. Psalm 24: 1 tells us, "The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it" Scripture gets even more specific. Leviticus 25: 23 identifies God as the owner of all the land: "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are . . . my tenants. " Haggai 2: 8 says He owns all the mineral riches of the earth: "'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, ' declares the Lord Almighty. " HOW DOES OUR VIEW OF MONEY CHANGE WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE GOD'S OWNERSHIP? Every spending decision becomes a spiritual decision. No longer do we ask, "Lord, what do You want me to do with my money? " The question becomes, "Lord, what do You want me to do with YOUR money? " When we have this attitude and handle His money according to His wishes, spending decisions are just as spiritual as giving decisions. The word that best describes our responsibility is steward. Stewards manage someone else's possessions or money. Our responsibility is summed up in 1 Corinthians 4: 2, "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful. " Before we can be found faithful, we must know what we are required to do. Just as the operator of .complicated piece of machinery studies the manufacturer's manual to learn how to operate it, we need to examine the Owner's manual the Bible to determine how He wants us to handle His possessions. You can find out a lot more about this topic and many more of God’s financial principles in his book Free and Clear God’s Road Map To Debt-Free Living. On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions: ●What is the best way to will your house to your kids to avoid probate? ●How should you go about investing money for a child’s future? ●Is it wise to leave an emergency fund in a savings account? ●Is it prudent to combine retirement accounts into an IRA? RESOURCES MENTIONED: ●Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor