24.Apr.2007 Faith & Personal Finance
Faith & Finance
Matt 20:1-16 – NLT
We’ve been talking about the Wheel of Life for the past few weeks, and today we will continue finance & career. The most important thing is that we understand the proper place for our financial spoke, within the bounds of the kingdom of Heaven.
In the church, there has been a stigma related to money. People sometimes think that being wealthy and being a Christian cannot go together, or that we are not supposed to talk about money in church. God doesn’t want us to hesitate to talk about money, but we also need to realize the most important part of being in the kingdom of God is BEING in the kingdom of God. That is where our financial life HAS to begin…we also need to realize that our finances ARE a pretty big part of our life. There is a place and a purpose for your job and finances in the kingdom of Heaven.
What does Matt 20:1-16 mean to us? The first workers symbolize the jews – they were the first people that God reached out to. The second round of workers that were hired late in the day symbolized the Gentiles. Jesus was preparing the disciples for the idea that the Gentiles would be coming into the kingdom of God. The point, however, was not that the Gentiles were TAKING the blessing of God…the point was that they were all going to receive the same reward! God wasn’t holding anything back for the Jews – He gave them the same blessing as the Gentiles.
The next question that we always have about money is, “How much??” – that is our culture of living in America. The master did not tell the workers how much they were getting paid for the day – He told them it would be a fare wage. None of us would have gone! We would have demanded a written contract and made sure there was an overtime clause. 
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Its not fair for us to talk about money and not talk about how much. In the kingdom, how much is too much? How much is not enough? That all comes for people’s perspective – not from God. The great thing about our God is that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Our God has abundance, and He knows abundance. King David was very wealthy. God isn’t concerned about how much we have. He didn’t set us up to be in a rat race – always trying to get more and more. He set us up to live an incredible life and touch people’s lives. When He looks at us, He isn’t thinking about our finances – He is thinking about building His kingdom and fulfilling His plan. The Bible teaches us not to worry about money because we have no idea what tomorrow holds.
The real question is: Is it enough to move us along the path that God has cleared for us? God knows how much we need, and He sees it all. When Jesus had the perfume poured on His feet, He didn’t say, “You could have sold that and gotten the cheap stuff!” God has a kingdom perspective on our finances. He is telling us that it doesn’t matter what anyone else has! He has told us that He would take care of us! We shouldn’t care who has what. God has promised us an abundant life – we need to be happy for others. We aren’t about a socialist platform that preaches equality across the board. It doesn’t work like that in the kingdom of heaven. The bible says that God has an abundance for us! It doesn’t say that if we work harder, we will get more. It doesn’t say that if we receive salvation when we are 8, we get a greater blessing than if we get saved when we are 22. We are IN the kingdom of heaven, but we LIVE in the United States. We can’t forget that – it gives us our perpective. But, God doesn’t have our perspective. He doesn’t care about consumables. He cares about what it will take for us to accomplish His purpose on this earth and what it will take to walk out the destiny that He has for us!
Paul had joy overflowing even in prison because he was right in the middle of the path that God had laid out for him. Money doesn’t bring that joy to us. The only joy that will fulfill us is the joy that comes from knowing that we are doing what God has called us to do. In America, all we do is compare – clothes, cell phones, cars – whatever it is. Our real joy comes from the realization that we are in the middle of God’s plan for us and that He has provided for us! Its not about MORE – its about God’s plan for where you SHOULD be. When we are in alignment with the kingdom of heaven, our lives are fulfilled.
The blessings that God gives are the same today as it is for the people that have been saved for 20, 30, or 40 years. It is the BEST that He has for our lives. He is not holding back for any one of us. Look to God to find joy in your finances and in your career.
Allen Dresser 
