Long Term Rewards Have No Shortcuts

Sunday, September 29, 2024 | Pastor Darryn Scheske
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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful...

“Abide in me, as I also abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.”

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not abide in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what you desire, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:1–8, NKJV/NIV

“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’"

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” –Jesus, Luke 13:6–9, NIV

God’s long-term goal for your life: To bear much fruit (John 15:1-5)

But I’m praying for you... Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31–32, NIV

ALL Spiritual growth begins with this truth
“I don’t know what I don’t know!”

Consistent Habits for Long-Term Growth

1. Daily time with God

Study Scripture
Say Lord Prayer 
Soft heart at night

2. Delay gratification for your future

“The longer term your perspective, the better your present decision are likely to be...To meet your long-term objectives, you have to make the long-term a priority over the short-term.” – Ron Blue, Master Your Money

Long term rewards have no short cuts

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

5 Biblical Financial Principles

1. Spend less than you earn
2. Avoid the use of debt
3. Build margin (save)
4. Set long-term goals
5. Give generously  – Ron Blue, Master Your Money

3.  Dedicate the firstfruits to God

Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9–10, NKJV

Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing upon you so great you will not have room to contain it.” Malachi 3:10

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Jesus, Matthew 6:33

90-Day Test 

October, November, December

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Jesus, Matthew 6:33

Sources

• Experian (2023). "Experian 2023 Consumer Credit Review"

• Experian (2023). "Experian Study: U.S. Consumer Debt Reaches $16.84 Trillion in Q2 2023."

• Experian (2023). "Experian State of Automotive Finance Market Q2 2023."

• Experian (2023). "Average Credit Card Balances up 13.2% to $5,910 in 2022."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Household Debt and Credit."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Finance Rate on Personal Loans at Commercial Banks, 24 Month Loan."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income.”

• TransUnion (2023). "Credit Industry Snapshot."

• USAToday (2023) "Average debt in America: 2023 statistics"

• IBJ (June 6, 2024) More struggling with credit card debt in potentially bad sign for economy - Indianapolis Business Journal

• APA Report “Money is Americans' second-biggest source of stress — right below "work" and above "the economy"

• Qualtrics for Credit Karma, “29% of US adults reported experiencing money dysmorphia; 45% of Gen Z and millennials said they were “obsessed” with the idea of being rich.”

• Quartz Northwestern Mutual Survey, “Only one-third of Americans with at least $1 million worth of investable assets considered themselves “wealthy”.

• Credit Karma, “Survey finds that people are not as financially literate as they thought” Gen Z and Millennial participants scored only 54.9% and 55.1% respectively on a financial literacy test.

• Federal Reserve (2024), In first quarter of 2024, the top 1% of American households (1.3 million in total) held 30% of collective wealth, up from 23% in 1990. Meanwhile, the share of wealth held by the bottom 50% (66 million households) shrunk to just 2.5%.

Resources

If you would like meet with our someone from the Heartland Church ministry team to help you assess your financial situation and explore options to get out of debt or guidance on God’s financial principles, email us at info@heartlandchurch.com

Debt payoff apps can help you keep track of all those numbers, plus offer useful budgeting features like debt calculators and expense tracking. 

Check out this Compound Interest Calculator. The longer you save, the greater the multiplication effect. This is how you experience exponential growth in your savings.

Register for a “God Owns it All” Small Group 

Start Saving Now!

Wesleyan Investment Foundation (WIF) is a ministry partner at Heartland Church. For over 75 years WIF has been creating investment win-wins for investors and ministries around the world. Money invested with WIF earns competitive rates, is easily accessible to you, and is used to advance the Kingdom of God by making loans to local churches.