God's Ways are Different than Mine
Abide in Me | Part 5 | February 4, 2024
Growth Track — 11:30 📍 The Chapel
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“I am the true vine and My Father is the Gardener. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:1–9 NKJV
You are what you HAVE
You are what others SAY
You are what you DO
As long as “being the Beloved” is little more than a beautiful thought or a lofty idea that hangs above my life to keep me from becoming depressed, nothing really changes.
What is required is to become the Beloved in the commonplaces of my daily existence, and bit by bit to close the gap that exists between what I know myself to be and the countless realities of everyday life.
"Becoming the Beloved is pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am thinking of, talking about, and doing from hour to hour.”
—Henri Nouwen
Money management is a spiritual indicator.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." — Jesus, Luke 16:10–13
"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?" — Jesus, Luke 16:10–13
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money [Mammon].” — Jesus, Luke 16:10–13
5 Financial Categories
Struggling
Surviving
Stable
Secure
Surplus
Ron Blue, Master Your Money
1. God thinks differently than me.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8 NIV
2. God uses money to demonstrate His power.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7, NKJV
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9, NKJV
Sources
American Bankruptcy Institute (2022). "Bankruptcy Statistics."
ATTOM (2023). "U.S. Foreclosure Activity Shows Continued Rise In Third Quarter, Approaching Levels Seen Before Pandemic."
Braga, Breno, Signe-Mary McKernan, and Caleb Quakenbush (2022). Urban Institute "Debt in America: An Interactive Map."
Business.maps.arcgis.com "County Covid-19 Cases and Planning Report – Hamilton County, IN"
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"
Resources
This debt snowball calculator can help you organize your debts and explore repayment options.
Debt payoff apps can help you keep track of all those numbers, plus offer useful budgeting features like debt calculators and expense tracking.
If you would like to meet with 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, click here to contact us.
To register for a “God Owns it All” Small Group, click here.
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Wesleyan Investment Foundation (WIF)
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.