John K. Jenkins Sr - Moving Forward Requires Proper Money Management - Part 1

Today, I want to talk about moving forward, which requires proper money management. I knew you all would be excited about that. I know that people can be jumping up and running all over the place because the reality is that you cannot move forward as long as you're not managing your money properly. Most people think they have a money problem, but most people don't have a money problem; they have a money management problem. Let your neighbors say your problem is not your money, it's the management of your money. Go ahead, tell them! Ecclesiastes chapter 10 and verse 19 says this: Ecclesiastes 10... Let me give you a moment to turn there. Ecclesiastes 10:19. I want to talk about a small portion of this verse. The verse says, "A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry." I'm not going to talk about that right there; I know you're wanting to, but money answers everything. There 's a strange verse: money answers everything. But the reality of it is, it's true; money plays such a part in so many areas and arenas of our lives. You get up and go to work every day for money. Very few of you get up and go to work just because you love your job and would do it even if they didn't pay . Money answers so many things, but what I believe is this: I believe that the power and presence of God looks to and fro because God wants to find people who He can show Himself strong through. And one of the areas where God wants to show Himself strong is in your finances . God wants to demonstrate through your life that He is still God and that He is able and has the capacity to bless you. Here 's what I've discovered about God: He wants to, can , and will bless people even in the midst of financial difficulties . God can still bless, for while everybody else is struggling, you can be doing well . Can I get an Amen right there? I'm happy to report to you that while there are many other churches downsizing and struggling to make ends meet , I'm happy to report to you that at our Wednesday church business meeting, you weren't there , but those who were heard a report shared with our congregation that yes , our church, in the midst of this economy, took in more money than we've ever taken in in the history of First Baptist Church . I'm happy to report to you that at the conclusion of the year, we spent less than we thought we needed to spend and came in well under budget in 2011. I'm trying to tell you that I am happy to report to you jokers who did not come to the church business meeting on Wednesday that the First Baptist Church, the non-members who were there, voted to reach into the millions of dollars that we have and again this year dedicated 1 million dollars to world hunger from First Baptist Church of Iran . I'm happy to report to you that this past year we received our first $100,000 tithe check! I detect some player-hating somewhere in the camp; I detect some people getting jealous. It could be you. Don 't hate , learn the game that the players are playing. How about you guys going to raise a small millionaires in this church ? The eyes of the Lord look to and fro for people to whom they might be able to show themselves strong; He can show Himself strong. I believe God wants to do that. I believe that God looks for people who are functioning and managing their resources properly so that He can step in and do that. We, First Baptist Church, while there are many churches all over the country laying off people , did not have to lay off a single person because of a lack of funds. So that's a good report-a reason to praise and give God the glory about that ! We serve a God who is demonstrating Himself strong in the midst of this church, and I'm so grateful. But what I want to see is a drip drip! Somebody say drip drip! I want to see dripping in your lives-the same favor in your lives as is happening in the life of this church ! Amen. So, to that end, I'm going to spend the next few weeks talking about money management. I know I talked about it during Bible study on Tuesdays late last year , but y'all were there, so I had to bring the Bible study to you and talk to you today about the importance and significance of money management . How do you manage your money ? God wants you to properly manage money; most of us don't have a money problem, we have a management problem. We don't manage the resources that we have. I want to start this off-this is a subseries to the series I'm doing on moving forward , but this is a subseries to the series . The subseries is about properly managing your resources-properly managing your money. I want to start off with two important points ; this is a two-point message and I'll get you out of here by 3:30 or a quarter to four, ladies. Here 's point one: how you manage your money reveals the condition of your heart . I don't know how to make that more clear, but the fact is that the way you manage money is a reflection of your priorities, your values, and , in fact, the relationship that you have with God. Now, you're not going to tell me that you get. ..