Quote from Forum Archives on February 15, 2005, 8:23 am

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

STANDING TALL #3/9
MAKING ENDS MEET
February 13, 2005

Text: Philippians 4:11-19

With the national spotlight on the Social Security issue, one stark truth
stands out: Americans are concerned about their financial futures. Both
opponents and proponents of Social Security reform express the reasons
for their beliefs in fearful terms. Opponents of reform say that changes
will endanger the ability of Social Security to meet its current
obligations. Proponents for reform warn that the system is on its way to
bankruptcy. No matter which side we believe, the message is clear: there
is cause to fear what our financial futures may hold.

Wondering, or even worrying, about how to make ends meet is certainly
nothing new to many Americans. Our history has seen plenty of market
crashes, depressions, inflations, and other such economic crises that
affect our pocketbooks. Not even those who live frugally and plan
carefully are exempt from economic factors beyond their control.
Financial fears are amplified many times, therefore, for those who
overspend and overextend their indebtedness. It doesn’t take much of a
financial setback to seriously impact someone who is financially
overextended, thus creating quite a wall of worry that he or she might
face.

Christians are not helpless when facing financial concerns. We can, and
should, do the right things with our financial resources entrusted us by
God. Personal budgets and financial plans go a long way toward helping us
recognize what we have and do not have. Separating needs and wants also
helps us to prioritize our spending. These are good things to do
financially, but they are still not the most important things.

The most important things we can do to stand tall against the fear of
financial insecurity are taught to us not by a financial planner or a CEO
or a contemporary motivational speaker. They are taught, instead, by a
man who happens to be a “jail bird” at the time of the writing of his
letter. Of course, we know that Paul was unjustly incarcerated, but the
impact of what he writes is magnified many times over by the fact that he
was unjustly imprisoned and facing plenty of his own uncertainties. Yet,
he still teaches us many lessons about facing financial insecurities.

First, we need to learn contentment. Take a look once again at verses
11-13. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to
be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether
living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me
strength.” I know that we hear a lot about what an important part
attitude can play in our lives. We know very well that attitude does not
make our problems magically disappear. Paul could write all he wanted to
about contentment, but he was still in jail!

When we pay careful attention to what Paul teaches, we hear him say that
he learned contentment in every circumstance and in any situation. It is
not hard to imagine that some in the Philippian church who received this
letter would remember that Paul was in one of their jails after being
beaten. That testimony is in Acts 16. While in that Philippian jail, he
was singing and praising God. When an earthquake opened the jail house
doors, Paul assured his jailer that no one had escaped. This testimony
led his jailer to receive the Lord for salvation. The Philippian church
was started. So we can be sure that they believed Paul’s sincerity about
being content in every situation.

Now, to us, it seems easy to understand how a person can be content when
things are good. Since our focus is on financial security - or insecurity
- then it seems easier to be content when we have enough money to go
around. How can you be content when you’re living on the street or barely
scraping by? But not even some of those who “have it made” experience
contentment. Consider the lives of Howard Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, or
Elvis Presley. Even though they had it made in so many ways, their lives
ended in personal torment and misery. Sad. Keep in mind that Paul said
that he learned to be content. Contentment has very little to do with how
much you have, but much to do with who you are in Christ.

That brings us to lesson number two: We need to learn what our most
valuable resource is. Is your contentment based on what you have or what
you don’t have? If so, life just might be a roller coaster of financial
highs and lows - or maybe just the lows! Contentment must be grounded in
the Savior, not in the savings. Paul writes, “I can do everything through
him who gives me strength.”

Consider carefully the context of this verse so that it is not
misinterpreted or misapplied. Paul says he can demonstrate contentment in
times of want or plenty because Jesus strengthens him. “I can do all
things” does not mean we can fly, walk through walls, or understand 2001:
A Space Odyssey. It means we can practice and experience godly
contentment no matter the circumstances because we have the strength of
Jesus.

Paul learned contentment because he learned to recognize and trust the
power of Jesus. Since Jesus was Paul’s most valuable resource, he knew
that he could face any situation with contentment. Placing our focus on
any other resource leads to false hope. A man who was a regular customer
at a restaurant complained one day that only one piece of bread was being
given him with his meal. The management wanted to please this regular
customer, so the waiter promptly brought him four slices. “That’s good,”
he said, “but not good enough. I like bread - plenty of it.” So the next
night he was given a dozen slices. “Good,” he said. “But you’re still
being frugal, aren’t you?” Even a basket full of slices on the table the
next day did not stop his complaints. So the manager decided to fix him
up big time. He had a colossal loaf of bread baked especially for him. It
was six feet long and three feet wide. The manager himself, with the help
of two waiters, brought it in and laid it on an adjoining table, then
waited for the reaction. The man glared at the gigantic loaf, then looked
at the manager and said, “So we’re back to one piece again!” (From The
Heart of the Enlightened by Anthony deMello)

Our most valuable resource is not our portfolio, our home, our car, or
the lack thereof. Jesus Christ is our strength, our hope, our light, and
our life! Placing trust in anything else leads to dissatisfaction. The
journal for this week says it well: “To stand tall and not be consumed by
the fear of financial insecurity requires a special relationship with
God.”

Paul’s third lesson: we need to be generous with what God has given us.
This might seem odd when we’re wondering how to make ends meet, but one
of God’s great ways to overcome financial insecurity is to be generous
with what God has given us. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, “No one can
serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he
will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God
and Money.” Generosity is a demonstration that money is not your master.

Paul commends the Philippians for their generosity. Through their
representative Epaphroditus, he received their financial gifts that
sustained him while he was in prison. In those days, it was not uncommon
for prisoners to have to rely on family or friends for sustenance.
Prisoner’s rights were not high priority concerns in Paul’s day. So Paul,
whether on the missionary road or in prison, needed support. Verse 15
lets us know that he received some support: “Moreover, as you Philippians
know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set
out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving
and receiving, except you only…”

Generosity is a big part of learning contentment which, in turn, sets us
free from the fear of financial insecurity. There is even a promise
associated with generosity found in verse 19: “And my God will meet all
your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” How could
we fear financial insecurity with a promise like that?

Keep this promise in context. There are some who use it to try to
convince us that God “owes” us material rewards when we give to certain
select ministries. This promise is set in the lessons we’ve already
learned. God will provide our needs, not necessarily our wants, as we are
learning contentment, as we are recognizing that Jesus is our most
valuable resource, and as we are practicing generosity.

What should you do when you sense that fear of financial insecurity
creeping into your soul? Stand tall! “How do I do that?” This week’s
Adventure application is a prayer - “The Unafraid Prayer.” Look at this
week’s application. I quote from the Journal: “This attitude [joy and
confidence in Christ] is reflected in the prayer you are asked to pray
daily for the remainder of the Spiritual Adventure. Use the following
model, but feel free to make the words your own. Notice that there are
two blanks to fill in each time: a matter - financial or otherwise -
about which you are not at peace, and a verse you are learning or have
already memorized. There is tremendous power in naming a specific concern
or fear and then standing tall against it in the truth of God’s Word.”
“The Unafraid Prayer” goes like this: “Lord, I know that when I feel
afraid, you want to calm my heart. Yet at this moment, I’m not at peace
about my finances. The enemy wants me to be consumed by this fear. But
your Word reminds me: (fill in memory verse) [example: godliness with
contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we
can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be
content with that. - 1 Timothy 6:6–8] Thank you that I can face my fears
unafraid, knowing you are always with me. Amen.”

Paul wrote that he learned to be content. He wasn’t born that way; he did
not always live that way. But he learned to be content. Prayer was one of
the ways that Paul learned how to be content. Make “The Unafraid Prayer”
your prayer every day for the remainder of this Adventure, and I’m
confident you’ll be able to stand tall, too. “And my God will meet all
your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God
and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN