Christians and their finances

[Raistlinorr]

After reading some other threads (more than one) I started to woner.

How many of us live above our means or could choose to have less and give the rest to the Lords work?

I'm not pointing fingures or judging before any one thinks this.
As I myself have things I like.
Also I'm not saying we can not have the things we want or that we can not have nice things.

But how many of us drive cars that could be replaced by a cheaper car that will do the same job? How many of us live in homes that could be replaced by a cheaper smaller home and work just as well? How many of us decorate ourselves in fashoin that could be replaced by things we can buy at Wal Mart or Kmart? How often do we go out and buy new clothes when our old ones are still working fine?
How much money do we spend on our selves that could go to help others or go to the church to help others? If any of us came into a very large sum of money (say millions of dollars) what would we do with it and how would it change our life style?

Like I said I'm not pointing fingures just putting out a few thoughts.
I'm sure I'll have some one come in though and ask what about yourself in which case I'm still going to say I'm not pointing fingures.

God Bless
Raist

[SteelDisciple]

After reading some other threads (more than one) I started to woner.

How many of us live above our means or could choose to have less and give the rest to the Lords work?

I'm not pointing fingures or judging before any one thinks this.
As I myself have things I like.
Also I'm not saying we can not have the things we want or that we can not have nice things.

But how many of us drive cars that could be replaced by a cheaper car that will do the same job? How many of us live in homes that could be replaced by a cheaper smaller home and work just as well? How many of us decorate ourselves in fashoin that could be replaced by things we can buy at Wal Mart or Kmart? How often do we go out and buy new clothes when our old ones are still working fine?
How much money do we spend on our selves that could go to help others or go to the church to help others? If any of us came into a very large sum of money (say millions of dollars) what would we do with it and how would it change our life style?

Like I said I'm not pointing fingures just putting out a few thoughts.
I'm sure I'll have some one come in though and ask what about yourself in which case I'm still going to say I'm not pointing fingures.

God Bless
Raist

A good post. =) I'm at work right now..so can't answer all of that..but i'll answer what I can.
For me personally..I don't think i'm well off...yes, I have a fairly new Jeep. But I bought that because Jeeps last longer than other vehicle...so, it was out of durability. I do buy things I like...HDTV...DVD's...Games...but I also give. Right now..I give money to a christian radio station..since they are listener supported and do A LOT of good works.

Could I sell my HDTV and get a little standard def TV? Yes. But I like HDTV's. I'm still giving alot to those that need it.

WE could go the extremist route and sell everything...just live in a shack and give most of our income to the poor I suppose...but I think God wants us to live a good life too...but to ALSO help those in need.

Infact..I should start carrying around cash to give to people I see on the streets..I never carry cash...I'll start doing that more.

[Entertaining_Angels]

Yes, I have been convicted of this. We have definitely lived beyond our means. In the grand tradition of other relatives, I used to complain about needing a larger house with more closet space. However, God has really been changing me. He has shown me that we don't need a bigger house or more closets. We need less stuff. My family doesn't understand our need to downsize. I have family who are very materialistic christians and believe I am denying God's blessings in my life. What they do not realize is that blessings go far beyond the material and God has blessed us abundantly. To believe blessings are material is a pretty shallow view of blessings.

I think there is the start of a revival in America and Christians are beginning to realize that in some ways 'The American Dream' has led many astray.

God bless.

[Raistlinorr]

A good post. =) I'm at work right now..so can't answer all of that..but i'll answer what I can.
For me personally..I don't think i'm well off...yes, I have a fairly new Jeep. But I bought that because Jeeps last longer than other vehicle...so, it was out of durability. I do buy things I like...HDTV...DVD's...Games...but I also give. Right now..I give money to a christian radio station..since they are listener supported and do A LOT of good works.

Could I sell my HDTV and get a little standard def TV? Yes. But I like HDTV's. I'm still giving alot to those that need it.

WE could go the extremist route and sell everything...just live in a shack and give most of our income to the poor I suppose...but I think God wants us to live a good life too...but to ALSO help those in need.

Infact..I should start carrying around cash to give to people I see on the streets..I never carry cash...I'll start doing that more.


Haha my Chevy is almost 10 years old and it's durable :) it has about 140k miles on it by now hehe. Besides I like Chevy better than Jeep :P
I'm not saying go the exstremist rout though yeah we should be happy and have things. But I mean like not buying that 200k-500k+ home and get a 65k-100k home instead type thing. Or instead of buying that BMW get a VW instead. Thats what I meant by the OP.

As for carrying cash to give to ppl on the street two things come to mind I live in a small city/large town area and you don't see ppl to give money to on the street here. But I have seen them when I was younger and visiting places it made me realize how nice I had it in fact. I also don't carry cash though as a check card is all I carry.

God Bless
Raist

[SteelDisciple]

Me too...I almost always just have a check card.

I agree about the things you said like..instead of a BMW..get something else. Besides..a BMW is nothing more then a status symbol...they don't have good durability and they are freakin expensive to work on...so there is no other reason you would own one than for bragging rights..not very christian. :) I see lots of people where I used to live with BMW's...bleh

[Raistlinorr]

Yes, I have been convicted of this. We have definitely lived beyond our means. In the grand tradition of other relatives, I used to complain about needing a larger house with more closet space. However, God has really been changing me. He has shown me that we don't need a bigger house or more closets. We need less stuff. My family doesn't understand our need to downsize. I have family who are very materialistic christians and believe I am denying God's blessings in my life. What they do not realize is that blessings go far beyond the material and God has blessed us abundantly. To believe blessings are material is a pretty shallow view of blessings.

I think there is the start of a revival in America and Christians are beginning to realize that in some ways 'The American Dream' has led many astray.

God bless.

LOL bigger house you sound like my wife (Lord I hope she does not read this man I'll never hear the end of it). No realy I've discussed this with her before lol God bless her she still does not understand our house is comfortable and does not need to be bigger. I think it's because of how she was raised and how I was raised though that makes it that way.

Her father is very much a money person his wife not as much but I can say my wife was spoiled as a kid though (still tease her about that too). I never had a house to call my own before we got married I lived in a trailer my whole life see still can't imagine that either. But then again she has never traveled and seen the conditions I've seen others live in. I love her though and try my best to help her see how good we have it for our age and just what little we have.

But I can understand where your coming from as my wife also came from the same. No I'm not going to tell you wh oshe is either so you can show her this post lol. Nah she's not mean but we do talk about this stuff. She is Kitana on here.

God Bless
Raist

[Raistlinorr]

Me too...I almost always just have a check card.

I agree about the things you said like..instead of a BMW..get something else. Besides..a BMW is nothing more then a status symbol...they don't have good durability and they are freakin expensive to work on...so there is no other reason you would own one than for bragging rights..not very christian. :) I see lots of people where I used to live with BMW's...bleh

Well my dream car is a 69' Charger of corse I'll never own one but hey they are sweet. But they cost more than most luxery cars now :(

But yeah things like BMW are statue symbols and fashoin statments totaly agree.

God Bless
Raist

[Key]

After reading some other threads (more than one) I started to woner.

How many of us live above our means or could choose to have less and give the rest to the Lords work?

I'm not pointing fingures or judging before any one thinks this.
As I myself have things I like.
Also I'm not saying we can not have the things we want or that we can not have nice things.

But how many of us drive cars that could be replaced by a cheaper car that will do the same job? How many of us live in homes that could be replaced by a cheaper smaller home and work just as well? How many of us decorate ourselves in fashoin that could be replaced by things we can buy at Wal Mart or Kmart? How often do we go out and buy new clothes when our old ones are still working fine?
How much money do we spend on our selves that could go to help others or go to the church to help others? If any of us came into a very large sum of money (say millions of dollars) what would we do with it and how would it change our life style?

Like I said I'm not pointing fingures just putting out a few thoughts.
I'm sure I'll have some one come in though and ask what about yourself in which case I'm still going to say I'm not pointing fingures.

God Bless
Raist

So, what exactly is it your trying to say?

God Bless
Key.

[Raistlinorr]

So, what exactly is it your trying to say?

God Bless
Key.

Look into our hearts and look at what we have.

God Bless
Raist

[Knight]

Here is the best piece of advice I ever heard on this...

Determine what level God wants you to live at. Then give the rest to the work of the gospel.

Credit Larry Burkett for that.

[PastorMikeJ]

We try not to live beyond our means...I am on a fixed income from the VA but my wife works...

My money goes to the rent and heat and the remainder goes to people in need,,

Hey if anyone wants a 66 Mustang I have one for sale...money going to HIS Home in Haiti... a Christian Orphanage to provide for a second home....

[savedbyfaithinchrist]

Well my dream car is a 69' Charger of corse I'll never own one but hey they are sweet. But they cost more than most luxery cars now :(

But yeah things like BMW are statue symbols and fashoin statments totaly agree.

God Bless
Raist
Hey now lol i have a great frend that has a BMW lol and its 20 years old with rust all over it and covered in Witness Stickers lol it rocks out and it was free :thumbsup:

[Raistlinorr]

Hey now lol i have a great frend that has a BMW lol and its 20 years old with rust all over it and covered in Witness Stickers lol it rocks out and it was free :thumbsup:

I knew some one would take offence to what was said and take it out of context.

He did not go out and spend the cash on a brand new BMW he was given an old one for free according to you.

This makesthat statment not intended toward you or your friend.

If he had how ever went and spent the cash on a brand new BMW just so he could have one that would be a different story but he did not as you said.

As mentioned in a post above I am not pointing fingures.
Just putting out a thought.

God Bless
Raist

[lipoftruth]

very nice thread. I believe that we will experience more joy and a fuller life when we take Jesus' teachings to heart, simplifying our lifestyle and ensuring that our priorities are right. Matthew 6:19.

[eden2760]

I agree with what you're saying Raist. I could give more as well. I do tithe and give offerings, and contribute here and there to charities, etc., but I could give more; we all could.

In the end, though, I think the biggest thing to note is to be obedient. In the 'end' (no pun intended) giving's chief end should be the salvation of lost souls.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the Lord ultimately orchestrates where these funds would come from; that is, he would lead those, who are in the position (his position, maybe not ours) to give this money and further his kingdom, ultimately leading to more lost souls being born into his kingdom; All that's required is our obedience, but we have to choose to listen, be open, cheerful, and willing to give sacrificially, as he leads.

My cents. :D GBU all.