Planning for the Cycle of Life
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
The area of money is where we will see a blessing in our lives. This does not necessarily mean more money. The principle is that God will take care of our needs. An old adage states there is nothing certain except for death and taxes.
As Christians, we also know of our salvation in Christ. Jesus wants us to work until His Coming.
Luke 19:13
So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
We need to plan for 4 sections of about 20 years each in our lives. The sections are:
Learning Years
Earning Years
Conserving Years
Retiring Years
A financial planner calls these sections of life:
Accumulation, Conservation, and Distribution.
There are seven Biblical principles as you plan in the cycles of life.
1. God owns Everything.
1 Chronicles 29:13-14
13 “Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.
14 But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
No one will take anything out of this world. While we live on this earth, we are but managers. Faithfulness is what is important. Here is an example of faithfulness and the blessing that comes to the faithful.
Garwin McNeilus built garbage and cement trucks in Michigan. The man is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian and he prayed and committed 30 % of the profits of his business to the Lord’s work. Mr. McNeilus became the largest garbage truck manufacturer in the world. He sold the company for $250 million and bought banks in Minnesota.
Another example of faithfulness is the owners of the Little Debbie snack cake company. McKee Foods Corporation was founded in Chattanooga, TN in 1934 when a young couple with a big dream pawned their new truck and bought Jack’s Cookie Company with a down payment of $288 and a lot of hope. The couple was O.D. and Ruth McKee, and their small bakery is now McKee Foods Corporation, the manufacturer of America’s number-one snack cake, the Little Debbie® brand. How this bakery grew from five employees and a few thousand dollars in yearly sales to more than 6,000 employees and more than $930 million in annual sales, is an inspirational story of determination, focus, confidence, faith and family.
When the sun begins to set on Friday evening, all of Little Debbie employees stop working so they can have the Sabbath day to rest. Seventh-day Adventists believe in the Bible Sabbath that begins at Friday sunset and lasts until Saturday evening sunset.
2. God is first in Everything in Your Life!
Proverbs 3:5-9
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase.
Job understood this principle. Job suffered severe setbacks but his wealth was restored. There is nothing wrong with wealth or being wealthy. Abraham, Job, and Solomon and many other of our ancestors were wealthy. God sees our lives from the beginning to the end. God wants us to prosper.
3. Your purpose in life is to Glorify God!
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
If you are serious about God you should bring glory to God! Pray, seek and live to the glory of God!
4. Prosperity is Having What You Need When You Need It!
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Often times we think our wants are needs. If you live for God-He will take care of you. Our society has become an instant gratification environment. God is with you everywhere you go and puts peace in your heart.
5. Debt is BAD.
Never buy a home with a variable interest rate. Take one house payment and make your regular mortgage payment and also make a principal only payment and you can pay off a home loan fast. Pay off a house first then work on saving for your retirement is sound financial advice.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
By paying off debts, you are honoring God. If you recognize this principle and get out of debt, you will bring peace to yourself and your family and bring honor to God.
6. Tithe is the Minimum Testimony of Our Christian Commitment
Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.
The Tithe is holy to the Lord. It does not belong to us. We are not sacrificially giving when we return tithe. People get mad about this principle. Many churches have tithe staying within the local church and this can breed contempt amongst the people. Pastor Korter’s salary comes from the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. He makes the same salary as elder Ted Wilson who is the president of the World Seventh-day Adventist church.
The Seventh-day Adventist church is the only church that operates this way. The tithe is holy as the Sabbath is Holy. When we refuse to return 10% as we are called to do we are cutting off ourselves from God’s wisdom and blessing in our lives. The devil doesn’t want people to know about this principle.
7. Everyone Must Give An Account to God for His Money Management
Matthew 25:19
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
We are held accountable for what we do with our money.
There are several reasons for Financial Problems.
1. Ignorance is when someone is financially illiterate and has never been introduced to money management.
2. Greed is living beyond our means. When someone says they are just too poor to tithe, they are living without God’s promise and blessing. The gift of contentment is the best blessing from God
3. Unfortunate tragedy is a serious illness, or being abandoned or having a natural disaster wipe out your home.
There is hope for all by turning to God. There will be a time when we don’t have earthly things.
What did God do for Elijah? One time an angel woke him up and fed him. Another time ravens brought him food.