A Financial Checkup: Bearing Fruit or Falling Short?

07/15/2024

By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta

"A Financial Checkup: Bearing Fruit or Falling Short?"

Years ago, I fell for what seemed like a great deal on a financial software package. It was advertised for $40 but sold for only $3. I quickly ordered it, only to discover I needed to pay an additional $29 to unlock the software. The company had tricked me into buying just the disk, not the software itself.

This experience reminds me of how our enemy can deceive us financially. He lures us with seemingly good deals, and before we know it, we’re trapped in financial pitfalls, having made decisions without seeking God’s guidance.

Spiritual Checkup Questions:

Enhancing Your Spirit or Squandering Your Blessings?

Proverbs 10:16 contrasts the righteous labor that leads to life with the fruit of the wicked that leads to sin. Reflect on your expenses. Are they enhancing your spiritual life or squandering resources on fleeting pleasures?

• Categorize Your Expenses:

• Life: How many of your recent expenses enrich your life and the lives of your family?

• Sin/vanity: How much is spent on things that hold little value in God's eyes?

Reflection and Application:

Proverbs 10:16: "The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin."

If you find that a significant portion of your spending does not align with God’s values, consider how you might redirect your finances toward life-giving purposes.

Steps to Financial Righteousness:

Evaluate Your Spending:

• Create a budget that reflects your values and priorities.
• Ensure your spending enhances your spiritual life and meets essential needs.

Seek God’s Guidance:

• Before making significant purchases, pray and ask God for wisdom.
• Reflect on whether the expense honors God and contributes to your spiritual growth.

Give Generously:

• Invest in God’s kingdom by supporting your local church and charitable organizations.
• Remember that God blesses us to be a blessing to others (Psalm 41:1).

Save Wisely:

• Set aside a portion of your income for future needs and emergencies.
• Avoid debt that can lead to financial bondage and stress.

Prayer and Commitment:

Heavenly Father, help us manage our finances to honor You. Give us wisdom to discern between needs and wants, and the courage to make choices that bring life rather than sin. May our financial decisions reflect our commitment to You and our desire to live righteously. Amen.

Personal Testimony:

My experience with the deceptive software offer taught me the importance of seeking God’s wisdom in financial matters. I once faced financial difficulties due to unwise spending. Through prayer and guidance from mentors, I learned to budget, save, and give in ways that align with God’s principles. The peace and security I now experience are the fruit of God’s faithfulness as I trust him with my resources.

Conclusion:

Let this week be a time of honest reflection and positive change in how we handle our finances. By aligning our spending with God’s values, we can transform our financial habits from bearing rotten fruit to cultivating a tree of life.