FINANCIAL HOPE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009

We had our first Financial Hope class this past Monday and what a great time we had. This class is going to be a time of encouragement and equipping people to make life-changing decisions in small ways and big. We want to see people get God’s vision for their finances. We are going to be dealing with both practical and spiritual issues. For the first class we primarily spent our time of God’s goodness and things that people would like to see covered.

We had a list prepared of topics we will be covering in the class. We also asked the class what things they would like to see us talk about. We came up with the following-- budgets, agreement in marriage over finances, tithing and giving, insurance, living in God’s economy, how and where to find bargains, lowering your food bill, health and its relation to finances, investing wisely, taxes, dealing with fear and worry, emotional shopping, real estate, couponing, getting out of debt, balancing your checkbook, being in control of your money, help for college, jobs and careers, and being a blessing to others. There are so many issues and angles to hit.

We also had a wonderful time of prayer and ministry to one another. We have agreed to keep one another in prayer during the week.

Why deal with God’s goodness in a financial class? He is our source and the real hope and help for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

When we’re looking at finances we can easily grow discouraged because of our own poor decisions or by the doom and gloom from the media and the present state of the economy or just a general sense of hopelessness. Proverbs 13:12 tells us that, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But [when] the desire comes, [it is] a tree of life.” Losing hope and becoming discouraged is a hard place. Thankfully, God is not limited by the economy. He’s not afraid, fearful or worried. He calls us to radically put our trust in Him and not in man. We gave the following handout to the class and encouraged them to take it home, put it some place prominent in the house, and read over it every day. The enemy is a master of discouragement and fear. By meditating on the Word of God we are renewing our minds and robbing the devil of the opportunity to sow fear and doubt into our hearts.



FOUNDATIONAL FINANCIAL SCRIPTURES

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct [fn] your paths.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 18:19
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Psalm 37:3-7
Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them], and you will have [them].

3rd John 2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.