I have two major thoughts on generosity…

Here’s the first one. I believe most Christians are incredibly generous. I don’t think they are stingy or greedy. I think people don’t give because of one of two reasons:

1. They’re strapped financially. Through a series of bad decisions, poor training, or lack of discipline, they’re upside down financially. They want to give – they just can’t. These people don’t need to be coerced into giving more. They need help to become financially free.

2. They simply don’t trust where the money is going. I think people love to give, but need to have confidence in the methods and purposes used by organizations to which they give. I think there are a great number of people willing to give if they are able to see honesty, integrity, and genuine spiritual values reflected in the lifestyles of their church leaders.

Which leads me to the second thought. It’s not important just to give – but to give strategically. God expects us to invest in things that will give an eternal return on the investment – treasures in heaven.

Here are a few areas that I think are incredibly strategic…

1. A life-giving local church. It may sound biased, but I really believe that the greatest transformational agent on earth God ever created is His Church. Don’t go around the church. Just find one that leverages their resources strategically.

2. Church planting. You’ll have a hard time finding a better ROI than giving to a life-giving church that plants other church that all give to missions.

3. Leadership. When you invest in a leader, you touch more than a person. You touch every person that person touches.

I’m very passionate about this one.

Your thoughts?

I have to admit, the money thing has never been a stretch for me. Not because I haven’t had my share of challenges but because I was raised in a great home with a dad who understood and taught me sound financial principles.

Here are a few principles I’ve learned…

• Avoid debt. There are times when you have to borrow, but it should be in rare cases.
• Tithe. My dad taught me to tithe on every dollar I made - even every 5 dollar bill I got in a birthday card. Always give the first 10% to God.
• Give every dollar a name. That’s all a budget is. Not living on a budget is like driving a car without a gas gauge.
• Real prosperity is in your soul - not in your bank account. You can gain the whole world and forfeit the things that really matter.
• Be meticulous about integrity. Don’t cheat on your taxes. Don’t take a 1 cent paper clip from the office for personal use. God honors personal integrity.
• Learn contentment. The world will never stop trying to get you to want more.
• Live to give. There is no greater joy.
• Trust God. Really.

These principles bring freedom!

What are some financial principles that guide your life?

We live in the richest country in the world yet few people are financially free. Why are we in such bondage? I think we’ve bought into some money myths that simply aren’t true. We need a “shift” in the way we think.

One of the myths is, “I just need a little bit more to make ends meet.” But study after study shows that when we make more, we just spend more and get deeper in debt. At some point we have to learn how to make our current situation work.

How? Well it will sound simple, but few people live by it – and that is margin. Margin is the space between yourself and your limits.

• Margin gives you a chance to reduce debt.

• Margin makes room for unexpected expenses.

• Margin allows you to do fun things you didn’t plan.

• Margin relieves pressure.

The Bible says, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has (Proverbs 21:20). Simply put – don’t spend everything.

Margin is one of the single greatest principles I’ve ever learned about money.

What are your thoughts about margin?

I’ve been encouraged by several people to do a series of posts on money. There is no doubt that the issue of money is becoming an even more important issue considering all that is going on with the economy right now. However, I am convinced that people are not in the condition they are in because of gas prices, the mortgage crisis, or the rising cost of food. I think financial problems originate with wrong thinking.

For example, most people think about…

• Getting more money instead of figuring out why they’re broke now.

• Their career instead of their calling.

• Spending more instead of contentment.

• A quick fix instead of a life-long commitment.

• Accumulating wealth instead of managing God’s resources.

• Things on earth instead of treasures in heaven.

All of these are attitudes that will put you in a financial bind regardless of the economy. And if we’re going to turn these around, we need to change the way we think, because how we think determines how we act.

This week we’ll look at some of God’s thoughts about money. They are usually the direct opposite of the thinking of this world. 1 Corinthians 1:20 says, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

It should be interesting.

What are some other money attitudes that you think need to change?

As you know we are in the middle of a series based on the book of Philippians called, “The Pursuit of Joy”. The idea of the series is that most find themselves in the pursuit of happiness, which is based on our happenings, our circumstance. Whereas JOY is internal and safe from which way the wind might blow.

This week we dove into the relational aspect of JOY and how easy it is to lose our joy on account of others. Paul’s advice in Philippians 2 is for us to “Consider other’s better than yourself”, and to, “Look not only to your own interests but to the interests of others”. It sounds elementary but if it were simple to live out then we wouldn’t see the fighting and relational frustration that rule so many lives – even in the church.

Your SHIFT assignment - should you choose to accept it - is to SEEK out situations to serve and prefer others above yourself this week. Then report back with an honest account of what happened. Because if we really did it - what would it look like in our home, in our workplace? What would it do to our relationships? How would it affect us?

A few keys for your assignment:

- Don’t expect anything in return. True humility inspired service doesn’t look for a payoff or recognition at the end.

- If people don’t respond – don’t sweat it. Your job is to plant the seed and let God take it from there. Remember it’s all about them this week.

- Make it fun – be creative and make it a week long goal to experience the joy of serving and loving others.

- Do something completely unexpected for someone - mix it up and just see what happens.

Post what happened right here.