Retirement Funds

2. Retirement Funds Wages Unemployment Costs

3. Why financial foundations? • Finances are a significant Biblical emphasis • We are presently dealing with difficult times • Financial challenges often present relational challenges • Wise or foolish perspectives affect financial outcomes • We need proper perspectives on wealth and prosperity

4. True Riches Biblical Financial Foundations

5. I. Proven Faithful • Luke 16:10-13 • Faithful in little things – you will be faithful in large ones • Contrast – worldly wealth and true riches of heaven • Matthew 6:19 - 20 19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 

6. Proven faithful with worldly wealth – use to benefit others and make friends (Luke 16:9)

7. II. Great Wealth • 1 Timothy 6:6-9 • Great wealth = true godliness with contentment • Contentment – enough food and clothing

8. Love of money – longing to be rich – craving money = evil, sorrows, destruction, wandering from true faith

9. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 • Teach those rich in this world • Not to be proud • Not to trust in their money • Proverbs 11:28 Trust in your money and down you go!  But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. • Trust in God • God richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment

10. Use their money to do good • Generous to those in need • Storing treasures as a good foundation for future life • Experience true life

11. III. Saving vs. Hoarding • Proverbs 21:20 (NASB) There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up. • Proverbs 21:20 (NLT) The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. • Wise or foolish perspectives affect financial outcomes

12. Proverbs 6:6 - 11 6Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up? 10A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

13. 2 Corinthians 8:14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 

14. Luke 12:13-21,33-34 • Life is not measured by what you own • Fool – stores up earthly wealth but no rich relationship with God (NASB – not rich toward God) • Sell your possessions and give to those in need • This will store up treasure in heaven for you • Where your treasure is, there your heart will be

15. Proverbs 11:24 - 26 24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

16. Interaction Time • How do you know if you are saving or hoarding? When it comes to contentment with enough food and clothing, how much is enough? • How do you know if you are being an ant or a workaholic? How do you know if you are getting appropriate rest or if you are a lazybones?

17. Great wealth and true riches are in a rich relationship with God. How do you invest into that which produces true riches? • What are you doing to store up treasures in heaven? We’ve been challenged to “pay it forward.” Would you be willing to take some cards or make your own and give on behalf of others to bless them and glorify God? Would you be willing to be accountable to the others at your table for a certain number of gifts this week?

19. IV.