Building Faith Families With Steve Demme

Giving is the fruit of a redeemed life. The evidence of a heart transformation is an open wallet. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be. Conversely, where your heart is, there will your treasure be. I was told of a tight fisted individual who was converted and baptized. He became a wonderful example […]The post Giving from a Redeemed Heart appeared first on Building Faith Families.

Debt is a spiritual issue. My primary concern with spending beyond my means, with my out-go surpassing my in-come, is I am presuming upon the future. Presume means to take for granted that tomorrow will be the same as today. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such […]The post I Owe I Owe, It’s Off to Work I Go appeared first on Building Faith Families.

It seems that the majority of problems that a married couple will face are related to money. Conflicts arise about who makes it, who spends it, how it is spent, should they go into debt, and what are their long term goals concerning retirement, etc.I would hope that most of these questions would be discussed at length and in depth BEFORE you get married. This allows you to be pulling in the same direction. Some will say such deliberations are not “spiritual” (I may have said that when I was 25, sigh), but recall the scripture on the front of this book.“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34)

Two of the reasons I work are to provide for my family now, and leave an inheritance for the future. Saving money for the future encompasses physical assets and a spiritual legacy.“Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.” (Psalm 112:1-3)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)There is certainly a balance between being a diligent provider and living by faith. These are not in opposition. Unfortunately it took me a while to learn this lesson. Before I was a Christian, if I needed money I worked for it. After I rededicated my life to serving the King, I began reading books about godly men and women, like J. Hudson Taylor and George Muller. There I began learning about the life of faith, or praying for your needs to be met.

“But if any provides not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever”. 1 Timothy 5:8 (ASV)This passage is speaking directly to caring for widows, but it also sums up what is obvious and should not have to

“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:9-10)Work is good. God called man to be a steward and tend the garden which He created. Tending a garden is work. It is the task of a steward. And since this command to work in the garden was given before the fall, we can assume man was created to labor, and this labor was good.

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)Whether you are a supportee or a supporter, endeavor to support those who are serving in the church and in other ministries as you would want to be supported if you were in their position.

When you are living for Jesus, all that you do is for God’s glory. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, as long as you are doing it unto the Lord. In the divine economy, work was created by God and is therefore good. Even before the fall of Adam, he was still given the task of tending the garden. Yes, “sweat” and “toil” are added to work as a result of the curse, but work is good (more on this in another lesson). May God set us free from the lie that some jobs are secular and others are sacred.

Thanksgiving is a special holiday set apart to give thanks. Like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day which are one day events, we are subsequently reminded to honor our parents throughout the year. Similarly, Thanksgiving is a gentle reminder to be thankful every day.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Part two of a joint podcast with Heidi St. John. I have had the privilege of spending time with Jay and Heidi St. John at conferences over the years. She is a true kindred spirit and advocate for the Christian family.

Part one of a two part podcast I did with Heidi St John. Heidi is a popular speaker at conferences and has been a friend for may years. During this broadcast she interviews me as we discuss the good news of God’s liking us.

There is unmistakable teaching in scripture that God sometimes blesses his people with material things. For those that do have wealth and have been blessed with material possessions, it is wise to remember Deuteronomy 8:18, “You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”But never mistake a lack of material “blessings” as some kind of indication that God is not blessing you or doesn’t care for you. That is clearly not taught in scripture.

The word heart, as used in scripture, does not represent the organ responsible for distributing blood throughout the body. Neither is it to be interpreted as a passion or emotion. Rather, it is the very essence of who we are. It is the inner man.“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34)

I believe the best defense is a good offense and if we focus on the positives we can ward off the negatives. Instead of examining ourselves regularly to see if we are coveting, I suggest we take the opposite tack and pray to be content. The character trait of a Christian who is free from coveting, is contentment.“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

Notice, money is not evil, the love of money is. So why is the love of money such a stumbling block? As Christians, our primary calling is to love God with everything in us. Anything which takes away or diminishes our devotion to Christ has to be examined. Jesus is our wonderful Lord and compassionate master. We cannot love or serve two masters, nor do we want to.

God is King over all the earth. He appoints His children to be faithful stewards of all that rightfully belongs to Him. We are not owners but careful managers of His possessions. “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

This weekend I had the privilege to speak at the state homeschool convention in Portland, Oregon. On Friday I had a few men’s workshops and offered The Christian Home and Family Worship for free to those who would commit to reading it within thirty days of the the conference.Saturday morning one of the dads informed me he had read the entire book on Friday evening. And before he left for the second day of the convention he spent some time with his eight year old daughter. He asked her if there was anything she would like to share with him so he could pray for her.

In The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien there are seeing stones or palantiri. These stones could not show false images, but they could select which images were seen to create a misleading illusion of the state of the world. Our own media chooses what we see and without being aware, we become discouraged and lose hope. But this incomplete picture is not accurate because it leaves out the main player, our Great God.His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom which is irresistibly growing for “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). If we only watch what the world and the devil want us to see we will have our minds poisoned unto despair as did Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. But if we, like Aragorn and Gandalf, see the whole picture, we will continue to press on, with a hope that is secure and cannot be shaken.