GET FIT
“Get Financially Fit!”

Pastor Scott Oas | 01.24.16

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21

5 HABITS TO “GET FIT” FINANCIALLY

1. KEEP GOOD RECORDS.

“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.” - Proverbs 27:23-24 (NIV)

2. PLAN YOUR SPENDING.

“Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough.” - Proverbs 21:5 (GNT)

“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” - Proverbs 21:20b (NIV)

3. SAVE FOR THE FUTURE.

“The wise man saves for the future . . .” - Proverbs 21:20a (LB) “Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” - Proverbs 13:11

4. RETURN TEN PERCENT BACK TO GOD.

“Bring to My Storehouse a full tenth of what you earn... Test me in this, says the Lord. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.’” - Malachi 3:10 (NCV)

Why does God ask us to bring a tithe?

“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first.” - Deuteronomy 14:23

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing!...” - Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)

5. ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE.

“Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.” - Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT)

“If I have put my trust in money, if my happiness depends on wealth… it would mean that I denied the God of heaven.” - Job 31:24,28

GOING DEEPER

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 6:19-21

GETTING STARTED

If you won the lottery what would you do with it? Really?
What are some things we hope money will bring us?

A CLOSER LOOK

The literal translation of verse 19 is “Do not treasure your treasures.”
What do you think Jesus meant? What do you think He considered a treasure?

1. Is it wrong to have treasures?
2. Why is Jesus so concerned with where we store our treasure?
3. Discuss the truth that our heart will always follow our treasure

Read Proverbs 27:23-24. 
What do these verses teach us about keeping track of our resources?

What does Proverbs 21:5 have to do with the Principle of Budgeting?

“The wise man saves for the future” Proverbs 21:20. Pretty straightforward, why is this so difficult for many of us?

Read Malachi 3:100 
Why does God want us to practice this principle? What are the upsides of being obedient in this area of our lives? What are the downsides of not being obedient?

Enjoy what you have. “It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.” - Ecclesiastes 6:9

What holds people back from being satisfied with what they have?

DIGGING DEEPER

Of these principles, which is the most challenging to you and which would you say needs your attention? How would actually practicing these draw you closer to God?

1. KEEP GOOD RECORDS
2. PLAN YOUR SPENDING
3. SAVE FOR THE FUTURE
4. RETURN 10% BACK TO GOD
5. ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing!” - Proverbs 3:9-10