DISCIPLINE: THE WAY TO SUCCESS PT.4

I/9/00

Phil 3:12-14

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor 9:24-27

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Lanny Bassham, Olympic gold-medalist in small-bore rifle competition, tells what concentration does for his marksmanship: "Our sport is controlled nonmovement. We are shooting from 50 meters--over half a football field--at a bull's eye three- quarters the size of a dime. If the angle of error at the point of the barrel is more than five one-thousandths of an inch, you drop into the next circle and lose a point. So we have to learn how to make everything stop. I stop my breathing. I stop my digestion by not eating for 12 hours before the competition. I train by running to keep my pulse around 60, so I have a full second between beats--I have gotten it lower, but found that the stroke-volume increased so much that each beat really jolted me. You do all of this and you have the technical control. But you have to have some years of experience in reading conditions: the wind, the mirage. Then you have the other 80% of the problems--the mind. Without strenuous discipline, winning the Olympic gold in small bore rifle competition would be impossible.

LIVING A SUCCESSFUL, VICTORIOUS AND PROSPEROUS CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A LOT LIKE RUNNING IN A MARATHON RACE. ONLY THOSE WITH THE STAMINA OF PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE AND CONDITIONING CAN PRESS ON THOUGH THE PAIN AND AGONY OF A BODY THAT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF EXHAUSTION BUT PRESSES ON TO WIN THE RACE. YOU SEE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A DIS-CIPLINED LIFE FROM BEGINNING TO END. YOUR MOTTO MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF BURGER KING CAUSE YOU CAN’T HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY; ITS GOD’S WAY OR IT’S NO WAY. YOU SEE, GOD’S LIKE A COACH AND HE WILL MAKE YOU DO WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO DO SO THAT YOU CAN BECOME WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE, A CHAMPION. NOW, IF WE’RE GOING TO ALLOW GOD TO COACH US TO A PROSPEROUS, VICTORIOUS AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE THEN WE MUST BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION FROM HIS WORD. EVERY COACH HAS A PLAY BOOK AND SO DO WE, IT’S CALLED THE BIBLE. SO THIS MORNING I AM GOING TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES ON DISCIPLINE: THE WAY TO SUCCESS. LET ME BRIEFLY REVIEW A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE LOOK AT A FEW MORE AREAS OF DISCIPLINE.

2 Peter 1:5-9

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone

does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that

he has been cleansed from his past sins

FIRST OF ALL, WEBSTER DEFINES DISCIPLINE AS TRAINING THAT DEVELOPS SELF-CONTROL AND CHARACTER AND RESULTS IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT LIFE. IT IMPLIES STRICT CONTROL TO ENFORCE OBEDIENCE AND THEN ACCEPTANCE OF AND SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY. WHERE THERE IS NO DISCIPLINE THERE WILL BE NO CHARACTER. CHARACTER IS NOT YOUR REPUTATION, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE. CHARACTER IS NOT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT, THAT’S WHAT YOU DO. CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU ARE. CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU ARE WHEN NOBODY’S AROUND, IT’S THE REAL YOU THAT ONLY YOU AND GOD KNOW ABOUT. CHARACTER IS VITAL TO BUILDING A MEANINGFUL, PURPOSEFUL, FRUITFUL AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

Prov 25:28

28Whoever has no rule over his own spirit, Is like a city broken down,

without walls.

Prov 16:32

32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules

his spirit than he who takes a city.

Every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character.

The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don't want to do, in order to achieve what they've always wanted to be. - Tom Landry

Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation.

Your character is what you really are while your reputation is

merely what others think you are.

John Wooden, former coach of the UCLA Bruins

Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.

SCOTT PACK IN HIS BOOK, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED WRITES, " DISCIPLINE IS THE BASIC SET OF TOOLS WE REQUIRE TO SOLVE LIFE’S PROBLEMS. WITHOUT DISCIPLINE WE CAN SOLVE NOTHING. WITH ONLY SOME DISCIPLINE WE CAN SOLVE ONLY SOME PROBLEMS BUT WITH TOTAL DISCIPLINE WE CAN SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS." THE TRUTH IS THAT NOTHING WORTHWHILE OR SIGNIFICANT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT DISCIPLINE. ALTHOUGH DISCIPLINE REQUIRES HARD WORK IT IS NEVER CONSIDERED A HARDSHIP. IN REALITY IS PERMITS SUCCESS AND SETS US FREE FROM FRUITLESS, MEANINGLESS LIVING.

Prov.6:23

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light,

and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, DISCIPLINE DOES NOT HINDER YOU, DISCIPLINE FREES YOU. GOD SAYS, DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY TO LIFE. I LIKE WHAT ROGER STARBACK SAID, CONFIDENCE IS THE RESULT OF HOURS, DAYS WEEKS AND YEARS OF CONSTANT WORK AND DEDICATION. NOTHING GOOD IN LIFE OR ATHLETICS COMES UNLESS A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS PRECEDED THE EFFORT. ONLY TEMPORARY SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED BY TAKING SHORT CUTS.

THE BIBLE TALKS A LOT ABOUT SUCCESS AND BEING A WINNER BUT IT ALSO HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE PROCESS OF GETTING THERE. OUR LIFE IS MADE UP OF THE LITTLE HABITS WE DO EVERY DAY SO IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE WE MUST CHANGE OUR HABITS. THAT’S WHY I REALLY LIKE THIS QUOTE: Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE WE MUST FIRST CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK, THE BIBLE CALLS IT REPENTANCE, A CHANGE OF MIND AND A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. IF WE HAVE A BAD HABIT WE MUST BE OPEN TO THE DISCIPLINE AND CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO WILL HELP US CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK. OUR PER-SPECTIVE WILL CHANGE AND THE PROCESS BEGINS. IN ORDER TO CHANGE A HABIT YOU MUST BEGIN WITH DISCIPLINE. NOW AT FIRST DISCIPLINE IS AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE. YOU’RE USE TO DOING THINGS YOUR OWN WAY BUT CONSISTENT ADHERENCE TO THIS NEW CHANGE WILL RESULT IN A NEW HABIT BEING FORMED AND TAKING ONE STEP CLOSER TO FULFILLING YOUR DREAMS AND DESTINY IN CHRIST.

I HAVE MADE REFERENCE TO THE THE FRAM OIL FILTER COMMERCIALS IN THIS SERIES WITH THE JINGLE THAT SAID: "YOU CAN PAY ME NOW OR YOU CAN PAY ME LATER." THE GUY WHO PAYS LATER, ALWAYS PAYS MORE. IF YOU LET YOUR CAR GO THE COST ALWAYS GOES UP WHEN YOU DECIDE TO FIX IT. YOU LET YOUR MARRIAGE GO IN THE EARLY STAGES CAUSE OF NO DISCIPLINE, ITS GONNA COST YOU LAWYER AND ALIMONY. IF YOU LET YOUR FINANCES GO WITH NO SELF CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE ITS GONNA COST YOU IN AN IRS AUDIT OR BANKRUPTCY. WHATEVER YOU LET GO IS GONNA COST AND YOU WILL PAY, AND IF YOU DON’T PAY NOW YOU WILL PAY LATER AND YOU WILL ALWAYS PAY MORE. SO IT WOULD BE TO OUR BEST INTEREST TO PAY THE PRICE OF DISCIPLINE IN THE BEGINNING THAN TO PAY MORE WITHOUT IT. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS DISCIPLINE AS DELAYED GRATIFICATION. NOW, IF THE COST OF DISCIPLINE IS ONE POUND THE COST OF REGRET WEIGHS A TON. YOU ARE GOING TO PAY A PRICE CALLED PAIN AND YOU’RE GONNA PAY ON THE FRONT END OF DISCIPLINE WHICH HURTS A LITTLE NOW OR YOU’LL PAY AT THE END AND IT HURTS A WHOLE LOT MORE, SO PAY EARLY. WHAT IS DISCIPLINE? ITS HARD WORK, ITS DILIGENCE AND ITS DELAYED GRATIFICATION. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST. REAL TREASURE IN LIFE IS HARDSHIP AND DISCIPLINE BUT IT ONLY REWARDS US IN THE AREAS OF LIFE WE APPLY IT TO. LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND IN OUR FAMILY THIS WEEK WE WANT TO LOOK AT:

3. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

3. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FINANCES.

DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WHICH MEANS WE FIND SOME WAY TO PUT GOD FIRST BY SEEKING THE LORD EARLY. LISTEN TO CHRISTIAN MUSIC WHEN YOU’RE GETTING DRESSED IN THE MORNING OR LISTEN TO A TEACHING TAPE ON YOUR WAY INTO WORK. PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR DAY BEFORE YOU GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT AND GOD WILL BE WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY TO PROSPER YOU AND MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL.

SO HOW DO WE DEFINE DISCIPLINE? ITS HARD WORK, ITS DILIGENCE AND ITS DELAYED GRATIFICATION. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST. LET’S LOOK AT ANOTHER AREA OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION THIS MORNING: AND THAT IS THE DELAYED GRATIFICATION OF OUR FAMILY LIFE. THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY.

2 Cor 6:14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?

Eph 5:22-23

22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

I DON’T KNOW OF A PERSON WHO DOESN’T WANT TO HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE AND RAISE A GOOD FAMILY. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY BUT IT REQUIRES THE DISCIPLINE OF DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY. SO THE BIBLE SETS FORTH GOD’S ORDER FOR THE HOME WITH CHRIST AT THE HEAD, FOLLOWED BY THE HUSBAND, THE WIFE AND THE CHILDREN. THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT THE ROLE OF EACH PERSON WHO IS LIVING IN A LOVING, CARING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THOSE THINGS IN PART 3 OF THIS MESSAGE AND YOU CAN GET THE TAPE IF YOUR INTERESTED.

LET’S READ THE PASSAGE IN 1COR. 9:24 IN THE MESSAGE BIBLE:

"YOU’VE ALL BEEN TO THE STADIUM AND SEEN THE ATHLETE’S RACE. EVERYONE RUNS BUT ONLY ONE WINS THE RACE. RUN TO WIN. ALL GOOD ATHLETES TRAIN HARD, THEY PRACTICE STRICT SELF CONTROL. THEY DO IT FOR A GOLD MEDAL THAT TARNISHES AND FADES. YOU AFTER ONE THAT’S GOLD IS ETERNAL. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU; BUT I’M RUNNING HARD FOR THE FINISH LINE WITH PURPOSE IN EVERY STEP. I’M GIVING IT EVERYTHING I’VE GOT. NO SLOPPY LIVING FOR ME! I DISCIPLINE MY BODY LIKE AND ATHLETE AND TRAIN IT TO DO WHAT IT SHOULD. I’M STAYING ALERT AND IN TOP PHYSICAL CONDITION. I’M NOT GONNA GET CAUGHT NAPPING, TELLING EVERYONE ELSE ALL ABOUT IT AND THEN MISSING OUT MYSELF."

IN ORDER TO HAVE GOOD HEALTH WHEN YOU ARE OLD YOU MUST PAY FOR IT TODAY IN THE FORM OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN YOU PHYSICAL HEALTH. BAD HEALTH CAN COST YOU A GREAT JOB, AND QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS. IT CAN BRING DISCRIMINATION. LISTEN, GOOD HEALTH IS NOT FOR VANITY ITS FOR DESTINY. IT WILL GIVE YOU A RICH, FULL LIFE. WHAT GOOD IS MY FUTURE IF WHEN THE TIME I GET THERE I AM SO DISEASED AND SICK THAT I CAN’T ENJOY IT AND NO BODY CAN STAND TO BE AROUND ME CAUSE I’M A MEDICAL CENTER ON FEET.

NOW I’M NOT GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT GOING ON A DIET TODAY BUT I AM GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT A LIFESTYLE. LISTEN IF YOU JUST GO ON A DIET YOU WILL GAIN THE WEIGHT YOU LOST AGAIN BUT IF YOU’LL CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY. YOU’VE GOT TO CHANGE COMPLETELY THE WAY YOU LIVE AND EAT AND HOW YOU TREAT YOUR BODY. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE ACTOR AND COMEDIAN, CHRIS FARLY BLEW A GREAT LIFE. HE WAS OUT OF CONTROL IN HIS WEIGHT, OUT OF CONTROL IN SELF DESTRUCTIVE ADDICTIONS AND HE DIES EARLY. JOHN CANDY IS ANOTHER ONE AND DIES IN BED AT AGE 40 BECAUSE HE’S 380 POUNDS. WHAT HAPPENED, HIS HEART IS DOING THE WORK OF 3 MEN AND IT CAN’T GO THE DISTANCE. SO YOU ARE PAYING EVEN WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG AND STRONG, YOU’RE PAYING AND YOU’RE GONNA HAVE A BODY OF A 100 YEAR OLD MAN AT AGE 40.

1 Tim 4:6-8

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. NIV

LISTEN NOW, THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE OR PROFIT TO MAINTAINING GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH. IF YOU’LL PAY NOW WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG YOU WILL ENJOY A LONG PROSPEROUS LIFE. I SAY BILLY GRAHAM PREACHING AT HIS ATLANTA CRUSADE AND HE’S 80 SOME YEARS OLD AND HE LOOKED AND SOUNDED GOOD. IN HIS MESSAGE HE MADE AND ILLUSTRATION ABOUT PLAYING GOLF. HE SAID THAT HE PLAYED GOLF EVERYDAY EXCEPT SUNDAY. WHAT WAS HE DOING, HE WAS GETTING SOME PHYSICAL EXERCISE BY WALKING THROUGH THE GOLF COURSES OF THE WORLD. HE’S BEEN TO EVERY MAJOR GOLF COURSE ON EVERY CONTINENT AND HAS PLAYED WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS. BUT THE POINT IS THAT HE HAD A LIFESTYLE OF DAILY EXERCISE.

NOW LISTEN, WE’VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BODY BY WATCHING WHAT KINDS OF FOOD WE EAT AND BY REGULAR EX-ERCISE. I TRY TO GO TO THE GYM 2-3 TIMES A WEEK AND PLAY BASKETBALL AND IN THE SUMMER I TRY TO GO GOLFING 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. WHEN MY KIDS STARTING CALL ME THE PREGNANT WOMAN I KNEW IT WAS TIME TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. SO I’M VERY CONSCIOUS ABOUT MY HEALTH AND I’M WILLING TO PAY NOW IN THE FORM OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION AND DISCIPLINE SO THAT I CAN LIVE A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE AND FINISH MY COURSE ON TIME. I DON’T WANT TO DIE EARLY, I WANT TO DIE ON GOD’S TIMETABLE AND FINISH MY DESTINY IN CHRIST. THE KEY HERE IS THE DISCIPLINE OF A CHANGED LIFESTYLE.

ANOTHER AREA OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS IN THE AREA OF OUR FINANCES. Money has become the obsession of our time. The managing editor of Money magazine commented, "Money is the new sex in this country." We are mad about money. Ads tell us we will be happier when we own more and state lotteries do a multi-billion dollar business by convincing us that we can have it all right now if we have a little luck!

Most of us exchange anywhere from 25-40 % percent of a 24 hour day for money in the form of a J.O.B.; a job. If you count only our waking hours, you find that, assuming a work week of 40 hours, we exchange about half of our time obtaining the money that we need to live. For some us there is more, for some less, but for virtually all of us, getting resources takes a sizeable chunk of our lives. Since we are using so much time to accumulate resources, it becomes very important to consider the spiritual implications of how we use those resources.

How we use our money shows clearly who we are inside, what our priorities are, and our spiritual condition. A person with access to our financial records can write a fairly accurate story about us, even if they never meet us face to face. They can tell something about our status in our society. They can discern our generosity. They can see if our tastes are plain or sophisticated, if we value learning, where we seek entertainment- and the list goes on. That is why Jesus talked about money. Genuine holiness reaches all the way to our wallet!

Beginning with a little story about a man who enjoyed a bountiful harvest, Jesus issued a challenge to all of us who claim to be His followers. He urges us to take a very different view of our resources and our possessions. Let’s take a look. The text is found in Luke 12. vv. 16-19

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, `What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 "Then he said, `This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' (NIV)

Here we see a prudent businessman, maximizing his profits and enjoying the benefits of his labors. At first glance most of us would not see anything out of order. This farmer with the good crop is a model guy for American attitudes towards wealth. He has conserved his earnings, provided for his retirement, and is prepared to move to his place in the Caribbean. His dream is not much different from that of most of the people I know; "Take life easy; eat, drink, and have the time of your life." But is God's evaluation of this man’s stewardship the same as ours?

v. 20

Luke 12:20 "But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "You fool!"

God's estimation of this man and his plans was not complimentary in the least. God sees him, not as a prudent individual but as a senseless, unreasoning man. Why? Because the man had failed to include eternity in his plans. He was deluded, as are so many of us, by the illusion that this present world is the whole deal. Friend, how does God evaluate your finances, your investments. Are you another fool?

v. 15.

Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (NIV)

To better understand Jesus' declaration, allow me to re-state it in different language. "Your life is more, much more, than what you own! Don't allow yourself to be deceived by greed that causes you to accumulate money and things solely for yourself and your own comfort."

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FINANCES. ITS PAINFUL TO WANT TO BUY SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU CAN‘T AFFORD IT, SO YOU HAVE TO GO WITHOUT IT; BUT IT’S THE DISCIPLINE THAT WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF BANKRUPTCY COURT. LISTEN, ITS PAINFUL TO SAVE MONEY THAN TO HAVE THE IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION OF SPENDING IT. NOW I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU INVEST YOUR MONEY, I NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TO, BUT IF YOU DO IT WON’T PAY OFF RIGHT AWAY BUT IF YOU LEAVE IT IN THERE LONG ENOUGH IT WILL PAY OUT BIG TIME IN THE END. THERE ARE SOME LIFE INSURANCE PLANS LIKE THAT. YOU PAY $100.00 A MONTH WITH 10% INTEREST FOR THE FIRST 25 YEARS AND IT DOESN’T AMOUNT TO MUCH. BUT AFTER 30 YEARS IT SKY ROCKETS TO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. THAT’S CALLED DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FINANCES. WHAT YOU USUALLY FIND OUT ABOUT THE DISCIPLINE OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FINANCES IS THAT IT DOESN’T PAY OFF EARLY AND ITS NOT EASY TO DO. YOU SEE WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG THAT $100.00 SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY BUT WHEN YOUR REACH MIDDLE AGE ITS NOT THAT MUCH BUT LOOK HOW IT WILL PAY OFF IN THE END.

NOW ONE OF MY PET PEEVES IS LIVING OFF YOU BANK STATEMENT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN BY THAT? WHATEVER THE BANK SAYS YOU HAVE IN YOUR ACCOUNT AT THE END OF THE MONTH IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU’VE GOT. ALL MY KIDS DO THAT AND EVEN MY PARENTS DO THAT. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THE EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN MY CHECKING ACCOUNT BECAUSE I’VE SUBMITTED TO THE DISCIPLINE OF KEEPING A DAILY BALANCE. I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO RECONCILE MY CHECKING ACCOUNT. I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A BAD CHECK IN 10 YEARS CAUSE I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT’S IN MY ACCOUNT BEFORE I WRITE A CHECK. I RECEIVE NUMEROUS INVITATION FOR CREDIT CARDS BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXCELLENT CREDIT REPORT. NOW I DON’T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND WITH THOSE CREDIT CARDS SO I DON’T. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PUT EVERYTHING ON PLASTIC AND RUN UP MULTIPLE CARDS UNTIL THEY CAN’T PAY THEM AND END UP IN BANKRUPTCY COURT AND BILL CREDITORS CALLING YOU EVERY DAY. NOW I CAN’T LIVE THAT WAY AND GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU TO EITHER.

Prov 3:9-10

9Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats

will brim over with new wine NIV

Mal 3:8-11

8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein

have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that

there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before

the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

ANOTHER AREA OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FINANCES IS TO SUBMIT TO THE DISCIPLINE OF TITHING. IN THE BEGINNING IT HURTS A LITTLE BUT IN THE END AND THROUGHOUT LIFE IT WILL PAY OFF IN LESS MEDICAL BILLS, LESS MECHANIC BILLS AND A LESS NEED TO BUY NEW APPLIANCES CAUSE GOD’S BLESSING AND FAVOR IS ON YOUR LIFE. NOW FOR ME AND MY WIFE, WE’VE MADE IT A POINT TO TITHE FIRST AND THEN PAY OUR BILLS AND SPEND OUR MONEY. IT’S THE FIRST THING WE DO AND WE DON’T BARTER WITH THE LORD. I HAD I GUY IN CHURCH ONCE WHO SAID HE’D GIVE TITHING A TRY AND SEE IF IT WORKS RIGHT AWAY. FIRST OF ALL HIS MOTIVE WAS WRONG. SOLOMON TOLD US IN PROV. TO HONOR THE LORD WITH OUR GIVING. IF WE GIVE TO GET OUR MOTIVE IS WRONG AND GOD CAN’T BLESS US BUT IF WE CAN GIVE TO HONOR GOD EVEN THOUGH IT NEVER PAYS OFF RIGHT AWAY, THE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH THE COST. JOB PROMOTION AND JOB SECURITY CAN BE YOUR’S BECAUSE OF THE COVENANT YOU MAKE WITH GOD. HE WILL BLESS YOU AND PROSPER YOU. HE WILL BE YOU JEHOVAH JIREH, THE GOD WHO SEES AND THE GOD WHO SUPPLIES.

Phil 4:10-13

10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things

through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV

PLEASE NOTICE WHAT PAUL SAID IN VERSE 11, HE HAD TO LEARN THIS CAUSE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY. YOU CAN’T TRY TITHING AND GIVING TO THE LORD IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING YOU LEARN TO DO AND MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE. Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. STEWARDSHIP OF MONEY AND RESOURCES IS A DISCI-PLINE. YOU CAN PAY ME NOW OR YOU CAN PAY ME LATER BUT WHOEVER PAYS LATER, ALWAYS PAYS MORE, SO PAY EARLY.

Luke 12:22-34

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)

1. Trust God so that you do not become troubled and worried about your stuff!

God feeds birds and dresses flowers. If He will care for ravens and lilies, how much more will He care for those created in His own image?

2. Be content! See v. 29

We have great trouble with anxiety because we begin to compare and then to become envious. There is an entire enterprise in our culture designed around stirring up discontentment and envy. It is called advertising! The message in every ad, be it printed, radio, or TV; is this: "You would be happier, sexier, more comfortable,

healthier, more productive-- IF you owned or used this product."

When we are focused on our lack, we are discontent. When we are discontent, we are unable and probably unwilling to trust God. In his later life, the Apostle Paul wrote these words: {Philippians 4:12-13}

LISTEN, Borrowing AND incurring debt, has become the way to have the things that you want even when you have not accumulated the resources to buy them. In this matter, the Proverbs has some great wisdom for us. In 22:7

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

In the New Testament we find this directive....(Romans 13:7-8) Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves

his fellow man has fulfilled the law.

God-honoring management of our resources is nearly impossible if we borrow to live beyond our means. When we allow ourselves to be enslaved by credit cards and bank payments…

Some of you are thinking just now, what about those major purchases? How could I afford an automobile or a home without a loan or a mortgage? Remember no debt exists where there is sufficient equity to pay back the creditor in the event that the payments cannot be made. BE cautious. Avoid consumer debt! Furniture, TV's, vacations, clothing- these things don't belong on credit. If we can't pay cash for them, we ought not buy them. It is a matter of spiritual discipline, not merely good money management.

Let’s go Back to Jesus' words in Luke-

3. Be a generous person! See v. 33

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)