Rick Warren's Blog, page 633

God’s Investment Funds Yield Eternal Dividends

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life” (NLT).

You are going to enjoy forever what you invest in Heaven, and you invest in Heaven every time you use money for good.

Financial Blessing Requires Careful Planning

If you want to be financially strong, you need to start writing down what you spend until you know where it’s all going. This is the principle of accounting. You’ve got to keep track of your finances!

Proverbs 21:5 says, “Plan carefully and you will have plenty” (TEV). If you don’t have plenty, you’re not planning carefully. You don’t have anybody to blame but yourself.

The Promise, Purpose, Place, and Day for Tithing

Whatever you want God to bless, you have to put him first in. So if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put him first in your money. This is the principle of tithing: You give the first 10 percent of your income back to God.

There are four verses that explain the promise, the purpose, the place, and the day for tithing.

You Were Created to Be Productive

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 8:18, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (NIV).

Every economy, including America, has wealth makers and wealth takers. They have wealth producers and wealth users, wealth contributors and wealth consumers. The economy gets turned upside down when there are more consumers than there are contributors. That’s what’s happening right now in America. We have more consumers than we have contributors

Plant Today, Then Be Patient for the Harvest

The time to start planting is now.

I talk to people all the time who say, “One of these days, I’m going to …” They’re going to serve more one of these days. Or when they retire. Or when they get a raise. They’re going to increase their giving one of these days.

How to Invest in the Fellowship of Your Church

God wants us to use some of our money to encourage fellowship, to show love to other believers, and to build relationships.

Any time I give my money to God, it draws me closer to God. Any time I give my money to another person, it draws me closer to that person. When I give money to people in my small group or I invest in my small group, I grow closer to those in the group.

Use Your Money to Grow Your Character

We like to spend money on comfort, but the Bible teaches that it is wiser to invest in character.

God wants us to take some of our money and invest it in ourselves — in personal and spiritual improvement. The Bible says, “Grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18a TLB).

Sow Generously to Reap Generosity

If a farmer goes out with a trailer load of beans, and he plants them in a barren field, what fruit does he expect to bear? Watermelon? Cucumbers? No. He’s going to get beans. He doesn’t doubt it. He doesn’t question it. Because whatever you plant is what you’re going to get back.

You Will Reap Your Harvest in Just the Right Time

The Bible tells us that there are seasons in life. It says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (NIV).

Between the then and the now or the now and the what’s coming next, there is always a delay. This is irritating for most people, to make a deposit or an investment or a plan and not have it instantly come to fruition.

God Is Waiting for You to Plant a Seed

What does a farmer do when he’s got a barren field that’s producing no income? He doesn’t complain about it. He doesn’t even pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting some seed, because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. He can pray all he wants, but it’s not going to produce fruit. He’s got to plant some seed.