“Wish I Knew Then, What I Know Now”

Psalm 119:36
“Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!” (NLT)

I. Increase of Money
Listed below are avenues individuals can take to improve their personal finances.

1. Believers can improve their personal finances through .
Genesis 26:12
“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.” (NIV)

2. Believers can improve their personal finances through .
Luke 15:12
“The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.” (NLT)

3. Believers can improve their personal finances through .
1 Kings 3:10-13
“The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11) So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— 12) I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 13) And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!” (NLT)

4. Believers can improve their personal finances through .
Matthew 17:24-27
“On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?” 25) “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?” 26) “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27) However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.” (NLT)

5. Believers can improve their personal finances through .
Matthew 25:16
“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.” (NLT)

II. Inabilities of Money
Listed below is what money can never buy an individual.

1. Money will never be able to buy .
Ecclesiastes 5:10
“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” (NLT)

2. Money will never be able to buy .
Psalm 49:6-9
“They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. 7) Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. 8) Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough 9) to live forever and never see the grave.” (NLT)

3. Money will never be able to buy .
1 Peter 1:18-19
“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19) It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (NLT)

4. Money will never be able to buy .
Ecclesiastes 5:12
“People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.” (NLT)

5. Money will never be able to buy .
Proverbs 17:16
“It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise.” (NCV)

III. Intent of Money
Listed below are viable reasons believers should desire to better their personal finances.

1. Believers should be interested in improving their finances for the purpose of .
Luke 8:1-3
“After this, while Jesus was traveling through some cities and small towns, he preached and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him, 2) and also some women who had been healed of sicknesses and evil spirits: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3) Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod’s house); Susanna; and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.” (NCV)

2. Believers should be interested in improving their finances for the purpose of .
Deuteronomy 15:10
“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.” (NLT)

3. Believers should be interested in improving their finances for the purpose of   .
3 John 1:5-8
“Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6) They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7) For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. 8) So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.” (NLT)

4. Believers should be interested in improving their finances for the purpose of .
Matthew 25:20-21
“The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ 21) “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (NLT)

5. Believers should be interested in improving their finances for the purpose of .
1 Chronicles 29:6-8
“Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly. 7) For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron. 8) They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord under the care of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon.” (NLT)

IV. Influence of Money
Using the word MONEY as an acrostic, please share who you would positively impact if finances were not an issue.

Examples: M – Men with prostate cancer
                     O – Orphans in Africa
                     N – Newlyweds with children
                     E – Ex-military Individuals
                     Y – Young Entrepreneurs

1. M – 

2. O – 

3. N – 

4. E – 

5. Y – 

NOTES:

(MULTILINE)