Today I will talk about the first life long decision that a teenager really has to make on their own it is a financial one. Usually the question is given to them as "what do you want to do when you grow up?" People sometimes think about what they think they would like or the prestige or money they want when answering such a question but more often than not I think life happens for most people instead of them planning for it.

It was said by O.Donald Olsen that, "The average American is busy buying things he doesn’t want with money he doesn’t have to impress people he doesn’t like."

What is the result? 27% of people polled by the Los Angeles Times described there finances as shaky, 40% said they had problems paying some bills. What happens with these people? Well a survey conducted by Consumer Credit Counselling Service found employees experiencing financial stress waste 13 percent of their workday dealing with money matters on the job. That works out to approximately 250 lossed hours a year of productivity. Debt is one of the leading causes of depression, divorce, lack of sleep and poor work performance. It robs people of self worth and makes them unproductive servants. I don’t give this lesson as someone looking down on others but as someone who has painfully paid the price of learning this lesson which is why I want our youth, my children to get it right.

Billy Graham once said, "If a person gets his attitude towards money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life." That is the destruction that many church counsellors see with respect to financial situations.

Here are some truths about money?

Firstly, money wont make you happy. The size of the paycheque does not equate with the happiness of the individual involved in most cases. You have been probably surprised like many to hear of rich people stealing, celebrities making millions per movie trying to steal dresses. Money often brings out the naturally selfish, arrogant or greedy character.

Back 50 years ago having food and clothing meant you were a success but today people just cant seem to stop lusting for things. But God encourages us to be content with what we have and to give thanks for it. This is a blessing to those who follow this principle because it affects there attitude positively.

Secondly, debt will make you unhappy? "… the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

Why did those people waste 13% of their day at work. They were worrying about bills. Do you think that makes you happy? Worrying does not make you happy. When we work we would prefer to be working for ourselves but when we are in debt we are indeed working for others.

Thirdly, money is a tool nothing else. If you have very little money you have few options. If you want to live close to your job you may not be able to afford to live in downtown Toronto for instance. If you want to send your children to a private school you may not be able to. If you want to afford a reliable car you may not be able to. If you want to take time off of work for vacations, to see you child’s game or recital or to be able to switch jobs to something you love. With little money you may have to live every month paycheque to paycheque and may not be able to retire ever.

Generally there are some formulas given in the Bible.

Numbers 18:20-24 Give a tithe to the work of God – the Levites. Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Enjoy this tithe two years and the third year give it to the Levite, stranger and widow within your gates (city). Luke 10:2-7 the labourer is worthy of his wages.

So a simple formula arises: when you have blessed with goods give a tithe to those who serve on your behalf. However, in these cases it describes them as not having another inheritance but necessarily in need of the tithe offered to God. It is important to give your tithe to God to always be thankful for what you have as opposed to being ungrateful for what you don’t have. In addition, you were to enjoy your offerings to God in the place He chooses during the annual festivals. This is more difficult to do in a literal sense today because the temple we recognize is in Heaven and not on earth. We do our best to serve in this respect.

However, the Bible also states when man creates his own government he is going to be giving a whole lot more and we do. Yet in this giving we also set up assistance so that everyone can have a roof over their head and food to eat. We take care of the poor in our land. With our tithes we instruct and help the poor of spirit and direct them in the paths of righteousness. Since we do this the government reduces our tax burdens and provides most of us with a nice sum of money to enjoy God’s feasts with. That 10% plus taxes does meet the requirement quite nicely but there is something more to consider.

"The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare." Proverbs 21:25-26 The difference in attitude is the righteous one is someone who works hard and is able and willing to give to others. The lazy one wants everything but doesn’t work and doesn’t have enough even for himself. Therefore the righteous consider work a blessing that provides for their needs and others.

In addition to giving in thanks to those who serve you we were to take care of the fatherless and widows or those who are unable to take care of themselves including people with various disabilities.

Matthew 5:42 "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." This section of scripture appears to be a new teaching but it really isn’t. It was an application of the law that was not being applied or taught by the leadership.

There are many passages in scripture to encourage people to be gracious and kind to those neighbours who not as blessed as they are. We are to emulate that gracious behavior. Unfortunately many people assume this means the poor have a right to be lazy and demand financial assistance but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This doesn’t give anyone a right to others blessings. It gives the rich a responsibility to encourage care for those less fortunate.

Paul said that those who didn’t take care of their responsibilities should not be recipient of funds.

He says the same things to those who are lazy and telling others how to live in 2Thessalonians 3:6-12.

The idea is not to support irresponsible behavior, like professional peddlars, but do be gracious to those who have worked hard and have not been as fortunate. Be gracious without being abused.

Do you have the right attitude then about money?

Are you preoccupied with things?

Are you envious of others?

Do you find personal value in possessions?

Do you believe that money will make you happy?

This passage isn’t about being rich it is about having your confidence in money and not in God. Eventually we all die and our money will be spent by others but our character will follow us before the judgment seat of Christ. Consider the bigger picture and work to take care of yourself and your family and give in thanks to others less fortunate. When you do you will feel the blessing of contentment and true happiness.

Rudyard Kipling: "Do not pay too much attention to fame, power or money. Some day you will meet a person who cares for none of these and then you will know how poor you are."

How do we do this:

Give 10% in thanks - have a charitable heart and…"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Proverbs 13:22

When you consider the ant you need to consider that in your life you have three major periods:

First, you learn - when you’re young your focus should be on exploring your talents, discovering your purpose, learning your trade. The earlier you do this the better off you generally are. All of us should realize that there are generally no shortcuts to financial gain and should examine the big picture of your life. This is where you increase your earning potential by creating the right foundation. The more diligently you go after this phase generally the greater your potential to maximize the other phases. If you are older you can still continue to learn and grow to increase your earning potential but the later you do this the harder it is to learn and the more time you sacrifice.

The Earning Phase, which usually occurs in your 30s 40s and 50s, comes next. This is when you take care of your family and prepare for your future. This doesn’t occur when we are spending more then we earn. Debt is only good for the following things that generally appreciate in value: purchasing a home, securing transportation so that you can work, improving your education and investing in a sound business. Debt is terrible for: vacations, new appliances, renovations, clothes and the most common cause of bankruptcy: entertainment such as dinner and a movie.

Spending $50 a month for a dinner and a movie you cant afford for:

1 year would take 1.25 years at $50 to pay off.

2 years would take 3 years at $50 to pay off

3 years ($2340. credit card) would take 7 years to pay off.

COMPOUNDING PROBLEM!!!

The Best way not to Worry about Money tomorrow be productive TODAY.

1) Stop incurring debt - or better yet never incur debt!

2) Track your cash - know what you have, what you must spend and what you have left to save or spend.

3) Plan for the future

4) Don’t expect instant miracles - the lottery is to make money from the poor not to give it to them.

5) Don’t let your possessions or your lifestyle possess you. If you are a slave to debt, find a way to free yourself.

My brother and me were two totally different people with respect to money in our teens and twenties. He worked hard, saved, probably paid tithes and prepared for his future. I was considered a math wiz. I played a lot of basketball, spent my money and always looked for an easy way out. I had to borrow money to buy everything I have ever owned. I am 100,000’s of dollars behind my brother having spent less to live with fewer options throughout my 30s. My mistakes have impacted my wife and children. Who was the real math wiz here? I did however finally learn the lesson and began to develop the discipline to put it into place in my life. My wife and children will reap the rewards of this lesson learned in the years to come. The earlier you learn it the better off you are no matter how old you are.

Someone once observed that the difference between the rich and the poor is that the rich invest their money and spend what’s left, while the poor spend their money and invest what’s left. Hence the old saying is true: failing to plan is like planning to fail.

Give thanks for what you have received. Invest a percentage (a tithe) for the future and live off of the rest. I am blessed financially for the future because for 17 and a half years my employer has forced me to invest for my retirement. Generally you need to put aside a tenth for the future.

I have to admit that money has never been my number one motivation in life. Finances were sometimes so low on my list of priorities I neglected them to my chagrin. In my 30s I realized I was going to have to pay now in order to play later. In my 50s, 60s and 70s I hope to realize that the greatest joy in making money is the privilege of giving it away.

The decision you must make in your life is a simple one. You must decide to be a good financial steward.

Of course to do this you must have money to manage. For the young be disciplined in learning to maximize your potential. But more importantly develop a strong work ethic or desire. This comes from attitude and not from knowledge. You can pay me now or later but the later you pay me the more and longer it is going to cost you. Manage your earnings instead of them managing you. This takes discipline each and every day of your life. It is a discipline you can also develop. If you ever need assistance, please ask. We are here to help and hopefully will help in a manner that provides you the greatest dignity and reward. After all it is just not mom and dad that want what’s best for you. God wants you to be pointed in the right direction and productive in your life. He promised the nation of Israel if they as a nation did what was right they would be blessed but this was a national and not individual promise. Many righteous people suffered during periods of hardship. You may never be rich materially but you can learn to be content and happy in the state you are while giving yourself the best chance for financial blessings.

What usually has made people poor in our society is sin? This isn’t always the case as health problems can be a major contributor. But usually it is sin either from criminals making merchandise of the elderly or the drug dealers to our youth but more often from the inside our own covetousness, envy and greed. The concept of have it now and pay later. God wants you to be freed from that slavery and blindness to live life with thanksgiving and praise.

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed" Luke 4:18 Stay away from being bound to debt and you will be blessed.

Make the right decision to be a good financial steward and daily take care of your finances so that one day you can be a great blessing to your children and grandchildren but more importantly so you don’t have to spend your time in depression and worrying but rather being a light to the world around you.

You make the right decision when you are young and over time you will reap a compounding reward in your life and the lives of your children.

May God’s Grace and Peace be upon You!