This video segment is one of five presentations in the “Creating a Gospel-Centered Marriage: Finances” seminar. The full GCM series of seminars and pre-marital mentoring ministry they facilitate can be found at www.bradhambrick.com/gcm.
NOTE: Many people have asked how they can get a copy of the seminar notebook referenced in this verbal presentation. You can request a copy from Summit’s admin over counseling at counseling@summitrdu.com (please note this is an administrative account; no individual or family counsel is provided through e-mail).
Memorize: Matthew 619-21 (ESV), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’” As you memorize this passage reflect upon these key points:
- “Treasure” – This is more than “just money.” It includes whatever gives you a sense of security and identity.
- “On earth” – If your treasure is earthly you are losing it or moving towards losing it every day; fear-based living.
- “In heaven” – If your treasure is heavenly you are gaining it or moving towards having it daily; hope-based living.
- “Moth… rust… thieves” – Add to this list the threats to your earthly treasures and hear them in Jesus’ words.
- “Heart” – What we treasure shapes the core of our life: our heart (i.e., values, priorities, agenda, character, etc…).
Teaching Notes
“In order for a couple to deal faithfully with the resources God has entrusted to their hands, they must adopt a shared mission in life… This will not tell you exactly where every penny ought to be spent, which couch to buy, or exactly where to live and what to eat, but it will orient your hearts toward God in your approach to life, and join you together in such a way that conversations about stewardship become a joy rather than a source of strife, (p. 189).” John Henderson in Catching Foxes
“Stewardship is the management of God’s resources for the accomplishment of God-given goals.” Ron Blue quoted in Dennis Rainey (editor) in Preparing for Marriage
“How a person handles his money reveals much about his character, his desires, his priorities and his relationship with God. Put two people together in marriage, and you can see that financial discussions are really spiritual discussions (p. 185).” Dennis Rainey (editor) in Preparing for Marriage
“Assuming a sensible standard of living represents another way we steward God’s creation well. Being wise with money and material things, I believe, is not very complicated. It is hard, but not complicated. It requires commitment to one very simple guideline: wisely spend less money than you possess (p. 197).” John Henderson in Catching Foxes
“In our quest for the extraordinary, we often overlook the importance of the ordinary, and I’m proposing that a radical lifestyle actually begins with an extraordinary commitment to ordinary practices that have marked Christians who have affected the world throughout history (p. 193).” David Platt in Radical