Wednesday, June 30, 2010

God and money by Crown Financial Ministries

God says that if we pray for anything in His will, believing, it will be given to us. However, God's will and His ways do not always coincide with ours. So, when we turn our finances over to God, we also must be willing to accept His direction.

Too often we impatiently seek our own way without any clear direction from Him, sometimes even borrowing money to do His work. We forget that God says He will not frustrate His work for the lack of money (see Luke 22:35).

There is nothing wrong with asking God's direction, but it is wrong to go our own way without waiting for God's answer.

In order for us to recognize God's directives, it may be necessary first to understand God's view of money and how He uses it to enhance our relationship with Him.

How and for what purpose God uses money
Money is neither good nor bad: it is merely a medium of exchange. It is the misuse and abuse of money that cause the problems.

Because God is so good, He uses money for our benefit in several different ways.
  1. God uses money to strengthen our trust in Him. It is often through money that God can clearly and objectively show us that He is in total control, if we will trust Him and accept our positions as stewards and managers of His possessions (see Matthew 6:32-33).
  2. God uses money to develop our trustworthiness. This principle is important because our lives generally revolve around making, spending, saving, and using money. If He can trust us with money, He can trust us with greater responsibilities and His true riches (see Luke 16:11).
  3. God uses money to prove His love. Scripture tells us that God assumes the responsibility of providing the basic necessities for everyone who trusts in Him (see Matthew 7:11). By transferring all money to Him, He often uses money to meet those necessities of life.
  4. God uses money to demonstrate His faithfulness. Moses reminded Israel that it was God who would give them the power to make wealth. Our security is in God, not in our bank accounts. Discovering His faithfulness though financial needs encourages reliance on Him.
  5. God uses money to unite Christians in blessings. God will use the abundance of one Christian to supply the needs of another. Surplus money in our lives has been given by God for the purpose of helping those who are in need.
  6. God uses money to provide direction. There is probably no way God can direct our lives more meticulously than through the abundance or lack of money. Too often we believe God directs our lives through the abundance of money, but He also will lead us down His directed path by withholding money.
  7. God uses money to cultivate self-control. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control, a key aspect of successful money management.
  8. God uses money to clarify spiritual maturity. Many temptations clamor for Christians' attention. A great deal can be learned about our personal character and spiritual maturity by noticing how we handle money and determine financial priorities.
Areas in which God does not use money
Just like there are several ways in which God uses money for our benefit, there are several areas in which God never uses money to influence our lives.
  1. God never uses money to worry us. If Christians are worried, frustrated, and upset about money, God is not in control. God said that wealth without worry is His plan for our lives. In addition, He promises to meet the needs of those who trust in Him (see Matthew 6:25).
  2. God never uses money to corrupt us. Many Christians have fallen into Satan's trap and are being corrupted. Christians whose financial life is characterized by greed, ego, deceit, and other worldly snares are at enmity with God and His plan.
  3. God never uses money to build egos. Frequently, Christians are trapped by financial ego in that they use money in an attempt to build self-worth and ego. However, in Christ all are financially equal because all wealth will pass away. What will remain will be those things that have been laid up in heaven—the true wealth.
  4. God never allows money to satisfy our personal whims or desires. God does not expect His people to live in poverty; however, He also does not endorse lavishness. Surplus is provided so that God's work can be funded and those in need can be helped. If the surplus is hoarded or wasted on lavishness rather than used for His plan and purpose, chances are the surplus will be removed.
Conclusion
God offers countless financial principles, intended to make our lives meaningful, because He's interested in us and how we earn and spend money.

Once we understand how God uses money and why He chooses to use it in a particular way, we generally become more familiar with His plans and purposes for our lives and are able to recognize and comprehend His directives.
This article was taken from Crown Financial Ministries : God and Money

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Financial Stewardship

Shalom Brethren,

I used to think that once I have given my tithe and offering to the local church I have done my part and hence I am no longer responsible nor accountable for how the church spend that money.

I believe that most believers have been taught this "doctrine"

However, the truth of the matter is that all of us  shall one day stand before our Lord to give account of how we have utilized our resources, including those resources that we think we have “given unto the Lord”

Romans 14:12 
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
  
      1 Corinthians 4:2 
      Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

I have been reading Calvary today and Berita Calvary and strongly encourage you to publish it  in one of your blogs as I believe  that this would be illuminating to a lot of our brethren.
God bless, have a great day and let me know if you would publish this  article in one of your blogs

Note:
I have also attached a word copy for reference

David K, 

Success Is HAVING What You WANT.
Happiness is WANTING What You HAVE
Health Is NOT Valued Till Sickness Comes
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This is a letter we received from a brother today highlighting to us the article, “How Pastors Get Rich” by Cultwatch Director Mark Vrankovich. 
Unknown to him, we have written to the Cultwatch Team two days ago seeking permission to place this article here. We have been advised to place a link to their website “because Google will downgrade the rank of our article's page, if it finds duplicates on the web. Therefore to ensure more people can find it when they search for it a link would be best.”
Please do spend some time to read the full article. Click on the Title. 


An article by Cultwatch Director Mark Vrankovich

 This article exposes the secret methods certain pastors use to get rich off God's people. Have you ever wondered how some pastors start a church and then become wealthy living in flash houses and driving luxury cars? Well this article exposes how they do it, extracting money from their congregations to fund their lifestyles. Here are the secrets they definitely do not want you to know.

 Important Note:
As you read please remember that very few pastors use the techniques you are about to discover. The great majority of Christian pastors do not earn much money even though they work hard at their jobs. Most Christian pastors would find these techniques repugnant.

Please do not make the mistake of tarring the many good pastors with the brush reserved for the spiritually corrupt few.

You will discover the secret techniques that certain pastors use to transfer money out of your pocket and into theirs.
You will understand the overall pattern behind their tricks.
You will learn enough to protect your friends and family.
You could gain thousands of dollars (or pounds or euros), literally. Reading this article can set you free. Free to keep more of the money that you have worked hard for. Money you can take and invest in genuine works of God, or in toys for your kids, or perhaps something shiny for your spouse.
 Finally, reading this article can help you please God more, since you will no longer be investing in ungodly works.

Please continue to read the full article here : How Pastors Get Rich

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

calvarytoday2.blogspot.com

Introducing Calvary Today 2
We will not be posting articles pertaining to Calvary Church Crisis Updates in this blog. Please read the lastest update in either :

Login to CT : calvarytoday.blogspot.com
Login to CT 2 :  calvarytoday2.blogspot.com

The contents of both CT & CT2 are the same. 

We thank God for wisdom upon our administrators. As we have dedicated the entire month of May to concentrate on Praying together with Christians across our nation for Malaysia, God is faithful and He has given us the wisdom and His favour for us to be able to put together this Mirror site on this first day of June. We have learned that God is never early and He is never late. He is always JUST ON TIME.

We will continue to be in existence until we hear from God to cease.

God Bless and continue to Rejoice in the Lord Always.

CT Administrators