Title: Surviving on a Pastors Salary
1Surviving on a Pastors Salary
2www.adventiststewardship.org
3- The way you manage your money has a
- great deal to do with
- Your personal happiness
- Your stress level
- The quality of your family life
- The stability of your marriage
- And your success in ministry
4-
- 85 percent of pastors have not been taught Gods
way of handling money and are facing personal
financial challenges. - Financial problems are the number one reason
pastors leave the ministry. - Crown Financial Ministries
- Money Matters, January 2003
5- Pastors Conference
- Crown Financial Ministries
- Church Personal Finances
- Charlotte, NC
- Tuesday January 28, 2003
- 830 a.m. 430 p.m.
- 75 registration fee
- Over 300 worth of books given to each registrant
- www.crown.org/conferences
- 800-722-1976
6- It would not take a genius to figure out that
the devil would like to see everyone of these
areas of your life messed up. And in many cases
he has been quite successful at this!
7- You must either live within your income or your
creditors will eat you alive! -
- He who rides a tiger cannot dismount.
- From a financial perspective, that tiger is
debt. Debt and its resulting bankruptcy have
drastically changed the American financial
picture.
8- In addition to Enron, Worldcom, Tyco, United
Airlines and many other corporate giants, on the
level where we live, things dont look much
better.
9- Personal or family bankruptcy rate at an
all-time high - In 2001 27,000 personal bankruptcies in the
U.S. every week - 1.4 million families went under threw in the
towel
10- Though under the provisions of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, bankruptcy is an option to those
who are up to their ears in debt, and it is not
without serious consequences.
11- 3 Problems with
- Declaring Bankruptcy
- Poor Christian Witness Ps. 3721 The
wicked borrows and does not repay. - Negatively impacts your credit rating
- Negatively impacts your reputation due to the
reflection on your management competence and
moral integrity. -
-
12-
- Why do people have money problems???
13-
- 3 main reasons why people have money problems
- and likely in the following order in frequency
14- Ignorance many people/couples
are financially illiterate. - They were simply never taught the Biblical
principles of money management. - There is hope for these people!!! But you dont
learn this at the Seminary.
152. Greed and Selfishness they live beyond
their means. They are not willing to live in,
drive, or wear what they can really afford. Many
of these people also feel they are just too poor
to tithe. Consequently, they live their lives
without Gods promised wisdom and blessing.
(Prov. 35-9)
16- An Unfortunate Tragedy
- -a serious illness without adequate insurance
- -being abandoned by a spendthrift marriage
partner - -a natural disaster
- -a major financial loss not of your own doing
17- Enough about the problems!
- What can YOU do to experience financial freedom?
18- Learn all you can about money management and the
practice what applies to your family situation.
Read books, attend seminars, talk with those who
know whats going on. - Pray for Gods wisdom and blessing (Prov.
35-9) - Ask God to transform your heart from selfishness
to love. When we become unselfish we are ready
for heaven. (DA 641, chap. 70 The Least of
These My Brethren)
197 Points to Success
- Get organized develop a budget have a plan
- Spend less than you earn determine to live
within your means - Save a little every pay period start with only
50 (not just your retirement) - Avoid debt like AIDS. Interest is one expense
you can live without.
207 Points to Success
- Be a diligent worker. (Prov. 2229)
- Be faithful to God. Hes given us so many
promises (Deut. 281-14) Your family cannot
afford to live without Gods blessing. - Remember that this earth is not your home. Our
management here determines our eternal destiny.
(See Matt. 25)
21Budget Suggestions
- 1. How much is enough? 1 Tim. 66-8
- 2. What is a budget--counting the cost.
Luke
1428 - 3. Proper uses of money. COL 351
- 4. Where does the money go?
22- Money has great value, because it can do great
good But money is of no more value than sand,
only as it is put to use - - in providing for the necessities of life,
- - in blessing others
- - and advancing the cause of Christ
- COL 351
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25- Christian Education
- 1. Counting the cost--one year at a time
- What will it profit a man
- Our children belong to God
- The ultimate goal
- 2. Student loans
Prov. 227
26- Christian Education
- 3. Finding a way
- Student initiative
- Parental assistance
- Family sacrifice--
- prudent living
-
- Grants and
- scholarship
27 Worry-free Investments 1. Understanding
dont
Matt. 619 2. Understanding do
Matt. 620 3.
Looking for a safe place to keep money 4.
Savings versus hoarding
28 Problems With Hoarding 1. Loss in a failing
economy
1 Tim 6 2. Holding the assets too long
James 51 1T 173-175 3. Cant buy or sell
Rev 317 Mark 836, 37 4. Documented
evidence of selfishness
James 51-3 Col 352
29The very means that is now so sparingly invested
in the cause of God, and that is selfishly
retained, will in a little while be cast with all
idols to the moles and to the bats. Money will
soon depreciate in value very suddenly when the
reality of eternal scenes opens to the scenes of
man. Ev 63
30The time is coming when we cannot sell at any
price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting
men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath
the mark of the beast. 5T 152
31Hoarded wealth is not merely useless, it is a
curse. In this life it is a snare to the soul,
drawing the affections away from the heavenly
treasure. In the great day of God its witness to
unused talents and neglected opportunities will
condemn its possessor. COL352
32 Some Investment Suggestions 1. High risk / low
risk 2. Where do you want to lose it? 3. Get rich
quick schemes a. Promise of high returns -
wealth b. Something new that you dont really
understand c. Must risk money you cant afford
to lose d. Make a quick decision
33The Tyranny of Debt
- 1. What is debt?
- (Prov. 227)
- 2. Bankruptcy--a Christian
- alternative? (Deut. 151)
- 3. Surety (Prov. 61-5)
- 4. Personal surety
- (6T 448 AH 393)
34- There are only two places in the world where we
can deposit our treasures--in Gods storehouse or
in Satans, and all that is not devoted to
Christs service is counted on Satans side and
goes to strengthen his cause. - 6T448
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36- The borrower is the slave of the lender.
Prov. 227
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39-
- Let no debt remain outstanding except the
continuing debt to love one another. - Rom. 138
40 Debt Elimination
- Basic premise establish the tithe
- (See Prov. 3 Deut. 28 Mal. 3 Matt. 6 Matt
25) - Step 1 - declare a moratorium on
- additional debt
- Step 2 - make a covenant with God
- Step 3 - list your debts from largest to
smallest
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42- Freedom Through Self-Denial
- Be determined never to incur another debt. Deny
yourself a thousand things rather than run in
debt. This has been the curse of your life,
getting into debt. Avoid it as you would the
smallpox. Make a solemn covenant with God that
by His blessing you will pay your debts and then
owe no man anything if you live on porridge and
bread. - CS257
43- It is so easy in preparing your table to throw
out of your pocket twenty-five cents for extras.
Take care of the pennies, and the dollars will
take care of themselves. It is the mites here
and the mites there that are spent for this,
that, and the other, that soon run up into
dollars. Deny self at least while you are walled
in with debts. - CS257
44-
- Do not falter, be discouraged, or turn back.
Deny your taste, deny the indulgence of appetite,
save your pence and pay your debts. Work them
off as fast as possible. When you stand forth a
free man again, owing no man anything, you will
have achieved a great victory. (Letter 4,
1877)
45Additional Assistance
- 1. Establish a budget
- 2. Set goals for your family
- 3. Destroy credit cards if--
- 4. Purchase depreciating items with cash
- 5. Begin economy measures
- 6. Have a sale--inventory your possessions and
sell off what you dont absolutely need
46- It should be our highest aim in life to get
ready for heaven. - 5MR 255
47Putting God First
- 1. Trusting God with all your heart
Prov. 35-10 - 2. God is the owner of everything
Ps. 241 5012 1 Chron. 2913, 14 - 3. Our purpose in life--to glorify God 1 Cor.
1031 - 4. The tithe is the minimum testimony of our
Christian commitment Mal. 36-10
48Gods Perspective
- 1. Debt is bad
Prov. 227 - 2. Prosperity is having what you need when you
need it
Phil. 419 - 3. The master / servant relationship Matt.
2514-30 - 4. Application
Mark 834-37
49The Significance of Tithing
- 1. Tithing and the tree of knowledge of good
and evil
(CS 65)
50A Test of Loyalty
- The tithing system is the equivalent to the
last-day Christian of the - Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
- for Adam and Eve
- in the Garden of Eden.
- CS 65
51- There was nothing poisonous in the fruit
itself, and the sin was not merely in yielding to
appetite. (1) It was distrust of Gods goodness,
(2) disbelief of His Word, (3) and rejection of
His authority, that made our first parents
transgressors, and that brought into the world a
knowledge of evil. - Ed 25
52- When we are faithful with our tithe we show God
that we - trust His goodness,
- believe His word,
- and accept His authority
CS 65, Ed 25
53The Significance of Tithing
- 1. Tithing and the tree of knowledge of good and
evil - (CS 65)
- 2. Tithing and our covenant relationship
with God - (Abraham, Gen. 14 Jacob, Gen. 28 Mal
310 CS 75)
54- He who gave His only-begotten Son to die for
you, has made a covenant with you. He gives you
His blessings, and in return He requires you to
bring Him your tithes and offerings. - CS 75
55The Significance of Tithing
- 3. Failure to tithe is robbery of God
- (Mal. 36-12 CS 77 CS 86)
56- The evasion of the
- positive commands of God
- concerning tithes and offerings,
- is registered in the books of heaven
- as robbery toward Him.
- CS77
57- To defraud God is
- the greatest crime of
- which man can be guilty
- and yet this sin is
- deep and widespread.
- CS86
58- When the judgment shall sit and the books shall
be opened, every man will be rewarded according
to his works. Many names are enrolled on the
church book that have robbery recorded against
them in the Ledger of Heaven. And unless these
repent and work for the Master with disinterested
benevolence, they will certainly share in the
doom of the unfaithful steward. 4T481, 482
59- Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse
KJV - Bring all the tithes into the storehouse NKJV
- Not You all bring the tithes
- but
- You bring all the tithes...
60The Significance of Tithing
- 3. Failure to tithe is robbery of God
- (Mal. 36-12 CS 77 CS 86)
- Tithing is an act of worship (Mal. 310
11612-14)
61- Those who go forth as ministers have a solemn
responsibility devolving upon them which is
strangely neglected There is great need of
instruction concerning the obligations and duties
to God, especially in regard to paying an honest
tithe. - CS 104
62- Everyone is to be his own assessor and is left
to give as he purposes in his heart. But there
are those who are guilty of the same sin as
Ananias and Sapphira, thinking that if they
withhold a portion of what God claims in the
tithing system the brethren will never know it.
Thus thought the guilty couple whose example is
given us as a warning. - 4T 469
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64If ministers give themselves wholly to the work
of God, and devote all their energies to building
up His cause, they will have no lack. As regards
temporal things, they have a better portion than
their Lord and better than His chosen disciples
whom He sent forth to save perishing man.
-Testimonies, vol. 2, p.345
65 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows
unto the most High And call upon me in the day
of trouble I will deliver thee, and thou shalt
glorify me. - Psalm 50 14,15 I
have been young, and now am old yet have I not
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging
bread. - Psalm 3725
66 Current Market Situation Current market slump
as of July 19, 2002 Nasdaq, 74 below its
peak S P 500 down 45 Dow Jones industrials
off 32 -MONEY, September 2002
67What has caused the problems? Human nature
dictates that greed and fear battle for the soul
of the investor. Throughout the 90s, greed won
handily. Buyers of stock abandoned common sense
and were rewarded for doing so if owning one
profitless pet-products-by-internet stock was
good, owning two was better. -
MONEY, September, 2002
68- Why Problems? (Cont.)
- Corporate greed
- Investor greed
- Competition among market managers
- Auditor dishonesty and greed
- Unrealistic Expectations P/E ratios
- Baptist Foundation of Arizona
- Greater Ministries
- Corporate scandals
- Lack of Confidence
- Terrorism 9-11
69- Points to remember
- From 1926 to 2000 the stock market returned an
average of 11 per year. Trying to top - that average is what causes high risk.
- With so many conflicts out there, putting all
your faith in a single person or source is a
recipe for disaster.
70How to get started Accept responsibility for
your finances. Get educated read books,
newsletters, magazines. Seek counsel from
others. Write down your needs and goals. Be
diligent in laying the foundation. Seek Gods
wisdom and blessing throughout.
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72There are four levels of financial fitness The
first level Getting debt free - This is the
only proper foundation - Develop your spending
plan - Use credit and credit cards properly -
Pay off your house
73Keep this truth in mind No investment is as
secure as a repaid debt. Putting your desire to
invest ahead of repaying your debt obligations is
usually a sign of immaturity, not financial
sophistication. Pryor, p. 36
74The second level Saving for future needs. -
develop an emergency savings fund - develop an
accumulation fund for future purchases or
expenditures (taxes) - develop a plan for your
childrens education
75- The third level of financial fitness
- - Investing your surplus
- - Learn about the various types of investments
- -lending investments
- -ownership investments
-
- Spend time learning about mutual funds
- - Understand the tax consequences
76 The one fundamental rule of investing that you
should never, ever forget is The greater the
return being offered, the greater risk youre
taking. (This is always the case whether
those making the offer tell you or not, whether
its obvious or not, and whether you know it or
not.)
77- There are only two basic choices with
- investing
- The investments where you become a lender
savings accounts, CDs, corp. bonds, government
bonds, state and local bonds, annuities. you
get a fixed return. - The investments where you become an owner
stocks, mutual funds, real estate, precious
metals, farmland you make money if the value
goes up or the company is successful.
78The fourth level of financial fitness -Diversify
ing for Safety -Understand investing, know what
you want to accomplish, set goals. -Spread out
the risk.
79- Determine your investment needs and stage
- in life.
- Laying the foundation runs into the 40s.
- Accumulating assets your forties and 50s.
- Preserving assets your 60s and into 70s.
- Distributing assets age 75 and beyond.
- Learning years - birth to 30
- Earning years - 30 to 60
- Returning years - 60 till laid to rest
80 Retirement Tips Income source
recommendations Social Security 30 -
40 401k or 403b etc. 30 - 40 Other
investments 10 15 Part-time job 10 15
81Retirement Monthly Budget Tithe and
Offerings 300 Food
400 Clothing 200 Telephone - computer
200 Utilities 150 Insurance -
house/vehicle 150 - life/medical
400 Property tax 200 Maintenance
100 Personal allowance 200 Misc.
200 Entertainment 200 Total Income needed
2,700
82- Some Investment Suggestions
- 4. Best places
- -Government backed securities
- -Church investments
- -Projects to advance Gods cause
- -Education of workers
83As the followers give back to the Lord His own,
they are accumulating treasure which will be
theirs when they hear the words Well done, thou
good and faithful servantenter thou into the joy
of thy Lord. 9T59
84-
- He who embezzles his Lords goods not only loses
the talent lent him of God, but loses eternal
life. - 3T 387
-
85-
- They rob God of the tenth, which He claims as
His own, and in robbing Him they rob themselves
of the heavenly treasure. - 3T 398
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