Welcome to "For Guys Only."
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A program designed to meet
the needs of the urban man.
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I'm Pastor William
Lee and I'm so thankful
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that you've joined us
for yet another broadcast.
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Today, we have a
very interesting topic.
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Today, we're gonna talk
about "Financial Management"
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for the urban man.
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Stay tuned as we go
right into our broadcast.
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Gentlemen, welcome once
again to "For Guys Only."
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Of course, the program
that specifically targeted
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to meet the
needs of the urban man.
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As we get started today
let's just kind of briefly
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introduce ourselves
to our viewers all today.
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I'll start with Brandon today.
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Yes, my name is Brandon Dent
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and I'm a retired auto executive
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and I'm running my
own marketing company now.
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I'm just came off of a
three year tour of duty
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as a treasurer for
local chamber organization
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and I'm the financial presenter
for the Lake Region Conference,
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Family Life department.
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All right, thank
you so much Brandon.
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My name is Colin King.
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I'm a clinical psychologist
even though I do have
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a bachelor's degree in
a business administration
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and I have two
teenagers, I'm married
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and I'm pleased to be
on the show once again.
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All right, welcome, Dr. King.
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My name is Muta Mwenya,
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executive director
for Elijah 3 Ministries.
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It's urban youth
evangelism ministry.
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I'm married, I have two children
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and just excited
about the topic today.
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All right.
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As always I'm Pastor William,
the pastor of the capital city
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Seventh-day Adventist
church in Indianapolis, Indiana,
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part of the Lake
Region Conference
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of Seventh-day Adventist.
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Married for
seven wonderful years,
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two children and looking
for to the great move of God.
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Especially as we
talk today about finances.
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This is a subject
especially as we named it now
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financial
management for the urban man,
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for the urban man.
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So many times we don't
necessarily put finances
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at the very, you know,
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nearly top of our
to do list of our,
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you know, way into
be very successful at.
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Sometimes we have mismanage
finances, sometimes you know,
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we find ourselves to be
in debt but we want to--
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you know our viewers say
to have some hope, you know,
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to be understand
that as a urban man,
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especially as African-American
man that we can be successful
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and that our money
can be in order as well.
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Brandon, in your
introduction you mentioned
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that you have been working
with finances for longer time
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as I'm as a
retired business executive.
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Look side as well, helping out
in running chamber of commerce.
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Well, now help us understand
some of these principles
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as we relate to responsible
financial management.
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Well,
responsible is the key word.
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One of the things we
have to first realize is
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that money is a
divine trust, a divine trust.
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One of my favorite writers wrote
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that we must ever remember
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that we will give an
account in the judgment
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for how we use God's resources.
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So what I've
found in all these areas
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that I've worked where
you see responsible practice
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that's exactly what you see.
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You see people who
take money seriously,
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whether its for
spiritual reason or not
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but they take it seriously.
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They account it
and they make sure
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that there are--
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they are accounting for its use.
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So that's an important piece.
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Now we talk about the urban man,
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let's talk about the
African-American community.
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In 2010 I'll say 2010,
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African-American's
spend about $910 billion,
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almost a trillion dollars
on cell phones, electronics,
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clothing, and other items
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that bring no real future value.
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If we were own
country, if that was our GDP
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we would be the 16th
richest nation on the planet.
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Wow.
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But because we are stratified
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and don't have a
real unified system
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of the use of our money
one that brings value to our
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own community then,
you know, it's a nice,
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it's an interesting statistic
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but we are not
been offending from it.
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Okay. Okay.
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So we have to be responsible
but, you know, as you say,
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you know for African-Americans
that we, you know,
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we will not spend all of
our money on material prosperity
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or material
thing like cell phones,
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we are not, we should,
you know-- should we invest,
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you know, money or-- you
know, what should we really do
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with the money
that God has given us?
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Because, you know,
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money is really is a
stewardship principle.
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It's sound
stewardship principle.
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What should we do, how
should we be responsible
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with the resources
that God has given us?
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What you said, should we invest?
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And I know that's a question
at sometimes is hardly debated
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among Christians because
some see investing as gambling.
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Every day of life is a gamble.
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We make the best decisions
each day of life that we can.
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In praying and asking the Lord
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to give us the
best possible outcome.
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And even the
parable of the talents
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which was a parable of money,
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in that we see that God expects
for us to grow the money,
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the talents, the gifts
that He puts in our charge.
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When we, when we
invest we should be careful.
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There are investments
that are safer than others.
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We can try
investing into gambling
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by being very reckless,
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by taking, putting money into
things that have bad payoffs
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but if they come
through then they are high
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and then there are
more conservative and safe.
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I have a lot of
money in instruments
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that have guaranteed returns,
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guaranteed returns only
way that they won't return
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as of the entire
US economy collapses
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and it's possibility but,
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you understand that I'm
trying to be responsible
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with the resources that
God has put in my charge
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and try to multiply them
so that they can be fruitful
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in the work of the
gospel and all those things
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that I put my hand
to do for His calls.
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Okay. Okay.
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Dr. King, kind of give
us the perspective as well
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as it relates to responsible
financial management.
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Certainly.
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We do have some
African-Americans
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or some blacks or
some people in urban cities
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who have done very well,
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who have made very
wise financial decisions.
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So I don't want to say
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that every black person
is not fiscally responsible.
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We have some
very successful people
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and I'm very happy to
announce that actually.
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You know, let us sort of put
things in perspective thought.
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In 2004, we had
roughly about 24.7 percent
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of African-Americans
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we are living
below the poverty line.
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You know, average income
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when compared with
whites whose average income
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was roughly about $54,000.
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Today, you've got
15 percent of Americans
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who live in
below the poverty level
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and now we have
27 percent of blacks
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who are living
below the poverty level.
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So our situation
has actually worsened.
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And Brandon alluded to
the way how we spend our money
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with cell phones and
gadgets and so on and so forth.
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Someone quite
rightly said that we borrow
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or we spend money that we
don't have to impress people
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who don't even like us anyway.
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You know, some of the
decisions that we make bury us.
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And for me as a rule of
thumb, I think it was Brandon
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who said this on
a previous episode,
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when you are
going to make a purchase
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ask yourself to question
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is this an asset or
is this a liability?
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Is this an asset or
is this a liability?
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And quite often it's not
an asset it's a liability.
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Okay. Okay.
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Just as for clarification
an asset is something
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that actually
brings money to you
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and a liability is something
that takes it away from you.
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Okay.
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One other thing that,
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if you look at the
profile of the wealthy
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they don't take on bad debt,
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but they don't shun on debt.
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They will take on debt
for the purpose of purchasing
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an asset that will
quickly eradicate the debt
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and then bring them profit.
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But they think it is deplorable
for one to take a loan,
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take on debt to
purchase a liability.
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Televisions, big screen
TVs don't bring money today.
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So that's it, it
say that's a liability.
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It's a liability. Okay.
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Because it cost you the money,
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the money goes out in
order for you to get it.
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Now it sits there
and it brings no money in
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and makes it a liability.
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Okay. But what's a asset though?
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And asset would bring you money.
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All right. For
example rental property.
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Okay.
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You know, you buy some property
and it appreciates in value,
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that's one it brings you
money and then you can rent it.
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You get the
monthly rents off of it.
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That brings you money.
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A honorable bill could be what
they call a depreciating asset,
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if you use it for purposes
of gaining income or wealth.
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Okay. Okay.
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I just want to
make a comment on that.
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If you're making
$40,000 or $50,000 a year
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why in the
world would you go out
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and buy a brand
new car for $30,000?
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Why? Okay.
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To boast out.
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That's to be honest
you know, to look good.
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It's unseen. It's unseen.
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It makes
absolutely no sense at all.
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It's unseen. Okay.
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Okay, yeah.
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And Muta, you know,
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I know you are kind of community
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where Dr. King just
said that sometimes happen.
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The income maybe of
$40,000 but, you know,
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and in your experience
you may see people that do buy
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a $30,000 or even a $40,000 car.
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Kind of share some right
on, just your experience working
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in the urban community
as it relates to seeing
00:11:15.74\00:11:18.21
how people are using their
resources in a positive way
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or even negative way.
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Well, the sad thing is
that sometimes you are not even
00:11:25.25\00:11:29.08
making $40,000,
they are making $15,000
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and still
buying that $30,000 car
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hoping they will able to keep up
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with the payments at least.
00:11:37.23\00:11:38.73
Its not gonna happen.
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Its not gonna
happen, that's reality event
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that's why you know,
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a lot of times you
are not living in homes
00:11:44.70\00:11:47.17
that are suitable
because all their money
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is gonna go to these liabilities
00:11:49.94\00:11:52.91
that they have trumped up.
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Education is big.
00:11:55.44\00:11:57.65
I think not only for just the--
00:11:57.68\00:12:00.98
those who are
living in urban cities
00:12:01.02\00:12:03.92
but young, young men,
young black men like you and I,
00:12:03.99\00:12:07.92
you know, getting a
good financial coach.
00:12:07.96\00:12:11.49
Getting somebody who maybe
00:12:11.53\00:12:13.40
who is a mentor
at your local church.
00:12:13.43\00:12:15.40
I know, Brandon said he
works with his local church.
00:12:15.43\00:12:18.87
Find somebody in your church
who is experienced with this.
00:12:18.90\00:12:22.94
Ask for some advice.
00:12:22.97\00:12:24.64
Don't try to do it by yourself
especially when you have
00:12:24.67\00:12:27.38
no knowledge about it.
00:12:27.44\00:12:29.08
Find somebody.
00:12:29.11\00:12:30.45
That's good. That's good.
00:12:30.51\00:12:31.85
You know, I want
to be very practical
00:12:31.88\00:12:33.21
and be very
real about, you know,
00:12:33.25\00:12:34.58
as I look at, you
know, especially, you know,
00:12:34.62\00:12:36.42
the urban mindset, the
urban you know, context is that,
00:12:36.45\00:12:39.55
you know, sometimes
and Dr. King I want to,
00:12:39.59\00:12:41.96
you know, reverse what
you said before but you know,
00:12:41.99\00:12:44.59
a lot of times we don't
see the access, you know,
00:12:44.63\00:12:47.83
where there is a lot
of money just flowing.
00:12:47.86\00:12:49.50
You know you are able to
do a lot of different things.
00:12:49.53\00:12:51.20
We praise God for
that full success stories
00:12:51.23\00:12:53.67
but what about for the man
00:12:53.70\00:12:55.04
that's watching us right now
00:12:55.07\00:12:56.40
and they are thinking to
themselves, you know what,
00:12:56.44\00:12:57.97
I don't have money to put away.
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You know, I have all
these bills, I have debt,
00:13:00.11\00:13:02.54
I have this and that.
00:13:02.58\00:13:03.95
You know, what can they do
00:13:03.98\00:13:06.01
to maybe turn
their situation around
00:13:06.05\00:13:08.65
so that, you know, they
will be able to, you know,
00:13:08.68\00:13:11.45
keep a little bit that money
and use it for as a purposes
00:13:11.49\00:13:14.46
that can build their assets.
00:13:14.49\00:13:17.33
What do you thing?
00:13:17.36\00:13:18.69
Well, the first
thing you have to do
00:13:18.73\00:13:20.20
is you've got to learn
00:13:20.23\00:13:21.90
how to put
together a budget, okay.
00:13:21.93\00:13:24.50
You are never going to
get control of this thing
00:13:24.53\00:13:27.40
if you don't have measuring it
00:13:27.44\00:13:30.37
and that's what the budget does.
00:13:30.41\00:13:31.74
The budget,
first of all identifies
00:13:31.77\00:13:34.04
what your
financial obligations are
00:13:34.08\00:13:36.44
and it stacks that
up against your income
00:13:36.48\00:13:39.11
and it shows you reliability
to handle your bills.
00:13:39.15\00:13:42.65
A lot of people figure
they can't handle their bill
00:13:42.68\00:13:45.52
and when we sit down
we find out that they can
00:13:45.55\00:13:48.46
but they just
never put it all on paper
00:13:48.49\00:13:50.79
and looked at it and said, okay,
00:13:50.83\00:13:52.36
I mean, this is the plan.
00:13:52.39\00:13:53.76
This is how I keep I,
this is how much I will spend
00:13:53.80\00:13:55.86
each month on these items
00:13:55.90\00:13:57.80
so that every
month my bills are paid,
00:13:57.83\00:14:00.84
I'm putting away a
little of something,
00:14:00.87\00:14:02.47
as another will characteristic
some of the wealthy
00:14:02.50\00:14:04.94
no matter what their
situation is month over month.
00:14:04.97\00:14:07.94
They treat
themselves like a bill.
00:14:07.98\00:14:10.05
They put something
away for themselves
00:14:10.08\00:14:12.81
and they build
that into their budget.
00:14:12.85\00:14:15.52
Once you have that then
what you want to do is work on
00:14:15.55\00:14:17.82
getting the debt
out of the picture.
00:14:17.85\00:14:20.06
Now there is a technique
that is very effective,
00:14:20.09\00:14:22.69
a lot of well known
financial specialists promote it
00:14:22.72\00:14:29.33
and that they might is
by as the snowball method
00:14:29.36\00:14:33.40
of getting out of debt
and it speeds up exponentially
00:14:33.44\00:14:36.97
in time just like
the snowball grows
00:14:37.01\00:14:38.67
as you roll it down a hill.
00:14:38.71\00:14:40.44
What you do is you take
all of your debt and you put it
00:14:40.48\00:14:43.31
in ascending order
according to balance.
00:14:43.35\00:14:45.85
So the one with the
smallest balance first,
00:14:45.88\00:14:47.75
high balance less.
00:14:47.78\00:14:49.12
Don't worry about interest rate.
00:14:49.15\00:14:50.49
Doesn't work as well if you
00:14:50.55\00:14:51.89
try to pay the highest
interest rate off first.
00:14:51.92\00:14:54.59
Take all of--
expect for the first debt
00:14:54.62\00:14:57.43
and take all of
those payments to minimum
00:14:57.49\00:15:00.83
but take all the money
that you been paying on them,
00:15:00.86\00:15:03.57
stratifying your money across
00:15:03.60\00:15:04.97
all of these debts for having
no real impact in anyone area.
00:15:05.00\00:15:08.10
Take all of that and add it
to the payment of the first one.
00:15:08.14\00:15:11.81
Now you've got a pretty nice
size payment on the first one
00:15:11.84\00:15:14.91
and you got a small balance.
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.68
It's gonna go away really fast.
00:15:16.75\00:15:18.61
Then you take all of that money,
00:15:18.65\00:15:20.95
add it to the minimum payment
of the next one on the list,
00:15:20.98\00:15:24.29
now you've got, you know,
00:15:24.32\00:15:26.42
all the money that you
were paying on the first one
00:15:26.45\00:15:28.92
which also includes the minimum.
00:15:28.96\00:15:31.49
So you bring even more
money to the second item
00:15:31.53\00:15:34.10
and adding it to the money,
that's with the second item.
00:15:34.10\00:15:36.23
So the payment gets much bigger
00:15:36.26\00:15:39.30
and that one
gets paid off quick.
00:15:39.33\00:15:41.60
And I did scenarios where
people who had 30 years lefts
00:15:41.64\00:15:46.94
on their cars were able to
pay them off in ten months.
00:15:46.98\00:15:50.71
People who had ten years
left on their student loans
00:15:50.75\00:15:55.98
were able to pay
them off in three years.
00:15:56.02\00:15:58.99
It works and it is
absolutely phenomenal.
00:15:59.02\00:16:02.39
You just continue that process
00:16:02.42\00:16:03.89
until you get the
last debt paid off.
00:16:03.96\00:16:06.93
You know, Brandon
is absolutely right
00:16:06.96\00:16:08.86
because if nothing
changes, nothing changes.
00:16:08.90\00:16:14.24
Okay. That's so powerful.
00:16:14.27\00:16:18.67
It there's nothing
changes, nothing changes.
00:16:18.71\00:16:21.78
You can continue to make
the minimum payment if you want
00:16:21.81\00:16:24.88
and think that
well, Brandon is crazy.
00:16:24.91\00:16:26.61
It will never work but
then nothing is gonna change.
00:16:26.65\00:16:29.62
Consider this, if
you have $8,000 in debt,
00:16:29.65\00:16:34.76
at an interest
rate of 18 percent
00:16:34.79\00:16:37.33
which is about
average and if you only make
00:16:37.36\00:16:40.70
the minimum payment
it will take you 25 years
00:16:40.73\00:16:45.87
to pay off that debt and
you will have paid out $24,000.
00:16:45.90\00:16:52.41
Okay. Yeah $8,000 debt.
00:16:52.44\00:16:55.78
Eighteen
percent. Eighteen percent.
00:16:55.81\00:16:57.65
You make the minimum
payment for five years
00:16:57.68\00:17:01.18
and you will be paying $24,000.
00:17:01.22\00:17:03.82
Wow.
00:17:03.85\00:17:05.19
So if nothing
changes, nothing changes.
00:17:05.22\00:17:08.26
Got you. I got it.
00:17:08.29\00:17:09.62
That's deep. Man,
I appreciate that.
00:17:09.66\00:17:12.09
Let's kind of
talk about, you know,
00:17:12.13\00:17:13.46
God have a lot to say
about financial management,
00:17:13.53\00:17:18.10
responsible
financial management.
00:17:18.13\00:17:19.47
I mean, the Bible is replete
with the example other example
00:17:19.50\00:17:22.44
where God calls
us to accountability
00:17:22.47\00:17:24.44
as we raise to our finances.
00:17:24.47\00:17:26.17
Let's kind of
discuss out a little bit
00:17:26.21\00:17:27.78
because again it
is spiritual thing
00:17:27.81\00:17:30.88
that God really
cares about us being
00:17:30.95\00:17:33.65
responsible with our
money that God has given us.
00:17:33.72\00:17:36.58
So what does that
Bible say about this?
00:17:36.62\00:17:39.69
Well, if you go to Proverbs 22:7
00:17:39.72\00:17:43.66
and its talking about debt here.
00:17:43.73\00:17:45.99
There it says "The
rich ruleth over the poor,
00:17:46.03\00:17:50.73
and the borrower is
servant to the lender."
00:17:50.77\00:17:55.17
And so what the Bible is saying
00:17:55.20\00:17:56.87
is basically debt
is economic slavery.
00:17:56.91\00:18:00.81
Economic slavery
and we should avoid it.
00:18:00.84\00:18:05.61
The Bible also says in John 1
and verse-- 3 John 1:2 it says,
00:18:05.65\00:18:11.02
"Beloved, I
wish above all things
00:18:11.05\00:18:12.39
that thou mayest
prosper and be in health,
00:18:12.42\00:18:14.79
even as thy soul prospereth."
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.29
God is not just
interested in making you wealthy
00:18:17.36\00:18:20.46
for the sake of wealthy.
00:18:20.53\00:18:21.83
Okay.
00:18:21.86\00:18:23.20
If your soul does not prosper
00:18:23.23\00:18:24.57
you cannot be
trusted with wealth
00:18:24.60\00:18:26.94
because wealth is not for us
to just be large and in charge.
00:18:26.97\00:18:30.61
It is really for us
to be God's stewards
00:18:30.64\00:18:33.58
in getting His work done.
00:18:33.61\00:18:35.21
So as your soul prospers
00:18:35.24\00:18:37.35
God can trust
you with more wealth
00:18:37.38\00:18:39.58
because He knows that you
will sponsor programs like
00:18:39.61\00:18:43.59
"Dare to Dream"
and "For Guys Only"
00:18:43.62\00:18:45.35
and things of that nature.
00:18:45.39\00:18:46.76
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:46.79\00:18:48.12
Getting the gospel done it
takes money to do the gospel.
00:18:48.16\00:18:52.76
It takes money
to plant churches.
00:18:52.79\00:18:55.16
It takes money to have dynamic
youth ministries and its--
00:18:55.20\00:19:01.74
we are the ones who have to
be conduits of God's blessings
00:19:01.77\00:19:06.41
to those programs if
they are to get done.
00:19:06.44\00:19:09.34
That's as good.
What about tithing?
00:19:09.38\00:19:11.58
You know, we hear
this concept, you know,
00:19:11.61\00:19:13.31
throwing around
especially an idea
00:19:13.35\00:19:14.82
that we were
talking about tithe.
00:19:14.85\00:19:16.95
And we are gonna ask that
tithe definitely you know,
00:19:17.02\00:19:19.09
from Genesis, you know,
00:19:19.12\00:19:20.49
and in that situation as well.
00:19:20.52\00:19:23.46
How important is tithing
00:19:23.49\00:19:25.79
and as a pastor I'm
asking you all this but,
00:19:25.83\00:19:27.50
you know, how
important is that concept?
00:19:27.56\00:19:29.06
You know, forget the
biblical perspective of it.
00:19:29.10\00:19:31.70
Let us, let us just see
00:19:31.73\00:19:33.07
if this was not an
instruction from God,
00:19:33.10\00:19:34.87
which of course it is
00:19:34.90\00:19:36.34
but let us just
ignore that momentarily.
00:19:36.37\00:19:39.04
The mere act of setting
aside a portion of your paycheck
00:19:39.07\00:19:45.21
to give it to someone
else makes perfect sense.
00:19:45.25\00:19:48.98
What it does, it makes you now,
00:19:49.02\00:19:50.92
it makes you a
more disciplined person.
00:19:50.99\00:19:53.59
It makes you, it
makes you pay attention,
00:19:53.66\00:19:56.46
it makes you more responsible.
00:19:56.49\00:19:58.83
Now you add a spiritual
aspect to that, God said,
00:19:58.86\00:20:02.60
this is what I want you to do.
00:20:02.63\00:20:04.70
In fact, He said, or in fact
00:20:04.73\00:20:06.63
we believe that not just
tithing that is important
00:20:06.70\00:20:11.81
but also in giving
a generous offering
00:20:11.84\00:20:15.48
it forces you to budget,
00:20:15.51\00:20:17.81
it forces you to be responsible.
00:20:17.85\00:20:20.48
I've never seen a person
00:20:20.52\00:20:22.42
who tithe faithfully
in financial problem.
00:20:22.45\00:20:27.26
Yeah, it's interesting because
those who do believe that not
00:20:27.32\00:20:30.69
paying tithe is
robbery, when they go back
00:20:30.73\00:20:33.86
and read Malachi
starting at verse 8
00:20:33.90\00:20:36.40
it is very clear that not paying
00:20:36.43\00:20:39.67
the offering is also robbery.
00:20:39.70\00:20:42.67
And all the people just kind of,
00:20:42.70\00:20:44.84
they see the
tithe as a obligation
00:20:44.87\00:20:47.21
because the
percent is spelled out.
00:20:47.24\00:20:49.34
But because there is
no offerings percent,
00:20:49.38\00:20:52.68
no specific percent spelled
out for offering a lot of people
00:20:52.71\00:20:55.52
think as a optional.
00:20:55.55\00:20:56.92
But God says, where in have
00:20:56.95\00:20:58.45
you robbed Me in
tithe and offering.
00:20:58.49\00:21:01.19
So we need to do both in
order to not be robbing God.
00:21:01.22\00:21:05.26
And of course God says prove Me.
00:21:05.29\00:21:08.40
I like it when he says
that. There's a challenge.
00:21:08.43\00:21:10.33
Yeah, absolutely.
He says, prove Me--
00:21:10.37\00:21:11.70
Bring it on. In
order what bring in on.
00:21:11.73\00:21:13.17
Yeah, they see if had opened up
00:21:13.20\00:21:15.34
the windows of
heaven and bless you.
00:21:15.37\00:21:16.97
And that's why I like,
that's what I love about God
00:21:17.01\00:21:19.77
is that God does challenge.
00:21:19.81\00:21:21.24
You know, He says prove Me.
00:21:21.28\00:21:22.61
He does say and see what I do.
00:21:22.64\00:21:24.68
One of the concepts I think is
00:21:24.71\00:21:26.05
so important
for us to understand
00:21:26.08\00:21:27.48
because Bible talks
about us being stewards is that
00:21:27.52\00:21:30.59
we need to understand that
we don't, we don't pay God.
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.25
We don't pay the church.
00:21:33.32\00:21:34.96
You know, we don't,
00:21:34.99\00:21:36.32
we don't even give to
God a gift to the church
00:21:36.36\00:21:39.03
but the Bible says that
you need to return to Me.
00:21:39.06\00:21:44.10
So what God is saying first
00:21:44.13\00:21:45.57
and foremost is that He was us--
00:21:45.60\00:21:47.84
He was our heart, you know.
00:21:47.87\00:21:49.57
For the Bible says that
where a man's treasury is
00:21:49.60\00:21:52.94
that's where His
heart will be also.
00:21:52.97\00:21:55.78
So more than, you know,
00:21:55.81\00:21:57.18
the finances
that God is requiring,
00:21:57.21\00:21:59.45
God says I want your heart first
00:21:59.48\00:22:01.28
and then the finances
will fall on line as well.
00:22:01.32\00:22:03.39
That's right.
00:22:03.42\00:22:04.75
And they also well, look at
this text well where Malachi,
00:22:04.79\00:22:07.16
you know, spells out
and God says you know,
00:22:07.19\00:22:10.03
"I will open up
the windows of heaven."
00:22:10.06\00:22:13.13
I want to think about first,
how many windows do you have
00:22:13.16\00:22:16.53
in your home as
opposed to doors?
00:22:16.56\00:22:20.70
You know, most people just
have a front door, a back door,
00:22:20.74\00:22:24.34
maybe a side door,
00:22:24.37\00:22:25.71
two or three
doors in their homes.
00:22:25.74\00:22:27.61
But the Bible says that God
00:22:27.64\00:22:29.71
will open up the
windows of heaven.
00:22:29.74\00:22:33.92
Now I don't have more than
you know, one or two windows,
00:22:33.98\00:22:37.05
you know, in my home, I have
number of windows in my home
00:22:37.09\00:22:39.45
and God says that He will pour
out a blessing that there shall
00:22:39.49\00:22:42.02
now be room enough to receive.
00:22:42.06\00:22:44.63
So we know that God
does not need our money.
00:22:44.66\00:22:46.86
You know, Bible says,
00:22:46.90\00:22:48.20
"God, own the cattle
on a thousand hills."
00:22:48.23\00:22:50.10
You know, the God is
not leasing the hill.
00:22:50.13\00:22:52.63
You know, it belongs to Him.
00:22:52.67\00:22:54.47
But it's a faith walk that God
is asking us to be involved in,
00:22:54.50\00:22:59.07
to really put God to the
test and see where not God
00:22:59.11\00:23:02.01
do what He says.
00:23:02.04\00:23:03.38
He will do absolutely.
00:23:03.45\00:23:06.01
I have a couple of just
00:23:06.05\00:23:07.62
experiences from returning tithe
00:23:07.65\00:23:10.09
and having that struggle
because for some people,
00:23:10.12\00:23:13.22
it's a struggle.
00:23:13.25\00:23:16.16
Lord, I have to pay this bill.
00:23:16.19\00:23:17.99
I have to do this
00:23:18.03\00:23:19.83
can You spot me until next week.
00:23:19.86\00:23:22.86
Can I just use it for this
00:23:22.90\00:23:25.40
and just double up
next week or what not?
00:23:25.43\00:23:28.74
And the Lord has
been really kind.
00:23:28.77\00:23:31.04
I remember one time, I
was in one of those struggles
00:23:31.07\00:23:34.04
and we really wanted to
go to church that morning
00:23:34.08\00:23:36.71
and we just like ah--
00:23:36.75\00:23:38.35
I said, Lord, we don't
really have that much gas
00:23:38.38\00:23:40.32
but I know if I
hold on to this money
00:23:40.38\00:23:42.92
it will burn a
hole to my pocket.
00:23:42.95\00:23:44.72
So let me return it back to You.
00:23:44.75\00:23:46.76
Okay.
00:23:46.82\00:23:48.16
So we got the family
ready and I said Lord,
00:23:48.19\00:23:49.92
that gas that I have in the car
is enough to get us to church,
00:23:49.99\00:23:52.66
I don't know how we
are gonna return home.
00:23:52.69\00:23:55.40
Anyway we get to church, I have
my tithe money in my pocket,
00:23:55.43\00:24:00.44
well the Lord's
tithe money in my pocket
00:24:00.47\00:24:03.04
and I finally just
commit Lord, this is Your money
00:24:03.07\00:24:07.21
I'm returning back to You.
00:24:07.28\00:24:08.94
At that moment I
get the inclination
00:24:08.98\00:24:10.65
to reach my hand
in my suit jacket
00:24:10.68\00:24:14.52
and I don't know why,
00:24:14.55\00:24:15.88
because I even battled
with it why do I have to stick--
00:24:15.92\00:24:18.99
I put my hand in my suit jacket
and felt a piece of paper.
00:24:19.02\00:24:23.83
I thought it was receipt.
00:24:23.86\00:24:25.43
Something said, open
that piece of paper up.
00:24:25.46\00:24:28.83
Put my hand in my
pocket, I pulled up.
00:24:28.86\00:24:31.37
The exact same amount of money
I was about to return to tithe
00:24:31.40\00:24:35.44
was assurance reimbursement
cheque that we had received
00:24:35.47\00:24:38.67
90 days ago it was two days away
00:24:38.71\00:24:41.14
from being expired, Monday.
00:24:41.18\00:24:43.24
Come on now. Come on now.
00:24:43.31\00:24:44.65
So the Lord provided exactly
what I was gonna give to Him.
00:24:44.68\00:24:49.08
And He said, get back to
him and He just said, you know,
00:24:49.12\00:24:52.15
this is what I'm talking.
00:24:52.19\00:24:53.52
All I want you is to trust
me, I will take care of things.
00:24:53.56\00:24:56.69
And then sometimes it may
seem like nothing is happening,
00:24:56.73\00:25:00.23
you return the tithe
the bills don't get paid,
00:25:00.26\00:25:03.50
something happens but the Lord
always finds a way to come back
00:25:03.57\00:25:07.67
and you will see it and
say that my Lord, thank you,
00:25:07.70\00:25:10.97
thank you.
00:25:11.01\00:25:12.34
Yeah, David said
that I Psalms 37:25,
00:25:12.37\00:25:15.54
and he says "I have never
seen the righteous forsaken,
00:25:15.58\00:25:19.18
or his seed begging bread."
00:25:19.21\00:25:21.05
Yes. Yeah.
00:25:21.08\00:25:22.42
Some quick practical solutions
00:25:22.45\00:25:25.29
agree to live within your means.
00:25:25.32\00:25:27.46
Okay.
00:25:27.49\00:25:28.82
If you can afford a car
00:25:28.86\00:25:32.59
buy one for $15,000.
00:25:32.63\00:25:34.86
Do not live above your
means, live below your means.
00:25:34.93\00:25:39.90
For the ladies, even
this is a show for guys
00:25:39.93\00:25:43.47
avoid killing time at the mall.
00:25:43.51\00:25:46.17
If you gonna go to the
mall to exercise to walk,
00:25:46.21\00:25:49.08
leave your money at home.
00:25:49.11\00:25:51.31
Don't take it with you. Yeah.
00:25:51.35\00:25:54.18
Practical solution, use
a weekly allowance method.
00:25:54.22\00:25:59.59
And when that money is
finished it is finished.
00:25:59.62\00:26:02.99
Take your lunch to work. Okay.
00:26:03.02\00:26:06.86
Very simple, very
practical solutions.
00:26:06.93\00:26:09.23
Yes.
00:26:09.26\00:26:10.60
So wives can be
assets or liability.
00:26:10.67\00:26:15.17
That's right. That's right.
00:26:15.20\00:26:17.04
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:26:17.11\00:26:18.44
Now our time is running now
00:26:18.47\00:26:19.97
and I just want
to kind of you know,
00:26:20.01\00:26:21.61
to get us to back
again to, you know,
00:26:21.64\00:26:24.45
disgusting one last time for
that person who is struggling
00:26:24.48\00:26:27.82
right now with their
resources, they want to give--
00:26:27.85\00:26:31.55
I should say,
they want to return,
00:26:31.59\00:26:32.92
they want to be
faithful to God or not,
00:26:32.95\00:26:34.99
you know, how do we really
encourage this man-- all right,
00:26:35.02\00:26:39.36
you said before a woman
00:26:39.39\00:26:40.73
especially the man
though that's struggling.
00:26:40.80\00:26:42.90
We have a minute and
half left, kind of Brandon,
00:26:42.93\00:26:45.73
just kind of wrap it for
us and tell us what we can do.
00:26:45.77\00:26:50.27
Well, we talked
about the Word of God
00:26:50.31\00:26:53.21
and God has been
clear on His promises.
00:26:53.24\00:26:56.58
It takes a measure of faith.
00:26:56.61\00:26:58.45
If what you been
doing is not working
00:26:58.48\00:27:01.35
you have nothing to lose.
00:27:01.38\00:27:03.42
Try Him, prove Him as
He says and I guarantee you
00:27:03.45\00:27:07.32
He will bless you.
00:27:07.39\00:27:09.06
That's good. That's good.
00:27:09.09\00:27:10.46
You know, a text came to my
mind as well that encourages me
00:27:10.49\00:27:14.10
and that's from Luke
6:38 where the Bible says,
00:27:14.13\00:27:18.60
"Give, and it
shall be given unto you,
00:27:18.63\00:27:21.14
good measure, pressed down,
00:27:21.17\00:27:23.20
shaken together,
and running over,
00:27:23.24\00:27:25.21
shall men give into your bosom.
00:27:25.24\00:27:27.28
For with the same measure
that ye mete withal it shall be
00:27:27.31\00:27:30.15
measured to you again."
00:27:30.18\00:27:32.78
Amen. Amen.
00:27:32.81\00:27:34.15
Press down, shaken
together, and running over.
00:27:34.22\00:27:38.22
Bible says that God
loves a cheerful giver.
00:27:38.25\00:27:42.82
My brother, I
challenge you, you know,
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.46
even though the resources maybe
tight right now or maybe you
00:27:44.49\00:27:47.86
are in abundance right
now the reality is that
00:27:47.86\00:27:50.23
you are blessed
to be a blessing.
00:27:50.27\00:27:52.70
Be faithful to
God and won't you see
00:27:52.73\00:27:54.40
that God will be faithful
to you every step of the way.
00:27:54.44\00:27:57.47
This has been another
just outstanding episode.
00:27:57.51\00:28:00.41
I praise God for
just this topic today.
00:28:00.44\00:28:03.18
Let's live responsible for God.
00:28:03.21\00:28:06.25
Until next time
I'm Pastor William Lee,
00:28:06.28\00:28:08.15
we look forward to seeing
you again "For Guys Only."
00:28:08.18\00:28:10.92