by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Financial Training Day, Feb 20th @ Mars Hill West Seattle

Money is paradoxical. The Bible tells us to not love money (1 Tim 3:3) as it is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10) and makes for an alluring god (Mt 6:24).  If we seek our satisfaction in money we won’t be satisfied with it (Ecc 5:10). If we hoard our money, we will only hurt ourselves (Ecc 5:13; Lk 12:20-21). While money may offer a measure of protection in life, it doesn’t preserve our life (Ecc 7:12). If we attempt to gain it through deceitful ways we will not profit (Prov 10:2) and we’ll quickly find it is a vapor and a snare (Prov 21:6). Yet, and here’s the paradox, money is seemingly the answer to everything (Ecc 10:19).

Money is a rotten god. Perhaps most telling are Jesus’ words, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:21). What we treasure (i.e. love, delight in, worship, etc) is our god. This is why we can’t serve two masters, for we will either “hate the one and love the other, or [we] will be devoted to the one and despise the other. [We] cannot serve God and money.” (Mt 6:24; Lk 16:13) It’s a love issue. For this reason, we’re warned to keep our life free from the love of money and be content with what we have (Heb 13:5) because God is sufficient for all things (2 Cor 12:9; Isa 43:2). He is our shepherd; in him we won’t lack (Ps 23:1)

Money needs to be demystified. Money is created by God to be used wisely for God and others (Mt 22:37-40), but not to be a god itself. We’re afraid of money, secretive with money, quiet about money, or upset about money because it is enthroned in our hearts. We take a good thing and make it an ultimate thing. We worship it instead of stewarding it.

Money needs to be dethroned. On Saturday, February 20th from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Mars Hill West Seattle will be hosting a Financial Training Day to take money off its throne and get really practical. The day is open to all of Mars Hill Church and the public. Feel free to invite your friends, neighbors, or anyone who may benefit from this practical seminar. The Financial Coaching Ministry will host a number of breakouts on a variety of timely finance-related subjects, including: Biblical Stewardship, Budgeting and Managing Debt, Investing, Buying a Home, Real-Estate Investing, Finding a Job and Stretching Your Dollar.

If you register by February 17th the cost is $10 ($13 at the door), which includes lunch and all materials. The event is free for single moms. Limited childcare is available for those who are unable to make other arrangements. For more information and to register to go wst.marshillchurch.org.

For the Love of God and the Stewarding of His Money,
Pastor Adam