How to Move a Mountain

If you have already completed Living Word's stewardship program called Heart in Focus, you may wish to skip this page and go directly to an explanation of the Moving Mountains Appeal.

If you have not gone through the stewardship program, it is strongly recommended that you read this page first to prepare yourself spiritually for what will follow.

You Are a Trustee

The Living Word Moving Mountains Appeal is, when you get right down to it, about managing your finances with a heart that has been changed by the gospel. It's about the Holy Spirit moving you to contribute more of your finances than usual to the Living Word Building Fund so that, at some future date, we can construct a facility to more efficiently and effectively communicate the message about Jesus, the Savior of all, to as many people as possible - including you.

Living Word Moving Mountains Building Fund Drive

God is concerned about how you use what he's given you. That includes the finances he's entrusted you with. It doesn't matter whether you have a relatively small amount of money to work with or vast sums of it. He still expects you to use it wisely and to use some of it for the benefit of his kingdom; that is, spreading that message about Jesus, the only Way to heaven.

And God doesn't leave you in the lurch after entrusting you with financial matters. He also provides some guidelines for making choices when working with those funds. What follows is how you can apply his guidelines in today's world in ways that will please him, provide for your needs, and promote his message of salvation.

Where to Look First

There are two places you need to look before you can decide how you will participate in the Moving Mountains Appeal: The Bible and your heart.

The Bible gives God's guidelines and the message of salvation. It also tells you about your heart and can make your heart more like God's. Your heart is where you will find a struggle between good and evil going on. Sometimes we let the evil side win; other times good conquers the evil and God's will is done.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

You know that money doesn't really give you happiness, success, respect, or power. It doesn't even give you freedom or security. God can give you any of those things if he decides you need them. Don't let the pursuit of those things be your motivation for how you manage your finances.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

It's the power of the Holy Spirit working in your heart that enables you to do all that God wants you to. That same Holy Spirit does his work when you read and hear the Word of God itself - just as you have already done several times while reading this page!

When the Holy Spirit is working in your heart, there will be fewer and fewer times that you let the evil side win. More and more you will be doing what God wants with the finances he entrusted to you and in all other areas of your life as well.

Plan for the Future

Make a plan for the future. You've probably heard that before. But maybe you never included the Bible in that plan, or maybe you haven't included it to the extent that we will here. There are several steps you should take in developing a good plan for the future of your finances and their relation to Moving Mountains.

Look where your finances are at today
Set goals for where your finances need to be tomorrow
Implement a plan to get your finances where they need to be
Make changes to your financial plan along the way as needed
Look especially to God for help all along the way

You probably already have a good idea of where your finances are at today in general. Have you ever tried to put that idea on paper? You may have a few vague goals about what you'll need financially in the future. Have you ever put those in writing? The financial plan for getting from here to there is likely the most nebulous part of all. Could you even begin to write about that?

If you already have all of the above in place on paper (or in an electronic document), that's great. If not, you'll be asked to actually write these things down. There's something about physically doing this that makes it more real and easier to work with. You can also go back later to compare where you were at the start with how far you've progressed, so you can see how far you've still got to go. If you don't do that, how would you know if you need to make any changes to meet your goals?

Here I Am Today

There are many ways you could go about figuring out where your finances are at today. You'll find one of the simplest forms here: Financial Worksheets

Click the "Creating a Personal Financial Snapshot" link on that page to download a PDF file that you can print. After printing, take a pencil and fill out all the blanks that are appropriate for your situation. You may have to dig out a few financial papers to fill in some of them, if you want to be very accurate. The effort will be worth in it the long run, so take the time to do it now.

If you have a spouse or other person to whom these matters matter, discuss this with them as you work through it. You don't have to - and shouldn't - do it all by yourself.

There I'll Be Tomorrow

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Your eventual goal is heaven. Before you get to heaven, there are other goals you can set and meet, including financial goals. What financial goals do you have right now?

Getting out of debt
Making a major purchase
Saving for education
Saving for retirement
Taking a big vacation
Saving for emergencies
Giving more to church
Giving more to others
Increasing your wealth
Other goals...

On the back side of that Financial Snapshot worksheet, write down your financial goals from the list above, including any not specifically mentioned there. Again, work with someone as appropriate to develop these goals. Add today's date to that sheet for future reference.

Getting from Here to There

Accomplishing your goals is largely about making wise choices daily.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Go back to this page: Financial Worksheets and click the "My Spending Plan" link. Print the document and fill in the blanks with monthly amounts as needed. The numbers in parenthesis in each category are rough guidelines as to where you probably will want each subtotal to fall. If they don't, that's okay for now. You may find you want or need to change some of these figures later. Remember to date this worksheet as well.

There will be more details about using this Spending Plan later. Keep all these worksheets in a safe place for now.

Can I Really Get from Here to There?

Looking at where you are now and where you need to be tomorrow; that is, in the future, you might be somewhat worried about whether or not you can achieve the goals you've set. This is where you need to look at God's guidelines and assurances in the Bible again.

The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

God normally entrusts you with enough financial resources to care for the basic needs of you and yours. Should circumstances beyond your control negate some of these resources, he provides other means for your survival. If he didn't, you wouldn't still be here, would you?

Income and Outgo

Where does income come from?

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth....

For most of us, however, not all income actually comes in.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

If your incoming is subject to withholding, it is wise to have the government withhold only what will be needed to pay the actual tax amount that will be assessed. Receiving a large tax refund only feels like a good thing until you realize that you could have kept most of that money to start with during the course of the year instead of lending it to the government interest free.

Where should outgo go?

Some of it will be needed for the basics like food, clothing, and (in most cases) shelter. Beyond that, you need to make wise choices according to the Bible's guidelines.

Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion....

...each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income....

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Note that giving a tithe (10% of your income) is no longer a requirement as it was before Jesus came, but it certainly can be used as a starting point or a goal to work towards as the Holy Spirit moves you to move mountains.

Should everything that comes in go out?

Saving for future needs may be part of your goals. Most advisers recommend having an emergency savings fund in an account that is easy to get at (liquid) when the need arises. Such an account avoids the need to tap into other long-term savings accounts, thus setting them back, when there's an emergency. These days, $1000 is the recommended minimum amount to have in your emergency fund.

There are many, many other types of savings and investment accounts (vehicles) that are available today in which you may choose to put some of your income. Look online and check with a trusted financial adviser for more information.

No matter which savings vehicle(s) you choose, you should start using them immediately and continue using them consistently.

Going into and Getting out of Debt

There are times when going into debt may be necessary, such as when purchasing a house. Most people just can't save enough soon enough to make it work without borrowing. When making the decision to go into debt; that is, to borrow money, do it cautiously. For smaller items and for items that would be considered luxuries, it's usually best to wait and save up for them.

The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.

A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge
and puts up security for his neighbor.

A greedy man brings trouble to his family,
but he who hates bribes will live.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!
Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Credit cards can be a great blessing, but there are some rules you should follow when managing them. (Note that these are not from the Bible, but are still wise advice.)

Use credit cards only for planned purchases
Pay off the monthly balance in full

If you can't adhere to both of these rules, don't use credit cards! Cut them up and throw them away instead.

Excessive and unmanageable debt can be a hindrance to your spiritual life and well-being.

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

If you already have large or many debts, there are several ways to go about getting out of them. Some advisers suggest tackling the smaller debts first to gain momentum before taking on the larger ones. Some say you should knock down the ones with the largest interest rates first. Whichever of these methods (or combination of them) that you determine is best for you, make it part of your complete financial plan and stick to it. With the Holy Spirit working in your heart to help make wise choices, you can move both the negative mountains of debt and contribute to moving mountains positively at the same time.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

Choices, Choices, and More Choices

As mentioned earlier, everything we earn has come from God. More than that, everything that exists belongs to him, since he created it in the first place.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.

He has entrusted a small portion of his creation to you for a relatively short amount of time.

The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns."

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

He asks that you give a portion of this trust back to him, that you use a portion of it to sustain yourself and those entrusted to your care, and that you make wise choices in using the rest of it. Making wise choices can be difficult. Even deciding between true needs and true wants can be tough. So again we go to the Bible for guidelines.

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

The majority of choices for using the rest of what you are entrusted with have no one-size-fits-all answer. The choice that is best for your situation may not be the best for your brother or your neighbor.

The following is not meant to be an exhaustive list, nor should it guilt you into making sudden changes. It is only here to get you thinking about how many choices you make daily and to start to consider which of them are wise for your situation.

Charitable giving - To your church? To other charities? What proportion?
Food - Eat at home / pack a lunch or dine out? Buy name brand or generic? Full price or coupons?
Clothing - New or second-hand? Designer label?
Housing - Own or rent? Small, medium, or large?
Communication - Cable TV? Cell phone? Internet?
Transportation - Use public? Own or lease a car, truck, minivan, or SUV? Buy new or used?
Insurance - Auto, homeowners, health, life, disability, dental...How much of each?
Reading materials - Buy new, buy used, read online, or borrow from the library or a friend?
Entertainment - First-run movie or DVD rental? Sporting event in person or on TV?
Pets - Large dog or tiny fish?
Child care - Both parents work or one cares for the children during the day?
Education - Private / Christian, public, or home school? Tech school or university?

Look back at the Spending Plan worksheet you completed earlier. After considering how God wants you to use what he has entrusted you with, what you need to live, and what choices are available for the rest, do you need to make any adjustments to that worksheet?

At the bottom of the worksheet is a Spending Plan Balance box. There are three possible bottom-line outcomes - positive, negative, or zero.

Does your income equal your expenses? If so, you're ready to meet your goals.
Do your expenses exceed your income? You'll need to increase your income, reduce your expenses, or both. Make the adjustments.
Does your income exceed your expenses? You should be able to reduce debts further and increase giving and savings. Make adjustments to balance to zero.

Ask God to help you make your choices wisely.

His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

You will be able to move a mountain.

Continue to an explanation of Living Word's Moving Mountains Appeal.