"A Whole New Way of Living" Date: November 22, 1998 Series: "Financial Freedom God's Way" Message: "Financial Freedom-The Possibilities" Scripture: Malachi 3:8-10 Time: About 5 minutes Concept: In the "Steve and Tom" series of sketches, the two men are talking about six months after the first conversation they had about God and money. Steve and his wife have decided to turn their lives and finances over to God, and Steve now tells how God has been blessing their lives. (The things Steve says about God's blessings are a compilation of true testimonies of others who have begun to tithe). Tom: (outside working on something...looks up with a smile on his face and breathes deeply) Ah! Smell that fresh spring air! After a long winter, it sure is nice to be outside without a five-layer parka. Steve: (entering) Hey, Tom! Beautiful weather, isn't it? Tom: You bet. Its about time we take that new pickup of yours, hitch up a boat and get ready for some fishing. Steve: Man, I can handle that! Only my pickup isn't new anymore...its over six months old now, and a veteran of a Minnesota winter. Tom: Is it that old already?! Seems like only yesterday you were showing it off to me when it was shiny and new. Man, how time flies. Steve: You got that right. Time seems like its just flown by these past months, but some things have sure changed. Tom: Really? What things? Steve: Well, things at my house are a whole lot better than when I bought that truck. You remember how you talked to me that one day when we were buried under a blizzard of bills about how your family had found a whole new way of living? Tom: Yeah, sure do. That was right before you tried that "Tony Getrich" junk and found out all he wanted was your money. Steve: (winces) Yeah...don't remind me. That was a big waste of money. I sure was glad you were a good enough friend to me to tell me about what had happened to you. Tom: You mean telling you about God being our Financial Planner and how things changed when we turned over things to Him and started following His financial plan? Steve: Yeah...you said it was a whole new way of living. So...that's what our family has been finding out, too. You know when you and your wife helped me and the missus how to get to know God and we gave our hearts to Him, a whole bunch of things started to change...and change for the better. Tom: Well, I know its been great having you and your family worship with us at church now, and its been really exciting watching you grow in your new relationship to God. What else has been happening? Steve: Well, I haven't been saying a lot because I wanted to see if it would really work like you said, but our family decided to turn over our financial situation to God like you did...and if you remember, our situation was pretty much a mess. So, we started being thankful for what we have and began to tithe. Things haven't been the same since. Tom: Good for you! So, things are better financially. Steve: Definitely...but that's just the beginning! You told me God would bless us in more ways than just materially...and that's what's been happening. Let me tell you...when we started to trust God and tithe, it our money seemed like it stretched farther! Tom: Yeah, God can do more with our 90% than we can do with our own 100%, that's for sure. Steve: That was just the beginning. My wife got an unexpected raise at work. We were able to refinance our home at a much lower rate. And you know what? I can't explain it, but we've had fewer medical bills and repair bills. Seems like things don't break down or wear out like they used to. Things that used to eat up our finances just aren't there anymore. Tom: That's what God promised He would do, all right. Steve: Plus...our marriage is so much better because we're not fighting over money any more. We've so much more content...and we've been having fun being generous with others like God's been generous with us. God's really made the difference in our family...He's given us a whole new way to live. Tom: Steve, I'm so glad for you...God's awesome, isn't He? Steve: God's way beyond awesome. Thanks for caring enough for me to tell me about Jesus, Tom. You're a great friend. Tom: Thanks, man. We've both got a lot to be thankful for. Steve: Yeah, its like Thanksgiving Day every day. Hey, I gotta run...but let's do some talking about getting out for a day of fishing soon, OK? (he heads out whistling or humming) Tom: (pauses, looking up) Father, thank You. My friend is now family...You're the best...just the best. -end-