"Money Talk" Date: November 3, 1996 Series: "Sense About Dollars" Message: "Its Not About Money" Scripture: Matthew 6: 19-34 Time: About 5 minutes Concept: As Scott and Tom talk at work one day, they begin to discuss the many ads that promised financial guidance. When Tom remarks that his pastor was talking about wise money management, it sparks some further conversation about how people often react when "God" and "money" are mixed together. Scene: Break table area at work. Tom and Scott are drinking coffee, looking at the paper... Tom: Whatcha readin', Scott? Sports page, comics, classifieds? Scott: Nope. I'm reading the financial section. You are looking at a new Scott, one on his way to financial independence. T: Really?! When did this all come about, and does Donald Trump know he's about to have some competition? S: Very funny. Actually I went to a seminar this past weekend that promised me how to become rich beyond my wildest dreams. I heard Tony Getrich speak... he went from flipping burgers to fabulous wealth in a matter of months! T: Hold on. We're talking about the Tony Getrich that does infomercials on TV, right? The one that invites you to his free seminar and then has you buy thousands of dollars for His materials so you can get rich like he did? S: Well, Tony is on TV, but I didn't spend thousands of dollars on his materials... T: No? S: No...it was only hundreds--but it will be all worth it! T: Forgive me for being skeptical, Scott, but I got hooked on a couple of those get-rich-quick-working-part-time-from-your-home deals....and usually the only guy that gets rich is the guy marketing the materials. Guys like Tony succeed because they know how to appeal to our greed. Look at all the people out there who are more than happy to help you with your money...all promising more than they can deliver. S: True enough...there's a bunch of ads for financial help...all by "experts". Tony just had the slickest ads, so I got hooked by him. But who can you trust? How do you know who's selling stuff that is really true and who's selling a bill of goods? T: That's a tough choice to make. There are a zillion financial strategies, most of them based on shaky foundations. Its interesting you are wondering about that, because we're just starting a series at church called "Sense About Dollars". We're finding out about what God has to say about wise financial management. S: (sarcastic) Now there's a real shocker. A church talking about money. That's one of the reasons I quit going to church...all they talk about is money! Too much money talk! T: Hey, I don't blame you for being skeptical. I used to think the same way. There are some people who try to use God to further their own greed. I don't like people or churches that try to do that, either. Actually, my church doesn't talk alot about money. S: They don't, huh? So why are they doing this series about money? T: Well, because our attitude toward money affects every other areas of our life. The series isn't really about money...there's more important things in life than money. My church actually invites people who are visiting not to give to the offering. They don't want money to be a hang-up to really getting to know God. S: What do you mean? T: Last week I found out that there are more verses in the Bible about money and material things than there is about prayer and about faith. Guess that's because there's such a big tie between the heart and the pocketbook. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also." The most important thing is what's going on in the heart. That's what I like about my church. They talk about the heart stuff. God stuff. Real life stuff. S: So, you're telling me that God doesn't care about my money? T: What I'm saying is that God cares about us--every part of our lives. You matter to God, Scott. Do you think you matter to Tony Getrich? S: No. Tony only cares about my money....OK, now I'm getting it. God cares about me, so whatever He wants me to know will be what's best for me, right? T: Right. S: So I can come to your church, not have to give a cent, and learn about financial management? T: Not just financial management. Life management. S: Well, I could sure use more of that. Look, I'm still pretty skeptical, OK? But...since I could give Slick Tony a try when all he cares about is my money, maybe it wouldn't hurt to give God a chance to show me what He has for my life. T: Won't hurt. Will help. S: We'll see if it helps. T: I did. It does. -end- 2 2