"Trust Account"

Date: November 24, 1996
Series: "Sense About Dollars"
Message: "God's Promises For Your Finances"
Scripture: Malachi 3:6-12
Time: About 4-5 minutes

Concept: A husband struggling with the family bills calls his wife in to try to figure out what is wrong with their finances.  The wife tells about a conversation with a friend whose family have turned over their finances to God and have seen a real difference.  Their conversation reminds us of the kind of financial decisions we all must make.

Scene: Husband sits at a table with bills, checkbook, calculator, coffee cup.  He is obviously frustrated....

Husband: (looking over bills, adding up things on calculator, comparing to his checkbook)  Dear!  Come here for a minute.

Wife: (Entering)  What's the matter?

H: I'm looking over our accounts here, and I don't like what I'm seeing.  (gestures to papers) Savings account, checking account, Master Card...how in the world are we supposed to make ends meet when it seems like they keep moving the ends?  Our financial accounts are like sieves...money is draining out of them faster than we can put it in.  (a bit angry)  We've got to watch our spending!

W: I'm trying to!

H: Well, sometimes it doesn't seem like it!  (sighs) Aw, this isn't going to get us any where...but what can we do?

W: You know, I was talking to Sue next door, and she said they used to be in the same condition financially.

H: Used to be?

W: Used to be, but she says they've seen some big changes in their lives, especially financially.

H: What happened?  Did they win the lottery?  Get a personal visit from Ed McMahon?

W: No.  She said it all started when they decided to turn over ownership of everything to God.  They asked the Lord to be their Financial Planner.

H: Oh come on.  You've got to be kidding...turn over ownership to God?  Make Him their financial planner?  Sounds kinda fishy to me.  Did some religious money grabber get them to trust him with their money?

W: Sue said they came to the place where they had to decide who to trust and whose plan to follow--to trust themselves or to really trust God with everything, including their finances.  When they chose to trust God and follow His financial strategy, things began to change.

H: Yeah, sure.  Like what?

W: Well--they began to intentionally to give a tithe to the Lord.  Before long their financial picture began to get better.  She got an unexpected raise at work.  They were able to refinance their home, saving them a lot of money.

H: You're kidding.  So when they gave to God, all kinds of things started happening?

W: Sue says their money just seems to go farther now.  They haven't been sick as much, they've had fewer repair bills, they've been finding incredible buys on things they need....and they give all the credit to the Lord.  

H: (thoughtful) So...they made God the Master in charge of their life, and He's taking care of them.  Huh--it seems that Master Card is in charge of our life.  

W: Sue says they're in the best financial shape ever, and they are even able to help others.  She says they just can't outgive God.

H: It sounds too good.  How can they afford to do that?

W: They can't afford not to.  Maybe we can't afford not to trust God any longer either.  Our accounts aren't doing too well....maybe...maybe we should turn things over to the Lord.

H: Well...I know that what we've been doing isn't working.  I guess you're right.  Let's make Jesus the Master in charge of our home.

W: Sounds good to me.

H: (somewhat awkwardly)  OK.  Here goes.  Um...God, we've been trying to do things our own way.  We've been putting ourselves first and You last.  Now we're turning things over to You.  From now on You're first.  We're going to do things Your way from now on, but You'll have to teach us.  So...we're all Yours.  All our accounts are in Your hands now.  Amen.

W: That was one of the best things I've ever seen you do, honey.  This is the right thing.

H: I think so, too.  But, I guess we've got to open one more account.

W: What kind of account?

H: A trust account, as in "in God we trust".

W: I have a feeling that's one account we're never going to regret opening.




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