On Money and Humility

On Money, Rick says,

"I believe people usually fall into one of two categories: Kingdom Builders and Wealth Builders.  Both are gifted at making a business grow, making deals or sales, and making a profit.Wealth Builders continue to amass wealth for themselves no matter how much they make. Kingdom Builders change the rules of the game. They still try to make as much money as they can but they do it in order to give it away. They use the wealth to fund Gods church and its mission in the world.

At Saddleback church, we have a group of CEOs and business owners who are trying to make as much as they can, so they can give as much as they can to further the kingdom of God. I encourage you to talk with your pastor and begin a Kingdom Builders group in your church."

Ministry: How Real Servants Think  by Pastor Rick Warren, 10/23/03

 Does Rick Warren not read 

in his Bible that a person 

"cannot serve both God and mammon"?

Matthew 6:24

"We all want to be out of debt. But we have to do what it takes to do that. It isn’t easy. It takes discipline. It takes perseverance. But it’s also the right thing to do.... Start paying God and yourself first.  If you want to get out of debt, you’ve got to start tithing 10 percent (paying God) and saving 10 percent (paying yourself). People in debt will balk at this. They don’t understand how tithing and saving will help get them out of debt. But if you wait until you pay off all your bills, you will never save and you will never tithe.  When we’re in debt, we need God’s help. That means we need to do it God’s way. The fact is, whatever area we want God to bless, we have to put him first in. You want God to bless your finances? You better put him first in your finances. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added to you.” 

Eight Steps to Getting Out of Debt by Rick Warren, Ministry Toolbox, Issue 373

Pastor Rick really believes that saving 

money for yourself when you 

owe debt is the right  thing to do? 

And, how biblical is it to borrow money

because you need it 

and do not have it 

and THEN not pay it back?

(It is not.) 

How biblical is it 

to use t5he act of giving money to God 

(tithing)

to evade the fulfillinment of 

financial obligation to others?

  Withholding what is due 

and calling it "Corban "

(a gift to God) 

is hardly "God's way"

of handling one's finances.

 

Besides, one thing the scriptures say about debt.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the debt to love one another.  

Romans 13:7-9

Rick says,  "It's obvious... your giving through your church family is providing more bang for the buck" so... end your money in today!

 "THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER unlike any I've written in 30 years. .... 

On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive - leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year, unless you help make up the difference today and tomorrow... It's obvious that your giving through your church family is providing more bang for the buck than anything else you could support.  It's no wonder that our ministry was named the top religious newsmaker of 2009 as reported by Associated Press."

 Urgent Letter to Saddleback Church Members, Wednesday, December 30, 2009

On Humility... 

"Servants don't need to cover their walls with plaques and awards to validate their work. They don't insist on being addressed by titles and they don't wrap themselves in robes of superiority. Servants find status symbols unnecessary and they never measure their worth by their achievements. Paul said, You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval. 

If anyone had the chance of a lifetime to flaunt his connections and "name-drop," it was James, the half-brother of Jesus. He had the credentials of growing up with Jesus as his brother. Yet in introducing his letter, he simply referred to himself as "a servant of God and the Lord Jesus." The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself."

Ministry: How Real Servants Think  by Pastor Rick Warren, 10/23/03

"Of course, the greatest instructions on how to be happy are the first twelve verses of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus began his most famous message with "Eight Ways To Be Happy." He is concerned with your happiness, not just your holiness.

Of all Jesus' eight steps to happiness, I believe the first step is the most important. Matthew 5:3 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." What does He mean by "the poor in spirit?" He's not talking about low self-esteem, or about putting yourself down all the time. Jesus did not die for junk. The Cross shows your value to God. Jesus was talking about humility. True humility. "

What Does It Take To Be Happy in Ministry by Rick Warren, 2001  

“The worst sin is not adultery. The worst sin is not murder.. The Bible says the worst sin is pride,” ~ Rick Warren
Christian Post article: Rick Warren Reveals 'The Kind of Leaders America Needs'; Top 3 Qualities Christians Should Look For in a Leader by Kenneth Chan  2008

QUESTION:

Where in the Bible are we told that the worse sin is pride? 

 (Hint:  It does not say that the "worse sin is pride.")

There are actually several things 

the Lord takes a disliking to.

 Proverbs 6, 16-20, 

for example, gives us a list. 

                                  It reads:

"These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, 

seven are an abomination unto him, 

 a proud look, a lying tongue,  

and hands that shed innocent blood, 

heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,

eet that be swift in running to mischief

a false witness that speaketh lies, 

and he that soweth discord amoung brethern.

Still, these are all forgivable sins, in Christ. 

What is the worse sin?

According to JEsus Christ, 

THere is only one unpardonable sin. 

 Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. 

Learn more about this at:

http://www.christiananswers.net

Read Matthew Chapter twelve and note this verse:

Verse 18: Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin  

and blasphemyshall be forgiven unto men:

but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost 

shall not be forgiven unto men. 

  

A person can repent of pride, and God will forgive such a sin.

"You know, the three biggest surprises of 2004 were first, as you mentioned, 'The Passion of the Christ,' which was roundly panned by every media, and yet went on to become the third best grossing movie in history. That was the first bit surprise. The second was my book, where for the second year in row, 2003 and 2004, it was the best selling book in the world. And what in the world is a book by a pastor doing at the top of the best-seller's list for two years?"

Rick Warren, speaking on "Larry King Live," CNN, March 22, 2005)

" I now believe that I know why God is blessing this book in such an unusual way. It is more than just a message that God wants to get out to everyone (which is huge).  I now also see that God is using this phenomena to expand the platform for us to mobilize thousands of local churches for global world missions through the PEACE plan.
Right now thousands of churches are doing the 40 Day of Purpose campaign, and now the program has been adopted by corporations (like Coke and Walmart) sports teams (like the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers, NASCAR drivers, and the LPGA) schools, civic clubs, and even prisons. Last year, Paul Harvey told everyone to go buy a copy of PDL on his ABC radio broadcast.   He said "This is one of the most insightful books I've ever read and I will read it again...and again...and again."  In 2004 we expect over 15,000 more churches to participate.  


The influence of the book keeps amazing me everyday as I get requests for autographed copies. I have signed books for 1) All the Supreme Court Justices  2) One for Fidel Castro (!)  3) One for the President of Peru (these last 2 were spanish editions), and I even got a note saying that everyone on Air Force One was reading the book recently. But all this is not about us. God's intention is much bigger than the book.  It's all about the global glory of God!  We intend to leverage the attention that the Purpose Driven Life has garnered to bring about a whole new way of thinking and acting in the church about our responsibility in the world. This is a stewardship we must be faithful to fulfill- with humility, generosity, and integrity."
Te PEace Plan Letter, by Rick Warren, 2003

"Most pastors do not understand the power of preaching. But even more important than that is they don't understand the purpose of preaching. I probably have the largest library of books on preaching in America. I've read over 500 books on preaching. Maybe some seminary might come close to that, but I am sure that no pastor comes close to 500 books on preaching. And as I've read them, the vast majority do not really understand...." 
Rick Warren,  Purpose-Driven Preaching: an interview with Rick Warren, ; Pastors.com

“I find most pastors do not understand the power of preaching. But even more important than that is they don't understand  the purpose of preaching.”

Purpose-Driven Preaching: interview by  Duduis 

"As Christian leaders, we need to be above reproach..."  

"...That’s why I established these Saddleback staff standards for maintaining moral integrity:

-         Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.*

-         Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.*

-         Thou shalt not kiss any attender of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.*

-         Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home.

-         Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them.

-         Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them.

-         Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attender of the opposite sex.

-         Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, chatrooms, cards, or letters from the opposite sex.

-         Thou shalt make your secretary your protective ally.

-         Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members." 

 The Saddleback Staff Standards of Moral Integrity by Rick Warren, 2003

"The membership requirements at Saddleback are so high most American church members could not jioin us." `Rick Warren

 Mosren Reformation Magazine Interview, 2004

There is something called pride.... arrogance, boasting and selfpromotion....

                             ... and then, there is humility.