Building Faith Families with Steve Demme

In place of shortcuts to have our needs met, consider many of the scriptures in Proverbs that magnify diligence and warn against laziness. “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who […] The post Standing Before Kings appeared first on Building Faith Families .

“Whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 28:20b). Be wary of “get rich quick” schemes. If they seem too good to be true, they probably are. Be more concerned with the condition of your heart if you are pursuing “get rich quick” schemes. “He that hastes to be rich hath an evil […] The post Becoming Rich Quickly appeared first on Building Faith Families .

God is just and fair. “A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.” (Proverbs 16:11) And He appreciates fairness and justice in our dealings with one another, and He has very definite opinions about unfair business practices. “Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an […] The post Just & Fair appeared first on Building Faith Families .

Being led by the Spirit of God is my last piece of purchasing wisdom. It is definitely connected to praying and asking God for assistance, but it is more about understanding how God directs us, and speaks to our hearts. Being led is one of the many benefits of having a God who knows how […] The post Purchasing With Peace appeared first on Building Faith Families .

You have heard “haste makes waste”. Here is the scriptural basis for that idiom. “Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” (Isaiah 28:16) Salesmen understand […] The post Purchasing Carefully appeared first on Building Faith Families .

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3) Many older translations use the word ‘lusts’ in place of ‘passions.’ Another word which can replace lusts or passions, is ‘desire,’ or ‘strong desire.’ We all are familiar with strongly desiring things or objects. One of the […] The post Purchasing With Discernment appeared first on Building Faith Fami...

When making major expenditures, such as a car, a home, or furniture, there are four concepts which assist me in making a wise and godly decision. The first is prayer. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) […] The post Purchasing Begins With Prayer appeared first on Building Faith...

“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions” (Malachi 3:8). Tithes belong to God, and generally are returned to the church in which you are a member. Contributions are in addition to the tithe. But where and to whom do we […] The post Giving Through Contributions appeared first on Building Faith Families .

“As you excel in everything … see that you excel in this act of grace also.” (2 Cor. 8:7) The Corinthians were being exhorted to receive a particular kind of grace, the grace to give. The fact that we can become a giver, by asking for the grace to give, is very encouraging. It is […] The post The Grace Of Giving appeared first on Building Faith Families .

Giving is the fruit of a redeemed life. The evidence of a heart transformation is an open wallet. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be. Conversely, where your heart is, there will your treasure be. I was told of a tight fisted individual who was converted and baptized. He became a wonderful example […] The post Giving from a Redeemed Heart appeared first on Building Faith Families .

Debt is a spiritual issue. My primary concern with spending beyond my means, with my out-go surpassing my in-come, is I am presuming upon the future. Presume means to take for granted that tomorrow will be the same as today. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such […] The post I Owe I Owe, It’s Off to Work I Go appeared first on Building Faith Families .

It seems that the majority of problems that a married couple will face are related to money. Conflicts arise about who makes it, who spends it, how it is spent, should they go into debt, and what are their long term goals concerning retirement, etc. I would hope that most of these questions would be discussed at length and in depth BEFORE you get married. This allows you to be pulling in the same...

Two of the reasons I work are to provide for my family now, and leave an inheritance for the future. Saving money for the future encompasses physical assets and a spiritual legacy. “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righ...

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) There is certainly a balance between being a diligent provider and living by faith. These are not in opposition. Unfortunately it took me a while to learn this lesson. Before I was a Christian, if I needed money I worked for it. After I rededicated my life to serving the King, I beg...

“But if any provides not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever”. 1 Timothy 5:8 (ASV) This passage is speaking directly to caring for widows, but it also sums up what is obvious and should not have to

“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:9-10) Work is good. God called man to be a steward and tend the garden which He created. Tending a garden is work. It is the task of a steward. And since this command to work in the garden was given before the fall, we can assume man was created to labor, and this labor was good.

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10) Whether you are a supportee or a supporter, endeavor to support those who are serving in the church and in other ministries as you would want to be supported if you were in their position.

When you are living for Jesus, all that you do is for God’s glory. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, as long as you are doing it unto the Lord. In the divine economy, work was created by God and is therefore good. Even before the fall of Adam, he was still given the task of tending the garden. Yes, “sweat” and “toil” are added to work as a result of the curse, but work is good (more on this in...

Thanksgiving is a special holiday set apart to give thanks. Like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day which are one day events, we are subsequently reminded to honor our parents throughout the year. Similarly, Thanksgiving is a gentle reminder to be thankful every day.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Part two of a joint podcast with Heidi St. John. I have had the privilege of spending time with Jay and Heidi St. John at conferences over the years. She is a true kindred spirit and advocate for the Christian family.

Part one of a two part podcast I did with Heidi St John . Heidi is a popular speaker at conferences and has been a friend for may years. During this broadcast she interviews me as we discuss the good news of God’s liking us.

There is unmistakable teaching in scripture that God sometimes blesses his people with material things. For those that do have wealth and have been blessed with material possessions, it is wise to remember Deuteronomy 8:18, “You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” But never mistake a lack of material “blessings” as some kind of indication that God is...

The word heart, as used in scripture, does not represent the organ responsible for distributing blood throughout the body. Neither is it to be interpreted as a passion or emotion. Rather, it is the very essence of who we are. It is the inner man. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34)

I believe the best defense is a good offense and if we focus on the positives we can ward off the negatives. Instead of examining ourselves regularly to see if we are coveting, I suggest we take the opposite tack and pray to be content. The character trait of a Christian who is free from coveting, is contentment. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he ha...