Nine Principles of Family Finances Viv Grigg What do I teach my kids?

But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well (Matt 6:33). Which things?  food, clothing, housing, basics. Luke 14:26 I forsook all to follow Jesus to the slums and he has provided all that we need each week for 31 years since then. We pray for our needs  e.g. bishops table  e.g. scholarships for Monique  e.g. house with office Seeking his Kingdom means following Kingdom principles of finances

Principle 1: Creativity God is the creative worker  His work was good  Made something out of nothing  His work was artistic, expressing beauty  Evolving one thing from the next – we are to grow business incrementally His work was good  Work is honorable  Daily chores: garbage, dishes, washing  Work with hands is godly

Kingdom Economic Principles in Genesis 1 Principle 1: Creativity – He creates, we create (Gen 1:1) Principle 2: He works cooperatively (“Let us”1:1) Principle 3: Productivity – “he made”, “it was good” Principle 4: He works Principle 5: He rests

Principle 4: Work Human work  To manage the earth  To subdue it  To fill it Work was cursed in the fall  It became hard work From gardener to farmer, from fulfilment to frustration  But the command to manage did not change

Principle 5: Rest Abuse of work takes two forms:  Idleness, afraid to dirty hands We plant our own garden  Overwork Work without rest is one of the major sins The Sabbath  a symbol of the covenant between God and his people  a time to reflect and rest  out of this reflection, worship.

Principle 6: Redistribution The Jubilee (Lev 25:8-17) It was a time of equalizing every 50th year. I. LIBERTY It is synonymous with the year of liberty. Slaves are to be set free. II. DEBTS ARE TO BE CANCELED. Economic freedom is inherent in the gospel message. III. CELEBRATION. Celebration is inherent in the gospel message. IV. REDISTRIBUTION The means of production, the land was to be returned to the original owners. Redistribution of the means of production is inherent in the gospel message. V. OWNERSHIP Even the Levites were to have their own home. E.g with $400 we bought our home.

Jubilee Economics in the Acts Community (Acts 2:42-44) 2nd PRINCIPLE: COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS 6th PRINCIPLE: MEETING NEEDS 6th PRINCIPLE: VOLUNTARY GIVING 6th PRINCIPLE: THE EQUALIZING GOSPEL 8th PRINCIPLE: CELEBRATION 9th PRINCIPLE: PRIVATE OWNERSHIP WITHOUT POSSESSIVENESS Rich 5% Middle Class 10% Labouring Poor 45% Destitute Poor 40% AN EQUALIZING GOSPEL A RANGE OF JUSTICE & EQUALITY

When people heard him, what did they understand? Jesus came to preach good news of the Kingdom of God to the poor, to set the captives free, to declare the acceptable year of the Lord (– the year of Jubilee) (Luke 4:18, 19).

Principle 6: Jubilee and International Redistribution (2 Corinthians 8,9) The principles of Jubilee as evidenced in Jesus community, then in the Acts community are further extended globally in Paul’s teaching on global redistribution between the churches Teach kids to give to the poor

I Tim 6:6-10 Equalising

Principle 7: Management, We are to manage the earth Earn your way through University, we will be here behind you if all fails Savings and Debt Debts were to be cancelled Owe no man anything Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors To my kids  No credit card  Don’t buy if you can’t pay Pocket money and a Notebook - giving 10% - saving 10% - making a budget - buy a hair curler???

9. Ownership Own home Own home Provide Family Principle Genesis/ JubileeGospels & Acts Epistles 1. CreativityGod the creatorSpirit sets free 2. Cooperative Economics Let us makeSharingProvide for others 3. Productivity Good outcomesFruit of Preaching 4. WorkHe makes He structures Labour in the gospel Work with hands(1 Thes 4:11) 5. RestGod restsJubilee comeEternal Rest 6 Redistribut’n for Equality Jubilee –return of land Tithing No needy one Weekly Giving Global redist’n (2 Cor 8,9) Simplicity 7. Stewardship Savings & Debt Jubilee cancels debts Debts cancelled Good managers Owe no man Manage house 8. CelebrationIt was goodWorship dailyLaughing givers