When Financial Lemons Hit

It turns out I’m not the only one that doesn’t like lemons. So many people hate lemons, especially when those lemons are financial. Listen, when the financial squeeze is on, there ain’t nobody like those kind of lemons, not at all. Money problems can be the absolute most bitter, most bad tasting problems that any of us can have.

Last week, if you were here, you know that I started talking about the lemons of physical problems, health problems, that diagnosis that you can’t put up with, a sickness that is relentless. And all week long, I got to hear some amazing stories of what God did at the front of this room last week and the doctors confirmed through the week. And so we saw some miracles as people actually had the right kind of faith. They had a faith that was absolutely persistent. They weren’t going to give up. They stepped out of their seat. They made that faith personal, and then they went public with it. And man, it has been so good for me and affirming for me just to hear, and it’s faith building to see what God is up to.

Next week is the big one. I want to talk to you about relational lemons. Them’s ugly lemons too. Whenever relationships aren’t going good, nobody likes those lemons. But today, we’re going to talk about something that just makes people crazy: money. People will tell me all sorts of deep, dark secrets long before they’ll ever talk to me about money.

Nobody wants to talk to anybody about money, and probably the last thing you want me to talk about is money. But this is not a message about how to give more to Jesus. You know, certainly that’s part of the whole deal. But I want to help you today. I think this is practical.

Two Types of Financial Lemons

I think there’s two kinds of financial lemons, not just one. The kind we fear, and the kind we cheer. What? How do we cheer lemons? Well, the kind we fear are very obvious — it’s the rejected mortgage application, the rising price of groceries, the job loss, or the unexpected car repair. But the kind we cheer? That’s the promotion, the inheritance, the raise — the stuff we pray for. And yet, those can become lemons too if we don’t know how to handle them. What looks like a blessing can turn out to be a sour surprise.

As the apostle Paul told his young protege Timothy in 1 Timothy, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Not money — money is just a tool. But the love of money, the chasing after it, the obsession — that reveals our idols. Where we spend our money reveals what we love. Some people have wandered from the faith because of their pursuit of wealth. I’ve seen it. People get what they prayed for — a better job, more money — and drift away from church, from God, from everything they valued before. The blessing became the thing that took them off course.

So the goal today isn’t to help you get rich. It’s to help you get wise. Because whether you have too little or too much, both can squeeze the joy out of life.

The Widow’s Story (2 Kings 4)

Let’s go to Scripture. In 2 Kings chapter 4, we meet a widow in full-blown financial crisis. Her husband had served faithfully under the prophet Elisha, but now he’s dead. And creditors are coming to take her two sons as slaves to pay off debt.

Elisha doesn’t ask what she lost. He asks, “What do you have in your house?”

Her answer? “Nothing… except a small jar of olive oil.”

That’s where the miracle begins. Elisha tells her to gather jars from her neighbors — as many as she can. Then shut the door and start pouring the oil. One little jar into many. And it just keeps pouring. She pours until every jar is full. That’s when the oil stops flowing.

She goes back to Elisha and tells him what happened. And he says, “Go, sell the oil, pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what’s left.”

This story shows us that when we trust God with what we already have — even if it’s small — He can multiply it. But we must be honest about where we are, and take a step of faith.

Step 1: Acknowledge Where You Are

Like this woman, I would invite you to acknowledge where you are at. Be honest about your financial reality. The first step to financial freedom, to a better day, to getting rid of the bitterness and turning things sweet — is honesty. She didn’t fake it. She didn’t pretend she had everything together. She said, “I’ve got almost nothing.”

Ever feel that way? Always behind, drowning in credit card debt, making decent money but still not getting ahead? Haggai 1:6 says, “You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” That’s what it feels like, right? You finally get caught up… and then the fridge breaks. Or the car. Or something else.

You cannot turn your finances around until you first admit where you are and how you got there. Maybe it’s impulse buying. Maybe your car payment is too high. Maybe you’re trying to live a lifestyle you can’t afford because of what you see on Instagram. You have to stop and say, “Where am I really?”

Step 2: Do Something Different

Elisha told the widow to go get jars. Not just a few — a lot. That’s God saying: don’t expect just a little. Expect something big.

Then she was told to start pouring. That little bit of oil — all she had — would be poured out. That doesn’t make sense. But she obeyed. And as long as there were empty jars, the oil kept flowing. God multiplies what we’re willing to release.

If you want change, you can’t keep doing the same thing. That’s insanity. You want better finances? Your habits have to change. You have to do something different. Acknowledge where you are. Then take a new step.

Step 3: Follow the 10 / 10 / 70 / 10 Plan

Here’s what I want to give you: a 10 / 10 / 70 / 10 plan. If you follow this, your finances can get better.

The first 10% — give to God. This is the tithe. If you can’t give 10% yet, start with 1%, then 2%. Just start moving toward it. Scripture says to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” and test God in this — the only time we’re invited to do so — and see if He won’t pour out blessings.

The second 10% — save or invest. Proverbs says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” You might not be there yet, but it’s something to aim for. Invest in your future. Build something sustainable.

The next 70% — live on that. Budget, call your internet or insurance provider to reduce costs. Make intentional decisions. You’ll need discipline.

The final 10% — splurge! Enjoy it. Have fun. God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6). This part gets missed when we only focus on saving or giving. But joy matters too.

Step 4: Flip the Script

Here’s the problem: most people do this backwards.

We start with splurging. “I deserve this.” Then we try to live on what’s left. Then we maybe save a little. And if there’s anything left, we tip God.

It’s upside down. And then we wonder why we’re not experiencing blessing. But God is blessing us — we’re just not managing it the way He intended.

People don’t plan to fail — they fail to plan. So flip it. Start with giving. Then saving. Then living. Then enjoying. You’ll experience peace.

Step 5: Trust God with What You Have

Back to the widow: she poured out what she had, and God multiplied it. What’s your jar of oil? What do you already have?

Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

Trust God with what you already have. The oil didn’t start flowing until she started pouring. That’s how it works — blessings come when we take a step of faith.

Jesus said, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Want to be trusted with more? Be faithful with what you’ve got.

Final Word & Challenge

Money isn’t the enemy. Loving money — or obsessing over how much or how little you have — that’s where the lemons come from. Jesus said life doesn’t consist in the abundance of possessions.

At the end of life, people don’t wish they had more money. They talk about love, people, relationships. That’s what matters.

So if you want a different financial future:

• Get honest about your habits
• Acknowledge where you’re at
• Make a new plan
• Do something different
• And trust God with what you already have

Start pouring.