Lesson #13
· Where Your Heart is there will be your money also, therefore be content with food and clothing and do not seek riches!
1 Tim. 6:3-10 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You do not have to be rich to sin with money!
· Having money, however, is not evil.
· But when we love and greedily seek after money, evil is present.
Luke 16:9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
1 Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
· Have a proper attitude about money.
· Do not love money – the world is full of get-rich scheme.
· The right attitude is learning to be content with what God provides us.
1 Tim. 6: 9,10 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
· People can choose to make money their god.
· Many drift from God because they are seeking prosperity. There is a big difference in saving money and hoarding money.
· You can’t serve two masters.
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
· Don’t trust in money for your future.
Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
· When God provides money, we are to use it wisely.
Proverbs 21:20 (NKJV) 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
· When is money owed not debt? We are to owe no one anything but love.
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
When we owe money for something that has equal or greater value than the amount owed, it is not considered debt. If you owe for a goat and can sell the goat and pay off what you owe, that is not considered debt. In addition, a mortgage on real estate property is not considered debt. If you borrow money and buy something that is consumed, such as a vacation or holiday, and you have nothing to show for what you borrowed - that is considered debt.
· Your money belongs to God. Think of yourself as a steward of God’s money. As a Christian, all that we have belongs to God. We are stewards with responsibilities and will be asked to give an account for how we have handled things. Be a good steward.
Matthew 25:14
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Luke 16:1
He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
The heart of God is the heart of a giver. He requires this type heart in his people.
· What is God’s example of giving? God is the greatest giver!
· Is money the only thing you can give?
· Some people have a special gift for giving.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 12:8
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
· Hospitality is giving.
1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Being a Godly giver requires a special attitude.
· Give freely and cheerfully.
2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
· Heaven considers our giving not by what we give, but by what we keep.
Mark 12:41-44 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
· Our giving must be like our prayer life. Giving is not to be “now and then,” but systematically and consistent.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
· As we give, we must not give “to be seen.” We must never show off and draw attention to ourselves.
Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
· There is a principle when we give of sowing and reaping.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
· The word “tithe” means tenth. If you give tithes, you give 10% of your income.
· Offering is what you purpose in your heart – this is above the tithes
· Giving alms is giving to the poor.
Malachi 3:8-10 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Matthew 19:21 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Galatians 2:10 (NKJV) They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
God taught the Israelites to give in the Old Testament.
· Jesus Christ the final one. Leviticus 1:2
· Burnt offering. Leviticus 1:3-4
· Grain offering. Leviticus 2:1
· Fellowship offering. Leviticus 3:1
· Sin offering. Leviticus 4:3
· Guilt offering. Leviticus 5:14-19
· Wave offering. Leviticus 7:31-36
True Stories Regarding Finances and Giving
Tithing
A missionary to Chili shared some insights into this law of the Kingdom some time ago. As a pastor of a group of extremely poor peasants, he did everything he could to minister to their needs. He revealed what he considered to be the full counsel of the Lord, teaching the Bible as the Word of God, and leading them into many deep and significant understandings. But one day, the Lord spoke as clearly as if he had been standing face to face with him. “You have not declared my whole truth to these people.” “But Lord”, the missionary replied, “I don’t understand. I have taught them about justification by faith, forgiveness of sins, baptism in the Holy Spirit, about miracles and walking in your power. I have taught them about the church, about history, about doctrine. I have taught them about godliness and holy living, about the second coming. What, my Lord, have I failed to teach them”.
He waited for a moment and the voice was very clear. “You have not declared my tithe to them”. The missionary was stunned. “But Lord, these are very poor people. They hardly have enough to live. I couldn’t ask them to tithe. They have nothing.”
Again a silent moment “You must declare to them my tithe”. He was a faithful and obedient man and the debate ended. Next Sunday morning with a heavy heart, he stepped into the little pulpit of the rustic church in that poor backward community and began. “My beloved brother”, he said looking into the open uplifted faces of his flock, “God has shown me that I haven’t been faithful in declaring his whole counsel. There is something you have not been doing that I must tell about. You have not been tithing to the Lord.” And he began a trek through the scriptures with them that lasted nearly an hour. He explained everything, including the Malachi portions urging that the Lord be proven on the matter.
The next Sunday morning it was their turn. As they came in obedience to the word, they didn’t have any money, so they brought eggs, chickens, leather goods, woven articles, and all manner of things from their poor peasant homes. The altar area was heaped high. The missionary felt badly about taking the gifts, but he too was faithful, so he sold some and used the money for the work of the church. He distributed some of the gifts to the destitute in the neighborhood and kept some for his own substance and income.
The same thing happened Sunday after Sunday. The people tithed. It wasn’t long before the effects of drought were seen throughout the countryside. Poverty gripped the people of the land worse than ever. Crops failed, buildings deteriorated, gloom covered everything, but miraculously, this was not so among the members of the little church. Their crops flourished as though supernaturally watered, but more than that, the yield was extraordinary, bountiful, healthy, flavorful. Their fields were green, while those around were withering. Their livestock were sleek and strong. Relative abundance replaced abject poverty. They even had an overflow of crops and goods that could be sold and before long their tithe-included money. They were able to build a much needed new meeting house.
Despite their earlier misunderstanding, the missionary and his people learned that no matter how desperate the situation, no matter how deep the impoverishment, the principles of the Kingdom can turn depravity into abundance. They touched the invisible world.
The Fruits of Neglect
One of the many men who served the Lord in the rescue missions and other street ministries during the depression of the thirties has reported very moving accounts about those who would pass through the soup kitchens - the broken, the smashed men, and those virtually destroyed. He would often ask them about their spiritual lives.
“Tell me Fred, were you faithful to the Lord with your tithe?” he would inquire. The man would shake his head, clutching his cup and plate in front of him while staring vacantly ahead. He would ask the next one “When you were prosperous and all was well with you, did you give to the Lord? Were you faithful with your tithe?” The man would shake his head no. Never once did he find a man living in poverty, who had been faithful to the Lord in this principle of giving. That fits exactly with what David said thousands of years ago. “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.”
· Where Your Heart is there will be your money also, therefore be content with food and clothing and do not seek riches!
1 Tim. 6:3-10 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You do not have to be rich to sin with money!
· Having money, however, is not evil.
· But when we love and greedily seek after money, evil is present.
Luke 16:9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
1 Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
· Have a proper attitude about money.
· Do not love money – the world is full of get-rich scheme.
· The right attitude is learning to be content with what God provides us.
1 Tim. 6: 9,10 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
· People can choose to make money their god.
· Many drift from God because they are seeking prosperity. There is a big difference in saving money and hoarding money.
· You can’t serve two masters.
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
· Don’t trust in money for your future.
Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
· When God provides money, we are to use it wisely.
Proverbs 21:20 (NKJV) 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
· When is money owed not debt? We are to owe no one anything but love.
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
When we owe money for something that has equal or greater value than the amount owed, it is not considered debt. If you owe for a goat and can sell the goat and pay off what you owe, that is not considered debt. In addition, a mortgage on real estate property is not considered debt. If you borrow money and buy something that is consumed, such as a vacation or holiday, and you have nothing to show for what you borrowed - that is considered debt.
· Your money belongs to God. Think of yourself as a steward of God’s money. As a Christian, all that we have belongs to God. We are stewards with responsibilities and will be asked to give an account for how we have handled things. Be a good steward.
Matthew 25:14
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Luke 16:1
He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
The heart of God is the heart of a giver. He requires this type heart in his people.
· What is God’s example of giving? God is the greatest giver!
· Is money the only thing you can give?
· Some people have a special gift for giving.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 12:8
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
· Hospitality is giving.
1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Being a Godly giver requires a special attitude.
· Give freely and cheerfully.
2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
· Heaven considers our giving not by what we give, but by what we keep.
Mark 12:41-44 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
· Our giving must be like our prayer life. Giving is not to be “now and then,” but systematically and consistent.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
· As we give, we must not give “to be seen.” We must never show off and draw attention to ourselves.
Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
· There is a principle when we give of sowing and reaping.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
· The word “tithe” means tenth. If you give tithes, you give 10% of your income.
· Offering is what you purpose in your heart – this is above the tithes
· Giving alms is giving to the poor.
Malachi 3:8-10 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Matthew 19:21 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Galatians 2:10 (NKJV) They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
God taught the Israelites to give in the Old Testament.
· Jesus Christ the final one. Leviticus 1:2
· Burnt offering. Leviticus 1:3-4
· Grain offering. Leviticus 2:1
· Fellowship offering. Leviticus 3:1
· Sin offering. Leviticus 4:3
· Guilt offering. Leviticus 5:14-19
· Wave offering. Leviticus 7:31-36
True Stories Regarding Finances and Giving
Tithing
A missionary to Chili shared some insights into this law of the Kingdom some time ago. As a pastor of a group of extremely poor peasants, he did everything he could to minister to their needs. He revealed what he considered to be the full counsel of the Lord, teaching the Bible as the Word of God, and leading them into many deep and significant understandings. But one day, the Lord spoke as clearly as if he had been standing face to face with him. “You have not declared my whole truth to these people.” “But Lord”, the missionary replied, “I don’t understand. I have taught them about justification by faith, forgiveness of sins, baptism in the Holy Spirit, about miracles and walking in your power. I have taught them about the church, about history, about doctrine. I have taught them about godliness and holy living, about the second coming. What, my Lord, have I failed to teach them”.
He waited for a moment and the voice was very clear. “You have not declared my tithe to them”. The missionary was stunned. “But Lord, these are very poor people. They hardly have enough to live. I couldn’t ask them to tithe. They have nothing.”
Again a silent moment “You must declare to them my tithe”. He was a faithful and obedient man and the debate ended. Next Sunday morning with a heavy heart, he stepped into the little pulpit of the rustic church in that poor backward community and began. “My beloved brother”, he said looking into the open uplifted faces of his flock, “God has shown me that I haven’t been faithful in declaring his whole counsel. There is something you have not been doing that I must tell about. You have not been tithing to the Lord.” And he began a trek through the scriptures with them that lasted nearly an hour. He explained everything, including the Malachi portions urging that the Lord be proven on the matter.
The next Sunday morning it was their turn. As they came in obedience to the word, they didn’t have any money, so they brought eggs, chickens, leather goods, woven articles, and all manner of things from their poor peasant homes. The altar area was heaped high. The missionary felt badly about taking the gifts, but he too was faithful, so he sold some and used the money for the work of the church. He distributed some of the gifts to the destitute in the neighborhood and kept some for his own substance and income.
The same thing happened Sunday after Sunday. The people tithed. It wasn’t long before the effects of drought were seen throughout the countryside. Poverty gripped the people of the land worse than ever. Crops failed, buildings deteriorated, gloom covered everything, but miraculously, this was not so among the members of the little church. Their crops flourished as though supernaturally watered, but more than that, the yield was extraordinary, bountiful, healthy, flavorful. Their fields were green, while those around were withering. Their livestock were sleek and strong. Relative abundance replaced abject poverty. They even had an overflow of crops and goods that could be sold and before long their tithe-included money. They were able to build a much needed new meeting house.
Despite their earlier misunderstanding, the missionary and his people learned that no matter how desperate the situation, no matter how deep the impoverishment, the principles of the Kingdom can turn depravity into abundance. They touched the invisible world.
The Fruits of Neglect
One of the many men who served the Lord in the rescue missions and other street ministries during the depression of the thirties has reported very moving accounts about those who would pass through the soup kitchens - the broken, the smashed men, and those virtually destroyed. He would often ask them about their spiritual lives.
“Tell me Fred, were you faithful to the Lord with your tithe?” he would inquire. The man would shake his head, clutching his cup and plate in front of him while staring vacantly ahead. He would ask the next one “When you were prosperous and all was well with you, did you give to the Lord? Were you faithful with your tithe?” The man would shake his head no. Never once did he find a man living in poverty, who had been faithful to the Lord in this principle of giving. That fits exactly with what David said thousands of years ago. “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.”
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