What God says about money. Here are some of the 2,300 verses. Verses taken from the New King James Bible.

Transcription

1 What God says about money. Here are some of the 2,300 verses. Verses taken from the New King James Bible. Luke 16:11 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 1 Chronicles 29:11 11 For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours Lord Is Owner of All 1 Chronicles 29: Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. Deuteronomy 10:14 14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. Psalm 24:1 1 The earth is the LORD s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 1 Corinthians 10:26 26 for the earth is the LORD s, and all its fullness. Leviticus 25:23 23 The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. Psalm 50: For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Haggai 2:8 8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the LORD of hosts. 1 Chronicles 29: Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. Psalm 135:6 6 Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. Proverbs 21:1 1 The king s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Page 1

2 Isaiah 40: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. Acts 17:26 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, Genesis 45:4-8 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, Please come near to me. So they came near. Then he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Genesis 50: Joseph said to them, Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Romans 8:28 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Psalm 34: Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Matthew 6: Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Philippians 4:19 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Job 1: Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: Naked I came from my mother s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Jeremiah 27:5 5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me Matthew 25: 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. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Page 2

3 OWNERSHIP Leviticus 25:23 23 The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. Haggai 2:8 8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the LORD of hosts. Psalm 50: For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Colossians 1:17 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Luke 14:33 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Genesis 22:2 2 Then He said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. Genesis 22:12 12 And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. Recognizing God s Ownership 1 Chronicles 29: Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. Control 1 Chronicles 29:11 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Psalm 135:6 6 Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. Daniel 4: And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, What have You done? Isaiah 45:6-7 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; 7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things. Page 3

4 Romans 8:28 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 1. He Accomplishes His Intentions Genesis 45:5-8; 50:20 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours. 2. He Develops Our Character Romans 5:3-4 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 3. He Disciplines His Children Hebrews 12:6; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. GOD IS THE PROVIDER Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 1 Kings 17:4, 6 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. Philippians 4:19 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. GOD GIVES US OUR POSSESSIONS 1 Chronicles 29: Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. Page 4

5 Matthew 25:15 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. He is Lord of the Universe Isaiah 40:25 25 To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One. He is Lord of the Nations Isaiah 40: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. Isaiah 40:15, Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. 17 All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. Acts 17:26 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, He is Lord of the Individual Psalm 139: 3-4, 16 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 16 Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Matthew 10:30 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Jeremiah 32:17 17 Ah Lord GOD! It is thou who hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for thee, Matthew 11: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Page 5

6 Faithfulness Required Genesis 14: But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. 1 Corinthians 4:2 2 Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. Genesis 1:26 26 Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. Psalm 8:4-6 4 what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? 5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God,and dost crown him with glory and honor. 6 Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet, 1 Corinthians 4:2 2 Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. Hebrews 4:13 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Psalm 139:1-3 1 O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me! 2 Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar. 3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. Romans 14: Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,and every tongue shall give praise to God. 12 So each of us shall give account of himself to God. Matthew 25: 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. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them. 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. 26 But his lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and Page 6

7 he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:15 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Matthew 25:19 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Matthew 25: So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them. 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Luke 16:1-2 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. 2 So he called him and said to him, What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. Luke 16:12 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man s, who will give you what is your own? 1. Be Faithful with What We Are Given Matthew 25: 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. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Matthew 25:21 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:23 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. LOVING ACCOUNTABILITY Hebrews 4:13 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Psalm 139:1-3 1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. Matthew 25:19 Page 7

8 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 2 Corinthians 5: Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 1. More Intimate Fellowship with Jesus Christ Matthew 25:21 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 1. If We Waste Possessions, the Lord Will Remove Us as Stewards Luke 16:1-2 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. 2 So he called him and said to him, What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. 2. Faithfulness in Little Things Luke 16:10 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 3. Faithfulness with Another s Possessions Luke 16:12 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man s, who will give you what is your own? Debt is Slavery 2 Kings 4:1 1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves. Proverbs 22:7 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. Deuteronomy 15:4-6 4 except when there may be no poor among you; for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance 5 only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. Page 8

9 Deuteronomy 28:1, 2, 12 1 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: 12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:15, But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. Romans 13:8 8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Proverbs 22:7 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. 1 Corinthians 7:23 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Psalm 37:21 21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. Proverbs 3: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, When you have it with you. 2 Kings 4:1-7 1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves. 2 So Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house? And she said, Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones. 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, There is not another vessel. So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest. Proverbs 22: Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you? Proverbs 17:18 18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. Proverbs 6:1-5 1 My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. 3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. 4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. 5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Page 9

10 The amount of debt in our nation has exploded in every area. If you converted the federal debt to onedollar bills, placed them end-to-end and pointed them out to space, they would extend 450 million miles beyond the sun! Corporations now owe over $4.3 trillion. Moreover, the Wall Street Journal reported that 51 percent of all corporate profits are being eaten up by interest. Individuals owe more than $6.3 trillions. The average family spends $400 more than it earns each year. Personal consumer debt increases at the rate of $1,000 a second, and 13 percent of an average person s takehome pay is already committed to payment of existing debt not including the home mortgage! Debt Romans 13:8 8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 1. Debt Is Considered Slavery Proverbs 22:7 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. 1 Corinthians 7:23 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 2. Debt Was Considered a Curse Deuteronomy 28:1, 2, 12 1 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: 12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 3. Debt Presumes Upon Tomorrow James 4: Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit ; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT 1. Pray 2 Kings 4:1-7 1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves. 2 So Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house? And she said, Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, Page 10

11 you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones. 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, There is not another vessel. So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest. 1 Timothy 6:5-6 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. COUNSEL A Wise Person Seeks Advice Proverbs 12:15 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. Proverbs 13:10 10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. Proverbs 15:22 22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. Psalm 16:7 7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. Psalm 32:8 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Joshua 9: Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. 16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. 17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers. 19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them. Psalm 106: They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. 15 And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 119:24 24 Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. Psalm 119: Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 1 Timothy 3:16-17 Page 11

12 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Proverbs 1:8-9 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. Proverbs 11:14 14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Ecclesiastes 4: Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Psalm 1:1-3 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Proverbs 12:5 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. SEEKING COUNSEL Two common attitudes in our society keep us from seeking counsel. The first one is pride. Our culture perceives seeking advice as a sign of weakness. We are told, Stand on your own two feet. You don t need anyone to help make your decisions for you! THE COUNSEL OF SCRIPTURE Psalm 119:24 24 Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. THE COUNSEL OF GODLY PEOPLE Psalm 37: The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. Page 12

13 THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD Isaiah 9:6 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The Psalms also identify the Lord as our counselor. Psalm 32:8 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 73:24 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 16:7 7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. AVOIDING THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED Psalm 1:1 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; Fortune Tellers, Mediums, and Spiritualists Leviticus 19:31 31 Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. 1 Chronicles 10: So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. 14 But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. Know Your Counselors Proverbs 13:20 20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. HONESTY Daniel 6:4 Page 13

14 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Leviticus 19: You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. 13 You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. Deuteronomy 25: You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. 14 You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. 15 You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 16 For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God. Ephesians 4:25 25 Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 1 Peter 1: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy. Exodus 18: Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. Proverbs 28:16 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. Proverbs 29:12 12 If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked. Proverbs 14:2 2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. Proverbs 26:28 28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. Romans 13: For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Psalm 15:1-5 1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Proverbs 12:22 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. Page 14

15 Proverbs 20:7 7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. Isaiah 33: He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure. Proverbs 3:32 32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright. Proverbs 13:11 11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. Proverbs 21:6 6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. Exodus 22:1-4 1 If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. Numbers 5:5-8 5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 Speak to the children of Israel: When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the LORD, and that person is guilty, 7 then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he has wronged. 8 But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him. Luke 19:8 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. Exodus 23:8 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. Proverbs 15:27 27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. Proverbs 29:4 4 The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it. GIVING Mark 12: Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So 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 Page 15

16 given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood. Acts 20:35 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Genesis 14: Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself. 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich Matthew 23:23 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 1 Corinthians 13:3 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 2 Corinthians 9:7 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. Acts 20:35 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Proverbs 11: There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. Matthew 6:20 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Luke 12:34 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6: Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Genesis 14:20 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him a tithe of all. Malachi 3: 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. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their Page 16

17 liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. Matthew 15:4-6 4 For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother ; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. 5 But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God 6 then he need not honor his father or mother. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 1 Timothy 5:8 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. Numbers 18:8-10, 24 8 And the LORD spoke to Aaron: Here, I Myself have also given you charge of My heave offerings, all the holy gifts of the children of Israel; I have given them as a portion to you and your sons, as an ordinance forever. 9 This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, every grain offering and every sin offering and every trespass offering which they render to Me, shall be most holy for you and your sons. 10 In a most holy place you shall eat it; every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you. 24 For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. Galatians 6:6 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 1 Timothy 5: Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain, and, The laborer is worthy of his wages. Isaiah 58: Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, Here I am. If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Ezekiel 16:49 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Matthew 25: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40 And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. 41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. Page 17

18 44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. John 13: Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, What you do, do quickly. 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, Buy those things we need for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. Galatians 2: and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. WORK Work Diligently As Unto The Lord Nehemiah 5:16; 6: Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. Colossians 3: And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Genesis 2:15 15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Genesis 3: Then to Adam He said, Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it : Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return. Exodus 20:9 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 2 Thessalonians 3: For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. Genesis 39:2-5 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he Page 18