Give: Putting God First Financially

Give: Putting God First Financially Overview: Deciding to put God first in your finances may be one of the most challenging and most beneficial decisions a Christian ever makes. Money is not simply a financial matter; it is an issue of the heart. Jesus made it very clear that not only can money compete with God for lordship over our lives, but when God and money compete in our hearts we end up loving one and hating the other. Jesus cared very much about this. He said that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus even asked several people to give up everything they had. At times Jesus spoke of money as if it were in direct competition with him for our love. In the story of the rich young ruler we see this played out to a heartbreaking conclusion when a man chose money over God and walked away sad. Many people today wrestle with the question of whether or not tithing is for today s day and age. There are several reasons we should believe it is a good practice. 1) We know that God asks us to be generous, but how generous should we be? Should we give 20%? 50%? It would seem that the Old Testament standard of 10% provides us with a simple baseline. It is definitively hard to prove that tithing is required in the New Testament (just as it is hard to prove that practically anything is required in the New Testament). However, it does seem like this practice is still desired by God. 2) In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 we are encouraged to give from the heart whatever we ve decided to give. While this does grant freedom for the New Testament Christian in regard to giving, the immediate context of the passage is encouraging generous giving, and the greater context of the passage is strongly encouraging the Corinthians to follow through with a generous gift they had promised. The passage is not at all watering down the Christian s call to generosity. 3) Giving in the New Testament and Old Testament have many parallels. It is God s method of providing for full-time ministry workers, it is relative to a person s income, it is to be done regularly, and it has promises of blessing attached to it. 4) There is much work to be done to spread the message of the gospel to the world. Finances are a great help in providing resources and freeing laborers up to focus on gospel work. The average giving for American Christians is closer to 2% than 10%. This profoundly hinders God s work. 5) Americans live in a culture where we are some of the richest people who have ever lived on this planet. To argue that we should give less than 10% seems miserly. 6) Tithing has been the practice of countless mature Christian leaders throughout the ages. 7) Giving is a simple way to release the grip of money on our hearts. 8) Many can attest to the rewards and blessings of tithing and being generous toward God. Those who are not in the habit of giving may need to make some lifestyle choices to enable them to give. We make such lifestyle choice for our own benefit all the time. Memory Verse Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV84) Discipling the Heart Give: Putting God First Financially 1

Putting God First Personal Study Gen. 14:18-23 Abram gives a tenth to Melchizedek Gen. 28:20-22 Jacob pledges God a tenth Exo. 34:26a God asks for firstfruits Lev. 27:30-33 Tithe established Num. 18:21-26 Tithe used to support Levites Deut. 15:10-11 Generous giving to the poor 1 Chr. 29:14 David gives generously from what God has given Ps. 37:21 Righteous people are generous Ps. 37:25-26 Righteous are generous givers and lenders Ps. 112:5 God blesses the generous giver and lender Prov. 3:5-6 Acknowledge God in all your ways Prov. 3:9-10 Promise for those who honor God with wealth Prov. 6:6-8 Example of ant and provisions Prov.10:4 Hard work brings wealth Prov. 11:25 The generous prosper Prov. 12:11 Chase work not fantasy Prov. 13:11 Save little by little Prov. 13:22 Leaving an inheritance Prov. 14:23 Hard work brings profit Prov. 22:7 Borrower is a slave Prov. 22:9 The generous are blessed Prov. 23:4 Don t overwork to get rich Prov. 28:28 Don t be eager to get rich Eccl. 5:10 Money lovers never satisfied Mal. 3:7-12 Robbing God by withholding tithe Mal. 3:7-12 Floodgates of blessing open for givers Matt. 5:42 Giving and lending commanded by Jesus Matt. 6:1-4 Give in secret Matt. 6:19-21 Storing up treasures in heaven Matt. 6:24 Can t serve masters of God and money Matt. 6:25-32 Don t worry about financial provision Matt. 6:33-34 Seek Him first and he ll provide Matt. 10:8 Give as you have received Matt. 10:42 Reward for giving cup of water Matt. 6:33-34 Seek Him first and he'll provide Matt. 19:16-22 Rich young ruler goes away sad Matt. 22:19-21 Pay Caesar his taxes Matt. 23:23 Pharisees should have tithed and shown love Mark 8:36-37 What sense in gaining world but losing soul? Luke 3:14 Be content with pay Luke 6:38 Give and God will give to you Luke 10:5-7 The 72 missionaries provided for by gifts of others. Worker worth wages. Luke 11:39-41 Clean inside of dish and give to poor. Luke 11:42 Pharisees should have tithed and shown love Luke 12:15-21 Bigger barns and greed Luke 12:33 Give to the poor to gain treasure in heaven Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (NIV) Luke 16:9-14 Use earthly riches to gain heavenly ones Luke 18:10-14 Humble sinner vs. tithing Pharisee Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus pays restitution and gives to poor Luke 21:1-4 Rich givers vs. poor widow Acts 4:34-37 Disciples help provide for one another Acts 9:36 Tabitha (Dorcas) helps poor Acts 10:1-4 Cornelius a generous giver Acts 10:31 Cornelius noticed by God for gifts to poor Acts 11:29-30 Disciples give according to their ability Acts 20:35 Better to give than receive Acts 24:17 Paul gives gifts for poor in Jerusalem Rom. 12:6-8 Gift of giving generously to needy Rom. 13:5-7 Pay taxes and debts Rom. 15:26 Paul contributes to needs of poor 1 Cor. 9:7-14 Contributions support those spreading gospel 1 Cor. 16:2 Collections saved weekly in proportion to income 2 Cor. 6:4-10 Poor, yet having everything 2 Cor. 8:1-9:15 Macedonian churches give out of great need 2 Cor. 8:3 Macedonian churches give beyond ability 2 Cor. 8:5 God s will: First to Lord, then to other needs 2 Cor. 8:12 Acceptable gift based on what you have 2 Cor. 8:13 Desire for shared financial struggle 2 Cor. 8:14 Those with plenty supply those in need 2 Give: Putting God First Financially Discipling the Heart

2 Cor 8:21 Above reproach in handling finances 2 Cor. 9:6 Sowing and reaping sparingly and generously 2 Cor. 9:7 Giving from heart, not under reluctance 2 Cor. 9:8 God s abundance of blessing for givers 1 Cor. 13:3 Loveless giving Gal. 2:10 Don t forget the poor Gal. 6:6 Sharing with your instructor Eph. 4:28 Working to have something to give Phil. 4:10-19 Paul thanks Philippians for gift Phil. 4:11-12 Content amidst financial struggle Phil. 4:17 Giving credited to your account 1 Tim. 5:3-16 Practice religion by caring for widows in family 1 Tim. 5:17-18 Elders of church are to be provided for 1 Tim. 6:5-11 Love of money destroys faith 1 Tim. 6:17-19 Commands for the rich Hebrews 13:5 Be content with possessions James 2:15-17 Meeting physical needs with actions 1 John 3:17-18 Those who have should help those without Greed Prov. 15:27 Greed brings family trouble Prov. 28:25 Causes strife Mark 7:20-23 In list of what makes one unclean Rom. 1:28-31 Listed in description of the depraved 1 Cor. 5:9-11 Listed as cause for church discipline 1 Cor. 6:9-10 Greedy will not inherit kingdom Eph. 5:3-7 Greedy have no inheritance in kingdom Col. 3:5-6 Kill your desires and greed 1 Peter 5:2-3 Shepherds not to be greedy Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and triples that want another way. Benjamin Franklin When I have any money, I get rid of it as quickly as possible, lest it find a way into my heart. John Wesley God gave me my money. I believe the power to make money is a gift from God to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind. Having been endowed with the gift I possess, I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience. John D. Rockefeller (1905) Discipling the Heart Give: Putting God First Financially 3

Questions for Personal Study and Reflection In the Old Testament, the tithe was introduced. A tithe is 10% of a person s income (Leviticus 18:32, Numbers 18:21,26, Deuteronomy 26:12, Nehemiah 10:38). Read Leviticus 27:30 and Malachi 3:8-9. Who did the tithe belong to? In Malachi, when the people failed to tithe, what did God accuse them of? List some other types of giving found in the Bible: Deuteronomy 12:6 Deuteronomy 15:10-11 1 Samuel 17:25 1 Chronicles 29:1-14 2 Chronicles 24:9 In Genesis 14:18-23 and Genesis 28:28, we find examples of Abram and Jacob giving ten percent well before the tithe was established in Leviticus. Why do you think they gave? Why did they choose ten percent? What were tithes used for in the Old Testament according to Numbers 18:21-26? How does God provide for ministry workers according to 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, Luke 10:5-7, and 1 Timothy 5:17-18? In what way does Jesus New Testament promise given in Luke 6:38 sound similar to the Old Testament promise given in Malachi 3:10? Does that mean that if we give faithfully and generously that we will never experience financial troubles or other hard times? Why or why not? In 2 Corinthians 8:5 Paul said that the Macedonians gave first to the Lord (ESV) and then to his ministry. What do you think is meant by first to the Lord? How could a person give to the Lord? How would that be different from giving to Paul s work? What kind of giving was encouraged in 1 Corinthians 16:2? What kind of giving was demonstrated by the disciples in Acts 11:29-30? Do you think the tithe relates to New Testament Christianity, or did it end with the Old Covenant? What verses are key to defining and defending your position on this? Read Matthew 6:19-34. What are some fears (or other money issues) that you experience that are addressed by Jesus in this passage? Is it unusual for us to have those concerns? Is it wrong for us to have those concerns? What does it take to obey Matthew 6:33? How can we know for sure if we are seeking His kingdom first? Money helps fund God s work. Do you think God s work is impacted when Christians don t give as God has led them? 4 Give: Putting God First Financially Discipling the Heart

What principles should guide a person considering giving to one or more of the following: church needs, mission trips, Christian radio, the persecuted church, disaster relief, starving children in a third-world country, endangered and mistreated animals, and local homelessness? Sometimes Christians feel like they shouldn t tithe because they are in debt. Some even feel that it would be irresponsible. Yet around 80% of Americans have debt and over a third have credit card debt. Consider the following situations: a. A Christian racks up $12,000 credit card debt on electronics, clothes, going out to eat, and entertainment. After paying $240 a month credit card payment, they feel like they can t give to God or his work. b. A Christian doesn t have any debt but takes out a $12,000 loan to go on a once-in-a-lifetime three month mission trip to the Amazon. Do you feel it is wrong to go into unsecured debt? (Unsecured means you are not using collateral like a car or a home. Credit card debt is unsecured.) Is it wrong to go into debt for God, such as to give to a building campaign or to fund a mission trip? Is it wrong to go into debt when spending money on yourself? How would you advise people who want to give, but don t have any room left in their budget to do so (which of course is the situation the vast majority of people are in)? After studying this topic, write out your personal convictions related to giving here: Tithing isn't something I do to clear my conscience so I can do whatever I want with the 90 percent--it also belongs to God! I must seek his direction and permission for whatever I do with the full amount. I may discover that God has different ideas than I do. Randy Alcorn To consume the best for yourself and give the crumbs to God is blasphemy. A heart that truly worships is a heart that gives its best to God in time and substance. A heart that truly worships God gives generously to the causes of God---causes that God cares deeply about. I have to wonder whether someday we may wake up to discover that all our incestous spending on ourselves and our frantic construction of excessively luxurious places of worship---even as we ignore, for the most part, the hurting and the deprived of the world--- filled God's heart with pain. Ravi Zacharias If you cannot live off 90% of your income, then you cannot live off 100%. It does not require a miracle for you to get through the month. I think that if you sit down and look at your budget, you will see that you can make it while giving at least 10%. Read the Bible and take from it what you will, and if you tithe, do it out of love for God, not guilt. Dave Ramsey Discipling the Heart Give: Putting God First Financially 5

Verses: Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Malachi 3:10 Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter, says the Lord who rules over all, to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all. Matthew 6:19-21 Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Luke 12:21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God. [This is related to the parable of the farmer who built bigger barns.] Luke 16:9-11 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes. 10 The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you haven t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains. 1 Timothy 6:17-18 Command those who are rich in this world s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. Discipling the Heart Give: Putting God First Financially 7

Putting God First Financially Discussion Questions Icebreaker: Which one of the following two situations would be harder for you? Why? What implications does your answer have related to life, money, and sacrifice? 1. You have just graduated from college, are married, and have a six-month-old child. You have very few material possessions. You think God is calling you and your family to serve in a remote village in Africa in a special way that is very unique to your skills and gifts. 2. You graduated from college 10 years ago. You have a good career position and are starting to feel established in your career. You are married and have a six-month-old child. You have a $180,000 house which is 30% paid for, two respectable cars which have been paid off, and an average amount of other material goods for your age and position in life. You think God is calling you and your family to serve in a remote village in Africa in a special way that is very unique to your skills and gifts. Read through the verses on the other side of this sheet. What verse is the most meaningful to you? Why? Identify some of the verses on the other side of the sheet that have strong statements about, or warnings related to, money. It seems like most Christians don t think their attitude toward money has anything to do with their relationship with God. Why does God have such strong feelings about money? Read Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:32-37, Acts 9:36, Acts 10:1-4, and Acts 24:17. How would you describe the generosity displayed by those in the early church? In 1 Timothy 6:17-19 instructions are given for those who are rich in this world. What are these instructions? What percentage of Americans do you think qualify as being rich? Do you think you are rich when compared to the world-wide average standard of living? Do you think this is the correct standard to use? Why or why not? What point do you think Jesus was trying to make in the story of the bigger-barns farmer in Luke 12:15-21? Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. Why is it important to give with a good heart? Why is it important to be generous? In the Old Testament (Proverbs 3:3-10) people could honor the Lord by their giving. Are there ways you can honor God today with your money? Are there ways you can dishonor God with your money? Is there anything you would like to do differently in regard to saving, spending, giving, or earning? 8 Discipling the Heart