1. CREATIVE GIVING:TITHING ANDBIBLICAL STEWARDSHIPFINANCIAL PRINCIPLES THAT SET YOU FREELecture Notes from In-depth Bible Study

2. Isaiah 55:1Come, all you who are thirsty, come to thewaters; and you who have nomoney, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wineand milk without money and without cost.Seek the Lord while He may be found; callon Him while He is near. Let him turn to theLord, and He will have mercy on him, andto our God, for he will freely pardon. 3. If you are like most people, you spend about 50% ofyour time thinking about money. Of course, thatincludes all of the time devoted to:a) Earning it;b) Saving it;c) Spending it; andd) Worrying about not having enough ofit (because you are much better atC than either a or b. 4. In our society, it is easy to get caught up inacquiring more money, bigger houses andbetter toys. Somewhere along the line ourculture shifted its philosophy from havingenough to getting more. When peopleget caught up in this quest-to-possessmentality, they get thrown off balance andlose their economic equilibrium. Youll knowwhen you have become part of thisgroup, your fiscal life will be turned inside-out: 5. Once you buy into our cultures successsyndrome, it can be very easy to feel like afinancial failure of you cant immediatelyachieve what you have set out toaccomplish. Lets face it, if your real life fallsshort of what society says it ought tobe, then it is hard to feel good aboutyourself. 6. But our financial failure isnt fatal, it canimprove immediately and you can putyourself on the road to financial successtoday, if you choose to do so, its just amatter of AssessmentAttitudeAction 7. A PRIMER ON TITHING;PUTTING TITHING IN A STEWARDSHIP PERSPECTIVEIt will take all three (rightassessment, attitude, and action) to get yougoing in the right direction. But it canhappen. This doesnt mean that you willend up with more pesos, but youlldefinitely end up with more sense. If youlearn to live within your income, YOU willbe living with lot of things, includingworrying. 8. ASSESSMENTIS THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR EARNING OR YOUR YEARNING?1. YOU EARN TOO LITTLE Minimum-wage jobs are a great startingplace, but you will be forever frustratedfinancially if you remain at that level. 9. 2. YOU SPEND TOO MUCH You make enough money to liveon, but you are spending more thanyou make. Thats called deficitspending.ASSESSMENTIS THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR EARNING OR YOUR YEARNING? 10. ASSESSMENTIS THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR EARNING OR YOURYEARNING?3. YOU NEGLECT TO PUT ANYTHING AWAYFOR RAINY DAY debt is like a quicksand. Youll walk rightinto it unless you watch where YOU aregoing, and once youre in it, youll have atough time getting out. 11. WHATS THE REAL REASONFOR YOUR FINANCIAL FAILINGS?The Wrong Feelings AboutMoney Can Get You Into Trouble: If you are indifferent about it, then youwont be able to keep track of how muchyouve got or where it goes. If you are possessive of it, then you will beeither hoarding your money or spending itto buy possessions that you continuallyaccumulate. 12. WHATS THE REAL REASONFOR YOUR FINANCIAL FAILINGS?The Wrong Feelings AboutMoney Can Get You Into Trouble: If you are too permissive with it, you wontspend it properly. You wont use itproductively, and then it wont be around todo you any good when you need it. 13. WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES THAT MIGHTHAVE CAUSED YOUR FINANCIAL FAILURES OFTHE PAST1. PROCASTINATION.This is the No. 1 culprit in financialfailures. People just put off doingsomething about their situation.2. YOUVE GOT A SORDID PAST.Were talking about credit report. 14. WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES THAT MIGHTHAVE CAUSED YOUR FINANCIAL FAILURES OFTHE PAST1. PROCASTINATION.This is the No. 1 culprit in financialfailures. People just put off doingsomething about their situation.2. YOUVE GOT A SORDID PAST.Were talking about credit report. 15. WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES THAT MIGHTHAVE CAUSED YOUR FINANCIAL FAILURES OFTHE PAST3. FAILURE TO HAVE A PLAN. Many peopledont bother setting financial goals. Theybelieve in ignorant bliss for a while. Noone plans to fail. They fail to plan.4. IGNORANCE ABOUT FINANCIALMATTERS. We are saying that you mightnot be knowledgeable about money. 16. WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES THAT MIGHTHAVE CAUSED YOUR FINANCIAL FAILURESOF THE PASTTo move yourself from financial failure tosuccess may require that you abandonyour previous financial habits. That will beeasier to do if you make sure that youhave a proper perspective about money.Were going to suggest that to whom doesit belong? and how you handle it aretopics that have a spiritual dimension 17. ATTITUDE: WHOSE MONEY ISIT?But godliness with contentment is great gain. Forwe brought nothing into the world, we can takenothing out of it. But if we have food andclothing, we will be content with that. People whowant to get rich fall into temptation and a trap andinto many foolish and harmful desires that plungemen into ruin and destruction. For the love ofmoney is a root of all kinds of evil. Somepeople, eager for money, have wandered from thefaith and pierced themselves into many griefs. -1Timothy 6:6-10 18. The Bible has an interesting perspective onfinances. It says thatEverythingBelongsToGod 19. The earth is the Lords andeverything in it. The world andall its people belong to Him.-Psalm 24:1 20. Riches and honor come fromyou alone, for you rule overeverything Everything wehave has come from you, andwe give you only what youhave already given us!-1 Chronicles 29:12,14 21. So where do you fit into the God ownseverything scenario? We can answer thatquestion in one word:oikonomos = stewardship.The term implies a manager of a householdwho administer someone elses property.God has made us the stewards of hispossessions. 22. You must put us in charge of everything youmade, giving us authority over all things.-Psalm 8:6If what we have belongs to God, then we shouldmanage it according to his principles. Thisperspective means that every decision we makeabout our money from how to spend it to how toinvest it has spiritual ramifications. 23. So dont worry about having enough food ordrink or clothing. Why be like the pagans whoare so deeply concerned about these things. Yourheavenly Father already knows all yourneeds, and He will give you all you need fromday to day if you live for Him and make theKingdom of God your primary concern. Matthew 6:31-33 24. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOU FREETHIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OFCONSECRATION#1. Dedicate It All To God.in all your ways acknowledge Him,and He will make your paths straight.-Proverbs 3:6Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Godsmercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holyand pleasing to God.-Romans 12:1 25. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREETHIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OF TITHING#2. Give The First Part Back To God.Honor the Lord with your wealth, with thefirstfruits of all your crops; Then your barns willbe filled to overflowing, and your vats will brimover with new wine.-Proverbs 3:9-10 26. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREEWhen do I do it?On the day first day of the week , each of youshould set aside a sum of money in keeping withhis income, saving it up, so that when I come nocollections will have to be made.-1 Corinthians 16:2The purpose of tithing is to teach you toalways put God first in your lives. 27. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREETHIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OFINVESTMENT#3. Save For The FutureIn the house of the wise are stores of choice foodand oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.-Proverbs 21:20 28. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREEThis is the Principle of Investment#3. SAVE FOR THE FUTUREDishonest money dwindles away,But he who gathers money little by littlemakes it grow-Proverbs 13:11 29. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREEThis is the Principle of Planning#4. EXTRACT YOURSELF FROMDEBT AND DISCIPLINE YOURSELFIN SPENDINGDo not withhold good from those who deserve it,when it is your power to act.-Proverbs 3:27 30. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREEThis is the Principle of Planning#4. EXTRACT YOURSELF FROMDEBT AND DISCIPLINE YOURSELFIN SPENDINGLet no debt remain outstanding, except thecontinuing debt to love one another, for he wholoves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.-Romans 13:8 31. What causes most debts?We dont plan our spending.The plans of the diligent lead to profitAs surely as haste leads to poverty.-Proverbs 21:5 32. What causes most debts?We dont keep good records.Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,give careful attention to your herds;For riches do not endure forever,and a crown is not secure for all generations.-Proverbs 27:23-24 33. ACTION PLAN: FINANCIALPRINCIPLES THAT SET YOUFREETHIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OFCONTENTMENT#5. Enjoy What You HaveBetter what eyes seesThan the roving of the appetite.This too is meaningless,A chasing after the wind.-Romans 13:8 34. Notice What Most People Do With TheirMoneyFirst, they spend it.Actually they overspend it.Two, they worry about it.Three, they start repaying it.Four, theyve got any left over they save a little.Finally, they give it. 35. Notice What Most People Do With TheirMoneyGod says no, this is the order that I will bless.First, dedicate it to Me.Second, tithe it.Third, save it.Fourth, repay it.Fifth, enjoy it. 36. Do not worry about anything, instead prayabout everything. Tell God what you need, andthank him for all he has done. If you dothis, you will experience Gods peace, which isfar more wonderful than the human mind canunderstand. His peace will guard your heartsand minds as you live in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:6-7 37. If you have not been trustworthy inhandling trustworthy in handling worldlywealth, who will trust you with true riches?Luke 16:11How you manage your money influenceshow much God can bless your life. 38. FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES THATSETS YOU FREEThe causes for not tithing:1. Some churches do not tithe because theysimply have not been taught to tithe.2. Some Christians do not tithe because ofpainful experiences.3. Some Christians do not tithe because theyrefuse to do so. 39. DEFINITION: Tithe is tenpercentTithe A gift of the Lord to one tenth ofones income. The Mosaic Law requires thatthe people of Israel give tithe.(Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Malachi3:10), partly as a means of supporting thePriests and the Levites. Many Christiansobserve the principle of tithing by giving atenth of their income to their church and orother Christian organizations. 40. Historically, 3,800 B.C.It dates back to the ancients, even outsideJewish and Christians traditions.Egyptians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, they give 10%to their gods. The concept of tithe was notlimited to the bible. We know from ancientsources that a man has always used a ten as abasic number for counting systems. This wasapparently because we have ten fingers and tentoes, and used ten as a basis ofmeasurement, as well as a symbol of completion.Many pagan deities were honored by giving of atenth. The reason, The number ten representedtotality and completeness. Thus, giving a tenthsymbolized the giving of the whole. To give yourgod a tenth represented giving your all, totalsurrender. 41. 500 years before MosesAbrahamand blessed be God Most High, who deliveredyour enemies into your hand. Then Abram gavehim a tenth of everything. - Gen. 14:20 42. MelchizedekThis Melchizedek was king of Salem and priestof God Most High . He met Abraham returningfrom the defeat of the kings and blessedhim, and Abraham gave him a tenth ofeverything.First, his name is means king of righteousness;then also king of Salem. means king of peace.-Hebrews 7:1-2 43. Jacoband this stone that I have set up as a pillar willbe Gods house, and of all that you give me Iwill give you a tenth.-Genesis 28:22 44. IN THE LAWA tithe of everything from the land, whethergrain from soil or fruit from the trees, belongs tothe Lord; it is holy to the Lord-Leviticus 27:30Be sure to set aside tenth of all that your fieldsproduce each year.-Deuteronomy 14:22 45. IN THE LAWLeviticus 27:30;Deuteronomy 14:22All - not a partTithe One-tenthThe Lords not mineHoly set apart, use for one purpose 46. TITHING COMMUNITYAs soon as the order went out, the Israelitesgenerously gave the firstfruits of theirgrain, new wine, oil and honey and all that thefields produced. They brought a great amount, atithe of everything.-2 Chronicles 31:5 47. TITHING COMMUNITYAll Judah brought the tithes of grain, newwine and oil into the storerooms.-Nehemiah 13:12 48. TITHING COMMUNITYBring the whole into the storehouse, that theremay be food in my house. Test me in this, saysthe Lord God Almighty, and see if I will notthrow open the floodgates of heaven and pourout so much blessing that you will not haveenough room for it.-Malachi 3:10 49. JESUS AND THE APOSTLESJesus observed and commandedother requirements of the Law.Then Jesus said to him, See that you dont tellanyone. But go, show yourself to the priest andoffer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimonyto them- Matthew 8:4 50. JESUS AND THE APOSTLESWhen he saw them, he said, he said, Go showyourself to the priests. As they went they werecleansed.- Luke 17:14 51. JESUS AND THE APOSTLESWoe to you, teachers of the law andPharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth ofyour spices, mint, dill and cummin. But youhave neglected the more important matters ofthe law- justice, mercy and faithfulness. Youshould have practiced the latter, withoutneglecting the former.- Matthew 23:23 52. JESUS AND THE APOSTLESYoure hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees!Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithingevery nickel and dime you get, but on the meat ofGods law, things like fairness and compassion andcommitment the absolute basics! you carelesslytake it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping iscommendable, but the basics are required. Do youhave any idea how silly you look, writing a lifestory thats wrong from start to finish, nitpickingover commas and semicolons?THE MESSAGE- Matthew 23:23 53. PAUL AND THE CHURCHESOn the day first day of the week , each of youshould set aside a sum of money in keeping withhis income, saving it up, so that when I come nocollections will have to be made.-1 Corinthians 16:2 54. 3 TITHE SYSTEM1. One tenth of all yearly produce(Leviticus 27:30-34)2. Festival Tithe(Deuteronomy 12:5-7; 14:22-27)3. Charity Tithe on the third year(Deuteronomy 26:12; 14:28-29) 55. Chrysostom, the goldenmouthed,cried, Oh what a shame! That was nogreat matter among the Jews should bepretended to be such among Christians. Ifthere was danger in omitting tithes, thinkhow great must be the danger now ! 56. Ambrosein the fourth century said, the Lordcommands our tithes to be paid every year.He has given you nine parts but He hasreserved the tenth for Himself; and if yougive not the tenth part to Him, He will takefrom you the nine parts. Whosoever is notwilling to those tithes to God which he haskept back, fears not God and knows notwhat true repentance and confessionmeans. 57. John Knox, reminds us that our Lord in thegospels, speaking to the Pharisees of the paymentof tithes, said These ye ought to have done. It isonly another instance of the great apostlesteaching that whatsoever was written a foretimewas written for our learning, and anotherconfirmation of the fact that the Old and NewTestaments are not opposing books butcounterparts of one great volume, and that themandate of the one is the moral law of the other.W.B. Riley 58. Christians live under graceAnd therefore their tithing is not a legalrequirement but a response to the grace ofGod. Jesus himself fulfilled the O.T. lawsincluding tithing but he never revisedthe law downward. 59. Just as you excel in everything in faith, inspeech, in knowledge, in completeearnestness see that you also excel in thegrace of giving.-2 Corinthians 8:7 60. Let me put this in perspective on what thebible says. In the key words that are used inthe bible,1. the word believe is used 272 times2. the word pray is used 371 times3. the word love is used 714 times4. the word give is used 2,162 times.God is a giver and God wants us to be like him. 61. PRINCIPLES OF GIVINGTHAT CHANGE LIVES1. DIVINE GIVINGEverything I have belongs to God.Honor the Lord with your wealth, with thefirstfruits of all your crops, then your barnswill be filled to overflowing, and your vatswill brim over with new wine.-Proverbs 3:9-10 62. PRINCIPLES OF GIVINGTHAT CHANGE LIVES2. SYSTEMATIC GIVINGNow about the collection of Gods people. Dowhat I told the Galatian churches to do. On thefirst day of every week, each of you should setaside a sum of money in keeping with hisincome, saving it up, so that when I come nocollections will have to be made. Then, when Iarrive, I will give letters of introductions to themen you approve and send them with your gift toJerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to goalso, they will accompany me.1 Corinthians 16:1-4 63. PRINCIPLES OF GIVINGTHAT CHANGE LIVES2. SYSTEMATIC GIVINGA. PeriodicB. PersonalC. ProportionateD. Planned 64. PRINCIPLES OF GIVINGTHAT CHANGE LIVES2. SYSTEMATIC GIVINGA. PeriodicNow about the collection of Gods people. Dowhat I told the Galatian churches to do.1 Corinthians 16:1 65. Principles of giving that changelives2. SYSTEMATIC GIVINGB. Personaleach of you should set aside a sum of moneyin keeping with his income, saving it up1 Corinthians 16:2 66. Principles of giving that changelives2. SYSTEMATIC GIVINGC. Proportionateeach of you should set aside a sum of moneyin keeping with his income, saving it up, sothat when I come no collections will have to bemade.- John 2:16 67. Principles of giving that changelives2. SYSTEMATIC GIVINGD. PlannedDont you know that those who work in the templeget their food from their temple, and those who serve atthe altar share in what is offered on the altar? In thesame way, the Lord has commanded that those whopreach the gospel should receive their living from thegospel. But I have not used these rights. I am notwriting this in the hope that you will do such things forme. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me ofthis boast. -1 Corinthians 6:1-4 68. 1. Tithe work and worker (11%)belonged to God2. Offering Beyond the elevenpercent. Outreach and Missions.- Universal Church- Para church Ministries(1) Check(2) Evaluate 69. 3. Helps responsibility to yourbrethrenCarry each others burdens, in this way you willfulfil the law of Christ.- Galatians 6:2Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us dogood to all people, especially those who belong tothe family of believers.- Galatians 6:10 70. 4. Alms- responsibility to those outside thefellowshipBe careful not to do your acts of righteousnessbefore men, to be seen by them. If you do, you willhave no reward from your Father in heaven. Sowhen you give to the needy, do not announce itwith trumpets as the hypocrites do in thesynagogues and on the streets, to be honored bymen. I tell you the truth, they have received theirreward in full. But when you give to the needy, donot let your left hand know what your right handis doing. So that your giving may be in secret. Thenyour Father, who sees what is done in secret, willreward you. - Matthew 6:1-4 71. He who is kind to the poor lends to theLord, and he will reward him for whathe has done.- Proverbs 19:17 72. He who gives to the poor will lacknothing,But he who closes his eyes to themreceives many curses.-Proverbs 28:27 73. 3. SACRIFICIAL GIVINGGod expects me to give my heart first!And now, brothers, we want you know about the gracethat God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of themost severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extremepoverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify thatthey gave as much as they were able, and even beyondtheir ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleadedwith us for the privilege of sharing in this service to thesaints. And they did not do so as we expected, but theygave themselves first to the Lord and then to us inkeeping with Gods will.2 Corinthians 8:1-5 74. Sacrificial Giving1. Giving is by Grace. Vs 12. Giving in times of Great Affliction. Vs 23. Giving according and beyond ones ability. Vs 34. Giving voluntarily, eagerly & liberally. Vs 45. Giving themselves of first. Vs 5 75. 4. Balanced GivingIt is wrong for me to neglect the othervirtues. 76. SECRET GIVINGPride keeps me from giving in grace.Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness beforemen, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have noreward from your Father in heaven. So when you give tothe needy, do not announce it with trumpets as thehypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to behonored by men. I tell you the truth, they have receivedtheir reward in full. But when you give to the needy, donot let your left hand know what your right hand isdoing. So that your giving may be in secret. Then yourFather, who sees what is done in secret, will rewardyou. - Matthew 6:1-4 77. BLESSINGS OF GIVINGIf I use my material blessings wisely,I will be rewarded.His master replied, welldone, good and faithful servant! You have beenfaithful with a few things; I will put you incharge of many things. Come and share yourmasters happiness!-Matthew 25:21 78. Blessings of Givinga. Divine Approvalb. Respect of othersc. Better stewardshipd. Joy of kingdom partnershipe. A guarded heartf. Strengthened relationship with brothers andsisters in the Lordg. Eternal rewards from the Masterh. A Growing ministry for Gods glory 79. While every tither may not have financialabundance result of his faithfulness of God, yetevery tither has the assurance of greatertreasure and see if I will not throw openthe floodgates of heaven and pour out so muchblessing that you will not have enough for it. 80. This material is an In-depth Bible Studymaterial preached by Bro. Noel Tan on August 6& 13, 2001 at Bread of Life Ministry Center atCrossroads 77