Biblical Stewardship 2022 Session 3 | Biblical Stewardship of Finances & Generosity Big Ideas: • Generosity, a fruit of abiding in Christ. • Tithe, Offering, Alms Why talk about Biblical Stewardship of Finances & Generosity? · Money matters because it’s a picture of the gospel. God takes something that moth and dust will destroy and turns it into eternal riches. (When we invest in kingdom things) · God owns everything and asks us to steward what He gives us. • 16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables deal with money and possessions • Nearly 25% of Jesus’ words in the New Testament deal with biblical stewardship • 1 out of 10 verses in the Gospels deal with money • There are more than 2,000 scriptures on tithing, money, and possessions in the Bible, which is twice as many as faith and prayer combined. • Bible verses about money are frequently used because there’s a direct correlation between the way we handle our money and our faith. • When it comes to money, we will either worship wealth or worship with our wealth 3 Buckets we can put our money into: • Consume • Give • Save or invest (what are we saving or investing towards?) (This will end up in one of the other two buckets) Some Questions to ask yourself about money and generosity: · Does giving often feel more like a duty or a desire for you? Why? · When you hear the word, “Generosity,” what comes to mind? · Who is the most generous person you know? Describe them. · How do you feel about the bible verse, “It is more blessed to give than to receive?” · Can you imagine other ways to be generous besides financially? · Do you worry about money? Explain. · What emotion do you feel when you hear each of the following words: spend, save, give. · How would you describe your relationship with money? Tithe-tenth; 10% (Store house, 10% represents the 100%) Some people believe that 10% is God’s and the rest is mine to do with what I want. Offering-something offered in worship or devotion to a deity. A contribution or collection with a designated purpose. Above and beyond tithe towards investing in vision and mission Alms-Money, food or any other donations given to the needy or poor. (benevolence) Acts 20:33-35 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 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.’ ” “In my search for truth, I counted 545 verses in the New Testament that directly pertain to money and giving (see Appendix A). Of these verses, 119 deal with general stewardship principles and do not discuss specific purposes for giving. The remaining 426 verses do reveal God’s purposes for our giving, and the resulting list of purposes is surprisingly simple. It includes only three categories of beneficiaries for biblical giving: · 281 verses (66 percent) are specifically related to financially supporting poor, suffering and persecuted Christians—that is, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, not “the needy” in general.[1] · 88 verses (21 percent) pertain to financially supporting “the poor” without distinction between Christians and non-Christians. · 57 verses (13 percent) specifically apply to financially supporting missionaries and other gospel workers, such as church pastors and elders.” Reference: Sputo, Dominic. Heirloom Love: Authentic Christianity for this Age of Persecution. Chapter 2: Tasting Authentic New Testament Christianity. Kindle Edition. 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now 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, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 1. Abraham paid Tithe to Melchezideck (pre-law) • Genesis 14:19 • Hebrews 7:1-7 2. Jacob paid Tithe to God: (pre-law) • Genesis 28:20-22 3. Tithe introduced as Law • Leviticus 27:30 4. Offerings and Tithes • The tithe was not a voluntary offering. The ten percent off the top belonged to God and the Israelites simply gave it back to Him. But this wasn’t the only obligatory tithe. They also tithed to support a special jubilee festival (Deut. 12) and took a third tithe every three years to take care of orphans, widows, and the poor (Deut. 14). These mandatory offerings averaged out to about 23 percent a year. • On top of these compulsory tithes, there were regularly opportunities for freewill offerings. These were generous gifts that expressed the Israelites’ gratefulness through voluntary giving in response to their devotion. • At a bare minimum, they gave 23 percent a year, but there was no ceiling on their generosity. They could—and frequently would—give exorbitantly. In response to Moses’ call for contributions to the building of the Tabernacle, the Israelites literally gave so much that Moses had to command them to stop giving (Ex. 36:2–7). 5. Tithe established for the Levites/paying church leaders (Why do we pay our pastors?) Numbers 18:21 “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting Galatians 6:6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. I Timothy 5:17-18 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.” I Corinthians 9:9-14 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. Philippians 4:14-19 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Acts 6:2-4 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 6. Tithe for festivals (remembrances) Deuteronomy 14:22 7. Tithe for widows, orphans, needy and sojourners Deuteronomy 14:28-29 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Acts 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 8. Nehemiah reinstates the tithe Nehemiah 10:35-37 9. The principle of abundance Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; 11 10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 11:24-25 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. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 10. Robbing God? Malachi 3:8-9 “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. Throughout the Old Testament, an offering was something you gave, but the tithe was something you owed. It belonged to the Lord and it was given to Him—it wasn’t a gift. On top of the importance of recognizing God’s sovereignty in the tithe, the whole priestly system relied on the tithe to stay functional. Of particular interest here is how the withholding of some in Israel put the whole nation at risk of God’s judgment. 11. Testing God in Tithe (obedience and trust) Malachi 3:10-12 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. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; 12 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts. 12. Jesus Affirms the Tithe Jesus never commanded less than the Law. He always confirmed or added to it. Matthew 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. 13. Equal Sacrifice not Equal Amounts 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. 42 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 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.” Take Away: 1. Is my heart aligned with earthly treasure or Kingdom purpose? 2. What seeds has God given me that need to be planted, cultivated, and harvested? 3. Have I aligned myself under the promises of God with my surrender and obedience? 4. What steps do I need to take before God to ensure I am walking in Biblical obedience in the area of finances? 5. If you do not partner with your local church with time, treasure, and talent, why not? · Is it theological? · Is it need for training? · Is it rebellion? · Is it love of money and stuff? · Is it selfishness? · Fear instead of Faith in God?