INSIGHT

On Religion, History & Society

Bible Studies / Outlines

• Introduction:  the Problem
  1. "There is a great deal of false service by many who profess to serve God but actually want God to serve them. They will give, but they always expect to be repaid. They will help the needy, but it's to keep God from allowing some tragedy to befall them" (Larry Burkett, "Finances and Your Relationship With God," Mar/Apr 1993).

  2. ". . . approximately two-thirds of the parables that Christ used in teaching deal specifically with finances. . . . Christ warned us a great deal more about materialism than He did any other sin" (Burkett).

  3. ". . . we encumber ourselves by following the worldly advice that says bigger and more are better. . . . we expand our lifestyles rather than simplify them" (Burkett). As we get more "things," we become preoccupied by "things."

  4. Our "love of money . . . . is manifested in fear of the future . . . . The evidence of that is the mania over guaranteed incomes and retirement plans. . . . That's not unscriptural, except when they compromise God's Word . . . . The fear of doing without in the future causes many Christians to rob God's work of the very funds He has provided" (Burkett) (see Luke 12:16-20).

  5. As far as showing faith and consecration to God to the world, it is "evident that in our most visible area, finances, we don't have much of a witness" (Burkett).

• Who Owns What?
  1. Psalm 24:1-- The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (see also 50:12, 89:11).

  2. Deuteronomy 10:14-- Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD'S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is] (see also Exodus 19:5, 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28).

  3. I Timothy 6:17-- Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

  4. I Corinthians 6:20-- For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

  5. I Corinthians 7:23-- Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

  6. Revelation 5:9-- And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:  for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

• We Are Stewards, Accountable to God
  1. Matthew 25:21-- His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

  2. Luke 12:42-- And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?

  3. Luke 16:10-- He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

  4. II Corinthians 10:18-- For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

  5. Titus 1:7-- For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.

  6. I Peter 4:10-- As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

  7. Revelation 2:26-- And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations . . .

• The Tithe is the Basic Unit of Our Stewardship
  1. The tithe (tenth) is ten percent of our personal income. It is to be taken "off the top" (the "first-fruits"), not "off the bottom" out of what is left over. God requires the best of all we have.

     Leviticus 27:32-- And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

     Deuteronomy 14:22-- Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

  2. The tithe precedes the Law of Moses:

     Genesis 14:20-- [Abraham] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

     Genesis 28:22-- [Jacob] And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

• Why Has God Chosen the Tithe?
  1. OBEDIENCE.  We should give the tithe because God says so.

  2. DISCIPLINE.  Not only do we learn to obey God, but we learn to discipline ourselves by being disciplined.

  3. SUBMISSION.  Money represents our desires. We must wrestle between spending it the way we want to, or spending it the way God wants us to. Tithing teaches us to submit to God and to one another.

  4. FOR GOD'S USE.  God chose to use the tithe for support of ministers and church workers, helping the needy, keeping God's house, and for the work of the Church.

     "Obviously, in God's economy, He must either provide a material surplus to some Christians to meet the needs of others, or He must provide manna from heaven. God's plan is clearly stated in 2 Corinthians 8:14-15 -- that our abundance at the present time will meet the needs of others, and later their abundance will meet our needs. . ." (Burkett).

     Deuteronomy 26:12-- When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, and hast given [it] unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled . . . .

• Where Does the Tithe Go? To God's Storehouse, the Church
  1. Nehemiah 10:37-38-- And [that] we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priest, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites . . . .  And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes; and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

  2. Deuteronomy 12:5-6, 11-- But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks . . . .  there shall ye bring all that I command you . . . .

  3. Nehemiah 12:44-- And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the Law for the priest and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

  4. Nehemiah 13:5-- And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

  5. Malachi 3:10-- Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house . . . .

• Who Administers the Tithe? The Leaders of the Church
  1. Acts 6:1-3-- And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

  2. Acts 4:34-37-- Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid [them] down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The Son of Consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet.

  3. I Corinthians 16:2-- Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

  4. Acts 5:1-11-- Ananias and Sapphira. See also 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:11-15, 9:5.

• Conscientious Tithing Is a Prerequisite for Blessing
  1. WHAT IS A BLESSING?-- It is equivalent to Burkett's definition of "rich": "having enough money to meet all your reasonable needs and still have funds left over." God blesses people in order that they might bless others. If you are not blessing others (the needy, the propagation of the gospel, etc.), then maybe it is not God who is blessing you! Maybe it is Satan casting the stumblingblock of riches at your feet, or maybe you are blessing yourself, and using God's word to ratify your greed.

     Stop seeking after blessings to consume upon yourself! Instead, LET GOD DEFINE YOUR BLESSINGS. God's greatest blessings are spiritual.

  2. James 2:5-- Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

  3. James 4:3-- Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

  4. Proverbs 11:25-- The liberal (generous) soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth (refreshes others) shall be watered also himself.

  5. Malachi 3:7-8, 10-11-- Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? (v. 8) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (v. 10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. (v. 11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts (See also Isaiah 32:8, 58:6-11; James 1:15).