STEWARDSHIP

Member’s Book
 Stewardship

Leaders and Members’ Basics

www.TheLAMBofCA.com
House Church Training Materials for Central Asia
See page 47 for the full curriculum

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FAITHFUL AND ACCOUNTABLE STEWARDS..............................7
The Biblical Meaning of Stewardship ....................................................... 9
A Privilege and a Responsibility ...............................................................10
God’s Creation – Very Good ..................................................................... 11
Stewardship- Abraham to the Promised Land .........................................12
Stewardship in the Promised Land...........................................................13
Faithful and Accountable to God .............................................................14
The True Meaning of Possessions ...........................................................15
GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TIME.................................................. 17
The Discipline of Time.............................................................................19
Preparing for Eternity .............................................................................. 20
Time is Short .............................................................................................21
The Opportunity of Today....................................................................... 22
Accountable to God for Our Time........................................................... 23
Lost Opportunities ................................................................................... 24
The Most Valuable Time ......................................................................... 25
GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR MONEY ............................................ 27
The Disciplined Use of Money................................................................ 29
Giving is an Act of Worship ..................................................................... 30
Sacrificial and Generous Giving ...............................................................31
Are You Spiritually Trustworthy? ............................................................ 32
Giving Because We Love God ................................................................. 33
Give Willingly, Thankfully and Cheerfully .............................................. 34
Generous Giving - Rich Blessings........................................................... 35
THE TITHE IS THE LORD’S............................................................... 37
Tithing – Fellowship with God................................................................ 39
Tithing And Our Covenant Relationship ................................................ 40

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The “Holy” Tithe......................................................................................41

Tithing in the New Testament ................................................................ 42
A Choice of the Heart .............................................................................. 43
The Responsibility of the Church............................................................ 44
Where Does the Tithe Go?....................................................................... 45

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How to Read and Study this Book

Greetings. As you start your study of “Stewardship,” you will see that
the book can be read in one month. The book has 28 chapters, which
are divided into 4 units. As you study, let us call your attention to three
parts of the book, which are as follows:
Meditation: At the beginning of each unit, you will see two verses on
which to mediate and apply to your life during the week.
Personal Thought Questions: There are seven chapters in each unit.
You can read a chapter a day or as many as you feel you have time.
Usually, there are questions near the end of each chapter about which
you will want to think and pray.
Discussion Guide: At the end of each unit, you will find questions
for church or small group discussion. These will help you and your
church better evaluate what you have learned during the week. One
method is for one person to read a question then have the group
discuss the question.
As disciples of Isa Masih, we want to be complete, equipped for every
good work. God has “prepared in advance” good works for us to do
(Ephesians 2:10). These are His good works, which He continually
works in and through us. However, in order to do any good work, we
must know God’s Holy Word and apply His Word in our lives. “All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
No matter how much we know about God’s Word, if we do not
apply what we learn, Scripture will never benefit our life. The
Scripture is “God-breathed.” We are to read it, memorize it, meditate
upon it, and use its teachings to guide our conduct.

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FAITHFUL AND ACCOUNTABLE

STEWARDS

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Meditate upon and apply these Scriptures to your life this week:

1. Romans 14:12 – “So then, each of us will give an account of

himself to God.”

2. 1 Corinthians 10:26 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in

it.”

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The Biblical Meaning of Stewardship

Think of how many daily issues in your life involve these two basic
things: time and money. They play such an important role in our lives.
Do we properly use our time and money? Are we good “stewards” of
the time and money that we have? As we begin this book, let us
consider the fundamental meaning of stewardship.
Stewardship is the management of another person’s property, finances,
or household affairs. Here on this earth, we are not “owners.” We are
stewards, or managers, of what God has given us. We belong to God,
and everything we possess belongs to Him. Paul wrote to the
Corinthian believers, “Now it is required that those who have been
given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Our lives and all
that we possess have been entrusted to us, and someday we will have
to give an account of how well we have managed them. Have we been
good stewards of what God has given us?
There is no time that is ours. We do not own our talent or our money.
It is not ours. It all belongs to Him who made us. He made it all and
simply entrusted it to us for His service. As the parable of the talents
(Matthew 25:14 – 30) shows, the Lord holds us accountable for the
way in which we manage His affairs. We are His stewards.
Believers are accountable to God for the way in which they manage
life’s affairs. God gives to each of us the gift of time. He wants us to
use our time wisely. The Bible relates not only the use of time to our
spiritual condition, but also our use of money. The disciplined use of
money requires that we manage it in such a way that our needs and the
needs of our family are met. How we use money for ourselves, for
others, and especially for the sake of God’s Kingdom, is a spiritual
matter. God has given us time, talents and treasures here on this earth.
We must use them wisely in order to bring Him glory and honor.
Is your stewardship of time and money bringing glory and honor to
God?

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A Privilege and a Responsibility

When we fall in love with the Lord we want to give to Him. We want
to give our time, our energy, our money, and ourselves. Love gives.
This study on stewardship is about giving to God. We can give
generously because we want to give. We can give joyfully because it is
very satisfying to please God. This study will help us to understand
how to give to God in an orderly and good manner.
Stewardship is both a privilege and a responsibility. Genesis 39:4 tells
us that Joseph found favor in the eyes of Potiphar and became his
attendant. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his entire household. He
entrusted to Joseph’s care everything he owned. This story of Joseph is
an excellent example of stewardship.
Included in God’s purpose for man is the stewardship of life. God
created man. God gave life to man. God provided all the natural
resources man needs for life. God is the master of man and owner of
all man’s resources. God entrusted many of his wonderful resources to
man (Genesis 1:26). This trust is a huge privilege granted by God.
However, this privilege brings great responsibility.
Man is responsible to God for how he uses the resources. The gift of
life, the gift of resources, the trust, and the responsibility all together
make people stewards of God and accountable to God for their
stewardship. The stewardship of a believer includes all that the believer
has. He is a steward of his time, talents, and money.
This book speaks about three major stewardship factors: the Biblical
message about stewardship, the Biblical message about the
stewardship of all our material possessions, and the responsibility of a
house church in using God’s money and His resources wisely.
What are some responsibilities of a house church as a “steward” of all
the resources and money entrusted to it by God? Do you usually look
upon stewardship as a privilege or as a responsibility?

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God’s Creation – Very Good

God created a good universe in harmony with His own good nature.
In Genesis, chapter one, we read that God saw what He had created
and it was good. Creation reflected God’s good nature. God’s
creation was perfect in purity, in beauty, in happiness and in
harmony. When everything was prepared, God created man. Then
God said the creation was very good (Genesis 1:31). God gave man a
special and privileged place in His universe.
Part of God’s purpose was to provide for man’s physical needs
(Genesis 1:29). God also provided for man’s enjoyment. God deeply
enjoyed the results of His creative work. He desires that man
experience similar satisfaction. The basic idea of "Eden" is delight,
happiness, and bliss. First Timothy 6:17 tells us that God “…richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
God also instructs people “to work with your hands” (1
Thessalonians 4:11). Material things provide man with tools to live
here on this earth. God has given gifts and abilities to man so that he
can use the material things on the earth for his own benefit and the
benefit of others.
What should be a person’s proper response to God for all of these
blessings? Surely, one should respond with great gratitude and
readiness to be responsible. Surely, this privileged person will obey
God, live in harmony with His will, and seek to fulfill His purpose.
Take a few moments and remember the provisions God made for
Adam. Do you have the same or more than Adam had? Think about
how you normally respond to God’s provisions.

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Stewardship- Abraham to the Promised Land

In God’s first appearance to man, He told man that the earth was
good and delightful, and that it was to be used to meet his needs
(Genesis 1:29). However, man’s enjoyment of life should come from
God, not from the things God has made. God Himself is to be the
focus of man’s desire and attention.
Abraham gave Melchizedek the priest “a tenth of everything” (Genesis
14:20). This was his confession that God was his Lord, the “Creator of
heaven and earth,” the Giver of victory (Genesis 14:19).
Abraham’s grandson Jacob recognized the same responsibility. He
vowed to give God a tenth of all that he received if God would protect
him in his journey and return him to his land. This humble confession
of dependence on God is not like the proud man who boasts, “... My
power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for
me” (Deuteronomy 8:17 and Daniel 4:30). There is no “middle road.”
We depend either upon God or upon our own strength.
The giving of a tenth was important. Man was humbly saying that he
was a steward of all that God had given him. The Old Testament
clearly demonstrates that every spiritual relationship of man can be
expressed in some material way. The Israelites had a way to confess
the operation of their faith in every area of their life. Certainly, this was
true in the financial area of their life.
Israel came out of Egypt by faith in the promises of God. God then
claimed the firstborn of Israel (Exodus 13:11–16). He commanded
that they be redeemed by the payment of five shekels per male child
(Numbers 3:46–47). This small payment reminded the people of Israel
that they belonged to the Lord - they were “not their own” (1
Corinthians 6:19–20).
In your daily life, do you feel that you are depending upon God or
upon your own strength?

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Stewardship in the Promised Land

God brought the Israelites into the land that He had promised their
fathers (Exodus 6:8). This was the land where He would rule over
them forever (Exodus 15:17–18). God would drive out the inhabitants
and give the land to them (Exodus 23:28–30). In return, they would
bless His goodness by offering to Him the firstborn of all clean
animals and the first ripe grain and fruits. They would make this
offering at the place where He would choose (Deuteronomy 12:11–14,
17–18). There they would bring their annual tithes of the fruits of the
ground and of the flock (Deuteronomy 26:1–19).
When the Israelites offered their tithes, they confessed that God was
good to their ancestors and He delivered them in their time of need.
They confessed that He redeemed them from oppression, and that He
gave the land of Canaan to them (Deuteronomy 26:5–9). They invited
the Levites, the poor, the widows, and the orphans of their local
community to join them as they made these offerings to the Lord. No
man could appear at a feast empty-handed. The Law required each
man to bring an offering in proportion to the way he had been blessed
(Deuteronomy 16:10, 16-17).
The Israelites presented to the Lord the first fruits of their grain and
livestock. They joyfully came to the feasts with their offerings and
tithes. They made offerings of their lives and property and gave
generously to the Lord. The Israelites were to exercise good
stewardship of the land. They were to use the land and its products
unselfishly for those in need around them. Even the stranger on the
road was free to gather grain or fruit to satisfy his hunger
(Deuteronomy 23:24–25). The Israelites were to be kind and generous
to others, just as God had been gracious, kind and generous to them.
What do you think Israel’s stewardship of the Promised Land many
years ago means to us today?

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Faithful and Accountable to God

In the beginning, God gave man a partnership role. The Lord assigned
man the position of steward over all His creation (Genesis 1:26-28).
All creation belonged to God and He put man in charge of His
material world. Man was given rule over this created world, but God
intended this to be a responsible rule that includes accountability to
Him. Man is to be God's faithful caretaker and follow God's
purposes in the use of things. First Corinthians 4:2 says, "Now it is
required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."
Man's faithful stewardship is required because God’s good gifts should
be properly used. The things of this earth are intended for man's
enjoyment. Man should not abuse God’s gifts.
God trusted man to control and enlarge the possessions that He gave
him. The parable in Matthew 25:14 - 30 illustrates the truth that man,
as manager, is accountable to God. The manager, under the
Lordship of Isa Masih, must act with responsible freedom. He is not
bound by the law, but under the grace of Jesus, he seeks to manage all
things for God's glory.
God gives man real authority. He trusts man and gives him
responsibility. This delegated authority is to be exercised carefully.
God trusts man and desires that their relationship will achieve His
purpose. As God’s steward, man is free within the limits that God has
established. However, man is responsible to God and must give an
accounting to God for all that he does with God’s gifts (Luke 16:1 - 15
and Romans 14:12).
Can you think of someone who has been a faithful and accountable
steward of God’s resources? God has given much to you. Have you
been a “faithful steward” of all that He has given to you? Take a few
moments and read the Scripture passages given above in Luke 16 and
Romans 14.

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The True Meaning of Possessions

Salvation enabled man once again to become a partner with God in
accomplishing God’s divine purposes. Our salvation touches every
area of our life. Thus, stewardship begins at salvation. God's
purpose for the saved man is that he will serve God and his fellow
man through the wise use of material possessions that are entrusted to
him by God. This theme is the subject of many Bible passages. A few
good examples to look at are: Romans 15:26-27, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3,
2 Corinthians 11:9, Ephesians 4:28 and James 1:27.
People committed to Isa become partners together with Him in
sharing themselves and their belongings. They do this in order to make
Him known both at home and around the world. In this partnership,
man sees his material possessions not as something for himself, but as
a tool to accomplish God's purpose. The change God produces in
man [at his time of salvation] lets him see that things are as much for
his neighbor as for himself.
The life centered in Isa Masih leads us to say thankfully, "All I possess
is made possible by Jesus. He trusts me to use all these possessions for
His glory, not mine." One who believes in the Lord Isa Masih lives a
faithful and responsible life before God. He knows that God provides
for all of his needs (Philippians 4:19).
The faithful steward realizes that God owns everything. All of our
possessions are actually His possessions. We simply manage all
that God gives to us in harmony with what He wants. The faithful
steward recognizes that God owns all the wealth in the world. This
truth is seen in many Scriptures. Some good passages are
Deuteronomy 10:14, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:12
and 1 Corinthians 10:26. If you have a few moments, read these verses
and meditate upon their meaning.
Do you understand the true meaning of possessions?

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Discussion Guide

1. Does your house church effectively use the gifts of time and
money that God has given you?
2. Are all members of the body (the church) equally responsible
to be good stewards of God’s gifts?
3. What should the church do if some members of the body will
not work with their hands according to the instruction of 1
Thessalonians 4:11?
4. In your house church group, discuss the relationship between
stewardship and faith.
5. Discuss the problem with Jacob’s vow to God (read Genesis
28:10-22).
6. In your house church group, discuss the relationship of our
spiritual relationship to the Lord and our use of material
blessings.
7. What do you think it means, “no man should appear before
the Lord empty-handed?” (Deuteronomy 16:16)
8. Are we accountable only to God for our stewardship, or are
we also accountable to each other?
9. Share with your house church group the Bible verse that you
feel best describes the fact that God is the owner of all things.

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GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TIME

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Meditate upon and apply these Scriptures to your life this week:

1. John 9:4 – “As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him

who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”

2. Ephesians 5:16 – “making the most of the time, because the

days are evil.”

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The Discipline of Time

Godliness is the result of a disciplined spiritual life. At the very heart
of a disciplined spiritual life is the “discipline of time.” If we want to
be like Isa Masih, we must look at our use of time as a spiritual
discipline. Isa used His time here on this earth perfectly. There were
no wasted moments. He so perfectly used His time that at the end of
His earthly life, Isa prayed to the Father, “I have brought You glory on
earth by completing the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4).
Just as He did with His Son Isa, God the Father gives to each of us,
His children, the gift of time. He also gives us work to do during that
time. The more we become like Isa Masih, the more we will
understand why our use of time is so important.
One of our verses to meditate upon during this week contains the
phrase “because the days are evil.” The apostle Paul may have written
these inspired words to the Ephesian believers because there was great
danger and persecution at that time in the Roman Empire. We also
today need to use every moment of our time with great wisdom
“because the days are [still] evil.”
One of the first things that we must consider as we study this
“discipline of time” is the discipline of our thoughts. Someone said
that our thoughts are like water – they tend either to be stagnant or to
run downhill. In Colossians 3:2, the command is to “set your minds on
things above.” Thus, we believers must discipline ourselves to
consciously direct our thoughts toward God and His Kingdom. If we
fail to do this, we will not be productive children of God and our
thoughts will tend to become evil.
Our thoughts set the direction for our bodies. Unless we practice self-
control, our bodies tend to serve evil more than God. We must
discipline ourselves in how we “walk” [live] in this world. Otherwise,
we will conform more to the ways of the world rather than to the ways
of Isa Masih. If we do not discipline our time, then these evil days will
keep us from becoming Godly disciples. How is your time being used?
Do you want to complete the work that He has given you?

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Preparing for Eternity

Everyone must begin their preparations for eternity now, while they
are here on this earth. In other words, during this life here on the
planet earth, we must prepare for life beyond the grave. Once a person
has “passed away” from this earthly life [once a person has died], there
is no more time for preparation. There are no more second chances.
One day in the future, for everyone who is now reading this book, all
of our preparation for the future will be over. It will be finished.
Moreover, that day could be ANY DAY. No one knows his or her
future. Thus, since THAT DAY could be any day, we should use our
time wisely. This is all the time that we have to prepare for where we
will spend eternity beyond the grave (Matthew 25:1-13).
Do you realize that whether you experience indescribable joy or
horrible, eternal agony depends upon what happens in moments of
time in our life just like this moment? What then, is more valuable
than time? Just as a small rudder guides a large ship, so what we do
now influences eternity.
Someone once said that hell would be filled with people who agonize
over time that they foolishly wasted here on this earth. If you will read
the story of Lazarus and the rich man [Luke 16:19-31], you will read of
the agony and suffering of one who wasted his time here on this earth.
Therefore, let us prepare before it is too late.
A beautiful verse of Scripture is found in 2 Corinthians 6:2: “…Now
is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Now is the
time to prepare for where you will spend eternity. If you are uncertain
about your future, now is the time to settle the matter. We have no
guarantee that we will live here on this earth for one more year, one
more month, or even one more day. We must not delay, but rather
respond to the One who created us and who gives us this time on
earth. Come to Isa now, and He will bring you to Himself forever.
Think about how you are using your time to prepare for eternity.

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Time is Short
The Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to write these very prophetic
words: “…The time is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29). What is the
deeper meaning of this Scripture for believers today?
If there is very little of some thing, then usually that thing is very
valuable. For example, dirt, sand and ordinary rocks are very common
and plentiful. However, they are worth very, very little. On the other
hand, gold and diamonds are very hard to find. Thus, they are very
valuable. If man never died, time would not be valuable. However,
man dies after his time on earth and therefore time is very valuable.
Moreover, the way we use our time has eternal significance.
Even if you have many, many years of life remaining here on this
earth, the fact is, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and
then vanishes” (James 4:14). That is how James describes our life.
Even the longest life (90 or 100 years) is extremely tiny in comparison
to all eternity. For example, you can probably remember very well
some events that happened during your childhood as if they happened
yesterday. The reason is simply because it really has not been that long
ago, from an eternal viewpoint, when those events happened.
Therefore, regardless of how much time you have to develop habits
and a life more like Isa Masih, it really is not much time. Moreover,
not only is time short, but it passes very quickly. The apostle John
says it very clearly: “The world and its desires pass away” (1 John
2:17). We humans often speak of “saving” time, “making up” time, or
“buying” time, but those words are really without much meaning. We
can do nothing with time except to use it wisely. Once one day [or
even one minute] is past, it cannot be recovered.
Finally, if we do not discipline our use of time NOW, it will only be
more difficult to discipline ourselves later when we are older. We must
remember that time is short and is passing quickly.
Have you ever written down exactly how you spent a 24-hour period?
It might be interesting to see how you lived for one day.

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The Opportunity of Today

Not only is time short and passing quickly, but also we do not know
how short it is, or how quickly it is passing. That is exactly why we
need to listen to the wisdom of Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about
tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” James
also warns us not to boast about tomorrow. He said, “You do not
even know what will happen tomorrow” (James 4:14).
There are multitudes of people all over the world who died today.
Many did not know that death was about to happen to them. Many
were younger than you are at this moment. If they had known that
today was their last day, probably most of them would have used their
time differently. Regardless of how long we want to live or how long
we expect to live, our times are in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15).
Of course, we need to make plans as though we think we are going to
live for many years. To do otherwise would be foolish indeed.
However, as we do that, we must use our time today for the purposes
of Godliness, as though we think that today is our last day on earth.
There are many things that we can lose and then get them back again.
However, not time! Not all of the world’s power and strength and
technology can recover one minute of time. Thus, the time for Godly
living is now, today. The time for the work of God is TODAY.
NIGHT IS COMING for each one of us (Review our verse of
meditation for this week – John 9:4).
Many who are reading this page may be grieving over wasted time,
perhaps many years of wasted time. Although you may have misused
time in the past, you have the opportunity of TODAY. The will of
God for you now is in Paul’s words to the Philippian believers:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press
on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Isa Masih” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Think about this: If we misused the time God gave us, He will
never offer that time to us again. However, He will forgive us.

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Accountable to God for Our Time

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans
14:12). The verse that you are meditating upon this week is a serious
statement that we must consider. This verse is for all people – both
believers and non-believers. We believers know that we are saved by
God’s grace, not by any works that we do. However, once we are in
heaven, our rewards there will be decided by the works that we have
done here on this earth.
God “will test the quality of each man’s work” and each man “will
receive his reward” or “he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but
only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). So
not only will the Lord hold us accountable for our time, but also
our eternal, heavenly rewards will be directly related to our use of time.
We can also see that God holds us accountable [at the time of
Judgment] for our use of time by looking at Hebrews 5:12. In this
passage, the Lord rebuked these Jewish believers for failing to use their
time in a way that would have led them to spiritual maturity. The
Word says, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all
over again. You need milk, not solid food.” The Lord holds believers
here on earth responsible for disciplining our time for Godliness.
Isa Masih said, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on
the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken”
(Matthew 12:36). If we believers must give an account for every word
spoken, surely we will also give an account for every hour spent
carelessly and wastefully. Isa also spoke that man is accountable to
God for the money he has received and how he used it for God
(Matthew 25:14-30). If God holds us responsible for our money and
how we use it, then certainly He will hold us responsible for our time,
which is so valuable and precious.
What is the response to all of this? A wise believer once said that we
should live each day as if at the end of the day we had to give an
account to God of how we used our time. Do you agree?

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Lost Opportunities
When we study the Book of Proverbs carefully, we notice that there
are 2 people who are not looked upon with favor. These 2 are the
“fool” and the “sluggard.” Who exactly is the “sluggard?” He is the
person who is lazy and wastes time. Moreover, he always seems to
have a good excuse for wasting his time.
The “sluggard” is an expert when it comes to making up excuses.
Look at Proverbs 26:13-15. He says, “There is a lion in the road,” and
then goes back to sleep! He is too lazy to even lift his hand to his
mouth in order to eat! The modern day “sluggard” would be the one
who will not go to work or church meetings because he might miss
something interesting on the radio or TV. On the other hand, he is
afraid that he will not get enough rest and sleep. Of course, 7 - 8 hours
each day are not enough for him. He has no discipline of the Spirit in
his life.
The “sluggard” never seems to have enough time for the things that
really matter, especially things that require discipline and hard work.
Then, before he even realizes it, his time and the opportunities
that were in front of him are gone. As Proverbs 24:33 - 34 instructs
us: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -
and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed
man.”
Notice from the above Scripture, it is only a “little sleep” and a “little
slumber” that brought ruin and lost opportunities to the sluggard. It is
very easy to lose an opportunity. We really do not have to do anything
to waste opportunities – literally!
For many people, time seems so plentiful that losing a lot of time does
not really make much difference. However, if people threw their
money away as many throw their time away, we would think that they
are very wasteful. Yet, time is more valuable than money because
money cannot buy time.
Think about today. Have you lost any opportunities?

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The Most Valuable Time

When we have lost something, then it usually seems very valuable to
us. Think about your mother, father, brother, or sister who may not be
living any longer. Do they now seem more “valuable” than when you
were with them every day? Likewise, at the time of death, we value
time the most – because it is gone.
This is especially true for those who have rejected Isa Masih. The
famous Frenchman Voltaire [an unbeliever] said to his doctor, “I will
give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months life.”
The most important thing to learn from words such as spoken by
Voltaire, is to come to Isa Masih while there is still time. For those
of us who are believers, we understand this. However, for us believers,
the time to value is now, not just at death. The time to pursue Godly
and righteous living is now. The time to discipline your life in the
pursuit of Godliness is now.
The Bible clearly warns about the heartache and sadness that comes to
those who choose the way of earth’s pleasures rather the way of Isa. If
we look at Proverbs again, we read: “At the end of your life you will
groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, ‘How I hated
discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my
teachers or listen to my instructors’” (Proverbs 5:11-13).
Finally, the way that you use your time here on this earth can either be
a source of grief to you when you are dying, or it can be a source of
great comfort. Will you not be extremely pleased for all of those
moments of Spirit-filled living when you walked in obedience to the
Lord Isa Masih? Will you not be thrilled for that part of your life spent
in the Scriptures, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, fasting and
giving of yourself? If you did these things to become more like Isa
Masih, you will be blessed. On that Last Day, you will kneel before
Him and He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!… Come
and share your Master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)

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Discussion Guide

1. Discuss with your house church group the problem of the

“discipline of our thoughts.” What can be very helpful to us to
discipline our thoughts?
2. In your culture, who values time more, the young person or
the old person? Why do you think this is true?
3. Discuss with your house church group the practical steps
involved in “preparing for eternity.”
4. If you like, share with your house church group what you
discovered as you wrote in detail how you spent your 24-hour
day.
5. How would your friends and neighbors understand the apostle
Paul’s words, “The time is short”?
6. Discuss with your house church group: Is there a contradiction
between planning for the future and living as though today
may be my last day here on this earth?
7. Do you think the Scriptures are clear that we are accountable
for our time, as well as for our words and actions? Why or why
not? Discuss with your brothers.
8. What is the root cause of a brother or sister becoming
spiritually lazy? What do you think is the cure?
9. For your own private thinking: How valuable is your time here
on this earth? What would Isa do if He were in your shoes
these next 24 hours?

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GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR MONEY

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Meditate upon and apply these Scriptures to your life this week:

1. Mark 12:44 – “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of
her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.”

2. 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly

will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also
reap generously.”

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The Disciplined Use of Money

First, the disciplined use of our money means that we manage it in
such a way that our needs and those of our family are met. The
believer must take care of his family. First Timothy 5:8 says: “If
anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his
immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever.” Paul was very clear in this instruction to Timothy.
How we use money for ourselves, for others, and for the sake of
God’s kingdom, is a spiritual issue. Why is the way we use our money
so important? For one thing, it’s a matter of obedience. Much
Scripture talks about our possessions and our wealth. However, the
way we use our money is, above all, a mark of our spiritual maturity
and Godliness. Actually, our money represents us. Thus, how we use
money expresses our priorities and what is in our hearts.
Many of the same things that we said about the disciplined use of time
can also apply to the use of money and possessions. Now, as we go
through these chapters [this week] we will actually be discussing some
very important New Testament principles of giving.
The Lord says in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’s and everything
in it, the world, and all who live in it.” That means that we are
stewards, or managers, of the things that God has given to us. We do
not own anything. God owns everything and we are His managers. On
this earth, we are just temporary stewards of things that belong to
God. That includes all of our money. Your giving [to God] will reflect
how much you really believe this. Even the money in our bank
account and the money in our wallets and purses are God’s property.
In Haggai 2:8, we read, “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,
declares the Lord Almighty.”
Therefore, the question is not, “How much should I give to God?”
but rather, “How much of God’s money should I keep for myself?”
All that we have, even our very lives, belongs to God. Let us allow
Him to use all of it, and all of us, as He wants.
Today, this week, how much do we keep for ourselves?

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Giving is an Act of Worship

In the last chapter of Philippians, Paul wrote to the believers and
expressed his thankfulness for their generous gifts to him and their
support of his ministry. In 4:18, he wrote, “They are a fragrant
offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Thus, Paul said that
the money they gave him was like an Old Testament sacrifice that the
people would offer to the Lord. Paul is simply saying that an act of
giving is an act of worshiping God.
Have you ever thought of giving as an act of worship? We all know
that singing praises, prayer, thanksgiving, reading and listening to His
Word are all worship. However, do you ever think of giving as an act
of worship?
Often people give to the Lord once or twice each month, even though
they go to meetings of worship every week. Perhaps because they are
only paid once a month, they only give their tithes and offerings once
or twice each month. Do you remember the Scripture that we studied
earlier (refer to page 13)? “No man should appear before the
LORD empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion
to the way the LORD your God has blessed you” (Deuteronomy
16:16-17).
Thus, every Sunday (or every worship day) we need to bring some
offering in our hands to the LORD. This is as much a part of our
worship as singing or praying. In addition, your giving reflects faith in
God’s provision for you. The proportion of your income that you give
back to God is an indication of how much you trust Him to provide
for your needs. Are you afraid that He cannot? If so, then you must
keep all of your money and provide for your own needs!! However,
God wants to meet all of your needs (Philippians 4:19).
As the Lord told the prophet Malachi, “Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse…Test Me in this…and see if I will not pour out so much
blessing…”(Malachi 3:10). Do you believe that God will provide for
you and your family? Put your trust In Him.

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Sacrificial and Generous Giving

Sometimes we think that the only people who can give to the Lord are
those who are wealthy and who can spare the money. However, think
about the example that Isa Masih gave about the poor widow. This
shows that all, even the very poor, can give generously. The poor
widow only gave two very small copper coins, worth a tiny amount.
Moreover, that was “all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44).
The apostle Paul gives another similar example. In 2 Corinthians 8,
Paul speaks about the Macedonian believers. Paul wrote that the
Macedonian churches gave sacrificially and generously in spite of
their “extreme poverty” (verse 2). In verses 3-5, Paul goes on to
explain that the Macedonians gave “even beyond their ability” and
without any urging from Paul to do so. They simply “gave themselves
first to the Lord” and gave beyond what anyone would have expected.
Like those Macedonians, and like the poor widow of Mark 12, our
giving needs to be sacrificial. Simply stated, it is not sacrificial unless it
requires a sacrifice on our part. An interesting thing about generous
and sacrificial giving is that those who give in such a manner do not
have regrets or feel sorry for what they have done. They always believe
that the Lord gives them something even greater in return. Do you
think that this would be the meaning of Isa’s words: “It is more
blessed to give than to receive”? (Acts 20:35) Is this a spiritual
principle that most of us have not discovered in our walk with Isa?
Imagine a Mom or Dad who has sacrificed much time, effort and
money to help their child finish school. If you were to ask them, “Was
it worth it to make such a sacrifice?” They would quickly answer, “Oh,
yes! It was worth it!” It is the same way when you give sacrificially to
God. It is worth it, because He is worth it. He alone is worthy.
The opposite of faith is fear. Most do not give generously to God
because of fear that He will not provide. Will you give generously and
sacrificially in faith? Isa looks for those who have a willing heart.

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Are You Spiritually Trustworthy?

In Luke 15, Isa Masih’s parable of the lost or “prodigal” son is one of
the most famous parables that He taught. As He taught His disciples
that day, many tax collectors, “sinners,” Pharisees, as well as His
disciples, were listening to Him. The lost or “prodigal” son had been
greedy for his share of his father’s money. He had finally come to his
senses – he repented.
Isa continued teaching this mixed group of listeners as we see by
reading Luke 16. Here, He gets more specific about our handling of
money [read carefully verses 10-13]. Notice especially verse 11: “So if
you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will
trust you with true riches?” Thus, Isa says clearly: Our giving reveals
our spiritual trustworthiness. That simply means that if we are not
faithful to the Lord with the way we use money, then He cannot trust
us to handle the true, spiritual riches.
Let us consider an example. A man owns a company and since he is
old, he wants one of the younger workers to take over one day as the
new owner. First, he wants to know if the worker can handle the
business properly, so he gives him a small part of the business to
manage. He watches the worker closely for several months, not
necessarily to see if he makes money, but to judge his trustworthiness
and ability. If the young worker does not prove to be trustworthy with
a small part of the company, then the owner will not be able to entrust
the entire company to him. However, if he proves to be faithful, then
the owner will give him everything.
If you love Isa Masih with all your heart, your giving will show this. If
you are willing to obey Him in every area of your life, your giving will
show this. Someone once said that the way you use your money tells
more about you than anything else. Would you agree?

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Giving Because We Love God

All of us owe God a great debt. However, God, in His great love and
wonderful grace, does not send us a bill. Your church does not send
you a bill for all of the blessings that you receive through the church.
Isa Masih does not work that way. Giving to the Lord and to the
support of His Kingdom’s work is not because of a command.
Your giving should be motivated by your love for Isa. How much
we give to Him is a reflection of how much we love Him. When Paul
wrote to the Corinthian believers, he reminded them that some of
their fellow believers, the Macedonians, were such good and faithful
givers (2 Corinthians 8). Carefully notice his words in verse 8: “I am
not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love
by comparing it with the earnestness of others.” Paul did not use his
authority as an apostle to command them to give generously. Rather,
he appealed to their love for Isa Masih. Their love for Isa, more than
anything else, would motivate them to give generously.
If you continue to read 2 Corinthians, you will notice in the next
chapter (9), Paul still appeals to their love for God. Verse 7 says,
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
He said basically the same thing in 1 Corinthians 16:2, when he told
them that each person should give “as he may prosper.”
Thus, what is the Word telling us to do? Our giving to God should be
“measured” in the heart. The standard is our love for Isa Masih. Let
us close this chapter with an example of giving because we love.
Suppose it is your husband’s (or, wife’s) birthday. You buy them a very
nice gift and he (or, she) says, “Oh, this is so nice, but you should not
have done this.” Moreover, you reply, “But it was my duty.” Imagine
how disappointed your spouse would feel. You bought it simply
because you had to. Imagine, though, the joy if you say, “I bought this
because I love you.” Do you understand the difference?
Today, ask yourself the question, “Is my giving to the Lord because I
love Him, or because I feel that it is my duty?”

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Give Willingly, Thankfully and Cheerfully

Do you remember the words of 2 Corinthians 9:7 about giving
cheerfully? God does not want us to give with a grudge. What does
that mean? We give but we really do not want to give. We give, but
there is resentment in our hearts. Our heart is not right–no matter
how much we give. God does not want us to give like that.
God is not like some greedy landlord who already owns everything
and is just trying to get more. He wants us to give because we want to
give to Him. Someone has said that there are 3 kinds of giving:
Grudge giving, duty giving and thanks giving.
Grudge giving says, “I have to give.” Duty giving says, “I ought to
give.” Thanks giving says, “I want to give.” God wants you to enjoy
giving. He does not want you to think about your weekly gift to Him
as you would think about paying your electricity or gas bill. First, we
need a reason to give cheerfully and thankfully. It should be very
easy to think of many reasons. When we think of Isa’s sacrificial love,
mercy and grace, when we think of God’s provision for all of our
needs, we should be able to give cheerfully.
We do not give grudgingly or under compulsion when we realize to
whom we are giving. We give to the God of the universe. Moreover,
the Lord is able to work through your house church to meet many
needs in your community. Simply decide to give willingly, thankfully
and cheerfully. Thus, let us not give to Isa Masih out a sense of duty,
but because we love Him. He will meet many needs if you and your
church will give to Him in love.
Let us thoughtfully remember the words of 1 Chronicles 29:9 when
the people gave very willingly to build God’s Temple: “The people
rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given
freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.”
Will you decide in your heart this week to begin giving willingly,
thankfully and cheerfully to the One who has given His best to you?

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Generous Giving - Rich Blessings

Isa said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed
down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Do you o remember the promise of 2 Corinthians 9:6? If we sow
generously, we will reap generously.
If you give to God, He will give to you. However, be very careful
about this Scripture. It does not mean that you will become wealthy. If
you continue in 2 Corinthians 9, to verse 8, you will see that the Word
says, “…having all that you need, you will abound in every good
work.” That clearly speaks of earthly blessings, but it does not mean
that we will become wealthy. The Lord is not specific about how He
will bless you. However, if you are faithful and generous in your
giving, He will bless you here on this earth.
We must understand that God will guide us how to best use our
money in ways that will bless us and be of greatest benefit for the
work of the kingdom. We must also realize that the world and the
devil want our money for their kingdom. Because he is the enemy of
God’s kingdom, satan wants us to foolishly waste our money and not
spend it on things for God and His work. However, if we will listen to
God’s Spirit, He will instruct us how to manage His money. He will
shape us to become the kind of steward [of His money] that He wants.
Most of God’s blessing for our giving will not come in our life here on
this earth. Isa said, “But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven” (Matthew 6:20). If we can believe this passage, then we know
that there will come a definite time when God is going to reward us
bountifully for what we have given generously and cheerfully.
It takes faith to believe that giving money here on earth lays up
treasure in heaven. It takes faith to believe that Isa said, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). However, if we will use
“the measure of faith” God has given to us (Romans 12:3), then our
rewards and blessings will be rich indeed. Do you believe this?

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Discussion Guide

1. Discuss in your house church group how Joseph was an

example of a steward while in Potiphar’s house. [See Genesis
39:1-12 for details] How would you describe his stewardship?
Can we learn from his example?
2. If giving is truly an act of worship, then should there be joy in
giving, just as we sing and praise joyfully?
3. In your house church group, discuss various ways you can
make giving a meaningful part of your worship.
4. Do you agree with the statement “Most do not give generously
to God because of fear that He will not provide”? Discuss this
with your house church group.
5. For your own private use, think about and write down how
you have spent the money that God has entrusted to you this
past month.
6. Discuss in your house church group how giving reveals our
trustworthiness in spiritual matters. Do all of you agree on this
idea? [Luke 16:1-15]
7. Discuss with your house church group the difference between
obeying the commands in the Bible to give versus the idea of
giving because we love the Lord.
8. Discuss with your house church group this question: “Do we
need a reason to give cheerfully to the Lord?”
9. How do you think the devil might try to get you to waste
money? Think about this privately.
10. Discuss with your house church group the kinds of blessings
that God might give to those who give generously and
cheerfully to Him and His work.

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THE TITHE IS THE LORD’S

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Meditate upon and apply these Scriptures to your life this week:

1. Leviticus 27:30 – “A tithe of everything from the land, whether

grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the
LORD; it is holy to the LORD.”

2. Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first His kingdom and His

righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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Tithing – Fellowship with God

“Tithe” means a “tenth.” It appears over 30 times in the Old
Testament. The first mention of “tithe” is in Genesis 14:17-20 (please
read this). Even before the Law was given, tithing was practiced.
Abraham voluntarily gave a tithe to Melchizedek the priest.
When Abraham gave the tithe, it was a time of great victory and
celebration. Our tithe to God likewise is a symbol of celebration for
Isa’s victory and His blessings upon us. Even if our tithe is very small,
it can be given with an attitude of rejoicing, victory, and celebration.
Abraham’s tithe represented blessing and worship. In the
celebration, the priest blessed both Abraham and God. Abraham gave
the tithe as an act of worship toward the Lord. Our tithe also is an act
of blessing and worship. As we reach our hand out to give an offering
we can say, “Lord, this is my offering of blessing and praise to You.”
Abraham’s tithe was also an expression of his faith in God. He
demonstrated his faith and his total dependence upon God in his
speech to the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:22-24). Abraham was just
and generous. He would take nothing for himself. Then God said,
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward”
(Genesis 15:1). Our tithe also reveals that we too depend upon God.
We give and are confident that He will provide all that we need.
As Abraham’s story shows, we do not give to God in order to get
things from God. Receiving is not the proper motive for giving.
We give in worship. We give thankfully. The tithe was Abraham’s
expression of thanks toward God. It should be the same for us.
The tithe Abraham gave to God was received by the priest, but it was
not payment for food and drink. It was not “a down payment” for his
next victory. The food, the drink, the tithe, the celebration, the joy,
and the reunion of the people were all part of the great fellowship
Abraham was enjoying with God and the people. Likewise, our tithe
is part of the great fellowship we have with God in Isa Masih.
Think about your fellowship with Isa as you read about “tithing.”

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Tithing And Our Covenant Relationship

The second mention of “tithe” in the Bible is in Genesis 28:22. From a
heart of thankfulness, Jacob [Abraham’s grandson] spontaneously
made a vow of tithing. He vowed to give to God a tithe of all that
God gave him. He promised to give God a tenth, just as Abraham had
done. When Jacob promised to tithe, he was responding to the
wonderful things God had promised him [Genesis 28:13-15]. God
made promises to Jacob. Jacob made promises to God. Because of
this covenant relationship with God, there would be great blessings for
Jacob. The tithe seemed like such a small thing.
God’s promises to Jacob show that He gives much to those whom He
calls. Look at the riches God gave to Jacob. Think of the many things
God has promised you. Remember all the things God has done for
you. Is it not true that God has given many things to you?
A proper response to God is humble thanksgiving. Jacob is a good
example. He awoke and acknowledged the awesome presence of God
(Genesis 28:16). He knew that God was offering to make a covenant
with him and he immediately believed God’s covenant promises.
Then Jacob made his vow. First, he recognized God’s part of the
covenant: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this
journey I am taking and will give me food to eat …so that I return
safely…” (verses 20-21)…Second, Jacob voluntarily made his part of
the covenant with God: “…the LORD will be my God…and of all
that You give me I will give you a tenth” (verses 21-22). Just as Jacob
certainly realized, we also know that God gives us much more than we
can ever give to Him. God desires covenant relationship with us.
It is important to note that the first accounts of tithing found in the
Old Testament took place a long time before tithing was included in
the law. Tithing was first a part of the voluntary covenant
relationship between God and those whom he called. A
covenant relationship with God – do you understand it?

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The “Holy” Tithe

The last verse in the book of Leviticus [27:34], tells us, “These are the
commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.”
The tithe had been established long before Moses was born. However,
now, Moses was preparing the people for life in freedom in the
Promised Land. He was teaching the people how to be responsible.
Freedom demands responsibility. The people were responsible to
God. Moses taught the people about tithing to Him.
The fundamental principle of the tithe, as we have seen, was the
practice of dedicating to God a tenth of all that we have. The part
given was to be the first fruits or, in other words, the best. Tithing is
not a matter of law, but of grace. Giving the tithe is a joyful, loving
response to God’s blessings to us by His wonderful grace.
Moses taught that the tithe is holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30).
Moses and the people already knew that the tithe belonged to the
Lord. The people were then responsible to deliver it to Him. As slaves
in Egypt, they probably had very little to give, but at Sinai, they were
free and they expected to arrive soon in the Promised Land. They
needed to know how to manage their tithe. Moses gave instructions
about how to manage the tithe. He first taught the tithe was “holy.”
When Moses said the tithe was “holy,” he meant that the tenth part
was set apart to the Lord. Being set apart unto God (this is the basic
meaning of “sanctify,” to set something apart) made it holy and it
became God’s property. For example, the Levites were set apart as
God’s servants in the Tabernacle. They were to be supported by tithes
and offerings.
The tithe is not ours to keep. Any person who keeps the part that
belongs to God is not being a responsible steward because he is failing
to completely trust God. If we keep the tithe, we keep for ourselves
what belongs to God. It is His – set apart unto Him. In this chapter,
we understand that the tithe is holy to the Lord.
Have you considered your tithes and gifts as “holy” to the Lord?

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Tithing in the New Testament

There are four specific references to tithing in the New Testament.
Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 seem to be two reports of the same
statement by Isa. These passages tell that Isa commended tithing while
he rebuked the religious leaders for their lack of love and mercy. This
mention of the tithe demonstrates that it was a normal practice in
Jewish life. Isa said, “…you should have practiced” [the tithe]. He thus
agreed with their practice of tithing, even tithing garden spices.
The third reference to tithing is in Luke 18:12, which is a quotation
from a proud Pharisee. He boasted of his faithfulness in tithing. This
indicates that tithing was an expected and common practice. In this
parable, Isa condemns self-righteousness, not the practice of tithing.
The fourth reference to tithing in the New Testament is in Hebrews
7:2-9. This statement is made in connection with a discussion of Isa as
High Priest, superior to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20). This Bible
passage is primarily about Isa, not the tithe. However, it speaks of the
tithe as an honorable practice. It is very easy to reason that if tithes
were rightfully given to an inferior priest, how much more then should
tithes be given to Isa Masih, who is far superior.
In the Gospels, Isa was never criticized for failure to tithe. The
Pharisees were very careful about the tithe. They expected Isa to live
up to the standards of their religion. They criticized Isa for many
things. They criticized Him for not fasting as they did. They criticized
Him for healing on the Sabbath day. They criticized His disciples for
plucking grain to eat on the Sabbath. They criticized Isa for eating and
drinking with sinners. Certainly, they would have faulted him for not
giving tithes if they thought He was not doing so. Isa taught others to
give generously. Surely, He practiced what he preached.
Finally, let us say that, just like singing and fasting, Isa did not give
detailed teachings about tithing, but He most certainly practiced it.

Should we follow His example? What do you think?

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A Choice of the Heart

In the Bible, the believer’s tithe is a part of giving that also includes
other special offerings. When believers give, they are doing what
God’s love inspires them to do. An example of this truth is the
wealthy tax collector, Zacchaeus [Luke 19:1-10]. As a confession of his
faith in Isa Masih, he said that he would give half of his possessions to
the poor. He would repay 4 times the amount to anyone he had
cheated. Isa said this action of giving was evidence of his salvation.
Giving is always a choice of the heart. True Godly giving is a
spontaneous response from a believing heart. Look at the example of
Abraham [Genesis 14:18-20]. True Godly giving is also a spontaneous
response from a grateful heart. Look at the example of Jacob
[Genesis 28:18-22].
In addition, this kind of true giving is a response from a repentant
heart. Again, look at the example of Zacchaeus [Luke 19:8]. A
believer’s giving is also a response from a deeply dedicated heart.
Read again the example of the poor widow [Mark 12:41-44].
True Godly giving is also a response to needs that we see around us.
Look at the example of Barnabas [Acts 4:34-37]. As believers and
churches see needs around them, they freely give of themselves. Read
about the giving of the Macedonian churches [2 Corinthians 8:1-5].
Man learns giving from God. The principle of giving is seen in the
nature of God Himself – “…He Himself gives all men life and breath
and everything else” [Acts 17:25]. God is always giving [John 3:16]. He
never simply takes for Himself. He wants man to be like Him.
Our giving is a loving response to God's unlimited grace. Isa gave
Himself to buy man's redemption. If we want to practice God’s ways,
then tithing and giving are important. Tithing is like a beginning
point for our giving. God created us to give. The proper motive for
giving to God is love. He gives out of love. He expects us to respond
to Him and others in love. The choice is in our heart.
Which of the above Bible passages most clearly speaks to you?

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The Responsibility of the Church

The church does not dictate what a person must do with his
possessions [Acts 5:4]. However, no one is independent of God. The
church must teach and apply God’s principles about wealth and giving.
Believers want to understand and apply the Bible’s teachings.
The early church, of which we study in the book of Acts and in the
Letters, recognized its stewardship responsibility to God. All that it
had was from God. All was shared for the good of all members in the
body. One example is found in Acts 4:32: “All the believers were one
in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his
own, but they shared everything they had.”
We believers belong to God. We are His stewards of all we possess.
This is true for both individuals AND churches. The way a church
uses God’s material resources indicates that church’s values, priorities,
and its spiritual health. A church must take proper and responsible
steps to insure that the resources God entrusts to it are used according
to His will. In the church, we help each other to think of tithes and
offerings as our personal gifts to God. We emphasize that giving is to
the Lord Isa Masih, not just to a program or to a ministry.
The principle found in 1 Corinthians 16:2 is the principle of
proportionate giving. The Bible teaches proportionate giving of 10%
of each person’s wealth. There is no fixed amount. Not everyone gives
the same amount. The giving of at least a tithe assures that each one
gives the same portion of his wealth, but not the same amount. This
means that all brothers and sisters carry an equal and fair share of the
burden, according to their ability.
House church leaders should be sure that all of the brothers and
sisters know God’s Word, especially the teaching concerning
stewardship of our possessions. The church should teach everyone
who calls upon Isa to acknowledge God’s ownership over all things.
Is your house church group properly teaching about the tithes and
offerings that we give to the Lord? Is giving part of your worship?

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Where Does the Tithe Go?

God’s plan to finance His work is through the tithes and offerings of
His people. This was seen in the study of the Bible passages.
Beginning with the ministry of Isa [Luke 8:3], we see that those whom
Isa served supported His ministry. The pattern continued in Jerusalem
when believers gave sacrificially to the ministry of helping the “needy
persons among them” [Acts 4:34].
In Philippians 1:5, Paul mentioned partnership with the Philippian
believers. Philippians 4:15-16 shows that they gave financial support to
Paul’s ministry. From this we see that giving tithes and offerings is a
way to partner with God and participate in His ministry.
If God’s people will be faithful in giving as He has planned, there will
be sufficient funds for the spreading of His Gospel. When we do
God’s work according to God’s plan, He will bless us. The blessings
we receive from God will become a testimony even to unbelievers
(Malachi 3:12). When we give an offering, we can say, “Isa, I love you,
and I want to participate in Your work through this church.”
Therefore, we would say that the major portion of our tithes and
offerings should go for the spread of the Gospel message and to help
the poor and needy people around us. You may have the practice of
giving individual help to the poor, but you may want to consider how
the whole church body can put their offerings together to help
the poor. In this way, the poor realize that help has been given to
them from the Lord and His church, not just from an individual. As a
result, their thanksgiving will often go to Isa and His church, not just
to one person. This can be effective evangelism in your area.
In conclusion, giving is very important. We should all be good
stewards. The house church should teach the brothers and sisters to
give generously, joyfully, and sacrificially to God’s work and to the
poor. Leaders should teach tithing and giving by their example.
Training should begin with each new believer immediately after he
repents and receives Isa Masih. He will learn that he gives to the
Lord, the One who has given him all things.

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Discussion Guide

1. Discuss with your house church group how giving tithes and
offerings may help your fellowship with Isa.
2. Discuss with your house church group the covenant
relationship we have with God. [Please read Matthew 26:28
and Luke 22:20 during your discussion time.]
3. Discuss with your house church group the idea of being “set
apart” to God. Should only our tithes and gifts be “set apart?”
How does this apply to our whole life as a believer, and how
does it apply to our church?
4. Discuss with your house church group this question:
“Although Isa commended tithing and fasting, why do you
think He was not more specific in His teaching about how we
should practice these things?”
5. Privately, read again Luke 19:1-10. Were Zacchaeus’ actions
necessary? Why did Isa so quickly say that, “Salvation has
come to this house”?
6. Discuss with your house church group the statement, “Tithing
is like a beginning point.” Then, discuss the ideas of “grace
giving” and “law giving.”
7. Discuss with your house church group the following question:
“Which is more difficult, for a wealthy person to give a tithe,
or a poor person?” Why?
8. As a group, discuss your church’s responsibility [not your
personal responsibility] to give to the Lord. Are these two
ideas “tied together?”
9. Think about this: “The person who gives generously and
sacrificially will always be growing spiritually.” Do you agree?
According to Scripture, is it true?
10. Think of ways the house church itself should give its tithe.

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For Further Study and Training in Righteousness

Doctrine Bible

1. Servant Leadership 2. Pastoral Letters (1 - 2 Timothy, Titus)

3. Personal Evangelism I 4. Romans

(The Camel Method)

5. Personal Evangelism II 6. Theology of Genesis

(Chronological Storying)

7. Believer’s Lifestyle 8. 1 Corinthians

9. Spiritual Warfare 10. Ephesians

11. Church Planting 12. The Gospel of John

13. Doctrine of the Holy Spirit 14. Acts 1 – 12

15. Bible Interpretation 16. Acts 13 – 28 (The Ministry of Paul)

17. Doctrine of Salvation 18. Exodus

19. The Godhead 20. The Journeys of Jesus (Synoptic Gospels)

21. Spiritual Disciplines 22. Galatians

23. Old Testament Survey 24. Hebrews

25. Stewardship 26. Psalms

27. Personal Evangelism III

A program of:
CASALT: Servant and Leadership Training
March 2005

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