ON THIS PAGE Introduction Acknowledge that God Owns Everything See Yourself as God's Steward (or Assistant) Make a Habit of Tithing and Giving Offerings Introduction: Examine your attitude about money. The first things people want to talk when they meet with me to discuss their financial problems are (1) who is to blame and (2) what steps they should take. They often are surprised when I suggest we first look at their attitude about money. Budgeting, borrowing and debt, saving, tithing and other financial topics are important, but our attitude about money is more important. Once our way of thinking about money lines up with God’s, it’s much easier to tackle the practical matters. This online Bible study is the first of a series of free printable studies on money, finances, and possessions. More detailed information on these topics can be found in the book Putting Money in its Place. (This book, although written for married couples, has lots of information that will also help singles financially.)
Acknowledge God’s Ownership. Understanding God's Ownership Changes How We Look at Money and Possessions The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1).
The most important principle to keep firmly in mind is to understand whose money we are talking about. It’s not yours. If you are married, it’s not your mate’s. It is God’s. God’s ownership of everything is a foreign concept to most of us. We like to think of our money and our possessions. Yet the Bible makes it clear that God owns everything. All things were created by him and for him (Colossians 1:16). Everything belongs to him. To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it (Deuteronomy 10:14). For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). The world is mine, and all that is in it (Psalm 50:12). "The silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the LORD Almighty (Haggai 2:8).
You might ask, "But don't some Bible verses, such as Proverbs 3:9 and Colossians 4:15, refer to people owning possessions?" Yes, they do, but underlying these verses is the knowledge that everything belongs to God. For everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).
Learn from Nebuchadnezzar's example Nebuchadnezzar, one of history’s most powerful kings, learned this lesson the hard way. One day he went for a walk. As he strolled he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30). God’s answer was quick and to the point: He took away the king’s sanity and drove him outside to eat grass like a cow. Seven years later, when God restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity, the king no longer exulted in his possessions, but glorified God as sovereign over all (Daniel 4:34-37). Acknowledge God’s ownership out loud. My wife Skeeter sometimes does a simple exercise to help her realize God’s ownership deep in her heart. She says out loud how God owns each particular thing in her life. She might say, "I'm in God’s house, sitting here on God’s chair, writing with God’s computer and looking out God’s window at God’s garden." When she talks like this, she feels refreshed. It seems much more special to live in God’s house than our house. She imagines God smiling down on the garden, sniffing a red rose, sending a hummingbird along to drink some nectar. Nebuchadnezzar’s sin was one of pride and the illusion of self-sufficiency. In essence, he said, "Look at what I did all by myself." You may have had similar thoughts, something like, "I earned my money. No one gave me anything. I had to work for it." It may be true that you put in long hours to get where you are. Yet it is God who created you in the first place and gave you the strength and talent to make money. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Replace pride with thankfulness. Replace pride with a thankful attitude. It’s okay to find satisfaction in your work (Ecclesiastes 2:24). Just remember to thank God for creating you and giving you the gifts, skills and strength that allow you to succeed. Personal application Read 1 Chronicles 29:11-16. What, in your words, do these verses say? Describe how you will look at "your" possessions. How will you remind yourself to be thankful, not prideful?
What comes next? How does seeing God as owner of everything help you deal with your finances? See Yourself as God's Steward (or Assistant) Take Good Care of God's Possessions and Money Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10).
Introduction to being a steward In the first study in this series, Acknowledge that God Owns Everything, we learned that it is God who owns "our" possessions. Once we grasp this fact, we look at our possessions and finances very differently. Realize that you are a steward. You are a steward, or manager, to whom God has entrusted a portion of his riches. You have the privilege---and responsibility---of taking care of his property and spending his money in ways that please him. Recognizing that you are a steward can change your outlook in many ways. Instead of asking, "What do I want to buy?" ask, "Lord, how do you want me to use your resources?" Does the knowledge that you are a steward and don't actually own anything make you feel sad or insignificant? It shouldn't. God created you and loves you so much that he entrusted some of his riches to your care. Looking at your finances this way can be an exciting journey. God provides for your enjoyment. The fact that you are a steward doesn't mean that it's wrong to enjoy yourself. Our main goal in life should be to love God and others, not to satisfy our own desires. Yet God loves us and as a father gives us gifts to enjoy. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17).
You will give an account to the Lord. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus taught the parable of the talents. In this story, a man gave each of three servants varying amounts of money to take care of while he was on a trip. When he returned, two of the servants reported that they used the money wisely and earned more money. The master rewarded them for their faithful service. The third servant, however, said he buried his money. He did not make a profit or earn any interest. He was severely punished. Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).
Jesus taught this parable about money to illustrate a spiritual truth, not to give a lesson in financial management. Yet by using this illustration, he also let us know we are to use his possessions in a trustworthy way. We will give an account to God about our stewardship. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? (Luke 16:11-12). Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Work diligently. Several years ago, I came across a man who was tired of working for a living. He quit his job and said he was trusting God to provide for all his needs. How did he do that? He parked his van in the church parking lot and waited for God to send people his way with groceries! He thought trusting God meant to simply exist and wait for the Lord to provide---using other people. He had the wrong idea about work. Work is part of God’s purpose for us. God called Adam, the first human, to be a gardener (Genesis 2:15). The Bible tells us to work hard. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).
Work is a blessing. It enables us to provide for ourselves, our relatives and the work of the Lord. When we work diligently, we are good stewards. We also are a positive example of Christianity to those around us. When we are lazy, we are a bad example and hurt the cause of Christ. Whether you work for someone else, own a business or are a homemaker, throw yourself into your work and do the best you can. Learn how to do your job better. Take advantage of training opportunities. Seek wisdom. God will help you prosper (Proverbs 3:16; 8:18). Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth (Proverbs 10:4). One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys (Proverbs 18:9). If a man will not work, he shall not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Be trustworthy. The most important "ethical" guideline for many people is, "If you don't get caught, it’s okay." The second is, "If you get caught, deny it." God looks at things differently. He wants us to be people of integrity. Even if no one else catches us being dishonest, the Lord knows what we do. The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9). Personal Application Do you usually think of yourself as a steward (or manager) of God’s money? Yes ___ No ___ Make a list of five of "your" resources such as a car or savings account. Then read over the list and ask, "Lord, how do you want me to use these resources?" Write any ideas that come to you about different ways you could use them. 1. __________________________ 2. __________________________ 3. __________________________ 4. __________________________ 5. __________________________
Write a prayer acknowledging that all you own is God’s and committing yourself to be a wise steward. What else should a steward do? Be a Generous Person ... Give Generously! Make a Habit of Tithing and Giving Offerings In the first study in this series, Acknowledge that God Owns Everything, we learn that it is God who owns "our" possessions. Once we grasp this fact, we look at our possessions and finances very differently.
In the second study in this series, See Yourself as God's Steward (or Assistant), we see that we are stewards, or managers, to whom God has entrusted a portion of his riches. You and I have the privilege—and responsibility—of taking care of his property and spending his money in ways that please him. Introduction to generous giving If you were to read all the verses in the Bible dealing with money, you would find that a vast number of them are about giving to the work of the Lord and helping people in need. Over and over, God tells us to be generous people. The reason God gives us wealth is so we can be generous. Many people don't understand the importance of generosity. They hold on tightly to what they own, unaware that selfishness often causes financial difficulties. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11).
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty (Proverbs 11:24).
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Give of your time and talents. Whether or not you have a lot of money or material possessions, be a generous person with your time, looking for ways to help your church, other ministries or people in need. Follow Christ’s example by showing a passionate concern for others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:5-7).
Be especially generous if you are well off. Although everyone is called to be generous, you should be especially so if you are wealthy. Do not be embarrassed by your wealth, but remember it is not your money. Use it to bless others. Command those who are rich ... to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Imitate biblical examples. Regardless of your financial situation, God wants you to look for ways to bless others. Let the following examples from the Bible encourage you to use your resources—your money and your home—to further the Kingdom of God. Mary Magdalene and other women helped support Jesus and the apostles (Luke 8:1-3). Joseph, a wealthy man, provided his own tomb for Jesus (Matthew 27:57-60). Nicodemus supplied expensive spices for the burial (John 19:39). Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos to their home to tell him about Jesus (Acts 18:26). The Corinthians gave money to help impoverished Christians in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8 and 9). Philemon opened his home for church meetings (Philemon 2).
Give to the work of the Lord Give a tithe. For thousands of years, people have given a tithe (ten percent) and more of what they earn back to God in gratitude for his love. We read in the Old Testament: A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the land, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30). Tithing was considered so important that failing to tithe was described as robbing God. Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How do we rob you?" In tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8).
Since we are no longer under the law, some people think we are not required to tithe. They often add that tithing is not mentioned in the New Testament. However, when Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, he said they were right to tithe one tenth of everything (Luke 11:42). No matter how you view tithing, there is no question that the New Testament teaches us to give generously. Study chapters eight and nine of 2 Corinthians to see how important this is to God. If you have a heart to touch the world for Christ, you should be eager to give to the work of the Lord and to help others in need. Support your local church. Give generously to your local church. It is where you are fed and you are responsible to help support it. Although it’s okay to also help other ministries, be sure your tithe goes into the storehouse—your church. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse (Malachi 3:10). Give special offerings. In addition to giving a tithe to your church, give additional offerings for special needs. Many ministries—such as missionaries, college pastors, relief organizations, crisis pregnancy centers, and Christian legal action groups—depend on generous donations. Ask God to direct you to projects and organizations he would like you to support. Help people in need Throughout the Bible, we are instructed to reach out to those in need, particularly offering generous help to those who are poor. If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered (Proverbs 21:13).
The Bible tells us to help other Christians. God refers to all Christians collectively as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). We are family. Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-6). This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:16-18).
We aren't only told to help fellow believers. We are to help others as well. God created everyone who is alive. Every person is precious to him. A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor (Proverbs 22:9). In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
Give wisely As a steward of God’s money, you are responsible to exercise wisdom as you give. Don't think you must donate to every need. You are not responsible to help each one of the hundreds of ministries you may hear about. Pray for wisdom, and then make choices. Once you make choices, don't feel guilty or sinful if you throw away a letter soliciting funds, even if it's for a worthy cause. The following suggestions can help you use donate money wisely: Pray for wisdom. Ask God for "knowledge and depth of insight" (Philippians 1:9). Try to identify real needs. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best (Philippians 1:9-10).
It is easy to get caught up in an emotional response when hearing a plea for help. Pray before making a commitment to give money. If you think you may be too caught up in the feeling of the moment, give yourself permission to wait and pray for a day before deciding to give. Give to your local church. Give your tithe to your church. Then consider giving extra offerings to it also. By giving offerings for missionaries and various ministries to your church, you can have more confidence that you know where the money is going. Support Christian workers you know. My wife and I feel a sense of confidence and excitement when we support the ministries of people we know personally and people recommended by our children. Evaluate the need if you give to an individual. If you have a friend who is a single mother struggling to make ends meet, a helping hand may go a long way. On the other hand, if you have a friend who is living irresponsibly, bailing him or her out may be the worst thing you could do. Giving cash probably is not the best way to help a malnourished, alcoholic parent. Buying groceries or giving a meal would be wiser. Give to local Christian relief organizations. Although my wife and I occasionally give money to people in financial trouble, we usually prefer to give to organizations, not individuals. Local shelters and feed-the-hungry programs have the experience and expertise to make sure the money is used in the best way. Evaluate unknown organizations. When a ministry you know little about asks for help, research it as best you can. Is it a member of a Christian financial accountability organization? Does your church or denomination endorse it? Are your friends familiar with it? If you are burned, don't become stingy. If you are generous, it’s likely someone will try to take advantage of you at one time or another. If this happens, don't let the experience stop you from aiding others. Pray for the person who misused your help, and ask God to help you be wise in the future. Give with the right attitude Give from a thankful heart. God is interested in your heart, not just your actions. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Don't give as a financial transaction—to get rich. Many Scriptures tell us that God rewards generosity. However, if self-interest is our primary motive for giving, we are making a major mistake. Instead, we should be glad to acknowledge God's love with our love, service and gifts, happy to return to God what is really his. Not all generous Christians get rich. God promises to meet our needs and often rewards our generosity financially. However, other times the refreshment he gives is spiritual—something much more precious than money. Look, for example, at Paul’s life. He poured his life out to touch the world for Christ, yet he often found himself lacking in material things (Philippians 4:11-13). What he did receive, however, was a deep relationship with God and a joyful spirit (Philippians 2:17, 4:4; Colossians 1:24). When we give, we store up treasures in heaven. We are refreshed physically, spiritually, or both while here on earth. But much more importantly, we store up treasures in heaven. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20).
Give privately. Give to please God, not to put on a show in front of other people. There are exceptions, but in general, give privately. Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven (Matthew 6:1).
If you give money to an individual, it is often best to do so anonymously. One way to do this could be to give cash to your pastor or another trustworthy person who would then give it to the person in need. However, the Bible does not demand we always be absolute secret when we give. Jesus said not to give "to be seen" (Matthew 6:1). When he said this, he was telling us not to show off in front of other people. A few verses later, he made a similar point when he said to pray privately (Matthew 6:5-6), not to show off publicly. The emphasis was on our motives. It was not to forbid praying publicly, something Jesus often did (Matthew 14:19, 19:13; Mark 14:22-24). There are times when it’s okay to let others know about your giving. For example, it usually would not be wise to hide your giving from your spouse. And it would deprive your children of a good example if they never knew about your generosity. Give humbly. Enjoy the privilege of giving, but do not become proud about what you are doing. Remember that it is God who gives you the ability to share. Be thankful for the privilege of giving. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand (1 Chronicles 29:14).
Do not be embarrassed if you can only give a little. Don't be uncomfortable if you earn little and therefore don't have much money to give. God is interested in your heart. Give a percentage of what you have; do not be embarrassed because you are not rich. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12).
Personal application Do you have a generous heart? Are you a generous person? Do you make generous donations to your church? Do you show generosity to poor and needy persons? Do you think God is pleased with your level of giving? Do you need to make any changes in how you approach giving? | 
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