Manager

MANAGER: Disciples manage their time, money, relationships, talents, and bodies in a way that glorifies God.

In This Lesson

1. Hidden Treasure

2. The Investment of Tithing

3. The Joy of Giving

Section 1 – Hidden Treasure

The world’s greatest storyteller met with His disciples to teach them about the value of His kingdom.

Matthew 13:44 “44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

This is one of Jesus’ many parables concerning money, possessions and eternity. In fact, the Messiah spent more time teaching about money than the topics of heaven and hell combined!

1. Jesus reveals that the kingdom of God possesses greater value than anything obtained in this life. Once the hidden treasure is discovered, the man who found it sold everything he owned. The discovery completely transformed his life.

2. This encounter cost the man everything he owned, but do you feel sorry for him? Of course not! His sacrifice pales in comparison to his far greater discovery.

3. A powerful life lesson reveals itself between the lines of this parable: temporary possessions can be transformed into everlasting treasures.

Matthew 6:19–21 “19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Observe the words of A.W. Tozer, who understood the value of converting temporary possessions into priceless opportunities.

“As base a thing as money often is…It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel… Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”

How can my money be used?

Money is not spiritual, but it can be a tool for fulfilling your purpose in the kingdom of God. In this regard, money has great spiritual importance. The saints are God’s hand and feet (II Cor. 5:20). He chooses to work through our talents, abilities, and finances (I Pet. 4:10) according to His divine purpose.

So how can money be used? It can be:

• Spent

• Saved

• Invested

• Given

That’s it! You spend money on fuel, insurance, taxes, utilities and provisions for your family. Hopefully, you are also able to set aside money for both savings (Prov. 21:20) and investments (Ecc. 11:2).

Finally, there’s giving. Is giving greater than spending, saving or investing? Observe the words of Jesus:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive”

– Jesus Christ

To fully grasp the words of Christ, let’s review what money cannot do:

1. Money cannot buy salvation (Luke 16:19-26)

2. Money cannot purchase God’s power (Acts 8:18-20)

3. Money isn’t required to gain God’s love (Rom. 5:6-8)

4. Money has no eternal value (Matt. 6:19, Prov. 23:5)

5. Money gained dishonestly will be lost (Prov. 13:11, 22:16)

As we continue through this lesson, keep in mind the purpose and limitations of money. If it cannot save you, how much is it really worth?

“I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity”

– John Wesley

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Section 2 – The Investment of Tithing

What are tithes? Who receives my tithes? When should I tithe? Should I give offerings above and beyond the tithe?

When it comes to giving away one’s hard earned money, people quickly begin to ask questions (and justifiably so). That money represents many hours of hard work! Does it make sense to simply give it away?

Yes, it does! Giving to God’s kingdom is an investment. Let’s walk through it.

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What is tithing?

The tithe is 10% of your income, given to the spiritual leadership in which you submit yourself (Eph. 4:11-12). Tithing supports the ministry and advances God’s kingdom. Scripture speaks of tithing as:

• A – “…ye shall bring…your tithes…the firstlings of your flocks…and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto…wherein the LORD hath blessed thee” (Deut. 12:6-7)

• An    – “Give, and it will be given to you…good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over…with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38, NIV)

• A    – “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me…if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10)

The best time to tithe is immediately after receiving your paycheck (Lev. 23:10), representing the very best of your labor. This means tithing before paying the insurance, the mortgage and the doctor.

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When did tithing begin? Does it still apply today?

Scripture consistently affirms the practice of tithing. Tithing originated before the Law of Moses, was incorporated into the law, and was sustained in the New Testament.

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Tithing in the Old Testament

• Abraham – His highest priority was to please God. This is the first recorded instance of tithing (Gen. 14:20), offered centuries before the Mosaic law of tithing was instituted.

• Jacob – The grandson of Abraham, he promised God a tenth of the increase from God’s blessings (Gen. 28:22).

• The children of Israel – Under the law, God instituted a tithe on the increase of their labor (Lev. 27:26-34). The Levitical priesthood would receive “the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for the service in which they serve” (Num. 18:21).

• The Levites – After receiving tithes from the children of Israel, the Levites paid tithes as well (Num. 18:25-32).

• Hezekiah, Nehemiah, and Solomon – Additional examples reveal wise men who faithfully brought their tithes before the Lord (II Chron. 31:1-21, Neh. 10:37-39, Prov. 3:9).

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Tithing in the New Testament

• leaders – Jesus supported the religious leaders of His day for paying tithes (Matt. 23:23).

• The children of – The Apostle Paul declared that we are “the children of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7). Abraham tithed before tithing became a law. He tithed to bless God’s work on the earth. As the spiritual children of Abraham, our precedent has been set, and we have an example to follow.

• in the church – Paul encouraged the saints to financially support the ministry (I Cor. 9:1-14, Rom. 15:25-27). The means of supporting the ministry was through the tithe (Num. 18:21).

I Corinthians 9:1-14 “Am I not an apostle? … Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? …If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? … even so…those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel…” (NKJV)

When Jesus came to earth, He raised the “spiritual bar” (Matt. 5:21-38). He built upon the principles of the Old Testament and took them to a new level, knowing that His followers would soon be empowered with the Holy Ghost to achieve a higher calling (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8).

Therefore, we can confidently conclude that God continues to support tithing.

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What is the purpose of tithing?

Tithing is first and foremost an act of faith. God places money in your hand and He asks, “One-tenth of that money is Mine. Can I trust you to return My portion without using it for yourself?” A walk of faith (II Cor. 5:7) trusts God to stretch the remaining 90% to meet your needs (Phil. 4:19). This allows your tithes to:

• the ministry (ministers also pay tithes, Num. 18:26)

• Fulfill the of God (Mal. 3:8-10)

• Increase your (Mal. 3:10)

• the poor and needy (Deut. 14:28-29)

• and honor God (Prov. 3:9-10, Deut. 14:23, 26:1-11)

• Claim God’s and provisions (Luke 6:38, Phil. 4:19)

• Gain from the devourer (Mal. 3:11)

• Invest in treasures (Matt. 6:20)

• Align your heartbeat with heartbeat (Matt. 6:21)

Tithing is a bold test of faith! God encourages His people to tithe and witness the results:

Malachi 3:10 “10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

God builds upon this wonderful promise in the following verse:

Malachi 3:11 “11 “Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts.”

To Israel (an agrarian society) the promise to “rebuke the devourer” held tremendous significance. If they tithed, God promised a bountiful harvest in return; a harvest protected from pestilence and drought. In the same manner, God promises to meet our needs according to His vast riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).

Is there a difference between tithing and offerings?

Yes! Tithes are 10% of our increase, while offerings are sacrificial gifts from the remaining 90%. Tithing is essential. Offerings increase your faith, deepen your worship, and bring forth blessings on a deeper level (Deut. 26:1-11, Prov. 3:9-10).

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What if I cannot afford to tithe at this time?

1. God owns everything (I Chron. 29:14, Job 1:12, John 1:3). He has enough to supply your needs, if you will be obedient and give as He instructs.

2. Ask yourself how you got into this position in the first place. Too often, we extend ourselves beyond our resources in pursuit of an increasingly higher standard of living. If you don’t start tithing and giving now, will you ever start? Are you willing to place the kingdom of God above your own needs and wants?

3. Luke records the actions of a poor widow who gave everything she had. Jesus personally took notice (Luke 21:2-4).

4. When you die, everything of earthly value will remain behind (Mark 8:36-37). Pharaohs were buried in pyramids filled with tons of gold, yet it was eventually stolen, sold or placed in a museum. The only eternal treasures are what you give (Matt. 6:19-20, I Cor. 3:12-15).

5. Truth be told, God doesn’t actually need your money (Ps. 50:10, Hag. 2:8). Tithing and giving are primarily for our benefit, to build faith and demonstrate obedience. Tithes are also used to build churches, bless the poor, and supply the needs of the ministry.

6. God cannot bless you with greater resources if you close your hand on the small resources. If you cannot give from what you have, why should God entrust you with more?

7. Finally, God is asking you to test Him (Mal. 3:10, Luke 6:38). Give and see what happens!

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Section 3 – The Joy of Giving

No example more fully demonstrates the principle of giving than the life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ (II Cor. 8:9). He gave His life so that we might live (I Tim. 1:14-15). He gave out of amazing love.

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What does Scripture say about giving?

Above and beyond tithing, consider the following principles of giving.

• Give – Giving is an intimate exchange. If we openly announce our giving before men, we have our reward (the admiration of men), but if we give in secret, we gain an eternal, heavenly reward (Matt. 6:1-4, Luke 18:9-14).

• Give of your – God takes pleasure in our prosperity (Ps. 35:27), therefore prosperity can be a good thing. Prosperity offers an exceptional opportunity to bless others (I Tim. 6:17-19, II Cor. 8:12-15). Why not take advantage of it?

• Give with – Pursue opportunities to advance the kingdom of God. Give of your time, talents, knowledge and finances (II Cor. 9:6-7). Seek occasions to bless the single mother, the young evangelist, the new convert, the traveling missionary, the struggling college student, the community shelter, and so forth. Set your heart upon giving, and determine to make it a regular part of your life.

• Give Cheerfully – God absolutely loves a cheerful giver (II Cor. 9:6-7, Rom. 15:25-27)!

• Give when God – God will sometimes prompt you to give a certain amount. Don’t ignore this opportunity to bless the Lord (I Thess. 5:19) and His kingdom (II Cor. 8:1-5)

• Give – If you reach this point, your faith will soar. Jesus identified a vast difference between a widow giving everything she had and a rich man giving out of the abundance of his wealth (Mark. 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4).

By giving sacrificially, we depend upon God to fill the gap (Phil. 4:19). Again, Jesus serves as our prime example, offering His life for our redemption (II Cor. 8:9, John 3:16).

Amounts are less significant where size and value are concerned (Mark 12:41-44). Sacrifice and attitude are paramount in Christ’s eyes. We count what is given; He apparently counts what is left.

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How can I be inspired to give?

Hopefully this lesson has both challenged and encouraged you to give. Giving to God’s kingdom is the greatest investment opportunity of your life. Giving infuses the soul with a sense of destiny. It’s no accident we live in this time and place in history. God has a purpose for our lives!

If you need additional motivation, ask yourself the following questions:

• Will God supply my needs if I give faithfully?

Luke 12:31 “…seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you…”

• Is there a higher purpose for my wealth?

“When God gives us resources, He gives them to be used for His glory”- D.G. Hargrove

• At the end of my life, will I regret not giving more?

Psalms 49:16-17 “Do not be dismayed when evil men grow rich…for when they die, they carry nothing with them…” (TLB)

Luke 12:15 “15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.””

•Am I an inspiration to others as a faithful and sacrificial giver?

1 Timothy 4:12 “12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

Through tithes, offerings, time, talent and abilities, we can invest in life’s greatest investment opportunity – the kingdom of God.

The wealth of mankind soon passes away. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions. Realizing that its value is temporary should radically impact our investment strategy.

Every day is a new opportunity to send our treasures ahead to heaven where they will be waiting for us.

Tithe as God instructs, and give as God blesses your life!

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…If you do…I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

– God (Mal. 3:10, NLT)

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